The SCORILO touristic area is the “enigma” of the Banat tourism and includes the touristic resorts: Little Mountain (Muntele Mic) and Apple’s Glade (Poiana Marului). Here you can see the only Monument of Tourism from the world (erected in 1937), at the entrance to Rusca-Montană, with the most beautiful lines for a true hymn of Romanian tourism.
In this touristic area the Gugulans’ Country is delimited in the form of a 2000 km2 curvilinear triangle, starting from Bucova, along the Bistra Valley to Caransebeș, and from here on the Timis Valley to the “Entrance Gate” situated between Teregova and Domaşnea. The third side is conventional and can be imagined passing over the ridges of Godeanu (2229), Tarcu and Gugu peaks (2291), the last one being the sacred mountain of the Dacians.
The area includes two towns, Caransebeş and Oţelu Roşu, 13 communes and 33 villages.
Caransebeș is the most important communication hub from the Mountainous Banat, and it is situated at the intersection of 4 main roads leading to Timişoara, Orşova, Reşiţa and Haţeg. Geographically, the town is located at the confluence of the three waters, Timiş, Sebeş and Bistra, at an altitude of 280 m. At the same time, it lies midway between Drobeta Turnu Severin and Timişoara (100 km away from each town), on the European road E 70. During Roman Dacia, at 6 km from the town’s current location, there was a Roman camp, Tibiscum (Jupa-Caransebeș) in that place.
The Poiana Mărului Resort lies 25 km away from Oţelu Roşu (via Zăvoi) and is situated in a very picturesque natural setting on the banks of the Bistra Mărului River and its tributaries: Scorilo and Şucu, between the quotes of 500 and 700 m altitude.
The Muntele Mic Resort – lying at an altitude of 1545 m – offers in winter a wonderful, brilliant and bicolour landscape given by the glowing white snow and the green of the fir forests. The mountain is reached from Caransebeș, on the paved road (25 km) passing through Zerveşti, Turnu Ruieni and Borlova, to the cableway station. Hence, the most enjoyable and safe way to reach the mountain is the cable car, put in use in 1976, on the longest route in the country (3.36 km) and climbing from 773 m to 1531 m, where are three ski slopes, one of which is illuminated at night.
Access ways:
E 70 (DN6): Timişoara-Caransebeş and Orşova – Caransebes
DN68: Hațeg – Caransebeş
DN58: Reșița – Caransebeş
In this area, you can visit 10 touristic sights that ennobles the tourist’s soul:
- The Tourism Monument (1937) from Rusca Montana, unique in the world, born from the seed of love for tourism manifested by the Banat Tourism Club (CTB);
- The Town Centre of Caransebeș, with the new Episcopal Cathedral (2010) and the historic cathedral “The Holy Great Martyr George” (1865), with the Sycamore tree Park and the Statue of General Ion Dragalina (1943) and the “Corneliu Baba” Art Gallery as well as the future Caricature Museum “Popa Popa’s”;
- County Museum of Etnography and Border Regiment Museum from Caransebeș (1962)
- Roman’s Road (III): Tibiscum (Caransebeș-Jupa) – Traianu (Caransebeș-Iaz) – Agmonia (Zăvoi) – Ponce Augusti (Marga) – Tapae (Bucova) – Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana Augusta (Sarmizegetusa) with the archaeological site of the Tibiscum Roman Fortress at Jupa-Caransebeș;
- The Teiuş Sculpture Park (2003) from Caransebeş, with 33 pieces carved in wood and 33 marble pieces located in the Caransebeș town squares;
- The Monument of the Banat Heroes – The White Cross (1936) on Muntele Mic, its lights can be seen from Timişoara, Lugoj and Caransebeş on clear nights;
- Muntele Mic and the artificial lakes Poiana Mărului and Rusca-Teregova;
- The Retezat National Park, with only a small part on the territory of Caraş-Severin County; Ruschiţa marble quarry with white or pink crystalline limestone of a better quality than the Carrara marble, Scorilo’s Stones from the Poiana Mărului and the Daffodils’ Glade from Zervesti;
- Gugulans’ Country and the touristic village Marga known for the “Feast of the Midsummer’s Fairs” and “The Song’s Monument”;
- The “Written Stone” Monastery from Armeniş, the “Teiuş” Monastery from Caransebeș, the Hermitage “St. Elijah” from the Muntele Mic, the Hermitage “Our Lord’s Ascension” at Poiana Mărului and the “Banat’s Voronet” Church from Glimboca.