About Valea Cetății Cave
At a glance: Caves in Râșnov, Brașov County. Opening hours: daily 10:00 – 20:00. Ticket: 35 lei. The visit takes ½ – 1 hours. Information verified on 28 September 2026.
Valea Cetății Cave, also known as Fundata Cave, opens in the limestone of the western slope of the Postăvarul massif, above the road that climbs from Râșnov to Poiana Brașov, about 3 km from the town. Until 1949 the entrance was blocked with sediment; after a very wet spell, water that had built up behind the plug burst through, and the opening it left gave the cave its other name, "Fundata" (unblocked). The galleries measure about 958 m in all.
For a long time the only way in was to crawl, and some of the formations were broken off by visitors. At the end of 2010 the cave was fitted with stairs, walkways and LED lighting designed not to disturb the bats, and opened to tourists. It is a natural monument and a protected area of national importance.
What you can see
You go in along an access gallery fitted with metal stairs and down into the Great Hall, a chamber more than 20 m high and about 2,500 m² in area, from which several side galleries branch off. The walls are coated in calcite flowstone and stalactites hang from the roof; among the stalagmites, one about 2 m tall stands out. The hall's acoustics are so good that concerts are held here without amplification, with musicians from the Brașov Philharmonic. A colony of lesser horseshoe bats lives in the cave for part of the year.
Good to know
To reach the entrance you walk up about 450 m on a forest path. Tours are guided only, leaving every 30 minutes, and cannot be booked. It is 9–12 °C inside all year.
- The Great Hall, more than 20 m high and about 2,500 m² in area, reached by metal stairs and walkways.
- The stalagmite about 2 m tall in the Great Hall, built up by water seeping through the roof.
- The calcite-coated walls and the stalactites of the hall's roof, brought out by the LED lighting.
- A concert in the Great Hall, if you catch one announced on the website: the acoustics allow music without amplification.
- Râșnov Fortress, about 1.5 km away, easy to combine in the same day.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the cave is on the DN1E, the road between Râșnov and Poiana Brașov, in the Valea Cetății valley. It is ~3 km (~5 minutes) from the centre of Râșnov and ~8 km (~10 minutes) from Poiana Brașov. From Brașov, via Poiana Brașov, it is ~18 km (~30 minutes); the route via Râșnov, on the DN1 and DN73, is ~20 km. Leave the car in the car park by the road, then walk up about 450 m, 15–20 minutes, on a forest path.
Public transport: Râșnov has bus and minibus links from Brașov and a railway station on the Brașov – Zărnești line. We found no scheduled service to the cave itself; from the town it is a taxi ride or a ~3 km walk along the edge of the main road.
- Where to park
The cave's car park is by the DN1E, laid out for visitors but not very large; from there it is about 450 m on foot, uphill. The official website does not say whether parking is charged.
- Fees & discounts
Official prices: 35 lei for visitors over 14 and 20 lei for children aged 3–14. Free entry for people with disabilities together with one companion, cavers, coach drivers and one companion per 10 children, for groups of at least 30 children. No bookings are taken; tickets are bought at the entrance. Concerts are arranged on request for groups, and those open to the public are announced separately.
- Rules
Entry is only with the cave's guide. Pets are not allowed, and smoking is banned along the whole route. It is 9–12 °C and damp inside all year: bring a jacket and shoes with good grip, especially for the forest path and the metal stairs. Do not touch the formations and do not disturb the bats; the cave is a natural monument.
- Facilities
Car park by the main road · access path of about 450 m through the forest · metal walkways, stairs and railings in the cave, LED lighting · guesthouse with restaurant run by the cave's operator in Râșnov, on the road to the fortress · the route has steps and is not pushchair- or wheelchair-accessible
Frequently asked questions about Valea Cetății Cave
- How much is a ticket to Valea Cetății Cave?
- A ticket to Valea Cetății Cave costs 35 lei (20 lei children aged 3–14). Official prices: 35 lei for visitors over 14 and 20 lei for children aged 3–14. Free entry for people with disabilities together with one companion, cavers, coach drivers and one companion per 10 children, for groups of at least 30 children. No bookings are taken; tickets are bought at the entrance. Concerts are arranged on request for groups, and those open to the public are announced separately.
- What are the opening hours of Valea Cetății Cave?
- Opening hours at Valea Cetății Cave: daily 10:00 – 20:00. Open daily. In summer (1 April – 30 September) 10:00–20:00, last entry at 19:30; in winter (1 October – 31 March) 10:00–18:00, last entry at 17:30. Guided entry every 30 minutes; no bookings are taken. The cave sometimes closes early for private events or concerts; notices appear on the official website and the cave's Facebook page.
- How long does a visit to Valea Cetății Cave take?
- A visit to Valea Cetății Cave takes about ½ – 1 hours (including the walk up).
- Can you visit Valea Cetății Cave with kids?
- Yes, Valea Cetății Cave is suitable for children (450 m path, stairs; 9–12 °C).
- How do I get to Valea Cetății Cave?
- Valea Cetății Cave is located at Valea Cetății, on the DN1E, ~3 km from the town centre towards Poiana Brașov, Râșnov, Brașov County. By car: the cave is on the DN1E, the road between Râșnov and Poiana Brașov, in the Valea Cetății valley. It is ~3 km (~5 minutes) from the centre of Râșnov and ~8 km (~10 minutes) from Poiana Brașov. From Brașov, via Poiana Brașov, it is ~18 km (~30 minutes); the route via Râșnov, on the DN1 and DN73, is ~20 km. Leave the car in the car park by the road, then walk up about 450 m, 15–20 minutes, on a forest path. Public transport: Râșnov has bus and minibus links from Brașov and a railway station on the Brașov – Zărnești line. We found no scheduled service to the cave itself; from the town it is a taxi ride or a ~3 km walk along the edge of the main road.
- When is the best time to visit Valea Cetății Cave?
- The best season for Valea Cetății Cave: All year round (in winter, last entry at 17:30).
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