Thematic Route: The Hiking Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: “La Varniţe – Topolniţa Valley – Prosăcului Aperture” Trail

Location: in Mehedinți County. The route can be reached from Drobeta Turnu Severin on DJ 607B to Ciresu (28 km), then to Marga approx. 3 Km until  La Varniţe.

Description: The route starts from “La Varniţe” Glade, where there is an informative panel and a few arrows. Thus, the route follows the road to Marga Village, towards east, approximately. 50 m until a crossroads with a forest road on the left. The trail descends through the forest until it reaches the wide meadow of Topolnita. From here, the trail turns left down the river to the impressive portal of “Proscar”, where the River Topolnița enters underground, among immense boulders. The route involves crossing the river several times. The return is done on the same route, or on the route marked with a yellow point leading to the entrance, “Women’s Cave”, passes over the “Prosăc” and reaches the starting point of “La Varniţe” Glade.

Conditions:

Hiking:

            – marking: red triangle

            – duration: ½ h

            – degree of difficulty: easy

            – access conditions: all year, not recommended when the river’s water level is up

            – equipment: hiking (rubber boots when large water)

Information and Contact:

The route is on the administrative territory of Mehedinti Geoparc Plateau:

Phone/ Fax: +4 0372 521 116,

E-mail: geoparcmehedinti@gmail.com

Website: http://www.geoparcmehedinti.ro

Route close to other thematic routes:

There are a number of routes to link to this route:

       –Topolniţei Valley upstream to the gorges and cave at Sfodea

       – Women’s Cave  (entrance in Topolniţa Cave) to “La Varniţe” Glade

        –“Ciocârdie” Hole

        –Epuran Cave over Prosăcului Cornet

Along the way there are a number of interest points:

         – “Topolniţei” Meadow, upstream Prosăc

         –“ Topolniţa” Gorges from “Prosăcului” Aperture

         – the portal of Prosăcului gallery

         – belvedere spot, namely, the area in front of “Prosăcului” Aperture, view to the entrance of the cave and its surrounding walls

GPS Coordinates:

La Varniţe , 44* 49’ 01.27” N , 22* 33’ 42.76” E , 430m