The best walks and hikes around Lake Sfânta Ana

Anyone visiting Lake Sfânta Ana doesn't need meteorologists to predict the weather. They have an empirically proven method at their disposal, provided by the volcano itself: two cracks in the mountain that predict the weather. Locals know: "If the fumes from the cracks burn your nose, it's a sign of a thunderstorm. If not, it will be a sunny day, perfect for hiking."

Located in the Ciomatului Mare crater, Lake Sfânta Ana is the only lake of volcanic origin in Central and Eastern Europe and the most visited tourist attraction in Szeklerland. The lake is surrounded by the steep walls of the volcanic cone of Mount Ciomat, with several higher peaks. The highest is Ciomatul Mare at 1,301 meters. The lake, unique in Europe, lies at 946 meters above sea level, has a diameter of 1,737 meters, and its greatest depth is seven meters. The lake is fed exclusively by rainwater and meltwater.

The Chapel of St. Anne was first documented in 1349. The original chapel was made of wood. Legend has it that the small church was destroyed during both the Tatar and Turkish invasions. Its restoration was documented in 1562. Between 1562 and 1764, two annual festivals were celebrated: St. Anne's Day and the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Up to 30,000 pilgrims came to the Feast of St. Anne. The chapel was badly damaged during the First World War and was demolished and rebuilt in 1927. Nothing remains of the nearby St. Joachim Chapel, built in 1562.

View of the surrounding landscape, caution: grazing cows may be encountered here

Small valley floor lake

Saint Ana Lake in the Ciomatului Mare crater is the only lake of volcanic origin in Central and Eastern Europe and the most visited tourist attraction in Szeklerland. It is surrounded by the steep walls of the volcanic cone of Monte Ciomat, with several higher peaks: Ciomatul Mare (1301 m), Ciomatul Mic (1238 m), Tata Hill (1174 m) or Piscul Pietros (1125 m). The lake, unique in Europe, is located at an altitude of 946 m, has a diameter of 1737 m and a greatest depth of 7 m. From the crater rim, 13 temporary streams formed after the rains carry water and gravel into the lake. The lake is fed by rainwater and water from snowmelt. The lake's sedimentation process began at the northern and western edges, with the lake floor being covered by an increasingly thick layer of mud. The lake is currently 6.5 m deep at its deepest point. In good weather, especially without wind, you can see gas bubbles rising from the bottom of the lake, which are actually an expression of post-volcanic activity. In the northern, northeastern part of the lake, you can see a layer of floating peat about a meter thick.

Tusnad (Tusnad Baths) Tusnad Baths is the smallest town in Romania, located in the southernmost corner of Harghita County. The municipality has 1,728 inhabitants, according to the 2002 census. The spa was founded in 1842. In 1935, Tusnád separated from the municipality, became independent and was named Tusnád Baths. In 1968, the town became a town and in 1970, many large hotels were built here. After the fall of communism, due to disputed property rights, it began to decline, but today it has recovered. Modern pensions, guest houses, ski slopes and an adventure pool await tourists. Tusnad Baths and the natural conditions and chemically very diverse healing springs, the climate and the beauty of the landscape have an excellent healing effect on diseases such as neurosis, heart and circulatory problems, gastrointestinal and motor problems and glandular diseases. The Tusványos Free University and Youth Camp is held here and the EU camp has been organized here for many years. Lake Csukás is located under the Sólyomkő rock, is an artificial lake fed by the Olt river and has existed since 1894. Its heyday was in the 1920s. After 1948 the spa was nationalized and a large red star was placed in the middle of the 2 hectare and 3 meter deep Csukás Lake. In winter the lake was used as an ice rink. After 2000 the lake became private property. The distance between Tusnad and Lake St. Anne through Bixad is 24 km.

The Orthodox Church in Băile Tuşnad, which was intended to be a miniaturized copy of the architectural ensemble of the Reunification Cathedral in Alba Julia, has become an architectural jewel similar to the famous Voivodeship Foundation thanks to the fresco that decorates it in its entirety. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Băile Tuşnad was built at great expense in the interwar period in an area steeped in history.