Lake Colibița

Colibița was built in the 1970s and 80s on the Bistrița Ardeleană river, flooding a valley and a village whose inhabitants were resettled; the church tower is said to appear when levels drop very low. What has grown around it since is a low-key summer resort of guesthouses and cabins along the shore, popular with Romanians and almost unknown to foreign visitors. The lake sits at around 800 metres with the Călimani and Bârgău mountains rising behind it, and the water is unusually clear and reputedly high in ozone content in the surrounding air, which fed a local reputation as a healthy place to stay. Kayaks, paddleboards and small boats work the surface in summer, the shoreline road gives a circuit with viewpoints, and the forest behind offers walking into the Călimani. It is a quiet, green place rather than a spectacular one.

What you actually see

• The reservoir - clear water held between forested ridges.
• Shoreline guesthouses - a scattered low-rise resort along the banks.
• Water sports - kayaks, paddleboards and boat hire in summer.
• Forest walks - paths climbing into the Călimani foothills.

When to go

June to September for swimming and boats; the water stays cold well into summer at this altitude. Autumn colour around the shore is good and the crowds vanish. Winter is quiet and often snowbound, with limited services open.

Honest expectations

Water levels fluctuate with dam operation and can leave wide muddy margins, which is unattractive and surprises people who arrive expecting a full lake. Development along the shore is unplanned and some of it is ugly. There is no real village centre or promenade, so a car is needed. Facilities close outside the summer season.

Nearby

Bistrița old town is west; the Bârgău valley and Tihuța Pass climb east.