Sfânta Treime Monastery, from Suplai to Zagra via Runcu.

Suplai can be reached by car from Năsăud via Salva, Mocod and Zagra.
There are also minibuses from Năsăud bus station. This is located next to the railway station.

(S) Start from the Suplai Post Office, opposite the Nati shop-bar. Head north up the street. After about a hundred metres, take the street on the right at a wayside shrine marked ‘Mănăstirea Sfânta Treime’.

(1) At the entrance to the Roma neighbourhood, at a left-hand bend, continue along the tarmac road. This climbs gradually to a viewpoint overlooking the monastery and then descends. You’ll come to an artificial pond, then pass by a farmhouse where the priest and a few monks live. This is where you should go to arrange a visit to the monastery chapel. Reach the Sfânta Treime Monastery (Monastery of the Holy Trinity). The paintings and sculptures are well worth stopping for about twenty minutes.

(2) At the crossroads, take the path on the right, which you will follow again after visiting the monastery chapel. You will stay on this path through the valley for over 13km, ignoring all other side paths. At the entrance to Runcu-Salvei, the path is tarmac for about a kilometre before reaching the village centre. When you reach a junction in front of the central church, go straight on and then, immediately afterwards, take the small road up to the right.

(3) This quickly takes us to the old church, built entirely of wood. You can visit it by asking the villagers to open it, or simply walk around it. Note the bell tower, traditionally built next to the church. After the visit, return to the main church, in front of which you take the road on the right, heading south. Immediately, you pass the village’s central square, where there are grocery shops, a post office kiosk and a bar.

At the fork in the road shortly afterwards, stay on the main road by keeping to the left. About 2 km after leaving Runcu, you will see houses and a small hamlet on the right again.

(4) Just before a left-hand bend, turn right onto a small dirt track, leaving the tarmac road. Follow this for about 400m.

(5) 100m after leaving the hamlet, cross the stream on the left, then head up the path opposite which runs alongside a meadow. This section is usually quite muddy and slippery, even in summer.

(6) Leave the main path which climbs left towards the forest, following the grassy path on the right just after a farm. Stay on this path until you reach the village of Zagra.

(7) At the entrance to the village of Zagra, follow the tarmac road to the left.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left to reach the church square (bar and grocery shop on the square) (E).

This route is an alternative to “The hills between Suplai and Zagra” in the event of a storm or to avoid steep gradients.

To reach Salva station from (4), follow https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-/187...

You can only buy supplies in Suplai, Runcu or Zagra. You can also ask for water at the monastery.
The path between the monastery (2) and Runcu-Salvei runs through a valley used only by shepherds.
It is advisable to carry a large stick to protect your calves if you come across a flock of sheep, as sheepdogs can sometimes be very aggressive. But never wave it about.
Between the monastery and Runcu-Salvei, you may need to cross a few fences. Make sure you close them properly after passing through.
Choose hiking boots that cover your ankles to protect yourself from viper bites in summer, and for muddy sections where low-cut shoes are unsuitable.

(2) Just past the artificial pond, visit the monastery chapel. It is richly decorated in the local style. You will need to speak to the priest, who lives in a farmhouse next to the artificial pond. He speaks a few words of French.

(3) In Runcu-Salvei, visit the small wooden church.

(E) The interior of the church in Zagra is entirely painted. It is well worth spending a few minutes there.