Istenszéke Mountain

The Istenszéke (in Romanian Scaunul Domnului) is a 1381 m high mountain peak situated in the southwestern part of the Călimani Mountains. It is composed of andesite and formed by selective erosion (the softer rocks around it were eroded by water). The region counts as the most western part of the Călimani mountain range. It can most easily be accessed from the direction of Dédabisztra/Bistra Mureşului; from there to the peak the level difference is 890 m. The blue stripe tourist mark starts from the village Bistra Mureşului, it is approximately 9 km long and it takes about 3-4 hours, its degree of difficulty is medium. The blue cross and blue triangle marks start from the forest road of Bistra Mureşului, then continue up along the stream Zapodia cu Cale, this route being longer both in distance and time than the previous one. The route marked with blue circle starts from the village Galónya/Gălăoaia, from the refuge there and advances along the stream Gălăoaia Mică up to Poiana de Mijloc, then it descends towards the Istenszéke. This is the longest route.

The peak is referred to in Lajos Áprily’s poem Őszi muzsika [Autumn Music] as well as in Albert Wass’s novel A funtineli boszorkány [The Witch of Funtinel].