Vargyas strait

The Vargyas strait is located 13 km far from Vargyas, and it is in fact a nature reserve lying on 1000 ha, which is considered to be one of the most important regions rich in karst in Transylvania. On the five levels of the 3 km-long region there are 123 caves and small stone compartments. The caves have extremely varied forms; their fauna and flora are utterly interesting. It is worth mentioning the anatomic and archaeological material present in the caves. 44 of the caves were used by people from the Paleolithic Age to the end of the middle Ages.

Stalactites and stalagmites are rare, the great majority of them are in a crumbled condition, except for the Mont milk formations that are widespread and show great variety.

In the central part of the Vargyas Strait, known to be as one of the picturesque sequences, visitors can see the biggest and most famous cave in Szeklerland, the Orbán Balázs Cave (or also known as Kőlik, 1527 m). Other well-known caves of the strait are Lócsűr, Kőcsűr, Tatárlik, Albert Cave, Gábor Cave, Medvek Cave, Vízkelet, Aktiv Cave and the Cseppköves Cave.

There are several legends about the caves once used also for self-defense. Some of them are related to the treasures that could be found in the caves, others evoke the events of the Tartar invasions. During these invasions the inhabitants of Vargyas fled to Kőlik together with their leader Csala, while the Tartars were guarding the entrance of the cave in the hope that the defenders would starve in the end. When nothing else but a handful of flour remained in their bags, a spinster mixed it with ash and Mont milk, made a big loaf of bread which was shown to the Tartars so that they could realize that the defenders still had plenty to eat. On seeing this, the Tartars left the entrance of the cave and went away. Leader Csala climbed the opposite peak in order to see whether the danger had been removed indeed. When he overenthusiastically turned round towards to the cave and shouted ’There are no Tartars, we can leave’, he lost his balance, fell into the abyss and died. He was buried at the foot of the rock which has born the name Csala Tower ever since.