national park
Retezat National Park
Romania's oldest national park with over 80 glacial lakes, ancient forests, and some of the wildest mountain scenery in the Carpathians.
33 km · about 40 min drive
EuropeRomaniaGorj County
Runcu
Gorj County, Romania · Europe
About Runcu
Runcu sits on the route: 5 minutes from Arcani, 33km from Retezat National Park.
Runcu is in Gorj County, Romania, with about 5,800 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Arcani, about 4 km away.
Runcu is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is situated at the foot of the Vâlcan Mountains, 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Târgu Jiu. The commune is composed of seven villages: Bâlta, Bâltișoara, Dobrița, Răchiți, Runcu, Suseni, and Valea Mare.
The name Runcu derives from medio-Latin "runcari" which means toRead more
deforest. A village on the Jaleș River named Dăbăcești (now disappeared) mentioned in a document of Dan I dated 3 Octombrie 1385 was the precursor of Runcu. Runcu village was first mentioned in a document issued in 1486 by Vlad Călugărul. The dominant class of Wallachia maintained interests in the area during most of the Middle Ages. According to some sources, the local church was founded in the early 17th century by Domnița Florica, daughter of Michael the Brave, who sought refuge in Runcu after the death of her father.
Stone and Bronze Age archaeological finds, as well as artifacts from before the Roman conquest, indicate that Runcu and the surrounding areas were inhabited much earlier.
Runcu is the birthplace of folk music singers Ioana Zlătaru and Maria Apostol (1954–1993).
Scenes from the Romanian films Bătălia din umbră (1986), Iancu Jianu, haiducul (1981), Iancu Jianu, zapciul (1980) and Ecaterina Teodoroiu (1979) were shot in Runcu village and on the nearby Sohodol Gorge.
Where to Stay in Runcu
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Runcu.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Runcu.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Runcu?
Within an hour or so of Runcu: Retezat National Park (33 km), Pasul Urdele (Transalpina) (48 km), Transalpina (50 km), Transalpina (DN67C) (51 km).
Are there any good drives near Runcu?
The nearest famous roads are Pasul Urdele (Transalpina), Transalpina and Transfagarasan (DN7C).
Where is Runcu?
Runcu is in Gorj County, Romania, about 4 km from Arcani.
Road trip
Drive to Runcu
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Runcu. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 5,760
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Romania
- Region
- Gorj County
- Timezone
- Europe/Bucharest
- Coordinates
- 45.1167, 23.1333
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Romania
Rovinieta (road tax sticker) required for all national roads.
Full driving guide for RomaniaTags
Worth the detour from Runcu
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
Pasul Urdele (Transalpina)
The highest point of the Transalpina at 2,145 m, open bare ridge country with sheepfolds and long views.
48 km · about 55 min drive
mountain pass
Transalpina
Romania's highest road reaching 2145m, even more remote and dramatic than its famous neighbor the Transfăgărășan, crossing wild Carpathian landscapes.
50 km · about 55 min drive
famous road
Transalpina (DN67C)
Romania's highest road at 2,145m at Urdele, a lonely ridge-running route over the Parang mountains.
51 km · about 60 min drive
ancient ruins
Sarmizegetusa Regia
UNESCO-listed capital of the Dacian kingdom in the Orastie mountains, with a circular stone sanctuary and paved sacred road.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Runcu
4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 48 kmPasul Urdele (Transalpina)The highest point of the Transalpina at 2,145 m, open bare ridge country with sheepfolds and long views.
- 50 kmTransalpinaRomania's highest road reaching 2145m, even more remote and dramatic than its famous neighbor the Transfăgărășan, crossing wild Carpathian landscapes.
- 51 kmTransalpina (DN67C)Romania's highest road at 2,145m at Urdele, a lonely ridge-running route over the Parang mountains.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Runcu.
Plan a trip around Runcu
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Runcu.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.