Beliș-Fântânele Lake from Cluj: the Mountain Lake with a Sunken Church

Photo (cropped): Nicu Farcaș, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Beliș-Fântânele is the largest lake on the Cluj side of the Apuseni Mountains: a long, calm stretch of water surrounded by spruce forest, at almost 1,000 m altitude. In summer it is a place for sun, boating and guesthouse weekends; in winter it is utterly quiet, with the Mărișel ski slope close by.

How long the drive takes

About 62 km and 1h15–1h35 from Cluj, via Gilău and Mărișel. The road climbs through hairpin bends with good views of the Gilău Mountains.

On the way you pass Lake Tarnița, lower down on the same river — worth a 15-minute stop at its dam.

The village under the water

The lake was created in the 1970s by the dam on the Someșul Cald river at Fântânele. To build it, the people of the old village were moved further up, while the houses, cemetery and church were left under the water.

In dry summers, when the water level drops sharply, the ruins of the old church resurface — first the tower, then the walls — together with traces of the houses. It is a sad and striking sight, photographed every time it happens. It is not guaranteed: it depends on how dry the year is and how the dam is operated.

What to do at Beliș

• Boat or kayak trips, from spots on the shore that rent them in summer
• Walks on the surrounding hills, with views over the lake
• A guesthouse stay for a quiet weekend — many have their own jetty
• Fishing, with a permit
• In winter: skiing at Mărișel, a few kilometres away

The lake is also a gateway to the wilder parts of the Apuseni; see how to reach the Apuseni Mountains without a car.

What the transfer costs

• Cluj – Beliș-Fântânele: ~62 km, from 280 lei per car (up to 4 passengers), one way
• Cluj – Mărișel: ~55 km, from 250 lei

For a guesthouse weekend, book the outbound ride on Friday and the return on Sunday, each with its own time. For a day at the lake, we drop you in the morning and collect you in the evening, at a package price agreed when you book.

Read also: Bridal Veil Waterfall · Skiing near Cluj