In Lăpușna, a rich architectural history, a royal hunting lodge and a distinctive forest ecosystem come together. When planning your visit, it is worth keeping these topics separate: access to the lodge is restricted, and road conditions can change after rain.
Wooden Church and Local History
The wooden church “Sfântul Nicolae” was built in 1779 in the village of Comori. In 1937, it was moved to the Secuieu stream near the royal hunting lodge of Lăpușna. Its history therefore includes two clearly distinct stages: its original location in Comori and its later relocation to the Secuieu. Its proximity to the hunting lodge is also a useful geographical reference when locating the places mentioned.
Another point of reference is the Lăpușna trout farm. It lies at an elevation of 795 metres, where the Gurghiu meets its left tributary, the Sebeșul Mare, and along the route to the hunting lodge and wooden church. Its location links the description of the buildings to a specific feature of the river landscape.
Hunting Lodge and Forest Reserve
The hunting lodge was built between 1925 and 1926 at the request of King Ferdinand and completed and decorated in 1933. Members of the Romanian royal family used it. The dates refer to different stages in the building’s history: the king’s request and construction on the one hand, and completion and decoration on the other.
The complex is set in the middle of a fir forest. It comprises a lodge with six sections and 23 rooms, a hunting house with 12 rooms, and more than 4 hectares of forest. The figures refer to different parts of the property: the hunting house is described separately from the lodge, and the forest area is also included in the description of the complex.
A separate feature is the Lăpușna resonance spruce nature reserve, a forest seed reserve for this spruce species. The forest ecosystem includes very rare resonance spruce trees, approximately 150 years old, with a diameter of more than 60 centimetres and a height of 36 to 38 metres. The age is approximate; the other measurements convey the size of the trees described. Thus, the reserve is notable for its forestry function and the distinctive features of its forest ecosystem, while the lodge’s history and layout help visitors understand the property.
Planning Access and Entry
A report dated 26 May 2026 describes where the paved access road ends at Brădețelu. From there, an approximately 11-kilometre forest road continues through the woods towards Lăpușna. After rain, it can turn into a track passable only by ATVs and motorcycles. Since road conditions can vary with the seasons, check the weather and access conditions before setting out.
The hunting lodge has a separate access restriction. A report dated 18 September 2025 describes it as usually closed. According to the report, it is opened when larger groups of tourists request to rent a pavilion or the entire complex. If a visit is a deciding factor for you, confirm the current access conditions before travelling.
A route described in May 2026, Ibănești–Lăpușna–Vârful Saca Mare, passes through rough terrain and a particularly wild landscape. This gives it a different focus from the architectural history of the church and hunting lodge: here, the route and the character of the terrain are what define the experience. Check current road conditions before setting out.
For the broader travel overview: Ibănești Commune.
