World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database
The Nation's Heroes Cross (Cross on the Mount Caraiman) in Busteni, Romania
The short name of the monument is the Cross of the Heroes, the long name is Commemorative Cross of the Romanian Heroes of the World War One but it is popularity called "The Cross of Caraiman". This monument was designated by Guinness World Records as the world's highest cross that sits on a mountain peak.
The Cross of the Heroes is situated in the Saddle of the Caraiman Massif, right on the edge of the steep towards Valea Seacă ("The Barren Valley"), at an altitude of 2291 m, being thus unique in the world, both in terms of the altitude of its location and in terms of its dimensions.
The width of the vertical pillar of the monument is of 2 m, the length of the horizontal arms before the pillar axis is of 7 m, and the side of the square hole of the structural member is of 2 m.
The cross is made of steel profiles and is mounted on a 7.5 m high steel concrete foundation plated with slabs. Inside it, there is a room that originally housed the power generator that fed the 120 light bulbs of 500 W that are placed on the outline of the Cross.
The Nations's Heroes Cross was built between 1926 and1928 to honour the memory of the heroes killed during World War I in the fighting that took place against the Central Powers. The Cross was erected at the initiative of Queen Mary and King Ferdinand I of Romania, with the aim of being seen from the greatest possible distance.
Certain legends tell that this monument was built following a dream that Queen Mary had.
The project of the ensemble was drawn by Romanian architects Georges Cristinel and Constantin Procopiu.
Queen Mary closely watched the execution of the construction work until it was completed.
The inauguration and sanctification of the monument took place on September 14, 1928, on the Day of the Holy Cross. The Cross of Caraiman is illuminated with 300 light bulbs of 500 W each and can be seen from scores and scores of miles away, from Prahova Valley.
Romania, Southern Region, Prahova County
Type of WWI-heritage
- War monument
Dimensions
The actual cross has a height of 28 m and two arms with a length of 7 m each. The concrete socket on which the cross is mounted has a height of 7.5 m.
State of repair/preservation
Rehabilitation works are foreseen by the government.
Historical WWI Context
The Nation’s Heroes Cross was built to honour the memory of the heroes killed on duty during the First World War in the battles that took place against the Central Powers.
A history of Romania's participation in the World War One can be found on the following website: http://www.marelerazboi.ro/.
Recent Images
Historical Images
State of legal protection
This is an objective included in the List of Historic Monuments, classified as historical monuments type A (PH-IV-m-A-16887), according to the Order of the Minister of Culture no. 2.828/2015
Owner
Recently, in order to be rehabilitated, the owneship change to the Ministry of National Defence. Source: http://gov.ro/ro/guvernul/sedinte-guvern/monumentul-eroilor-cruce-de-pe-masivul-caraiman-trecut-in-administrarea-mapn-pentru-a-fi-reabilitat
Kind of cultural use of WWI
Opening
The access of the visitors in not restricted
Entrance Fee
None
Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby
Public Transport
Bucharest - Ploiesti - Predeal - Brasov railway, Busteni Train Station (https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/). The travel time by train to Busteni is about 2 hours from Bucharest. A number of over 20 trains a day circulate on the route Bucharest-Brasov (via Busteni) and back (http://mersultrenurilorcfr.ro/)
Also, there are regular bus journeys that ensure the connection of Busteni to other towns and cities in Romania and abroad (http://www.autogari.ro/Busteni/Plecari)
The local transport network is represented by minibuses that have journeys on the Sinaia - Busteni - Azuga route.
Further information sources
Other heritage sites nearby
Museums Private Collections
The Nation's Heroes Cross (Cross on the Mount Caraiman) in Busteni, Romania
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