In 1913 on a small hill between the Belis Valley and Somesul Cald, the magnate Ioan Urmanczy built a Roman - Catholic curch near his very famous castle. From the castle towards the Dealu Calului Village (Poiana Horii) he arranged himself a reservation of hinds and stags.
At the end of Independence War in November 1918, Ioan Urmanczy tried to take over both the land and the people of Belis, but failing, he was forced to run from Belis to Budapest together with his close people.
 

The castle had been severely damaged but the church hadn't had a better situation either because it had been neglected for 7 years until the Christians from Belis mended and sainted it. It is celebrated on "All Saints' Day" in remembrance of those 45 citizens killed by the "Urmanczy detachment"...   

. More than 40 years ago, the scattered houses from Belisul Vechi - made of beams, most of them having the local tradition of tapered roofs so that the snow that falls here every year in abundance melts quickly - were moved over the hill. Over the old hearth you can see the gorgeous lake Fantanele and above the gorge with its amazing vertical walls, the "Belis-Baraj settlement" started to take shape.  

The only one that wasn't moved was the village church, flooded when the barrage was inaugurated. Being built of rocks, it was decided that it wasn't worth taken from there and moved up the hill. Therefore, only the wooden part and all the other important parts were moved.  
Today, in droughty summers, the ruins of this church could still be seen. And those who managed to go under water say that nothing has changed between the old rock walls that once supported the top of the church.
The amazing picturesque place, in which the district Belis is situated, stands out with an archaic folklore tradition and it represents the ideal place for trips, riding bycicles or waggons, collecting mushrooms and wild fruits or taking part in the parties from Ardeal. 

Diving package:

Active diver: 60 EUR / person

Price includes:

  • 2 divings (maximum 2 / day)
  • Boat acces to Fantanele Lake
  • Fully Technical Assistance
  • Tanks & weights

Price excludes:

Diving equipment:
          Swimsuit: 15 EUR/person
          Swimming vest: 15 EUR/person
          Pressure gauge: 20 EUR/person

Additional divings: 30 EUR/diving

Accomodation

Maria Pension 2* - The pension has 3 double rooms, 1 triple room and 1 apartment, all with private bath.

          60 EUR/person/3 nights FB accommodation
          Single supplement: 12 EUR/person/3 nights

Special requirements for divers:

Diary
International diving licence

Technical details:

Depth: 30 m at the bottom – 15 m at the top (when the church is completely flooded)
Visibility: 3-5 m (in best conditions, even 15 m depth)
Water temperature: 10° C
Height:  1000 m

Note:
 At your request we can arrange accommodation in Bucharest, tours and other activities. Visit, please, page of Bucharest Tours, Accommodation and Trips from Bucharest

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