Venturing through one of the Carpathian’s narrowest and most scenic gorges, exit the historical province of Moldova and head back into Transylvania. Stop at Red Lake to taste some fresh trout straight from the lake and, possibly, take a rowing boat ride or a short hike. The 5 mile long lake was formed in 1838, as a result of a landslide, following an earthquake. This area is heavily visited by Hungarians because it represents an ethnic enclave located in the dramatic mountainous backdrop, hard to come by in much flatter Hungary. In one of the local villages, Ditrau, the locals erected a surprisingly neat and spacious Catholic church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This area also hosts the largest Catholic pilgrimage in Central and Eastern Europe, amounting for as much as a third of the attendance of the largest on the continent (el Camino de Santiago). In 2019, the sermon was given by Pope Francis himself.
