Where captive bears get to be bears again

Built on one bear's story

The sanctuary exists because of Maya, a bear its founder Cristina Lapis found held in a filthy cage near Bran Castle in 1998 — a common sight at the time, when roadside restaurants and guesthouses across Romania kept bears as a tourist draw. Maya never recovered from it. The promise made afterwards, that no bear in the country should live that way again, became AMP Libearty: a partnership between the Millions of Friends Association, World Animal Protection and Zărnești town hall that opened in 2005 on 69 hectares of oak and hazel forest leased from the town for 49 years.

The first two bears, Cristi and Lidia, stood on grass for the first time in their lives that year. Since then the sanctuary has taken in more than 180 bears rescued from cages, restaurants and illegal captivity across Romania and beyond; over 130 live there now, the rest having died of old age or the lasting effects of how they were kept before they arrived.

What a visit actually involves

This is not a zoo, and the sanctuary is direct about that distinction. There are no cages to walk past — bears live across dozens of hectares of enclosed forest, with pools, climbing trees and space to disappear from view entirely if they choose to. Visits happen only as part of a guided walk along a fixed forest trail, with an electric fence between the path and the bears' side at all times. Guides tell the story of individual bears as you go; some of it is difficult listening, most of it ends well.

Tours run at set times and are genuinely popular in high season, so book directly through the sanctuary's own site rather than assuming you can turn up and join one. The sanctuary is closed on Mondays, and children under five are not admitted. Wear shoes that can handle a couple of kilometres of forest path, whatever the weather is doing.

Combining it with the rest of the day

Libearty sits just outside Zărnești, which makes it easy to combine with the town's other draw: the trailhead into the Piatra Craiului gorge, a few minutes further on. A morning tour at the sanctuary followed by the flat walk through the gorge in the afternoon is a comfortable, unhurried day that doesn't require an early alarm.

Frequently asked

Do I need to book Libearty Bear Sanctuary in advance?

Yes. Visits are guided tours at fixed times, and they sell out — book online through the sanctuary's own site (millionsoffriends.org) rather than turning up on the day.

Is Libearty Bear Sanctuary a zoo?

No, and the sanctuary is explicit about that distinction. It exists to rehome bears rescued from captivity — small cages, roadside attractions, illegal pets — that can no longer survive in the wild, not to exhibit animals for entertainment.

Can children visit the bear sanctuary?

Yes, though children under five are not admitted, and the guided route involves a walk of a couple of kilometres on forest paths.