The Zsil Valley (Jiu Valley) is located in the Southwestern part of Romania, in the Southern wing of Hunyad County, on the banks of the two Zsil rivers, at 600 meters above the sea level. It is surrounded by mountains: Paring on the East, Sureanu on the Northeast, Retyezát on the North and South, and Vulkán on the South. The basin has two rivers: the Western- and the Southern Zsil.

The length of the Western Zsil is 51 kilometers, and it flows a 534 km² area. It starts from 1760 meters at the Small Retyezát mountain, from the Skorota region, and on its upper part, sometimes disappears. It flows between the Oslea-Vulkán on the right, and the Retyezát mountains on the left, and it is fed by many side creeks: From South, from the Vulkán mountains are coming the Zsideanu, Urszu, Valea Boului, Garbovu, Rosztoveanu, Valea de Pesti, Balomir, Tuszu, Braia, Szohodol, Baleja, Morisoara, Ungurului; from North, from the Retyezát the Buta, Lazaru, Bilugu, Toplica, Valea de Brazi, Szterminosz, Mierleasa, Mierlasi, Krividia, Aninoszu are flowing into the Western Zsil.

The length of the Eastern Zsil is 28 kilometers, it’s basin is 479 km² , and it comes from the Paring and Sureanu peeks, south of Sureanu. Sureani gives some other creeks like Voievodul, Bilele, Raszcoala, Tane, Paring gives Szterminosz, Csimpa, Giorganu, Zsiec, Maleja, and they all flow into the Eastern Zsil.

Along the creeks there are forrest roads, and almost everywhere you can find gorgeous views, rocks, falls and caves.

The two Zsils meet near Livezény, and flows towars South to Oltenia, on a 30 km long valley, called szurduk, between the Paring and Vulkén mountains. Here is the beautiful 45 km long basin, where the road links the different cities and villages. From East to West, these are: Csimpa bánya, Lónyabánya, Petrilla, Zsiec, Dilzsabánya, Petrozsény, Livezeny, Barbatyéniszkrony, Iszkronybánya, Alsó-Barbatyén, Aninosza, Zsilkorojesd, Vulkán, Zsilparoseny, Lupény, Felső Barbatyén, Urikány, Kimpu lui Neag.

We can say that the whole Zsil Valley is a link of a 45 kilometer long inhabited city with 140.000 inhabitants.

The basin can be reached from two parts: From east, at the Banyica-pass, between the Retyezát and the Sureanu mountains, and from the South, along the Zsil river, through the beautiful Szurduk valley, betweem the Paring and Vulkán mountains. Both ways there is a motorway and a railway too.