British journalist finds Romania's Harghita region a spectacular, wild alternative to vampire tales

Forget vampire tales; Romania's Harghita region offers a "wild" and tranquil escape, according to British journalist Graeme Green. He spent 12 days with his family exploring the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, finding a landscape far removed from the Dracula-centric image often associated with Transylvania.

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Forget the vampire stories

Green's journey, detailed in The Guardian, showcased spectacular peaks, vast forests, and abundant wildlife, including bears, wolves, and lynx. One memorable encounter involved a mother bear and her cubs spotted by the roadside during a family car trip. The region boasts one of Europe's highest densities of bears.

The family visited unique natural sites like Lake Saint Anne, Romania's sole volcanic lake, and the nearby Tinovul Mohoș, an area with unusual vegetation described as prehistoric. They also explored the dramatic Red Gorge and Bicaz Canyon, with their towering rock walls.

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This area is very wild

Local guide Samir Teslovan, who organizes nature excursions, emphasized the peace and freedom found in the mountains. He led the family on a hike in the Gurghiu Mountains, where they enjoyed a meal of local cheese and lamb sausage by a campfire. The trip culminated with a visit to Harghita Mădăraș, the highest peak in the Harghita Mountains, though their ascent was met with a sudden storm.

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I come to the mountains for peace and for the feeling of freedom that the place offers me.