🔗 Share this article

"They call this spot the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania," remarks an experienced guide, his breath creating puffs of condensation in the crisp dusk atmosphere. "Numerous people have gone missing here, it's thought it's an entrance to a different realm." This expert is escorting a traveler on a evening stroll through commonly known as the globe's spookiest woodland: Hoia-Baciu, a section spanning 640 acres of ancient indigenous forest on the fringes of the Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca.

A Long History of the Unexplained

Accounts of bizarre occurrences here date back hundreds of years – the forest is titled for a local shepherd who is believed to have disappeared in the distant past, along with his entire flock. But Hoia-Baciu came to worldwide fame in 1968, when a defense worker called Emil Barnea took a picture of what he described as a flying saucer floating above a circular clearing in the heart of the forest.

Numerous entered this place and failed to return. But don't worry," he states, facing his guest with a smile. "Our guided walks have a flawless completion rate."

In the years that followed, Hoia-Baciu has brought in yogis, spiritual healers, ufologists and supernatural researchers from across the world, eager to feel the mysterious powers reported to reverberate through the forest.

Contemporary Dangers

Despite being among the planet's leading pilgrimage sites for supernatural fans, the forest is facing danger. The western districts of Cluj-Napoca – an innovative digital cluster of more than 400,000 people, described as the tech capital of Eastern Europe – are encroaching, and developers are pushing for permission to remove the forest to erect housing complexes.

Barring a limited section housing regionally uncommon Mediterranean oak trees, this woodland is not officially protected, but the guide hopes that the company he was instrumental in creating – a local conservation effort – will contribute to improving the situation, persuading the government officials to recognise the forest's significance as a visitor destination.

Spooky Experiences

While branches and seasonal debris break and crackle beneath their boots, Marius describes various traditional stories and reported ghostly incidents here.

• A popular tale recounts a five-year-old girl vanishing during a group gathering, later to return half a decade later with no recollection of the events, having not aged a day, her attire without the tiniest bit of dust.
• Regular stories explain smartphones and photography gear unexpectedly failing on stepping into the forest.
• Feelings vary from absolute fear to feelings of joy.
• Certain individuals report seeing strange rashes on their bodies, detecting disembodied whispers through the trees, or experience palms pushing them, although sure they are alone.

Study Attempts

While many of the stories may be unverifiable, there is much visibly present that is undeniably strange. All around are plants whose trunks are curved and contorted into fantastical shapes.

Different theories have been given to clarify the abnormal growth: strong gales could have bent the saplings, or naturally high electromagnetic fields in the soil explain their unusual development.

But scientific investigations have discovered no satisfactory evidence.

The Legendary Opening

The guide's walks enable participants to participate in a small-scale research of their own. When nearing the opening in the woods where Barnea photographed his famous UFO images, he passes the visitor an EMF meter which detects energy patterns.

"We're venturing into the most active part of the forest," he comments. "Discover what's here."

The plants immediately cease as we emerge into a perfect circle. The sole vegetation is the low vegetation beneath our feet; it's clear that it's not maintained, and looks that this strange clearing is natural, not the result of landscaping.

Fact Versus Fiction

This part of Romania is a place which inspires creativity, where the border is blurred between truth and myth. In rural Romanian communities superstition remains in strigoi ("screamers") – undead, shapeshifting creatures, who emerge from tombs to haunt local communities.

Bram Stoker's renowned fictional vampire is forever associated with Transylvania, and the historic stronghold – a Saxon monolith situated on a stone formation in the mountain range – is heavily promoted as "Dracula's Castle".

But even legend-filled Transylvania – truly, "the land past the woods" – feels tangible and comprehensible in contrast to this spooky forest, which seem to be, for factors radioactive, environmental or entirely legendary, a nexus for creative energy.

"In Hoia-Baciu," the guide comments, "the line between reality and imagination is remarkably blurred."