Romania In Full Bloom

Every spring, a unique scenery unfolds all across Romania: from mid-April to early-June, nature is “curating” our travel itineraries with a series of splendid, unmissable botanical “events”.

Travelling to Romania this time of year, brace yourselves for a blossoming bonanza!

And no, we’re not talking the average village garden or urban square of flowers, no, you can literally witness mountains coming to life. No figure of speech whatsoever. Facts.

Romania has an exquisitely rich and diverse flora. Don’t believe us? Note the choices of HRH The Prince of Wales, that has a habit of coming to Romania pretty much on a yearly basis.

His Royale Highness’ love for the Transylvanian landscape and his particular admiration for the Romanian floral wonders are all captured in The Transylvania Florilegium, a glorious botanical fine-art guide of the region. The project brings together the most talented artists under the supervision of John Akeroyd, His Royal Highness botanist, to give a visual account of the lavish spectacle of the nature.

The wild lilac forest – a phantasy in purple and white

However, wild Romania blooms beyond the legendary paths of Transylvania. 

Imagine a woodland as far-reaching as the eye can see, all white and lilac in April. And a scent so dizzyingly perfumed it’s hard to forget for a lifetime. Well, no need to dream, just chance a visit to Ponoarele village, in south-west Romania. A sight to behold.

And at a stick’s throw, visit another natural wonder: a crossing, that locals call God’s Bridge, the second largest natural bridge in Europe and the only one open to heavy traffic. The 100-feet long bridge, made of massive rock, was formed as a consequence of a cave ceiling collapse, further adding to the old conundrum: what is gain when something is lost?

Tides of flowers in Dobrogea

Moving east towards the Black Sea, the historical province of Dobrogea is a temporal paradox of nature. Home to the oldest, and most visibly timestamped peaks in Romania – the Măcin Mountains (literally translates as Grind Mountains, no pun intended though), Dobrogea is where the Danube river finally rests its silt to create a breathtaking delta: the last-born land of Romania, and of Europe.

Just where the old mountains of Măcin start to get a glimpse of the infinite marshes of the Delta, at Enisala, drop by to see the wild peonies reservation. Red peonies against green oak forests: the landscape of good dreams and paintings.

Paintings you said? Monet’s water lilies in all their splendor by the miles, inside de delta. They are in bloom, laying luscious floral carpets over the water canals. They say the Danube Delta is a dream destination all year long. I say go in spring.

Mountains as pink scented flames

We promised you the mountains literally come alive in spring, didn’t we? Well, there’s a word for it, and that word is:  rhododendrons. Very close to Prahova Valley, an area of posh mountain resorts in central Carpathians, a mountain, just a smidge out of the way of tourists, attracts hordes of connaisseurs over a period window of 2 weeks in May and June to see the Red Mountain: vast areas of blooming rhododendrons, scented pink shrubs that take over the scenery. The air smells like sour cherries and torrid childhood summers.

And for a full loop…

We come back to Transylvania to bask in the light of white daffodil. Near the glorious city of Brasov, an absolute must see for anyone, go experience the ‘Narcissus Glade’, a wild white narcissus colony returning every spring.

And if you fancy a special souvenir of the Romanian floral frenzy, while in Brasov drop by the studio of botanical artist Irina Neacșu. She creates exquisite stills of the Romanian spontaneous flora and moreover, turns it into wonderful experiences for locals and travelers alike, in the form of botanical illustration workshops, where everyone can create their own small work of art. Do browse her website (www.irinaneacsu.com) , you might feel inspired to look at plants with a more curious eye.

After all, it’s never too late to start your own herbarium or, while you’re at it, a new journey ????