Hiking holiday in Romania: What the Dragon Garden is all about
It's a garden full of real dragons – at least if you believe Romanian legends: The Grădina Zmeilor, or Dragon Garden in German, is a nature reserve full of mystical and unique sandstone formations in northwest Romania – and a real insider tip for hiking.
The nature reserve surrounding the picturesque rock formations is located in Sălaj County and covers approximately three hectares. The hiking trail through the Dragon Garden is approximately two kilometers long and is accessible year-round. The natural phenomenon owes its name to the numerous legends surrounding the region. "Zmeu" is Romanian for "dragon."
If you're planning a trip to Romania and the Dragon Garden, we recommend flying to Cluj-Napoca Airport. It's approximately 80 kilometers from the Dragon Garden, and the town of Gâlgău Almașului is in the immediate vicinity. A drive from Cluj-Napoca Airport to Gâlgău Almașului takes approximately 1.5 hours.
Gâlgău Almașului is used by many travelers for camping and as a starting point for the hike. From there, it's possible to hike the approximately 1.6 kilometers to the Dragon Garden. Alternatively, you can take a bus, taxi, or guide to the Dragon Garden and park on site. Free parking is also available in Gâlgău Almașului, but you won't find any supermarkets or restaurants here. Therefore, pack your own food.
Once you reach Grădina Zmeilor, the circular trail begins on a stone-paved path through the forest. After a short while, the path leads past the first stone formation hidden among the trees: the Little Finger.
Shortly thereafter, the path forks. The path leading up the stairs leads to a pavilion. From there, hikers have spectacular views of the rock formations that rise majestically from the treetops.
Following the path, you'll reach another highlight: the Dragon Gate Cave. Be sure to bring a flashlight for your visit, as the approximately 200-meter-long passage is not illuminated.
The circular trail then continues through numerous unique rock formations and narrow alleys that resemble a stone labyrinth. But don't worry: red markers along the trails point the way.
Numerous legends surround these mystical rock formations. According to one legend, the sandstones marked the spot where dragons rested after their stay in the nearby town of Dej. Other stories say that the formations themselves are dragons transformed into stone.
An information sign at the start of the hike tells another legend: According to it, a girl from this region fell in love with a soldier. Because the girl's stepmother disapproved of this love, she cursed the young woman and transformed her into a stone wall. The wall on which this story is based no longer exists, however, having been destroyed by the floods of 1973.
The gray-yellow sandstone has taken on its present shape over time through erosion by wind and water. Due to their unique shapes, each stone has its own name, such as the Captain, the Monk, the Gnome, the Sphinx, and Zmeul and Zmeoaica (the male and female forms of dragons).
In the area around the stones, you can discover a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, as well as various herbs and other plants.
The region around the Dragon Garden has much more to offer. A popular destination is the Vasile Fati Botanical Garden. It is located about a quarter of an hour by car from Gâlgău Almașului in the town of Jibou. The garden was founded in 1968 and remains a center for teaching biology and botany. Visitors can explore several greenhouses, a zoo, an aviary, a Japanese garden, a rose garden, and an aquarium. Further information is available here .
Adjacent to the botanical garden is Wesselenyi Palace, built in the Baroque style in 1779. This historic monument now serves as an educational institution and is considered a significant landmark in the region. Further information about the palace can be found here .
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