Every now and then, we come across extraordinary places that have an unexpected effect on us, leaving deep and lasting memories in our souls. Although I love nature and everything it represents, I have never been impressed by flowers, perhaps also because I have been surrounded by them my whole life. Of course, I often appreciate and admire the landscapes created by the appearance of endless spots of color that enliven the hills or peaks, from the appearance of the first snowdrops in the snow, to the pink explosion that covers the mountains at the beginning of summer. I have admired many rare or exceptional flowers over time, the wild lilac from the Danube Defile, the corner flowers from Piatra Craiului Mountains or the variegated tulips that grow a few minutes from home, being just a few recent memories. However, I have never gone to a place just to witness the spectacle that flowers often create.
This changed this year, however, when chance brought me to Cluj Napoca towards the end of April, exactly at the time of maximum flowering of the steppe peony. I had been following the charming photos taken at the reserve near Zau de Câmpie for some time and I imagined that at some point I would get there too. The very long road and the period of only a few weeks when this spectacle can be admired would not have made it possible to get there without visiting the city of Cluj for other reasons. The half hour spent on the lost path between the gentle hills of the Transylvanian Plain was a unique experience and was worth the entire several-hour journey. Even before entering the small reserve, moments of anticipation follow one another uninterruptedly.
First, countless spots of deep green are distinguished, and after a few steps, hundreds of red dots begin to appear, which soon seem to dominate the landscape and attract all the attention of visitors. The steppe peony reserve in Zau de Câmpie is a protected area of national interest, covering an area of almost 3 and a half hectares. In addition to this spectacular plant, hundreds of other plant species are also present here, some of which are quite rare. The steppe peony (Paeonia tenuifolia) is a species native to the Caucasus Mountains, spreading from the Balkans to Kazakhstan. The plants have leaves divided into fine segments resembling needles, and the red flowers have a diameter of between 6 and 8 centimeters. In Romania, it is found both near Zau de Câmpie and in southern Dobrogea.
How to Get to the Peony Reserve
The reserve is located close to the border between Mureș and Cluj counties, approximately 5 kilometers from the village of Zau de Câmpie. First you have to get to the village, because sometimes the GPS can show you the shorter route on farm roads. Access to Zau de Câmpie is via county road 151, either from the south through Luduș (E60) or from the north through Sărmașu (DN16). From the village, you have to enter Trandafirilor Street, and the last 4 kilometers are on a country road, narrow and unpaved, but accessible for any car (avoid during rainy periods).
Location GOOGLE MAPS!
Other Attractions in the Area
Also known as “Calendar Castle”, Ugron Castle is located in the village of Zau de Câmpie in Mureș County. Although it does not have a very long history, being built at the beginning of the 20th century, it is a tumultuous one, full of local events and legends. It was built by Baron Istvan Ugron, ambassador of Austria-Hungary to various distant places, and over time it was inherited by his descendants. A combination of several architectural styles, the castle was intended to be a copy of those in the Loire Valley, being once endowed with numerous valuable objects brought by the baron from the countries where he had been ambassador. With the communist regime, the property was taken over by the state and transformed into a sanatorium, school, warehouse or orphanage, and the treasures inside have almost completely disappeared. In the Zau de Câmpie area you will find several charming lakes, which in addition to sport fishing, often shelter interesting bird species. In the small town of Luduș there are several interesting churches, and nearby you can also admire the Banffy Castle in Gheja or the Degenfeld-Schonburg Castle in Cuci.
Useful Tips
Follow the Facebook Page dedicated to the reservation, where you receive updated and detailed information about visiting and the state of the peony flowers. If you come on the weekend and good weather is announced, try to be among the first here (9-10 am) to be able to enjoy the experience fully and in peace. An interesting experience is also the Peony Festival at Ugron Castle, which sometimes overlaps with their flowering!
Lodging Options
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