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"They call this spot a mysterious vortex of Transylvania," explains a local guide, the air from his lungs forming wisps of vapor in the chilly evening air. "Numerous people have disappeared here, some say it's an entrance to another dimension." The guide is leading a guest on a evening stroll through what is often described as the world's most haunted grove: Hoia-Baciu, a section spanning 640 acres of old-growth local woods on the fringes of the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca.

Centuries of Mystery

Accounts of unusual events here date back a long time – the forest is named after a area shepherd who is believed to have disappeared in the distant past, accompanied by 200 of his sheep. But Hoia-Baciu came to worldwide fame in 1968, when a military technician called Emil Barnea captured on film what he reported as a flying saucer suspended above a circular clearing in the heart of the forest.

Numerous entered this place and failed to return. But don't worry," he adds, turning to the traveler with a smirk. "Our tours have a perfect safety record."

In the years that followed, Hoia-Baciu has brought in yogis, spiritual healers, extraterrestrial investigators and paranormal investigators from around the globe, interested in encountering the mysterious powers said to echo through the forest.

Modern Threats

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

Aside from a small area housing locally rare oak varieties, the forest is without conservation status, but the guide hopes that the company he helped establish – a dedicated preservation group – will help to change that, encouraging the authorities to acknowledge the forest's importance as a tourist attraction.

Chilling Events

While branches and seasonal debris break and crackle beneath their boots, Marius describes some of the local legends and claimed paranormal happenings here.

• A well-known account tells of a little girl disappearing during a family outing, later to rematerialise five years later with no recollection of the events, without aging a moment, her attire lacking the smallest trace of soil.
• Frequent accounts detail cellphones and imaging devices unexpectedly failing on entering the woods.
• Reactions vary from complete terror to feelings of joy.
• Various visitors report seeing bizarre skin irritations on their arms, perceiving ghostly voices through the forest, or sense fingers clutching them, although sure they are alone.

Research Efforts

Despite several of the accounts may be hard to prove, there are many things visibly present that is definitely bizarre. All around are plants whose bases are curved and contorted into bizarre configurations.

Different theories have been proposed to explain the abnormal growth: strong gales could have altered the growth, or naturally high radioactivity in the ground account for their unusual development.

But research studies have turned up no satisfactory evidence.

The Famous Clearing

Marius's walks enable participants to take part in a modest investigation of their own. When nearing the clearing in the forest where Barnea took his well-known UFO pictures, he passes the traveler an EMF meter which registers energy patterns.

"We're entering the most powerful section of the forest," he comments. "Discover what's here."

The vegetation suddenly stop dead as they step into a perfect circle. The only greenery is the short grass beneath the ground; it's obvious that it hasn't been mown, and seems that this unusual opening is natural, not the result of landscaping.

Between Reality and Imagination

Transylvania generally is a location which stirs the imagination, where the line is indistinct between reality and legend. In traditional settlements faith continues in strigoi ("screamers") – undead, form-changing bloodsuckers, who emerge from tombs to terrorise nearby villages.

The famous author's well-known fictional vampire is always connected with Transylvania, and Bran Castle – a medieval building located on a stone formation in the mountain range – is heavily promoted as "Dracula's Castle".

But including myth-shrouded Transylvania – literally, "the territory after the grove" – appears tangible and comprehensible compared to this spooky forest, which give the impression of being, for factors radioactive, climatic or entirely legendary, a center for creative energy.

"Inside these woods," the guide states, "the division between reality and imagination is very thin."