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"People refer to this place a mysterious vortex of Transylvania," states a local guide, his breath creating puffs of condensation in the cold night air. "Numerous individuals have vanished here, many believe it's an entrance to a parallel world." This expert is guiding a guest on a evening stroll through commonly known as the planet's most ghostly grove: Hoia-Baciu, an area covering one square mile of old-growth native woodland on the fringes of the metropolis of Cluj-Napoca.

A Long History of the Unexplained

Stories of unusual events here extend back a long time – this woodland is named after a local shepherd who is said to have vanished in the distant past, together with two hundred animals. But Hoia-Baciu came to global recognition in 1968, when a defense worker named Emil Barnea captured on film what he described as a unidentified flying object hovering above a oval meadow in the heart of the forest.

Numerous entered this place and failed to return. But rest assured," he states, facing the visitor with a grin. "Our guided walks have a 100% return rate."

In the time after, Hoia-Baciu has drawn yoga practitioners, spiritual healers, ufologists and paranormal investigators from around the globe, curious to experience the mysterious powers believed to resonate through the forest.

Modern Threats

Although it is one of the world's premier destinations for lovers of the paranormal, this woodland is under threat. The western suburbs of Cluj-Napoca – an innovative digital cluster of over 400,000 residents, described as the Silicon Valley of eastern Europe – are encroaching, and construction companies are pushing for authorization to remove the forest to erect housing complexes.

Aside from a few hectares home to locally rare specific tree species, the grove is without conservation status, but Marius believes that the company he was instrumental in creating – a dedicated preservation group – will contribute to improving the situation, persuading the government officials to appreciate the forest's importance as a visitor destination.

Chilling Events

When small sticks and fall foliage break and crackle beneath their footwear, the guide tells various local legends and reported paranormal happenings here.

• A popular tale tells of a little girl going missing during a group gathering, later to return five years later with no recollection of the events, showing no signs of aging a single day, her garments without the tiniest bit of dirt.
• More common reports detail mobile phones and camera equipment unexpectedly failing on stepping into the forest.
• Feelings include full-blown dread to moments of euphoria.
• Certain individuals report noticing unusual marks on their skin, perceiving unseen murmurs through the trees, or sense fingers clutching them, despite being sure they are alone.

Study Attempts

Despite several of the stories may be impossible to confirm, numerous elements visibly present that is certainly unusual. Throughout the area are vegetation whose stems are warped and gnarled into fantastical shapes.

Various suggestions have been proposed to clarify the deformed trees: that hurricane winds could have shaped the young trees, or inherently elevated radiation levels in the ground account for their unusual development.

But research studies have discovered insufficient proof.

The Legendary Opening

The expert's excursions permit guests to take part in a modest investigation of their own. Upon reaching the opening in the woods where Barnea took his renowned UFO images, he gives his guest an electromagnetic field detector which detects EMF readings.

"We're entering the most active part of the forest," he says. "See what you can find."

The trees abruptly end as they step into a complete ring. The only greenery is the trimmed turf beneath their shoes; it's apparent that it's not maintained, and seems that this unusual opening is wild, not the work of landscaping.

Between Reality and Imagination

The broader region is a location which stirs the imagination, where the border is unclear between reality and legend. In traditional settlements superstition remains in strigoi ("screamers") – otherworldly, shapeshifting bloodsuckers, who emerge from tombs to terrorise local communities.

The famous author's renowned character Dracula is permanently linked with Transylvania, and the historic stronghold – a Saxon monolith situated on a rocky outcrop in the mountain range – is actively advertised as "the vampire's home".

But even myth-shrouded Transylvania – actually, "the place beyond the forest" – feels real and understandable versus these eerie woods, which seem to be, for reasons nuclear, climatic or entirely legendary, a center for fantasy projection.

"In Hoia-Baciu," the guide states, "the line between truth and fantasy is remarkably blurred."