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"They call this place an enigmatic zone of Transylvania," states a local guide, the air from his lungs forming wisps of vapor in the crisp evening air. "So many people have vanished here, it's thought there's a gateway to another dimension." This expert is escorting a guest on a evening stroll through frequently labeled as the globe's spookiest grove: Hoia-Baciu, a square mile of old-growth indigenous forest on the edges of the Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca.

Hundreds of Years of Enigma

Stories of unusual events here date back a long time – the grove is called after a local shepherd who is reportedly went missing in the long ago, together with his entire flock. But Hoia-Baciu came to international attention in 1968, when an army specialist named Emil Barnea photographed what he claimed was a UFO suspended above a circular clearing in the heart of the forest.

Many came in here and failed to return. But no need to fear," he adds, facing his guest with a grin. "Our tours have a 100% return rate."

In the decades since, Hoia-Baciu has attracted yogis, traditional medicine people, extraterrestrial investigators and supernatural researchers from around the globe, eager to feel the mysterious powers reported to reverberate through the forest.

Current Risks

Despite being a top global hotspots for lovers of the paranormal, the grove is at risk. The western suburbs of Cluj-Napoca – a contemporary technology center of a population exceeding 400,000, known as the tech capital of the region – are encroaching, and developers are advocating for approval to clear the trees to construct residential buildings.

Barring a few hectares containing area-specific Mediterranean oak trees, the forest is without conservation status, but the guide believes that the initiative he was instrumental in creating – a local conservation effort – will assist in altering this, persuading the authorities to acknowledge the forest's importance as a visitor destination.

Eerie Encounters

As twigs and fall foliage split and rustle beneath their boots, the guide describes numerous folk tales and reported ghostly incidents here.

• A popular tale recounts a little girl going missing during a family outing, only to return half a decade later with complete amnesia of the events, having not aged a single day, her garments lacking the tiniest bit of soil.
• Frequent accounts detail cellphones and imaging devices inexplicably shutting down on venturing inside.
• Emotional responses vary from full-blown dread to states of ecstasy.
• Some people state observing bizarre skin irritations on their bodies, perceiving ghostly voices through the trees, or experience fingers clutching them, even when sure they are alone.

Study Attempts

Although numerous of the stories may be impossible to confirm, there are many things clearly observable that is undeniably strange. All around are plants whose stems are curved and contorted into unusual forms.

Various suggestions have been given to account for the deformed trees: strong gales could have altered the growth, or inherently elevated electromagnetic fields in the earth cause their strange formation.

But formal examinations have turned up inconclusive results.

The Legendary Opening

The expert's tours permit guests to participate in a little scientific inquiry of their own. Upon reaching the opening in the trees where Barnea photographed his renowned UFO pictures, he passes his guest an EMF meter which detects energy patterns.

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

The trees suddenly stop dead as we emerge into a perfect circle. The only greenery is the short grass beneath the ground; it's obvious that it's not maintained, and appears that this unusual opening is natural, not the work of landscaping.

Between Reality and Imagination

This part of Romania is a area which fuels fantasy, where the division is indistinct between truth and myth. In traditional settlements belief persists in strigoi ("screamers") – undead, form-changing bloodsuckers, who emerge from tombs to terrorise local communities.

The famous author's famous character Dracula is forever associated with Transylvania, and Bran Castle – a Saxon monolith situated on a cliff edge in the Carpathian Mountains – is actively advertised as "the vampire's home".

But even folklore-rich Transylvania – literally, "the land past the woods" – feels solid and predictable versus this spooky forest, which seem to be, for causes related to radiation, atmospheric or purely mythical, a hub for creative energy.

"In Hoia-Baciu," Marius comments, "the division between truth and fantasy is remarkably blurred."