Deep in Romania's oldest forest, Mociar Forest, a carefully maintained stone marker, protected by the local community, tells the story of an unusual diplomatic gesture: a tiny piece of Romanian land transformed into a symbol of European friendship just months before Romania joined the European Union.

Situated between the Gurghiu and Mociar valleys in Transylvania, Mociar Forest takes its name from a regional term referring to marshy ground or an area with surface springs. The nationally protected nature reserve, renowned for its centuries-old pedunculate oaks, witnessed a symbolic gesture anticipating Romania's accession to the European Union.

The story began exactly 20 years ago, on October 30, 2006, when the Association of Gurghiu Valley Communities donated one square metre of land to Germany through the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW), in gratitude for Germany's support for Romania's European integration.

The location was deliberately chosen. Home to Romania's oldest oak trees, Mociar Forest provided a fitting symbol of an enduring friendship, deeply rooted and capable of withstanding the passage of time.

The location was no coincidence. Mociar Forest is home to the oldest oak trees in Romania, making it a fitting symbol of an enduring friendship, deeply rooted and able to withstand the passage of time. The ownership certificate for the plot of land, on which two centuries-old oaks stand, was symbolically presented to Hans-Werner Czerwinski, Director General of the BVMW's Management Board and International Relations Committee, by the Mures Prefecture, then headed by Prefect Ciprian Dobre.

The inauguration brought together Romanian and German officials and business representatives. Hans-Werner Czerwinski, who also held the position of consul, was deeply impressed by the area's rugged beauty.

'I hope that through this symbol we will have the opportunity and the possibility to expand our cooperation. The region is like an uncut diamond. You have extraordinary riches and tremendous opportunities, particularly in tourism, which you must bring to their true value. You must polish this precious diamond, and the results will not be long in coming,' Czerwinski said at the ceremony.

Captivated by the local hospitality, the diplomat even spoke of building a holiday home in the region. He was particularly moved by eight children from Gurghiu who performed a piece by Beethoven.

'Besides the cultural programmes we support in northern Germany, we want to explore the possibility of promoting this group of children, who created such a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere,' the businessman said.

Photo credit: Dorina Matis / AGERPRES

Some of the promises made that autumn began to materialise. Bilateral visits followed, along with substantial assistance for the school in Gurghiu and a tour of Germany by the village's children's ensemble. The most ambitious project involved attracting investors to Orsova, a village known for its salt-rich pastureland, where residents use brine to pickle vegetables and preserve meat for winter. Plans were being developed to lease land for a modern spa resort.

Gurghiu Mayor Laurentiu-Dumitru Boar remembers those hopeful days with nostalgia.

'It was a very important meeting for Gurghiu commune, about 20 years ago. Consul Hans-Werner Czerwinski visited us through the Mures Prefecture. Naturally, we welcomed him properly, according to local traditions, with many young people dressed in traditional costumes. We also have a carved stone at the place where we met, symbolising friendship between Romania and Germany, and where that monument stands, I could say, one square metre of land was also donated... He was very surprised by what he saw here. He was interested in bringing investors to Gurghiu commune, more precisely to Orsova, where we have pastureland containing a great deal of salt,' Boar said.

But the dream of economic development collapsed just three years later following an unexpected event.

'About three years later, while travelling to visit us, Mr Czerwinski suffered health problems. He collapsed at an airport, had a heart attack and, unfortunately, passed away. May God rest his soul! We are very sorry. Afterwards, we had no further contact with anyone from that side, and everything came to an end... Now, after 20 years, I feel that we are no longer attractive to investors. That was the only proposal to build a saltwater spa resort in Orsova. Nobody has contacted us since,' the mayor said.

Photo credit: Dorina Matis / AGERPRES

Boar believes that, besides Czerwinski's death, Romanian bureaucracy has also hindered development in the Gurghiu Valley. He cited the castle and dendrological park in Gurghiu, both potential tourist attractions.

'We tried to develop a project using European funds, but we could not submit it in time because it was very complicated and required numerous approvals. Unfortunately, in this country, major investments are held back by a multitude of permits that are quite difficult to obtain. We are doing everything we can to develop the commune and provide residents with everything they need, so that there are no differences between town and village. It is the duty of the mayor and local council to do their utmost for the community,' Boar said.

Although the major economic projects came to a halt, the stone marker erected on the Mociar Plateau has survived, carefully preserved as a memorial.

Its upper section bears the inscription 'Certificate of Ownership', followed by the words: 'This space was donated as a token of appreciation for Romanian-German relations.'

The names of the partner organisations, the Association of Gurghiu Valley Communities and BVMW, are engraved on the stone, together with the date October 30, 2006.

Beyond its diplomatic significance, the site is part of an exceptional natural heritage area.

The ecological importance of Mociar Forest was recognised as early as 1932, when part of it was designated a forest nature reserve. Prominent botanists from Cluj, including Alexandru Borza and Ion Grintescu, drew attention to its uniqueness during the 1940s.

Sidonia Batin, an expert in forest regeneration at the Mures Forestry Directorate, explained that the protected area covers 48 hectares.

'Mociar Forest was declared a protected natural area in forest management unit 58 A, covering 48 hectares. The centuries-old oaks are believed to be between 400 and 500 years old. Their average diameter is between 1.5 and 2 metres, and they are scattered at a density of around ten trees per hectare... Their vitality is low. Most specimens are dead, while those still growing show weak signs of life. The species is native, the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur),' Batin said.

Human intervention is prohibited within this specially protected section, allowing the trees to follow their natural life cycle.

'It is a forest with a special protection function. No forestry operations are carried out because of its scientific importance. The trees have been left to develop naturally, without any intervention. There is no silvicultural intervention whatsoever. They evolve naturally, and when they eventually die, that is their fate. Only this 48-hectare plot is designated as a protected area, although the forest itself covers more than 1,000 hectares,' she explained.

The reserve contains approximately 300 ancient oaks, towering between 15 and 25 metres, many with massive trunks and irregular crowns of twisted, gnarled branches. Oaks account for around 60% of the forest's trees, alongside ash, hornbeam and aspen. The woodland provides habitat for roe deer, wild boar, foxes, bears and numerous birds of prey.

Today, the Mociar ancient oak reserve is regarded as one of Transylvania's important natural attractions. The Visit Mures tourism promotion association recommends it to travellers seeking to discover the region's ecological and historical heritage.

'Near Reghin, on the road to Sovata, lies Mociar Forest, a genuine natural treasure, where centuries-old oaks and beeches tell stories of the past. The protected reserve, covering approximately 48 hectares, is home not only to rare plants but also to rich wildlife (...). A walk here is like travelling back in time, where the silence is broken only by the sounds of nature. It is the perfect place for those seeking relaxation, nature photography and any traveller eager to discover Transylvania's hidden treasures. If you visit Mures County, do not miss Mociar Forest - Romania's oldest forest,' the association says on its website.

Located near Reghin, at the foot of the Gurghiu Mountains, the reserve lies between Solovastru, Beica de Sus and Gurghiu.

Visitors can reach the area from Reghin towards Sovata, passing through Nadasa along the Mociar Valley. The forest edge and the historic Romanian-German friendship marker are also accessible from county road DJ 153C, which connects Reghin and Gurghiu.

Photo credit: Ministerul Mediului - Romania / Facebook

The oldest and most spectacular oaks stand deeper inside the protected area, rather than beside the road. Visitors wishing to see them and discover the commemorative stone must continue on foot along forest tracks and paths.

A visit to Mociar Forest can be combined with exploring Gurghiu's cultural heritage, including the saltwater traditions of Orsova, the Reformed Church dating from 1756, the Roman Catholic Church and the Bornemisza Castle complex, an 18th- and 19th-century historical monument comprising a castle, chapel, dendrological park and historic tower.

Other attractions include Gurghiu's Porcelain Factory, associated with a local craft tradition dating back to the 17th century, archaeological remains from the Roman period, medieval fortifications and the Poiana Narciselor (The Daffodil Meadow) botanical reserve, whose springtime display of daffodils transforms the landscape into a fragrant white carpet.

The stone marker in Mociar Forest thus stands as a symbol of two enduring legacies. It recalls a moment when the Gurghiu Valley embraced the spirit of European cooperation and a single square metre of land carried an entire community's hopes for development. At the same time, carefully preserved among ancient trees approaching the end of their natural lives, it shows how respect for history and nature can endure even when individuals pass away and ambitious projects are halted by bureaucracy. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)