How to get here

The area can be found near the town of Miercurea Ciuc. (South of Jigodin Bath) Going in the direction of Brasov, before we leave Miercurea Ciuc there is a crossing with barrier on the right side of the road. Short after the crossing there is a bridge over the river Olt, the notice board presenting the nature reserve can be found here.

Map of the road from Miercurea Ciuc to “Csihányos”.

Description of the area

It is a national nature reserve situated on the right-hand side of the Zsögöd narrow (660 m). It is bound by the river Olt in the east, by the Kisvár hill in the north, by the Csihányos ridge in the south and by the Nagyharom in the west. The highest point of the area is the Nagyharom (943 m), the lowest point is the entrance to the narrows. Remains of three bronze-age forts „guard” the area: in the north the Zsögöd-fort, in the south the Zsögödfürdő-fort and in the west the Harom-fort.

The area is protected at local level due to the varied and rare flora and fauna. Some of the rarities: the Checkered Daffodil (Fritillaria meleagris), the Black Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla pratensis ssp. nigricans), the Gymnadenia conopsea (Gymnadenia conopsea), the Bug Boy Herb (Orchis coriophora), the Jacobs Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum), the Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) and the Globe-flower (Trollius europaeus).

Several birds can be fond here: the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), the black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), the Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), the blackbird (Turdus merula) the fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), the Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), the Serin (Serinus serinus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), the Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), the robin (Erithacus rubecula).

Several protected amphibians and reptiles can be found here: the Smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris), the Carpathian Newt (Triturus montandoni), the Alpine Newt (Triturus alpestris), the Yellow-Bellied Toad (Bombina variegata), the Common Toad (Bufo bufo), the Common Frog (Rana temporaria), the Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis), the Viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), the Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis), the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix), the Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), the Common Adder (Vipera berus).

Due to its archeological values, its rich flora and fauna and as it is easy to get here, this area must play a key role in environmental education in this region. Unfortunately holiday houses are more and more common here and they represent a danger to the region.

Csonta László, Demeter László

Useful information

A book by the Green Szeklerland: Csihányos - egy újrafelfedezett természetvédelmi terület című könyve (click)

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