This is Măgura, in the Piatra Craiului national park, where I am lucky enough to live.
Magura is one of the most popular villages in the country to visit, for Romanians and foreign visitors. It’s the only village in Romania that is wholly within a national park. Several of the nine villages of Bran (such as Fundata, Sirnea, Pestera as well as Magura) nestle in the hills at high altitude (my house is more than 1,000 metres above sea level) and have stunning views in all directions, glorious seasonal weather, vivid colours and clean air. Yet my home village is only three hours from the capital Bucharest, and an hour from the county capital Brasov, so if I want urban distractions, they’re within reach.
Amazingly, there is now a good internet signal available in the village, so I can work from home – in touch with people all over the world – and still have the luxury of peace and beauty that is my gift from Romania.
Arabella McIntyre-Brown 