I have just returned from a tour of the Saxon villages of Transylvania, a mesmerising little corner of eastern Europe. The region provides a rare opportunity to experience rural equanimity, where people, land and homes haven't changed for 800 years.

Without a time machine, this is the closest you'll come to witnessing what life must have been like in medieval Europe……”

Says Lucy Mayhew in her Travelmail article ‘ Transfixed by Transylvania ’

Recommended by the Rough Guide 'Clean Breaks' - guide to the top 500 eco-destinations in the world, Tarnava Mare provides a magical experience for the visitor, either as your main destination or as a perfect addition to any multi centre holiday in Romania. Situated in the heart of the ‘Transylvanian Triangle’ it compliments a visit to the historic cities of Brasov, Sibiu and Sighisoara.

World class Heritage

Time has given the area a rich historic tapestry – most notably the settlement by Saxons and Hungarians during the middle ages. These incomers brought distinctive architectural styles to the villages along with many stunning churches and manor houses. The constant threat of invasion from the east resulted in the construction of fortified churches and citadels.

The churches of Viscri, Saschiz and Biertan are on the UNESCO World Heritage list and are among many that can be visited. Knowledgeable guides help you discover the hidden stories. The region is made up of a mosaic of unspoiled traditional villages and fortified medieval churches, extensive deciduous woodlands and flower rich meadows. The small communities, the few roads and persistence of traditional and non intensive agriculture have helped preserve a landscape of astonishing natural and cultural richness. Bears and wolves still roam the woods and corncrakes and quail call among the long grass. This type of landscape was once common across much of Europe but has disappeared in most places.

You can protect this fragile place