The Fairy Glade

CLOSED UNTIL MAY 31, 2026 Building on the experience of the temporary butterfly house in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, we opened the first permanent butterfly house in Romania, at Praid/Parajd, Harghita county, on the spring of 2012. The building, created for this very purpose, is divided into two parts and is house to a reception area that communicates with a gift shop and to a so called “flying space” with a tropical microclimate that is decorated with tropical plants, a small lake and a circular walkway. Our butterflies come to us from South-American, African and Asian butterfly farms as puppets. After their arrival, the puppets are installed in a hatchery especially built with this purpose, and, depending on species, wonderful butterflies hatch from the caterpillars after a few days. Each year, the butterfly house can be visited in the warm months and one can watch, usually at the same time, 8 up 9 different common species and several hundreds of specimens from the 6-7 changing species of butterflies. Because butterflies’ lifetime is of only a few weeks, we are attentive, when changing, to bring new species, thus inviting our visitors to come again and again. Among our permanent guests, we would like to highlight the virtuoso Blue morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides), the graceful Zebra butterflies (Heliconiinae), the ever lazy Owl butterflies (Calligo memnon), as well as the Paper kite butterfly (Idea leuconoe), which floats in the air like a silky sheet. Our butterfly house offers moments of relaxation and of excitement, both to children and to adults. Open every day from May to September. TICKETS • 10 RON - children, pupils, students • 12 RON - adults, pensioners • under 3 years old are admitted for free

In the Vărşag forest, along the Fântâna Mare brook, is the Vărşag waterfall. Fueled by 7 springs, the stream's waters drop from a height of 7 meters, forming a beautiful two-step cascade. From here, it goes to Târnava Mare. As we arrive up, we can go to the source of the brook, but also to a belvedere. To reach the springs, we have to follow the brook, and after about 0.5 km we reach the 7 springs that are heading to the valley. For the belvedere, we will continue to Talas hill. The belvedere built of wood is close. From here, we can admire the vast surface of Vărșag. The water curtain stretches over a length of 200 meters. During winter, the access to the waterfall, which freezes in two colors because of its minerals, is difficult. However, the curious hikers who want to see the fantastic shapes of the frozen water will venture to follow the difficult trail.

The "creek that flows backwards" or "The Stagnant Creek Izvoare", which the locals have named so because it has no "flow", is actually an artificial channel. It was built in the middle of the last century to bring water to the animals that grazed on the plateau, and for local consumption. Since then, a ditch was dug near the water, called Irigyvesze. The drinking water of this creek is flowing on the plateau, and due to the very small difference, those who descend to the Izvoare valley have the feeling that the water of the canal flows upwards! Photo source and text: https://pensiuniharghitene.ro/

The most important destination for tourists visiting the Mureş Valley is the source of the Mureş/Maros river, named by some as the place where legends are born. The spot where the clear spring water sees the daylight is a wonderful place, at an altitude of 1350 m, on the southern slope of the Black Mountain (Fekete Rez in Hungarian). The Mureş River itself is born from the waters of Pârâul Mic Creek, Pârâul Varului Creek and Pârâul Mare creek. Photo source: www.triff.ro

If you are interested in the life of the wild animals in their natural environment, if you want to take a picture of film them, we recommend the Ivó (Izvoare) wildlife park. The Wildlife Park in Ivó (Izvoare) stretches over an area of 320 hectares, crossed by rivers and surrounded by mountains. Deer, stags and mouflons live in their natural environment in this picturesque region. The few paths and fences were our minimal and necessary intervention in the wild beauty of the nature. The Wildlife Park in Ivó / Izvoare, Harghita county, is located in the heart of the Eastern Carpathians. Its purpose is to restore the natural environment of these animals. Prices: • Two-hour guided tour in the park - 20 RON • Two-hour guided tour in the park for children - 10 RON • Guided tour, then product tasting at the Honor Villa - 45 RON • Guided tour for children, followed by product tasting at the Honor Villa - 20 RON • A day of photography. Special photos for commercial use. - 400 RON

Zetea is the only artificial lake in the upper ​Târnava Mare area. The work on the dam began in 1976, and finished only in 1992. The goal of the dam was to protect against floods and to control the level of the river. The dam protects from floods the localities in the Târnava Mare valley, and in case of drought ensures the normal flow of water. At first, the fauna was made of migratory fish from the brooks. The most significant quantity is the common chub, followed by trout. The lake was populated with other smaller species, such as belica, spirlin, common bleak, Romanian barbel, but the fish fauna was also enriched with Prussian carp, common carp, zander, pike, nase, common bream, burbot, and even perch. You can fish both from the shore and from the boat, which are mainly used by fishermen who use spinners or fly fishing. Cover photo: Mihálydeák Antal 

The thermal waterfall in Toplița has been declared a natural monument, a protected area of ​​national interest and a biological and landscape nature reserve. The total area of ​​the reserve is 0.5 hectares. The water reaches a temperature of 27 degrees and is very rich in calcium. The peculiar aspect of the waterfall is due to the changing colors that delight the eyes. The colors reflected by the water (from white to dark brown) are caused by the presence of travertine in the lower layers, which is in a continuous process of sedimentation. The waterfall is fed by the springs from Bradul resort. One of its unique features is that the waterfall seldom freezes, keeping its temperature warm even in the middle of winter. However, during the winter of 2014, when the region recorded minus 29 degrees Celsius, the waterfall froze, and then, after a sudden rise in temperature, a part of the rock wall collapsed.

Fântâna Brazilor bog is located at an altitude of about 950 m, in the central-western part of the Praid-Dealu volcanic plateau, in Gurghiu Mountains.  The Fântâna Brazilor bog was declared a Natura 2000 site in 2007. It appears as Luc or Ruc in the literature, but locals generally call it Datka. It is the Westernmost bog with pine trees in the Eastern Carpathians. The bog is surrounded by a spruce forest (Vaccinio-Piceetum abietis). Among the important fauna species are the red forest frog (Rana dalmatina), the red mountain frog (Rana temporaria), salamandra (Salamandra salamandra), and the mountain lizard (Zootoca vivipara). You can visit the peat bog on a visitor trail constructed with the help of the local community. If you visit on your own, please don't forget to pay the entrance fee at the small shop right before arriving at the entrance. You will discover along the path the specific processes and flora of the Siberian marshlands and forests, even insectivore plants and poisonous ones.  If you need more professional guiding, please book your time at the phone number attached here.  Text and photo source: https://www.korpa.ro/

The Snail’s Hill is a geological reserve that spans an area of ​​8 hectares at Corund/Korond. It is considered the largest aragonite occurrence in Romania, receiving a national protected status since 1980. The study of the aragonite in the area date from the 18th to 19th centuries. János Bányai (1938) argues that precipitation processes formed the carbonate deposits from saline, carbonated solutions with low temperature. The water spring from Snail’s Hill is in the form of a natural, active spring. The water appears at the base of the carbonate deposits or through the cracks of the rocks, bubbling smelly gas. The freshly depositing material is aragonite and calcite. Knop Vencel, the teacher of Czech origin invited to take courses at the Zlatna Industrial School of Stone Sculpture and Grinding, began de exploitation of aragonite in 1909. The teacher moved to Corund and established the Aragonite Polishing Factory. The peak of exploitation and processing of aragonite in Corund is placed between 1931-1939. As a result of these mining activities, the diverse forms of natural deposits were harmed, but nowadays a wald through the rocks gives a unique opportunity to discover the beauty of aragonites and banded calcites. You can visit the reserve on your own on a nicely maintained visitor path. If you need more professional guiding, please call the phone number to book your visit. You can buy simple visiting ticket, or you can opt for a combined ticket, which contains the entrance fee for the Salty bath UNICUM, lying on the foothill of the rocks. Entry fee: 5 RON