House in Nature - A Country Vacation in Transylvania

The Impact of Migration on Romanian Villages

After the fall of communism in 1989 and the massive migration of Saxons from Transylvania, many villages in Romania have been left abandoned. Thus, localities of unique beauty in Europe are at risk of disappearing forever. The only chance for these communes seems to be tourism, and a project that allows tourists to experience rural life as it once was stands as proof of this.

Casa în Natură: Reviving Abandoned Villages

The Vision of Christian Harfmann

Austrian Christian Harfmann learned to know and love Romania through a support project aimed at promoting and developing tourism in Romania's traditional regions. In other words, his project, *Casa în Natură*, is based on a rather simple idea: to revive the villages abandoned over the last 20 years through tourism, while at the same time providing the people who have remained in these localities with a new perspective and a new source of income.

Achievements Since Launch

Since the launch of the project Casa în Natură, Christian Harfmann has succeeded in restoring some of the oldest houses in Transylvania, with histories spanning hundreds of years, and transforming them into traditional guesthouses where tourists can spend their holidays in a natural and simple environment, where the charm of these Transylvanian localities is invaluable.

Connecting Tourists and Locals

Thus, hundreds of people from across Europe are able to connect through the portal:

• Website: [www.casainnatura.eu](http://www.casainnatura.eu)

Available in German and English, it allows travelers to plan vacations in villages of Transylvania that they won't find in any travel guide.

Interaction with Locals

In most cases, the homeowners live in the same village, giving tourists the chance to interact with them, learn about the traditions and customs, and discover the secrets that make up the history and beauty of these areas. Often, locals prepare traditional dishes for tourists, such as:

• Homemade bread
• Pork products
• Wines from their own vineyards

In addition to all this, tourists can participate in various household activities and even take care of animals.

A Thriving Network of Tourism

The project Casa în Natură initiated by Christian Harfmann is more than just a booking site. The Austrian, who declares his love for Romania, has managed to bring together homeowners from the villages of Transylvania, and thus, over the past five years, he has built a true network through which this type of tourism can thrive.

Those who wish to spend such an original and unique vacation in Europe can find more information on the website:

• Website: [www.casainnatura.eu](http://www.casainnatura.eu)