Natural paradise: The 800-year-old Oaks of Breite, Sighișoara

The Ancient Oak Reserve on the Breite Plateau

The ancient oak reserve on the Breite Plateau, near Sighișoara, is relatively unknown and even less promoted. However, the reserve hides some of the oldest trees in Romania. The Breite Plateau covers 133 hectares and is surrounded by a forest with over 450 oaks and hornbeams, some of which are over 800 years old. Some of the trees have a circumference of up to 6 meters and reach heights of up to 30 meters.

History of the Breite Plateau

The history of the place is much older than that of Sighișoara. In 1860, archaeologists discovered several silver Roman coins here, revealing that a Roman family once lived in the area. The name Breite Plateau also appears in other official documents:

• In 1583, a document from King Stephen Báthory prohibited the people of Odorhei and Făgăraș from bringing their animals to graze on this plateau.

Since those years, the oak trees on the Breite Plateau have been an important source of wood for the inhabitants of this area, but deforestation has escalated in the last 50 years. Today, the reserve is recognized nationally and internationally.

Visiting the Breite Plateau

There are two ways to reach the Breite Plateau:

1. On foot from the Cornești neighborhood (Sighișoara)
2. By car from DN14 road, heading towards Mediaș, from Hula Daneș.

There, a 2 km forest road begins, leading to the ancient trees plateau. If you want to help preserve this reserve, you can find more information at its official website.