“…and you have to see Transylvania- in late afternoon,and after the twilight!The deep forest, which grows the gigantic totem-poles.And you have to see Transylvania.Where old Europe has seen more watch-fires than peacefuldaylights since our St. Stephen's time..."

Bágyi Bence Jakab: To my Son.

• Torockó is Transylvania’s westernmost border fortress, and maybe its most

beautiful village. The former mining village is today part of the World Heritage sight. This settlement lies south of Kolozsvár in

the narrow valley of Székelykô and Ordaskô rocky-mountain-range, which is

part of Toracko mountains on the eastern part of Transylvania’s mid mountains. In

certain periods the Sun rises in such a way, that viewed from the village it appears to

be sliding back behind the rocks of Székelykő, just to appear again later on.

(The Torda mountain-gorge)

The mountain-gorge at Torda is one of the spectacular hiking places of Transylvania. The “split in two” mountain is visible from

great distances. According to scientific explanation the cleft was formed by

collapsing a water hollowed roof of a limestone cave. The cleft holds several

legends associated to Saint László, one of them is; the mountain split in two behind him, so the Cumanians could no longer

pursue him. The Patkós- Stone bears the trace of his horse’s horseshoe. The cleft is

approximately 2 km long, the path leads between limestone rocks (in some places 200 m tall ) on the alternate sides of the brook Hesdát. The path is connected by two little footbridges. There are also 32

excavated caves in the cleft.

ParajdSóvidék (Salt-region) is the first settlement in Europe that was

named after the vast mineral treasure it has. Parajd is the centre of this “big community”, the homeland of Transylvanian salt. At the junction of eastern brim of the Transylvanian basin and the Görgény snow capped mountains runs along Parajd, in

embrace of salt cryistal-saturated brightly glittering rocks. Parajd is the last settlement in Hargita county, it’s immediate

neighbour is Szovata in Maros county well known for its natural salt lake (Bear Lake). At the same time the region is known for its rich water-network. Here flows the Kisküküllô

river that provided an inspiration to,Áprily Lajos, the village’s greatest poet. The Kisküküllô river meets at the feet of Harom

mountain with the brook of Korond which broke a path between the salt-rocks. The name of the settlement PARAJD was first used in 1567. The region was already known in the

Roman times as salt-quarry.The underground extraction began in the 18th century, till than the surface mining was typical. The

current salt-mine was opened in 1787.

(St. Ana)

The saint Anna lake is the single remaining intact volcanic crater in Southeastern Europe at the height of 950 meters over sea level at Nagy- Csomád. The evenly shaped circle-lake’s average depth is 4 meters. It does

not have a source, in the spring the melting snow in the surrounding mountains ensures the supply of it’s water. In summertime it is full of bathers. On the shore of the

lake is the saint Anna chapel, where an Anna- day fair is held every year, where designated Catholic believers pilgrimage in masses. The fair was held even in the

Causescu (communist) regime despite the increased security check. Near by, in the Mossy-hag, a number of

ponds can be found in the open flooded territory, and also some rare plants.

Gyilkos Tó

• The legend of the Killer Lake. • A beautiful girl lived once upon a time in Gyergyó. On a sunny day

she vent to the fair and met a strong man of grit. It vas a love at first sight. He wanted to marry her, but he had to go to the army. The girl was faithfully waiting for him, but one day a villain kidnapped her and took her to his den in the mountains. He promised her everything: his gold, his silver and diamonds just to merry him, but in vain. Then he wanted to force her to be his wife. She turned to the mountains shouting for help. Her scream was understood by the rocks and they answered by a big thunderstorm with flittering lightning's, earthquake and land slide. The earthquake buried everything, the girl, the villain even a friendly shepherd from other side of the mountains. The landslide and the rocks blocked the way of the Vereskő-brook. Its water was rising and soon filed up the narrow valley forming the Killer Lake.

• To the newly formed lake the name “Killer Lake” was given by the region’s shepherds.

• On a sunny day, if one looks into the grayish-green water of the lake; it reflects the color of this beautiful girl’s gentle eyes.

“These snow-capped mountains may hide the greatest phenomenon, but certainly not a more

attractive one.."

(Orbán Balázs: The Transylvanian writing. II. 1869. 111)

anny4702@gmail.com Translated from Hungarian by T.