The Oak Tree from Mercheasa
|
|
In village Mercheasa, commune Homorod, Brasov county, there is a secular oak tree which has been a candidate in the contest "The Romanian Tree of the Year". It was identified as a result of a contest initiated by Prince Charles and the Foundation Mihai Eminescu, called "The Oldest Tree in the Village Meadow". The tree is part of a natural reserve of secular oak trees that were declared natural monuments and stirred the interest of both researchers and tourists. The 900-year old oak, situated in a protected area, is considered to be the "Veteran of the Carpathians" and can be visited by those who want to know its history.
9.3 meters in diameter
"The "Veteran of the Carpathians" was found in the natural reserve of secular oak trees from Mercheasa, which, after 900 years of cohabitation with the people who lived in these places, became a messenger of the region. It measures 9.3 meters in diameter and it is part of the species Quercus sesilliflora ? durmast (the Cornish oak) and it is 21.3 meters height. This oak is, of course, filled with history and has many stories to tell about the Teutonic Knights, the Transylvanian Saxons who stopped here, the Romanians who built settlements in this region, the Hungarians who still live in the village and the fortified buildings left as testimony," said Mr. Marcel Pelei, Mayor of Homorod.
The Witness of Transylvania
The Mayor of Homorod, Mr. Marcel Pelei, wanted to mention that the Geopark Persani Association also registered the oak from Mercheasa for the competition "The Tree of the Year", and further declared that many believed that this tree witnessed the birth of Transylvania, considered to be "The country beyond the woods". Besides the secular oak from Mercheasa, those who want to visit these places can also do hiking in the woods and observe the hunting fauna made up of a variety species of animals such as the bear, the Carpathian deer, the wild boar, the wolf, the fox, etc.
There is a superb tourist area surrounding the former resort, which is included in the General Urban Planning with a view to build holiday houses.
Other tourist attractions
The tourist attractions that can be visited are: the Evangelical Church from the 12th century in commune Homorod, the Evangelical Church and the Orthodox Church inside which there is a cross discovered by a local person in a pine trunk and a salty water well, in village Mercheasa, belonging to commune Homorod, and the Jimbor Fortress, the Evangelical Church, the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in village Jimbor at 10 km distance from the centre of the commune.
