The Romanian village of Viscri in the scenic region of Transylvania won the heart of then-Prince Charles on his first visit in 1998.
Enchanted by its dirt roads, horse-drawn carriages and colorful houses nestled in green hills, the environmentalist and nature lover has become a regular visitor.
He even bought his first house there in 2006: a light blue building that is familiar to all locals.
What was originally an occasional princely residence has now been converted into a museum dedicated to botany, another passion of the new king.
“His Majesty the King hasn’t been here for a few years, but he left a lot of footprints,” Caroline Fernolend, president of the Mihai Eminescu Trust, told AFP.
Under Charles’ patronage, the foundation has renovated several properties in Transylvania using traditional methods and materials to preserve the heritage.
“He also funded a reed-based ecological sewage treatment plant and a new water drainage system for the village without promoting it,” she said.
Every year tens of thousands of tourists discover the timeless atmosphere of Viscri.
Guest houses have sprung up in response to its popularity – in contrast to the desolation that characterizes much of the Romanian countryside, one of the poorest members of the EU.
“Viscri was a forgotten village and now small houses are being sold for over 40,000 euros!” said retired physical education teacher Ion Stoica, who cycles from his neighboring village to Viscri every evening.
That sum is a small fortune in this region, he added.
– Royal Stamp –
Not all residents of the hamlet, home to 400 residents and dominated by a UNESCO-listed church, share Stoica’s enthusiasm.
Royal honors brought “no prosperity” to Viscri residents, says another resident, sitting on a bench in the village.
Yet no one disputes the restoration efforts undertaken under Charles’s leadership.
Charles claims descent from a 15th-century prince known as Vlad the Impaler, the historical inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. He even said that Transylvania is “in my blood”.
“It’s such a beautiful region,” said Ana Maria Plopeanu, 35, whose grandparents are from Transylvania and who visited Viscri with her partner.
“Everything is so simple here, so calm … we understand why the prince fell in love with the region”.
But instead of staying in Viscri, in recent years Charles has lived in Valea Zalanului, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) west.
There his residence is tucked away at the end of a dirt road, where a black veil is now hung on the gate as a sign of mourning after the death of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II last week.
A sign forbids entry for the curious – not enough to deter two British royalists, a mother and daughter, who said they have traveled from London to see the places dear to their new king.
They will soon be returning to London, just in time to attend the late Queen’s funeral.
