Europe has a new epic path to rival the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
The Via Transilvanica across Romania is so long that it took its founder Alin Useriu almost two months to celebrate its official opening this week.
The 52-year-old first came up with the idea for the 1,400-kilometer trail through the wilderness of Transylvania four years ago.
Useriu wanted to create something similar to the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago or the vast American Pacific Crest Trail.
Little did he know then that more than 10,000 people would help make this dream a reality by volunteering to mark the route through the Carpathian Mountains and some of the continent’s most spectacular scenery.
“My only goal was to revitalize rural areas and all the friends I spoke to were excited about the project,” he told AFP.
– Rural Exodus –
The Romanians embraced the idea with enthusiasm.
“This is the first project since the revolution (of 1989) that really brings us together and allows us to discover landscapes and people that we wouldn’t otherwise have,” said the mud-spattered Sergiu Paca, whom AFP met while cycling on the track remote village of Sapartoc near Sighisoara.
Nearby, Radu Moldovan has turned one of the abandoned old village houses into a lovely guest house.
“We wanted to put all the beautiful theories we learned at university into practice and be a living example,” said the farmer, who was trained in environmental issues and rural development.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better for Sapartoc,” said the 35-year-old, hoping that this would be a big boost for the 22-strong village.
Despite strong economic growth, Romania is experiencing a youth exodus from rural areas, with some of the country’s most beautiful regions suffering the most from depopulation.
In Archita, another village on the route, truffle farmer Gheorghe Silian – who wears a traditional felt hat – also hoped the trail would help bring life back to the region.
“I came back here after several years in Italy,” says the 58-year-old, one of millions of Romanians who immigrated to Western Europe after the collapse of communism in search of a better life.
– First baby in 47 years –
“In the last three years (after the trail was laid) tourists have reappeared, coming here to eat or to rest for the night,” he said as he surveyed his oak and almond trees.
“It also means I can sell them my truffle-based products and my palinka, the local plum brandy.
The ecotourism that the trail hopes to promote also serves to preserve local architecture and traditions.
Not that Useriu sees any major dangers in mass tourism, as can be seen on Romania’s Black Sea beaches.
“We set the maximum traffic at 300,000 people per year and we’re a long way from that,” he said.
But Userius’ dream that the trail should help revitalize mountain villages already seems to be bearing fruit.
“My wife gave birth to our son a few months ago – the first birth in the village of Sapartoc in 47 years!” said Moldovan.
