Welcome to Our Slice of Nature
A special place with incredible energy and beauty, unspoilt nature and amazing people living a very traditional life in the Apuseni Mountains of Romania. We cannot wait to share it with you!
Our Story
Hello lovely people! We are Mihaela and Octavian, an oldish couple who after 3 years of backpacking around Austral-Asia, mostly volunteering and meeting awesome people from all over the world, have decided to settle down in the Transylvanian mountains called Apuseni.
All of our life we loved mountains and being outdoors, we hiked and climbed many mountains on four continents so it was only a matter of time to live closer to nature. We gave up our comfy life in Britain, for something that we felt is bringing us closer to our nature and life purpose. The wandering around the world gave us the courage to move on with our life and do what feels right to our hearts. We're into meditation and yoga, connection with nature, hiking and simple life. We are at the early stages of this eco-project, still learning about the place, adjusting to the wild nature around. We are part of the local community; we help eachother with things like hay making, we share stories and laughs.
The Place
We live on a large hill with 3 old traditional wooden houses and 3 barns (hence the name!). As most young people in theses villages have moved to the city, old and beautiful wooden houses are becoming ruins very fast, the forest is re-growing and old traditions are starting to disappear. We wanted to restore and preserve some of these buildings and traditions
We're currently in the process of bringing these back to life. The middle house was our first project and that's where we now call home. We've also just finished converting the barn next to it and we're excited to share this with like minded people!
There is incredible energy and beauty here, unspoilt nature and amazing people living a very traditional life. Everything beats to its own rhythm and we try to respect and work in tandem with nature and the local culture and traditions. We capture water from the spring in the woods, buy dairy products, honey etc. from the neighbours and we have fruit trees and wild flowers as much as you can see. It is so beautifully quiet and away from the craziness of the world.
Is it for you?
Dealul Cu Trei Case is a magical place for people that like quietness and nature, a great place for reflection and introspection. There are no TVs, limited phone signal and not really a place for party goers, sorry! This is a remote place and people still live traditionally, making the hay, picking fruits, making jams and pies, managing small home farms and gardens. It's mesmerising to see how they live this busy but slow paced life, how they help each other and find freedom and happiness in simplicity.
Activities
The nearest town, connected by bus, is about 40min away if you want to explore an old gold mining town (no more mining today but there is a gold museum you can visit). There is also a small ethnographic museum in the village and the local "pub". There are walks / hikes you can do from here and we can guide you. We have plans to mark and signpost a few longer walks but this is still work in progress.
There is no TV but very good mobile phone connection (Vodafone only), although we do recommend a complete social media detox. There is also a big wooden platform with views all around, for yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, or whatever you might want to practice. Living simple in nature is, we think, the highlight here! Oh,... and on a clear sky, one can be fascinated by the many stars at night (also visible from the bed in the barn).
Accomodation and Facilities
Barn #1
W can accomodate you in the newly restored and converted barn, a magical space with lovely views of the surrounding mountains and hills. The barn is ideal for 2-3 people, but can accomodate a maximum of 5, with a double, a single and a sofa bed (access to sleeping space requires climbing stairs or a ladder).
Inside
- Small self catering kitchen
- Electric hob
- Pans, cutlery, glasses, mugs, etc...
- Bathroom with shower, sink and toilet
- Hot water available all year round
- Wood burner for those cold winter nights
Outside
- Compost toilet
- Outdoor shower with spring water
- Covered terrace
- Rustic table and chairs
20 metres from the barn, there is wood and a fireplace for an evening chat and stargazing by the fire. This is a self catering place but we can help you with your food shopping from the nearest town - about 40 min drive - and from our neighbours (we try and source most products from locals but will do a shopping trip to town when needed). You're free to use produce from our own gardens when the season is right, in exchange for a helping hand with gardening. Depending on the season, there are fruits in the trees, wild berries, many types of mushrooms and much foraging to be done.
Barn #2
This is a renovated old wooden bar, a magical place in nature, secluded and with great views of the surrounding mountains! Perfect for families to experience simple, happy living into nature, or friends looking for a quiet place to connect and stargaze around the fire. It's a nature retreat, to experience peace, quiet and joy! You can have breakfast on the terrace and maybe even a bit of yoga. Sit by the fire in the evening, for laughter and chats with family and friends! The barn has large windows so you can see the stars at night
Inside
- Small kitchen space
- Induction hob
- Small fridge
- Dining table
- Comfy large chair for the rainy day
- Two single and two double beds
Outside
- Toilet, shower, washing area
- Terrace
The Campsite
We have terraced some of the land and made space for around 6 tents (3-4 person) comfortably. When you come out of your tent you will be greeted with stunning views of the valley. Just below the campsite there is another barn with an outdoor platform and inside space for cups of tea, breakfast and rainy days. To the right is the shower and toilet block with 2 sinks, 2 toilets and an outdoor shower with views of the valley. You'll be surrounded by nature sounds - krickets, birds, and the odd barking from our friendly dogs who will want to do their duty and protect you. Come and experience nature in it's rawest form!
Travel
Getting here is relatively simple, despite the remoteness. Nearest city is Deva (meaning God / deity in Indian religion) which is connected by train to most of the country. From Deva, there are regular busses to Brad which is the nearest town from here. From Brad, there are two mini busses daily which will drop you 900m away from our house.
Do contact us for advice or help with your journey, if you need to.
Hitchhiking is also popular in Romania and very feasible and an affordable way to move around.
Nearest airports are Sibiu (recommended, 2h drive), Timisoara (2.5h drive) and Cluj Napoca (3h drive). Transfer by private car is also possible and much faster than public transport, but of course more costly and more poluting. The last 900m to our place is on a relatively steep small road and requires 4x4 or it's a nice walk through a lovely forest (with a bench mid-way if you need a rest). We can of course pick you up from the bottom of the hill as well, especially if you have luggage.
Events
We organise events from time to time to share this magical place and connect people with nature and themselves
There are no events currently scheduled
Reality Check
As with everything - despite being quite idyllic - it is no perfect place and not suitable for everyone. Here are a few things that might be useful in your decision to visit Dealul cu trei case or not.
It's wild!
We are in the middle of a mountain, with it's many beauties but also potential hazards. There are wild animals like deer, foxes, snakes (non poisonous as far as we know), wild boar, wolfs, mice, insects, 'noisy' crickets, tick, bees, etc.... Strangely, bears don't seam to inhabit this area, although widely present in the Transylvanian mountains. This is an area of high biodiversity, quite rare nowadays. If you feel anxious about this or the remoteness, this might not be the place for you. There are no known local incidents of wild animals endangering humans as far as we and the neighbours know.
Lots of pets
We have one cat and four lively but friendly dogs, that are likely to follow you in your hikes and pretty much everywhere, (in exchange for cuddles :)
Access
The last 900m of the road to us is not paved and relatively steep, so in difficult weather like snow, it might not be drivable. In that very rare cases, access is only by foot.
It's hilly
The terrain is hilly and uneven. Good shoes are recommended and a fair level of fitness if you plan to hike. Also weather can change relatively fast so bring clothes for wet and dry weather, cold and hot.
Water
Water is from the nearest spring. We don't use any chemicals and filtration is only basic. Some people prefer to bring their own bottled water, but please be aware that this will create more plastic pollution. A refillable filter bottle might be a better option.
Living in harmony with nature
With 'living in harmony with nature' in mind, please use ecological soap and shampoo as these will wash out into the forest. Try to bring as little plastic and create as little rubbish as possible
Cost
Please contact us for the price as it will likely depend on a number of factors (number of people, length of stay, barn or campsite, etc). We strive to make this place affordable for everyone, but we also need to cover our costs of living here.
We also need as much help as we can with various jobs like renovation work, gardening, cooking, wood splitting, making beautiful things, etc. So if you have a particular skill or talent and would like to help us as a volunteer, please get in touch! We can provide accomodation and food in exchange for your help.
