Breite Oak Tree Reserve, Nature reserve with ancient oaks in Sighișoara, Romania
The Breite Oak Tree Reserve is a protected woodland with several hundred mature oak trees spread across a natural plateau near the Medieval Citadel of Sighișoara. The landscape alternates between stands of trees and open grassland, creating a mixed forest and meadow environment across the entire reserve.
The reserve was created by Saxon communities about 6 to 7 centuries ago, who planted oak trees among meadows and used the space for gatherings. The woodland form developed through intentional land management designed to provide both timber and grazing pasture.
Local people from Sighișoara have long used this space for walks and gatherings, treating it as part of their connection to the surrounding landscape. The way the old oaks stand among open meadows reflects how communities have shaped this land to balance forest and farming over many centuries.
The reserve is accessible by forest roads from the DN14 highway or via marked trails starting from Sighișoara's Cornești neighborhood. Walking shoes and water are recommended for visitors, especially if you plan to explore the woodland for extended periods.
Some oak trees in the reserve have reached approximately 700 years of age with trunk circumferences that are exceptionally large for European oaks. These ancient trees stand as living records of centuries past, allowing visitors to encounter genuine old-growth woodland.
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