Transylvanian Cultural Landscapes

By Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania & KAMA SYSTEM srl.

The Saxon Villages area of southeast Transylvania is a cultural landscape of global interest, with a mix of built and natural heritage based on centuries of man's benign and creative interaction with nature.  See short film at the end of the exhibit. 

Hay meadow, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

High Nature Value (HNV) grasslands

The wildflower-rich grasslands of Transylvania are a rare historic survival, based on hundreds of years of traditional management. They are also threatened by pressures for global competitiveness. The survival of these grasslands, and of the many wild plants and animals which find their home in them, depends on continued management by traditional farming communities. 

Mosaic haymeadow (2006-08-02) by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

This 'mosaic' mowing pattern, the result of small-scale ownership, is very nature-friendly and is one of the reasons for the richness of the wildflowers and wild animals of the area.

Gathering hay the old way by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Hay is still gathered by the whole family, using tools unchanged for hundreds of years .... but these methods also answer today's need for sustainable land use.

Hay making Bunesti near Viscri, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more
Gathering hay the old way, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more
Gathering hay the old way, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more
Mowing grass with egrets, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, 2009-06-06, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more
Hay making, Viscri, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

Hay making Bunesti near ViscriFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Gathering hay the old way by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Hay making, Viscri, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more
Hay making Bunesti near Viscri, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

Sheep grazing near forest, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Village sheep and cattle are grazed in groups, using a common grazing system that is also a historic cultural treasure.

Village flock of sheep (2008-10-09) by Fundatia ADEPT TransilvaniaFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Sheep grazing (2009-06-06) by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Cattle grazing (2010-10-04) by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Cattle grazing is important, since cattle need hay over winter: while the cattle remain, hay meadows - the richest habitat for biodiversity - will be managed by the local farmers. If abandoned, the grasslands lose their floristic diversity.

Village cattle herd (2009-06-14) by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Tumps near ApoldFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The complex landscape, including rare geological features such as these 'tumps' of small isolated hillocks, offers a great variety of micro-habitats, very adaptable to climate change and haven for a range of rare species.

Old-growth forest near Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

One third of the landscape is old-growth hard wood forest, which provides firewood for the villages, benign conditions for the grasslands nearby, and nesting places for eagles and bears. This kind of balanced landscape is nearly lost in Europe.

Old-growth forest near Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Old-growth forest near Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

A walk in the ancient woodlands of TransylvaniaFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Hay meadow, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Flora

The area is not only a haven for many wild flower species threatened in Europe, but also for wild relatives of food crops, a resource for mankind in a changing world. This haven is man-made, created by man working with nature over centuries. 

Flower-rich hay meadow, ViscriFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Hay meadow, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The meadows have become important sites for studies of how best to balance nature with production, to give the world a sustainable future.

Adonis vernalis, Pheasant's Eye by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Adonis vernalis, Pheasants eye, one of the many European rare species which has strong populations in the area

Salvia nutans landscape, Viscri by Fauna and Flora International/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Salvia nutans, the Nodding Sage, an iconic plant of the area.

Salvia nutans landscape, Viscri by Fauna and Flora International/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Globe flower, Trollius europaeus by Fergus Kinmonth/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Trollius europaeus, Globe flower, found in the damp hay meadows. Haymeadows like these are the most endangered habitat type in Europe today: 98% have been lost in western Europe.

Gladiolus imbricatus by Fergus Kinmonth/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Gladiolus imbricatus, the Marsh Galdiolus, is also found in damp meadows. It is seen here with Galium verum, Lady's Bedstraw, which can be used as a natural rennet for cheese making as well as a historically a pleasant stuffing for mattresses.

Sanguisorba officinalis, Great Burnet by Fergus Kinmonth/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Echium rusicum, Viper's Bugloss by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

A spectacular species of medium damp-dry grasslands, Viper's bugloss, Echium maculatum.

Pasque flower, Pulsatilla pratensis,, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

This beautiful Pasque flower, which comes into flower in spring, may be a local endemic sub-species.

Autumn crocus, Viscri is seen commonly in October, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) is also known as meadow saffron, and as naked lady because the flowers emerge from the ground long after the leaves have died back. It flowers in spectacular sheets in the grasslands in autumn.
The plant is used traditionally for treatment of gout.

Roades in its landscape by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The village of Roades surrounded by haymeadow: here yellow hay-rattle predominates.

Hay meadow, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Rhinanthus rumelicus, the local species of hay-rattle, is so called because if the seeds rattle in the seed-pods when you walk through the hay meadow, it is ready to mow.

Hay meadow, Gymes, and alpine area by Fergus Kinmonth/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The wild flora is rich even in the edges of villages.

Haymaking Cloasterf, Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania, 2010-10-04, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

Scarce Swallowtail, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Fauna

The man-made 'semi-natural' landscape is haven for many species rare in the rest of Europe. Here is one on the many butterflies: Iphiclides podalirius, the Scarce Swallowtail.

Speckled wood, Parage achine by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Another beautiful butterfly species, Speckled Wood (Parage achine)

Red-band fritillary on Iris aphyla by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Red-band Fritillary, Melitaea didyma, feeding on a wild iris flower (Iris aphyla)

Red-band fritillary on Nodding sage by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Red-band Fritillary, Melitaea didyma, on Nodding Sage

Maculinea arion, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

Large Blue butterfly, Maculinea arion

Salamander, Viscri, Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPT, From the collection of: Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania
Show lessRead more

The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, is one of the many interesting lizards, frogs and toads of the area

Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomerina by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Birds

The area is home to many bird species rare in Europe - such as this lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomerina

Lanius minor, Lesser Grey Shrike, by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The many protected bird species found in the area include Lanius minor, the Lesser Grey Shrike. Shrikes are also nicknamed Butcherbirds from their habit of hanging captured prey on a hook or in a tree fork, or crevice, as a larder to which they return for future feeding.

Storks nesting on Viscri school roofFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The villages are also home to important protected bird species: here the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is nesting on the school roof in Viscri.

Stork's nest on church tower by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Stork landing on nest, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

Bear, Viscri by Bob Gibbons/Fundatia ADEPTFundatia ADEPT Transilvania

The most impressive fauna species of the area are the European grey Wolf (Canis lupus) and the European Brown bear (Ursus arctos). This is one of the last regions of lowland farmed Europe still living in happy balance with these top predators, which are important for keeping nature in balance.

See this short film clip about the high nature value landscapes of Transylvania, and how the local farmers work with nature, as they have done for hundreds of years.

This is an element of European culture of inestimable value, unique and irreplaceable!

Credits: Story

Our thanks to the brilliant photographer Bob Gibbons for most of these photographs, and to Ben Sadd of Trail to Anywhere for the film.

Please contact Fundatia ADEPT, www.fundatia-adept.org, if you wish to help protect this unique area, its nature and its culture.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites