What riddles could be nestling in one of the most beautiful villages in Romania?
Dragus or Drackendorf in the language of the Transylvanian Saxons, meaning the Dragons’ Village, is a mysterious countryside land on Fagaras Mountains feet, whose stories and legends have lost record of time. The name of the village comes from the legends familiar in Fagaras Land back in the 14th century, legends about devils, dragons and griffins.
It displays old picturesque houses typical to the Fagaras Land, a church dating back in the 18th century, but also the oldest stone mill in the region. All the houses bear a cross on their façade, as a sign protecting the family and bringing good luck.
Tourist can go hiking in Fagaras Mountains from here,with a marked routing available, which leads up to Remus’ Hut (named after a shepherd), at 1,650 meters altitude.
Dragus area also shelters an adventure park, Dragus Adventure Park, located 24 km from the city of Fagaras and 1 km from Brancoveanu Monastery in Sambata de Sus. Access is made from DN1 E68, from Fagaras to Sibiu. On Sambata de Jos village, you turn left on DJ 105 B and follow the signs showing “Manastirea Brancoveanu” (approx. 10 km) and then follow the signs showing “Aventura Parc Dragus” (approx. 1 km).
The park is located near the “Dragus Ski Track“, another touristic attraction in the area, located southern Dragus village and opened in 2010.
In the neighborhood there is also “Casa Zmeilor/ The Dragons’ House” boarding house, which got its name from the translation in Romanian of the German term of Dragus, Drackendorf. At the same time, hikers can find accomodation right in the villagers’ houses. Tourists can go to the Touristic Promotion Center in the locality and they are given an address. While they are looking for that particular accomodation all by themselves, the visitors are given the opportunity to discover the village and the landscape. Within villagers’ households, tourists can enjoy traditional food and drinks and can even attend the houseworks, they can have a hayride and can feed the animals.
Dragus is fitting for Assumption feast these days, as it does every year. The customs on Saint Mary Day is quite apart here, as the whole village is. In 2013, Dragus has been designated the most beautiful village in Romania following a national contest, while last year the village ranked third in the “Romania’s Cultural Village” competition.
The mace’s custom
One of the ancient customs on August 15 from around here is “the Mace” celebration.
The locals make a mace out of the most beautiful wheatears. The Mace is shaped as a double cross adorned with sticks. It is taken in the village and its bearers are splashed with water. Youth is gathering at the church and start marching through the village accompanied by fiddlers. At every house gate, old women wearing national folk costumes are joining the youth and so, the suite is growing bigger and bigger by the time they approach the village’s exit. The people are taking the mace at the bailiff’s house, put it on the table, while the host is putting it in high regard by the next year. A party usually follows, which lasts until dawn.
Dragus village also hosts another special place: the labyrinth from the cornfield, which opens precisely on August 15.
The labyrinth is unique in Romania, actually being an eco park inside a cornfield lying on three hectares and consisting of a network of three alleys and a circular square. At the alleys’ crossroads there are finger posts displaying a question about the countryside culture. Each question has two or several answer options. Under each answer is an arrow, while the correct option is pointing to the right direction. Besides, during your cultural trip you will meet fairytale characters on the labyrinth’s alleys, the Witch, the Dragon, Prince Charming or Ileana Cosanzeana, a fairy in the Romanian mythology.
The labyrinth opens every August and can be visited until October. The entrance is free. So, you’d better get ready to hit the road to Dragus’ cornfield labyrinth this Saturday.