Trovantland, the Austrian-style guesthouse near Cluj-Napoca

When we left for the hills around Cluj, we didn't know that, besides the natural finishes applied to the wood used to build the guesthouse and the cottage, we would discover a wonderful place and a passion to match. The Costin family fell in love with these places 30 years ago, since the time when it was just a hill naturally terraced by the landslides that had been in the area. Since then they have dreamed of a special place that would delight the soul and the eyes of the visitor. It took a long time, but they succeeded, Trovantland opening at the end of May 2021. I was there less than a month before the opening and we talked about trovans, reclaimed wood, nature and natural, experiences, passion. We also filmed it, so you can get an idea of the beauty of the place by watching the video at the end of the article.

Trovantland - a dream started 30 years ago  

Gheorghe Costin is from Maramureș, in the Lăpuș Valley, near the fortress of Chioarului. The memory of his grandfather, who was affected by the loss of land during forced collectivisation, made him want to buy land. After school he settled in Cluj, and when he had the opportunity, he started buying land in the surrounding area. The hilly and difficult area, with some even unstable land, had escaped collectivisation. There had been a major landslide in the area and many were happy to get rid of land that was of no use to them.

He began by farming on the land in the village of Pata, but dreamed of enhancing the hill with trovans from where on clear days he could see as far away as his native places. Nine years ago he built the cottage. In the meantime he has started building a new guesthouse and decided to turn the old hut into a restaurant, both for those passing through and for those who choose to spend a few days at their guesthouse exploring the area.

We arrived in the area as final preparations were being made for the opening, which was less than a month away. The outside had been completed since the autumn and the wood, protected with Kreidezeit oil-based varnish, had survived the winter. Inside, the wooden furniture pieces and decorations blend harmoniously in a well-balanced mix of traditional and modern. The style of the interior design takes you back to Austrian cottages with lots of wood and natural shades of colour. Interior designers and responsible for the choice of furniture and decorations were Mr Costin's wife and daughter. Bright rooms with wide corner windows give you the opportunity to discover the area from the comfort of your armchair. From the terrace, you can see the Trovans scattered all over the area, or you can see them up close, walking or cycling along the paths.

What are trovans

One of the attractions of the area are the trovans, or Feleac eggs, as they are called in the area. They are also known as living stones or growing stones. What are trovans really? They are rocks made of layers of sand bound together by a cement formed by limestone water flowing through the layers. The rocks grow over time as the cement forms outwards from the sand layers. Don't imagine looking at them and seeing them grow. Growth is slow, 4-5 cm in 1200 years. The stones have some of the most interesting shapes - round, oval, elongated - often hard to believe they are made by nature and not by a sculptor. The growth allows them to come together and join giving rise to bizarre shapes.

Trovans are also found in other parts of the country and the world. The term trovant is Romanian, being introduced in the geological literature in Romania at the beginning of the 20th century by the geologist Gheorghe Munteanu-Murgoci. The best known area for this type of formations is Valcea, where there is also a museum of trovans.

Hill cottage and terrace built with reclaimed wood  

Across the road from the guesthouse, further up the hill, is the cottage. A generous terrace has been built on the land in front of it. The pillars of the terrace are mostly reclaimed wood from the stables and animal shelters in the Apuseni. On his travels, Gheorghe Costin discovered these buildings, often abandoned and in an advanced state of decay. He talked to local people and bought the destroyed buildings from them. He dismantled them and brought back the wood he had salvaged to use in building the terrace.

A lengthy cleaning and protection process followed because, as you'll see in the video, the wood was badly affected by moisture and decay. After removing the rotten areas, the beams were treated against decay with Holzwurmfrei, a natural product fromNaturalpaint. Holzwurmfrei is a silicate mixture which, in addition to protection against decay, is recommended for treating old reclaimed or restored wood. Silicates strengthen weathered wood and make it more resistant. With this treatment, the beams of the Apuseni rocks live a new life together with the eggs of Feleac. Resistance to weathering and the degrading action of the sun has been ensured with oil-based varnish coloured with Kreidezeit pigments.

Now the pillars that make up the terrace are waiting for climbing plants to invade and tourists to enjoy a good meal and a view to match. There's also a barbecue area, all laid out in an authentic rustic style with good taste and decency. The dishes will be prepared in a professional kitchen and will be of the highest quality, with most of the ingredients being sourced from our own organic farm.

It's just the beginning  

The Trovantland project is still in its infancy and future plans include many more developments. Further down the valley, wooden cottages will be built that can be rented separately and a swimming pool will be built. All the outdoor facilities will be designed for relaxation and tranquillity. Bicycle trails will surround the whole estate, natural landslide lakes will be enhanced and children will have play areas. All designed to enhance the area and provide an unforgettable experience for visitors.

Visitors will find here very welcoming hosts  

While we were there, around noon, a car arrived and Mrs Costin, who had brought food for the "boys", got out, all smiling. It was impossible to escape, the invitation to lunch being unrefusable. We all gathered in the living room of the cottage and sat down to chat, the lady being very passionate about wood and interior design. We chatted like old friends, the atmosphere so pleasant and relaxed that we hardly broke away. We said goodbye and will meet again when the complex opens its doors.

I'll let you discover the place and the people in the video below.

P.S. Of course we came back to Trovantland to test the hospitality and cuisine of the place. Details in next pagewhere you can also admire the beautiful Trovantland sunsets.