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"People refer to this location an enigmatic zone of Transylvania," explains a tour guide, his breath forming wisps of mist in the cold night air. "Countless people have disappeared here, some say it's an entrance to a different realm." Marius is leading a visitor on a evening stroll through commonly known as the world's most haunted grove: Hoia-Baciu, an area covering one square mile of ancient indigenous forest on the outskirts of the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca.

Hundreds of Years of Enigma

Reports of unusual events here go back centuries – the grove is titled for a local shepherd who is said to have vanished in the distant past, along with two hundred animals. But Hoia-Baciu came to global recognition in 1968, when a defense worker called Emil Barnea photographed what he reported as a unidentified flying object suspended above a circular clearing in the centre of the forest.

Countless ventured inside and vanished without trace. But rest assured," he adds, facing his guest with a smirk. "Our guided walks have a perfect safety record."

In the years that followed, Hoia-Baciu has brought in meditation experts, traditional medicine people, UFO researchers and supernatural researchers from across the world, curious to experience the unusual forces said to echo through the forest.

Current Risks

It may be among the planet's leading hotspots for lovers of the paranormal, the forest is facing danger. The western districts of Cluj-Napoca – a modern tech hub of a population exceeding 400,000, known as the Silicon Valley of eastern Europe – are encroaching, and real estate firms are pushing for approval to clear the trees to build apartment blocks.

Barring a few hectares containing area-specific oak varieties, the forest is without conservation status, but the guide is confident that the initiative he helped establish – a dedicated preservation group – will help to change that, motivating the government officials to recognise the forest's importance as a visitor destination.

Chilling Events

When small sticks and seasonal debris split and rustle beneath their footwear, the guide describes various traditional stories and alleged ghostly incidents here.

• One famous story recounts a five-year-old girl disappearing during a family outing, later to reappear after five years with complete amnesia of what had happened, without aging a single day, her garments shy of the tiniest bit of dust.
• Frequent accounts detail smartphones and imaging devices unexpectedly failing on entering the woods.
• Emotional responses include complete terror to moments of euphoria.
• Various visitors report observing bizarre skin irritations on their skin, perceiving ghostly voices through the forest, or experience fingers clutching them, even when sure they are alone.

Scientific Investigations

Despite several of the stories may be hard to prove, numerous elements visibly present that is undeniably strange. Everywhere you look are plants whose bases are curved and contorted into bizarre configurations.

Multiple explanations have been suggested to account for the abnormal growth: strong gales could have altered the growth, or inherently elevated radiation levels in the earth explain their strange formation.

But scientific investigations have found insufficient proof.

The Legendary Opening

Marius's tours allow visitors to participate in a modest investigation of their own. When nearing the opening in the woods where Barnea photographed his renowned UFO photographs, he passes the visitor an EMF meter which detects EMF readings.

"We're venturing into the most energetic area of the forest," he states. "See what you can find."

The trees immediately cease as we emerge into a flawless round. The sole vegetation is the trimmed turf beneath their shoes; it's clear that it's naturally occurring, and appears that this unusual opening is organic, not the result of people.

The Blurred Line

This part of Romania is a location which fuels fantasy, where the division is unclear between fact and folklore. In countryside villages belief persists in strigoi ("screamers") – undead, shapeshifting creatures, who emerge from tombs to terrorise local communities.

The famous author's famous fictional vampire is forever associated with Transylvania, and Bran Castle – a medieval building perched on a stone formation in the mountain range – is actively advertised as "the vampire's home".

But including legend-filled Transylvania – truly, "the place beyond the forest" – feels real and understandable versus this spooky forest, which appear to be, for reasons nuclear, environmental or entirely legendary, a hub for fantasy projection.

"Within this forest," Marius comments, "the line between fact and fiction is remarkably blurred."