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"Locals dub this location a mysterious vortex of Transylvania," states an experienced guide, his exhalation creating wisps of condensation in the crisp night air. "So many people have vanished here, some say it's an entrance to a parallel world." The guide is leading a guest on a night walk through what is often described as the globe's spookiest woodland: Hoia-Baciu, a section spanning 640 acres of old-growth indigenous forest on the outskirts of the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca.

A Long History of the Unexplained

Reports of unusual events here extend back hundreds of years – the grove is titled for a local shepherd who is reportedly went missing in the far-off times, together with 200 of his sheep. But Hoia-Baciu gained international attention in 1968, when a military technician named Emil Barnea captured on film what he claimed was a flying saucer suspended above a circular clearing in the middle of the forest.

Many came in here and vanished without trace. But don't worry," he adds, turning to the visitor with a smirk. "Our excursions have a perfect safety record."

In the decades since, Hoia-Baciu has brought in yoga practitioners, spiritual healers, extraterrestrial investigators and paranormal investigators from worldwide, eager to feel the unusual forces reported to reverberate through the forest.

Current Risks

Despite being one of the world's premier hotspots for supernatural fans, the forest is facing danger. The western suburbs of Cluj-Napoca – a contemporary technology center of a population exceeding 400,000, known as the Silicon Valley of Eastern Europe – are expanding, and real estate firms are advocating for approval to clear the trees to construct residential buildings.

Barring a few hectares housing area-specific specific tree species, the forest is without conservation status, but the guide is confident that the company he co-founded – the Hoia-Baciu Project – will assist in altering this, encouraging the authorities to recognise the forest's importance as a tourist attraction.

Chilling Events

While branches and autumn leaves split and rustle beneath their boots, the guide describes some of the local legends and reported supernatural events here.

• A well-known account tells of a little girl vanishing during a family outing, only to reappear after five years with no memory of her experience, showing no signs of aging a single day, her garments shy of the smallest trace of dust.
• Frequent accounts explain cellphones and camera equipment inexplicably shutting down on venturing inside.
• Feelings vary from full-blown dread to feelings of joy.
• Some people claim observing unusual marks on their arms, perceiving ghostly voices through the woodland, or experience fingers clutching them, despite being sure they are alone.

Study Attempts

Despite several of the stories may be impossible to confirm, there are many things before my eyes that is undeniably strange. All around are plants whose bases are warped and gnarled into bizarre configurations.

Multiple explanations have been given to clarify the misshapen plants: that hurricane winds could have shaped the young trees, or naturally high electromagnetic fields in the soil cause their strange formation.

But scientific investigations have discovered inconclusive results.

The Famous Clearing

The expert's walks permit participants to engage in a modest investigation of their own. Upon reaching the opening in the trees where Barnea took his famous UFO images, he gives his guest an electromagnetic field detector which measures energy patterns.

"We're venturing into the most powerful section of the forest," he comments. "Discover what's here."

The vegetation suddenly stop dead as they step into a flawless round. The only greenery is the low vegetation beneath their shoes; it's apparent that it's naturally occurring, and looks that this strange clearing is wild, not the work of landscaping.

The Blurred Line

This part of Romania is a location which stirs the imagination, where the border is unclear between fact and folklore. In traditional settlements belief persists in strigoi ("screamers") – otherworldly, shapeshifting creatures, who emerge from tombs to frighten regional populations.

Bram Stoker's renowned fictional vampire is permanently linked with Transylvania, and Bran Castle – a medieval building perched on a rocky outcrop in the mountain range – is keenly marketed as "the vampire's home".

But including legend-filled Transylvania – actually, "the place beyond the forest" – feels solid and predictable in contrast to this spooky forest, which appear to be, for factors radioactive, climatic or entirely legendary, a hub for creative energy.

"Within this forest," Marius says, "the boundary between reality and imagination is extremely fine."