At Sălătruc, in the valley of the Izvorul Alb creek, grows a rare forest: around 300 yew trees (Taxus baccata) — a protected tree with precious wood and very slow growth, gone from most Romanian forests.
The yew lives for hundreds of years and grows only a few centimetres a year. Once widespread in the Carpathians, it was cut down almost everywhere for its hard, springy wood. The stands that survived — like this one at Izvorul Alb — are living monuments today.
The area was declared a reserve in 2000 (3 ha), and since 2004 it has been a protected area of national interest (Government Decision 2151/2004), extended to 21 hectares.
The reserve borders Cabana Marisa — Izvorul Alb Street, Sălătruc. Visit it on foot, with respect: no fires, no cutting branches, no picking. The easiest way: ask your hosts to show you the entrance and the yew stands — they are a few steps from the guesthouse.
Cabana Marisa is right on Izvorul Alb Street — the reserve begins just past the fence.