Ghimpe Reserve

The path is located just one hour from Bucharest, on the banks of the Neajlov River, a tributary of the Argeș, which flows into the Neajlov Delta. The trees in the Comana Natural Park have been witnesses of the history of Romania. The thematic trail follows the thread of legend, history and the story of nature that shaped these places.

The path’s name comes from the forest thorn, Ruscus aculeatus, a Mediterranean shrub with thorns, evergreen leaves and red fruits, protected by law and directly linked to the legend of Vlad the Impaler. This says that the thorn appeared here after Vlad Țepeş was killed in the place called “Walnut Fountain” inside the park. The plant grows under the trees in the forest, therefore it must be carefully looked for at the base of the trees, especially in the area of ​​the Oloaga-Grădinari Forest.

The panels present not only the life of Vlad Țepeș, but also the species of plants, birds and animals that the park shelters:

Plants: orchids or gorse, downy oak, silver linden, dogwood, wood cherry.
Birds: Great grebe, Great tit, Green grebe, Gray heron.
Animals: hazel grouse, bushy-tailed grouse, wood mouse, house snake, wood lizard.
After completing the landscaped thematic path, Route 1, visitors have 3 options for returning: