Văcărești Natural Park
Bucharest, Romania
This infrastructure, previously used by the communists and left unused for decades, has now transformed into a paradise for wildlife.
There is a vast nature reserve called Văcărești Natural Park located in the wetlands on the outskirts of Bucharest. A sturdy concrete wall encloses the park. The land where the park is situated was previously part of the city’s neighbourhoods. The government took over during the communist era in Romania as part of President Nicolae Ceaușescu’s grand plan to create the hydrological infrastructure that would eventually link Bucharest to the Danube River.
Plans were made to create a reservoir in Văcărești, which would be supplied with water from the Argeș River. To enclose the lake, a concrete dam was constructed. The state purchased several homes in the vicinity and demolished them. However, the development plans were abandoned due to the Romanian Revolution in 1989. Consequently, nature gradually reclaimed the area.
In 2013, researchers from the Romanian Academy discovered a thriving ecosystem containing numerous plant and animal species in the abandoned reservoir. Following this discovery, efforts were made to convert the area into a nature reserve and park that would be protected.
Located just five kilometres from the city centre, Văcărești Natural Park is Romania’s first urban nature park and the most significant green space in Bucharest, spanning 183 hectares. The park boasts a diverse range of wildlife, including over 138 species of birds, rare plants, and mammals such as foxes, weasels, and otters.
You can enter through various ways without any fee. The address to enter is the same as the observation tower, but you need a reservation to access it.
