Every spring, the Apuseni Mountains host a natural spectacle of rare beauty at the Negrileasa Narcissus Meadow.
Narcissus Meadow
Located in a picturesque area of Alba County (at an altitude of 1,150–1,250 m), close to the Transapuseana and its storybook villages, the Narcissus Meadow has been declared a protected area and a botanical nature reserve.
How to Get to the Negrileasa Narcissus Meadow
The Negrileasa nature reserve lies in the Metaliferi Mountains, east of Vâlcoi Peak (1,348 m), between the Negrilesii and Groazei valleys, near the village of Valea Negrilesii. The protected area covers 5 hectares. See details on Wikipedia
Negrileasa Narcissus Meadow
Access is easy via county road DJ 107I, also known as the Transapuseana, which joins national road DN 74 at the entrance to Abrud (Cerbu). From Bucium, communal road DC 87 leads to the village of Valea Negrilesii and continues as a forest road up to the meadow.
The forest road goes as far as the edge of the reserve, from where you enter the meadow on foot.
As you come out of the forest, the view rewards you: entire meadows covered with fragrant white flowers, spread across the gentle slopes of the mountain.
The Legend of the Negrileasa Narcissus Meadow
It is said that long ago, a magical bird, tired from its journey, stopped to rest in the meadows of Negrileasa, just as the local shepherds were preparing for the night of fire. Seeing the rare bird, they wanted to take its feathers to adorn their hats. But the bird spoke to them in a human voice and begged them to spare its life, promising that in return it would fill the meadows with white flowers, like its feathers, year after year.
The shepherds listened, and the bird rose into the sky, leaving behind as a gift thousands of white narcissi, which have bloomed every spring since then in the meadows of Negrileasa. Source: here
Things to Do in the Area
Besides walks through the meadow and unforgettable photo sessions, the area offers other attractions, such as the famous Detunata Peaks – Detunata Goală and Detunata Flocoasă, spectacular basalt formations a short distance away – and Vânătările Ponorului.
For those who want to spend more time here, there are several guesthouses in Bucium commune. The Transapuseana road offers views straight out of legend.
Weather in Bucium
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When to Visit the Nature Reserve in Alba County. Narcissus Festival 2026
The best time to visit the Narcissus Meadow is in the second half of May, when the narcissi are in full bloom.
Narcissi
Every year, Negrileasa hosts the Narcissus Festival, a traditional event that brings together locals and tourists. The atmosphere is authentic, with folk music, traditional dances and local food.
In 2026, the Narcissus Festival took place on the weekend of May 23–24, organized by the Bucium Town Hall and Local Council. The festival is usually held in the second half of May (in 2024 on May 18–19, and in 2025 on May 24–25).
It's the perfect opportunity to discover the beauty of the meadow at the height of the blooming season, as well as the hospitality of the people of Bucium!
Note: Alba County has two narcissus meadows declared protected areas: one at Negrileasa and the other in Tecșești, in Întregalde commune.
