Unseen Romania

The Legend of Poiana Negrii

Poiana Negrii is a village in Moldavia (in Suceava county) but it is also a famous brand of mineral water, which obviously takes its name from the local water spring and river- Neagra.

The legend of the river and of the place is dramatic and it is placed during the reign of the enigmatic Moldavian ruler Negrea Basarab. This ruler was a wealthy man but all his fortune was nothing comparing to his most precious treasure: Neagra, his beautiful daughter. Not only was she beautiful but also active, intelligent and on top of that she was fighting better than a man.

The rumour about that beautiful but prideful girl of Negrea Voda spread all over the country and far beyond its borders so rivers of  suitors came to the palace from all over to propose her. But Neagra was such a fierce young woman and she did not like any of her suitors. She said she had no intention of getting married for the moment as she had better things to do. But there was a foreign price, a pagan if we are to trust the legend who wanted to marry Neagra at all costs, so he started a terrible war against her father. Neagra was very much indignant at hearing that a pagan (not Christian) dared to ask her hand – so she decided to take her horse and sword and go to battle together with her old father.

The princess was always present where there were the most dangerous situations, doing better than some of the strongest men of the army. Suddenly she saw her pretender – she rushed at him mad with anger, defeated him and cut his head in the end. Moldavians won that battle but they lost the war against the barbarians so the pagans took the power in the country. But Negrea Voda and his daughter gathered the army again secretly and after long and bloody combats Moldavians manage to chase away the invaders from their lands.

The brave girl was though followed up by the father of the dead suitor who did not dare to fight her face to face so he let go to an arrow which hit her chest in a fit of absence. The murderer managed to escape at the beginning but he was caught later on and killed – the pagan king died in peace though as he knew he managed to revenge his son’s death. The place where Neagra was deadly injured was in a forest, close to a river, where the women from the castle took her body to be washed and purified, according to the folk custom. They undressed Neagra and washed her body crying and mourning at a racking voice. Suddenly something strange happened: the river’s waters turned black as a symbol of their mourning of the brave maiden’s death also. After that miracle everyone called the river “Neagra” in the princess honour and the glade where she was buried took the name “Poiana Negrii” which meant “Neagra’s glade”.

Author: Irina Petre

Write a comment

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comment: *

Security Code:
 

Dianne and Mirel CAZAN
Posts: 1

Poiana Negrii One of the most beautiful places i have ever seen in my life
Reply #1 on : Mon October 20, 2008, 18:13:36

---

I am Jamaican and my husband is Romanian both residing in the UK... In summer 2004 we both took a trip with our Romanian friends touring the country... And my oh my we came across Poiana Negrii.. one of the most beautiful places i have seen in my life.. We stopped at this guest house/ hotel owned by a lovely man and his wife. Mr and Mrs Candrea. Their hotel also called (Poiana Negrii)

I admire the tradition the friendliness of the local people and of course food, drink and mineral water....

Upon my return to the UK i showed to my friends and colleagues the pictures of Poiana Negrii and they were speechless by the beauty of this place.

I hope that the authorities would consider opening an airport nearby because this would allow easier access to this paradise.

If you havent been there you must go... its Amazing....