Sicroomxapennine's journey began in 2019 when two passionate environmentalists, Elena Popescu and Mihai Constantinescu, found themselves sitting on a mountainside in the Carpathians, discussing their shared vision of a tourism model that would actually regenerate rather than deplete the natural environment. Both had spent decades working in conservation and sustainable development across Europe, witnessing firsthand the damage conventional tourism was causing to pristine natural areas.
The name "Sicroomxapennine" emerged from the ancient Dacian words for "sacred forest dwelling" – representing our commitment to honoring the historical relationship between humans and the natural world. We secured our location along Strada Republicii in Brașov in 2021, carefully selecting a site that had previously been used for logging operations, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate how degraded land could be transformed into a thriving ecosystem.
For the past three years, our growing team has been meticulously planning every aspect of the retreat – consulting with local communities, collaborating with sustainable architects, studying traditional Romanian building techniques, and establishing partnerships with conservation organizations. We've already begun the regeneration of the forest, planting over 2,000 native trees and creating wildlife corridors that connect to the surrounding protected areas.
While the main retreat will open its doors in 2026, we're already active in the community through educational workshops, reforestation events, and sustainable tourism planning sessions. Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to creating a model that demonstrates how tourism can be a powerful force for environmental regeneration and cultural preservation.
