Fenyőkút

Fenyőkút, or in Romanian Fântâna Brazilor, is a scattered settlement belonging to the commune of Corund, located on the western side of the Harghita Mountains in a picturesque setting, about 6 km from Corund. The settlement developed from clusters of houses and summer lodgings (known as esztenák), which align with the natural rhythm of the hilly pastures and meadows. This scattered village is situated between Melegpatakfő (1005 m) and Datka-tető (963 m), making it one of the highest inhabited areas in Székely Land. Reaching Fenyőkút is an experience in itself: starting from Corund, leaving the local market behind, the road follows the Észak-vize stream to the clusters of houses nestled in the valleys. Some parts of the settlement can also be accessed on foot from the 13A main road via trails winding along the Köves, Égettvész, or Nagy-Lapos streams. For the locals, the terrain is not an obstacle but a part of everyday life – the roads, streams, patches of forest, and meadows are integral to the settlement's structure. The village's character has been shaped by traditional pastoral culture: in summer, sheep's cheese and whey cheese are still made at the working esztenák, while the mown meadows, haystacks, and smokehouses around the lodgings reflect the vitality of local farming. The built heritage is modest and functional: log houses, thatched or wooden shingle roofs, wooden gates, and barns with spaces for both animals and fodder. The natural environment of the settlement is exceptional. The Fenyőkút peat bog is a glacial relic habitat, home to protected plant and insect species. The surrounding forests, bogs, and meadows hold abundant botanical and ecological value. The area is ideal for nature walks, eco-tours, snowshoeing, and nature photography. The diversity of the landscape, the altitude, the clean air, and the starry skies offer visitors a uniquely valuable experience. Fenyőkút welcomes guests not as a tourist attraction but as a living rural community. Those staying in the few guesthouses here will find more than just a place to sleep – they can immerse themselves in the rhythm of the village, participate in mowing, cheese-making, preparing local dishes, or simply relax on a bench by the Melegpatak stream. This scattered village offers something rare: tranquillity, purity, closeness to nature, and a community that still knows how to live in harmony with the land. Fenyőkút is not just a destination – it is a way of life, a feeling that will leave anyone who experiences it longing to return.