THE NEW NATURAL PARK IN BUCHAREST – PETRICANI MEADOW
Bucharest Petricani Meadow is the most recent natural area where authorities decided to save the wild life and the environment. It is only 6 hectares of green world and fresh air just near a lot of blocks of flats. You would hardly guess there is a wild, natural paradise just a few steps when you come from Pipera Subway Station. You can get to Bucharest Petricani Meadow by metro or bus, but we say that from the center of the city, the metro is the best solution. From Unirii Square to Pipera Station and then, on by bus to the station called Tei Beach. From there, you will see a bridge over Colentina River and the headquarters of a company, Romsilva, in front. On the right, there is an almost hidden path.
ENTRANCE TO PETRICANI MEADOW
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PETRICANI MEADOW AREA
First of all, take some water, beer and coffee from Pipera Subway Station area because there are no shops at Petricani Meadow natural park. When you cross the bridge, send a frined you live location and be always ready to call 112. The park is near a district where not always people are friendly. It has been a suburb of Bucharest for more than 400 years and even nowadays police looks there for thieves and criminals. We visited the area on a Sunday morning and I admit that we only met a girl reading a book, a few reptiles and birds. But, you never know and it is better to be aware of possible dangers.
SHORT HISTORY OF COLENTINA RIVER AND THE PETRICANI AREA
Petricani Meadow in Bucharest is part of the lakes that authorities built on Colentina River because of flooding risk and for entertainment purpose. Colentina river comes from Targoviste, Dambovita and only in Bucharest it has shaped ten lakes. The one in Petricani Meadow is between Tei Lake and Plumbuita Lake where you can also visit Plumbuita monastery which is one of the oldest in Romania.
COLENTINA RIVER
Colentina river has been a place where people used to get together on Sundays, fish, drink beer, eat the fish and enjoy nature. This was a tradition since the 17th century or even earlier. During the communist period, these lakes were also good for swimming. Now, swimming is not allowed. Colentina river goes to Dambovita River not far from Bucharest. According to the Natural Park Bucharest Association the entire Colentina ecosystem is full of wild life and places where you can find your peace for a few hours. BUCHAREST NATURAL DELTA is also protected area and is worth visiting.
ANIMALS AND BIRDS AT PETRICANI MEADOW
At Petricani meadow you can see morea than 100 species of butterflies, includind the brown argus and maniola jurtina. There are also a lot of small reptiles, including snakes which won’t do no harm and 88 species of plants. If you are lucky, you will meet the otter, stone marten, hedgehogs or twilight bats. One of the most interesting thing to do is bird watching. Experts have counted 90 species. There are cormorants, egrets, mallards and magpies. As for fish, they are food for the birds since fishing is forbidden and there are about 12 species.
WHAT TO DO AROUND PETRICANI MEADOW BUCHAREST
Although it seems more a relaxing place for expats and inhabitants, Petricani meadow may be a starting point to see the parks and lakes on Colentina River. Just near it, there is the Tei Park where you can see Bucharest from the great wheel. Not far is the Circus Park Lake where you can admire the Egyptian Lotus, a rare plant that covers the entire lake during summer.
