# Hațeg Bison Reserve

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Hunedoara County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/hunedoara) › [Hațeg](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/hateg)

> Romania's oldest European bison reserve, in the Slivuț forest near Hațeg: the first bison brought from Poland arrived here in 1958, and the herd can be watched from the fence of the enclosure.

**At a glance:** Zoos and aquariums in Hațeg, Hunedoara County. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 10 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** The official hours are not confirmed. The press in May–July 2026 speaks of daily visiting, between 8:00 and 18:00 (a statement from the Hunedoara Forestry Directorate, repeated by the press), but no official page shows it, and a 2021 blog mentioned weekend-only hours. Check with the Hunedoara Forestry Directorate before you go. In winter the forest road can be hard to use.
- **Visit duration:** 45 min — an estimate
- **With kids:** Yes — big animals, at the fence
- **Best season:** April – October — winter road can be hard
- **Address:** Slivuț forest, ~4 km from Hațeg, on a forest road off the DN66, Hațeg, Hunedoara County
- **Coordinates:** 45.6382, 22.9729
- **Website:** https://deva.rosilva.ro/
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%83durea_Slivu%C8%9B
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12738837
- **Categories:** [Zoos and aquariums](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/zoos-and-aquariums), [National parks and reserves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/national-parks-and-reserves)

## About Hațeg Bison Reserve

The Hațeg Bison Reserve, also called Hațeg-Slivuț, is an enclosure for European bison in the Slivuț forest, a few kilometres from the town of Hațeg. In the first days of November 1958 the bull Podarec and the cow Polonka arrived here from Poland, and the cow gave birth to the first calf born in Romania after the species had long since disappeared from the country. The custom of the place is that calves born in Romania are given names beginning with "Ro": the first were Roman, Retezat and Romina. Dozens of animals have left Hațeg for other places; those at Vânători-Neamț and Neagra-Bucșani, among others, started from here.

The site is run by Romsilva, through the Hunedoara Forestry Directorate. The bison live in an enclosure of about 3 hectares, in the middle of an oak and hornbeam forest of around 40 hectares, on the edge of the Hațeg Depression, within the Hațeg Country Dinosaur Geopark. In 2025 the enclosure got a new fence and a gravel path around it. In June 2026 Romanița was born, the first female after seven years in which only males were born.

### What you can see

The herd of bison, the largest land mammal in Europe, which you watch from the fence of the enclosure, up close but without going in. The number of animals changes: the press in recent years speaks of seven or eight animals, joined now by Romanița. The bison graze calmly, and early morning and quiet days are usually the best moments for a visit. On the way to the enclosure you pass through the oak forest.

### Good to know

There are no opening hours or ticket price confirmed by the administrator. The 2026 press, which repeats a statement from the Hunedoara Forestry Directorate, speaks of daily visiting between 8 and 18, but older sources contradict each other on both price and hours. Check with the Hunedoara Forestry Directorate before you go. The figures for the area differ by source (between 3 and 40 hectares, depending on whether the enclosure or the forest is counted).

## Don't miss

- The herd of European bison, watched from the enclosure fence, a few metres away.
- The place where the first bison brought from Poland arrived in 1958, the start of the species' reintroduction in Romania.
- Romanița, the calf born in June 2026, the first female in seven years.
- The oak and hornbeam forest the road runs through, on the edge of the Hațeg Depression.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** the reserve is ~4 km from the centre of Hațeg, on an asphalted forest road that branches off the DN66 (Hațeg–Petroșani) and runs for about 3 km. The road was widened and asphalted in 2021 up to the enclosure; cars only reach the cabin at the gate. Deva is ~70 km away and Petroșani ~55 km.

**Public transport:** no line is known to reach the gate; from Hațeg you can take a taxi or drive your own car.

### Where to park

There is a small car park at the cabin at the gate, from where you walk a few minutes along an asphalted path to the enclosure. There is no information on any charge or on how full it gets at weekends.

### Fees & discounts

There is no ticket price confirmed by the administrator. The press in recent years gives sums between 7 and 15 lei for adults and between 5 and 7 lei for pupils, students and pensioners, but the articles are old and contradict each other. The ticket is usually paid at the cabin at the gate. Ask before you go.

### Rules

Stay behind the fence and do not enter the enclosure. Do not feed the bison, shout at them, or throw stones or objects at them. Speak quietly and do not leave litter. Follow the staff's instructions.

### Facilities

cabin at the gate · no information on toilets or pushchair access

## Details

- **Protected area type:** nature reserve
- **Part of:** Hațeg Country Geopark
- **Year established:** 1958
- **Area:** 3 ha
- **Signature animals:** European bison
- **Animal shows:** No

## Frequently asked questions about Hațeg Bison Reserve

**How long does a visit to Hațeg Bison Reserve take?**

A visit to Hațeg Bison Reserve takes about 45 min (an estimate).

**Can you visit Hațeg Bison Reserve with kids?**

Yes, Hațeg Bison Reserve is suitable for children (big animals, at the fence).

**How do I get to Hațeg Bison Reserve?**

Hațeg Bison Reserve is located at Slivuț forest, ~4 km from Hațeg, on a forest road off the DN66, Hațeg, Hunedoara County. More under “Getting there”.

**When is the best time to visit Hațeg Bison Reserve?**

The best season for Hațeg Bison Reserve: April – October (winter road can be hard).

## Nearby attractions

- [Hațeg Country UNESCO Global Geopark](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/hateg-country-unesco-global-geopark) — National parks and reserves · Hațeg, HD · 7½ – 8 hours · 5 km
  The land of dwarf dinosaurs around Hațeg, Romania's first geopark: small museums with reconstructions and fossils, themed trails through villages, palaeontological sites and traces of 70-million-year-old volcanoes.
- [Prislop Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/prislop-monastery) — Monasteries · Hațeg, HD · 1 – 1½ hours · 12 km
  A convent in the Hațeg Country, with a stone church rebuilt in 1564 and the grave of St Arsenie of Prislop (Father Arsenie Boca), one of the largest pilgrimage sites in Romania.
- [Dinosaur World Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/dinosaur-world-transylvania) — Parks and gardens · Sibișel, HD · 35 lei · 2½ – 3 hours · 17 km
  Family theme park at Sibișel in the Hațeg area, with dinosaur replicas, an animal farm, playgrounds and outdoor adventure activities at the foot of the Retezat Mountains.
- [Corvin Castle](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/corvin-castle) — Castles and palaces · Hunedoara, HD · 55 lei · 1½ – 2 hours · Top 20 · 18 km
  John Hunyadi's Gothic residence, on a rock above the Zlaști river and reached by a long bridge on stone piers; inside, vaulted halls and towers from the 15th century.
- [Piatra Roșie Dacian Fortress](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piatra-rosie-dacian-fortress) — Fortresses and fortifications · Luncani, HD · 1½ – 2 hours · UNESCO World Heritage · 18 km
  A Dacian fortress on top of a rocky hill above Luncani, with an ancient paved road of stone steps and tower ruins hidden in the forest; a UNESCO site, far from the crowds.
- [St Nicholas Church in Densuș](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/st-nicholas-church-in-densus) — Churches · Densuș, HD · Free · 45 min · 19 km
  A small stone church in the Hațeg Country, built largely from Roman blocks brought from Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, with a tower over the nave, stone lions on the roof and paintings from 1443.

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Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/hateg-bison-reserve
Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/rezervatia-de-zimbri-hateg.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/rezervatia-de-zimbri-hateg.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/riserva-dei-bisonti-di-hateg.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/reserve-de-bisons-de-hateg.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/reserva-de-bisontes-de-hateg.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/hatszegi-bolenyrezervatum.md
Last updated: 10 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania