In the Valley of Biertan, time seems to have stopped: sheep, bears and wolfs live a free life, no fences shape the hills... And for more than 500 years, people in Transylvania have made wood into charcoal. Today, however, only a few can be found deep in the forest : Europe´s last Charcoal Burners.

It’s a tough job: outside everyday from February until December, breathing smoke and dust all year round. They live on site in wooden huts, without electricity. At 3 cents the kilo of charcoal, a worker has to produce one ton per month to earn about 300€.

Making wood into charcoal is an ancient technique: wood is artfully layered in 4 meter high hills, covered with straw and earth before setting a narrow fire inside the kiln. Soon extinguished, the embers continue to work under the earth at more than a 1000°c. It has to burn a week before opening.