Stefan Singeorzan, mayor of the village of Feldru in northern Romania, points to a half-built five-storey house and says: “Three years of working abroad to get this far. Another four to finish it off.”
Nearby stand three freshly completed homes – one painted yellow, one pink and one red – all fitted with modern kitchens and bathrooms and double-glazed windows to keep out the Transylvanian winter. Around Feldru there are scores more, blocking views of the surrounding wooded hills and awaiting the return of their absentee owners.

Families across frontiers 

