Eco-Friendly Family Holidays

 

Immersed in the Romanian counties you will discover a rural world which disappeared long ago in western countries. You will be permanently in contact with the rich peasant culture and the protected nature. The inhabitants will help you to discover the village life and their crafts and to understand the mysteries of the painted monasteries and wooden churches which are now part of the UNESCO Heritage.

The little ones learn a lot about nature, animals and where food comes from.

Take the family away with a good conscience by spending your holidays here.

 

We propose below only two regions of Romania but you shoud bear in mind that anywhere in Romania the countryside is the heart and soul of this country, where peasant culture remains a strong force and medieval life prevails, as it does nowhere else in Europe. 
People are happy to meet foreign visitors, often inviting them into their homes for a meal and conversation.

For a true introduction to Romania's traditional villages, consider a home stay. Even most hosts do not speak English, they will make you feel welcome.
 

 

BUCOVINA- the Romanian well-kept secret

 

 

There is a legendary land, in the north of Moldavia, where history is at home in monasteries and citadels, where you can find traces from old Romanian civilization and traditions born from the treasure of Romanian folklore. Nestled in the rolling hills of northern Moldova is the region of Bucovina, home to one of the world’s greatest art treasures: the UNESCO World heritage sites of thePainted Monasteries of Bucovina. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries and featuring colorful exterior frescoes depicting dramatic religious scenes, these richly decorated houses of worships are unique in the world.

 

The most famous of these, often called "the Sistine Chapel of the East" is 

Voronet Monastery.

Erected in 1438 by Stefan the Great, Voronet’s most stunning feature is a

Last Judgment fresco painted – as at all the churches – on the exterior façade.

The blue paint that has miraculously never faded is known throughout the

world as ‘Voronet blue’. The artists here worked in isolation, guarding their

trade secrets and to this day, the composition of the paint remains a mystery.

 

Other painted churches not to be missed include Sucevita, with its distinctive

greens, and Humor, where the frescoes are predominantly red. Also nearby

are, Arbore, Dragomirna, Moldovita and Putna monasteries.

 

The town of Suceava, may be the best starting point for a trip to the

monasteries.

Once the capital of Moldavia (from 1375 until 1565), it has some noteworthy

attractions of its own, such as the remains of the Fortress of Suceava built in

1388. Today, visitors can tour the remains of the impressive fortifications and

take in a great view of the city.

 

Other sights in Suceava include the St. George Church (UNESCO World Heritage

Site),  Mirauti Church, the Zamca Monastery and a number of museums

dedicated to woodcraft, ethnography, history and folk art.

The Bucovina History Museum displays medieval armor, coins, tools and

ancient documents. Its Hall of Throne is a re-creation of Stephen the Great’s

court with furniture, weapons and costumes.

 

A visit to Bucovina would not be complete without some stunning nature

walks through Ceahlau National Park, Romania’s Olympus – the sacred

mountain of the Dacians, the forefathers of the Romanian people. Make

sure you bring binoculars as some 90 species of birds can be seen in the park

area. Hikers won’t want to pass up taking a crack at the Bicaz Gorges, a steep,

twisting-and-turning climb more than three miles long.

 

Not part of Bucovina but not far from it, Neamt County is located in the

central-eastern part of Romania being blessed with many touristic sites:

Century-old monasteries, fascinating museums, fortresses and strongholds

as well as many natural parks ideal for hiking and wild-life watching.

Monasteries Neamt - the oldest in eastern Romania (Moldova) and Agapia –

featuring by Romania’s best known painters: Nicolae Grigorescu at Agapia

Monastery,  the Ceahlau Mountain - also known as The Athos of Romanian

Orthodoxy.

 

Bucovina is a precious gift given by nature to Romania. a place where the Romanian history and tradition are mostly expressed, a treasure that Romania is ready to share with you. 

The landmarks of Bucovina are the outdoor painted monateries, each one with its own history, legends and colors.

A very nice tour will guide you to the most important ones: Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita, Humor, each one having a unique background color. The blue from Voronet is the famoust because it can"t be reproduced. 

You can choose any of Bucovina Tours and enjoy all the most important treasures of Bucovina.

We are strongly advise you to try the local food and drinks which are a proud of Romanian cuisine.

 

 

MARAMURES

 

The northwestern Romanian region of Maramures is home to many villages

where century-old traditions are still part of daily life. The inhabitants of this

area have preserved, to an amazing extent, the rural culture and crafts of their

Dacian ancestors.

Maramures villages are distinguished by their unique wooden churches with tall

spires and shingled roofs. Woodlands still account for more than four-fifths of

the land surface of Maramures. 

It is understandable, therefore, that wood has long been, and continues to be,

the medium of expression for the region’s artisans. Elaborate woodcarvings

decorate the eaves, entryways and windows of houses. The local handiwork is

also seen in the hand-woven carpets and intricate embroidery that adorns folk

dresses still worn by the locals.The local craftsmanship can be best observed in

the monumental Maramures gates, guarding the entry to the houses.

As it has for hundreds of years, social life in Maramures continues to revolve

around the village church. The Wooden Churches of Maramures in Surdesti,

Plopis, Rogoz, Ieud, Poeinile Izei, Barsana, Budesti and Desesti - have been

recognized by UNESCO as some of the most important sites of world heritage.

Unique in shape and ornamentation, they have characteristic high roofs and

tall, narrow, pointed steeples, often collectively describer as ‘the Gothic style

of Maramures.’

 

The primary wood material used by the artisans who built them was local oak,

which has survived the elements with sturdy elegance until today.

 

The spiritual philosophy of the people of Maramures is perhaps nowhere more

apparent than in Sapanta. The town folks’ ancestors considered death as a

beginning, not the end, and this faith is reflected in the carvings in the town’s

unique Merry Cemetery . Blue wooden crosses feature a carved scene and

humorous verses that endeavor to capture essential element s - both the good and the imperfections - of the deceased’s life. Even without benefit of translation, visitors can appreciate the handiwork of sculptor Stan Ion Patras, who began carving these epitaphs in 1935, and his successors. Patras’ house in the village is now a fascinating museum. Sapanta is also home to several wooden gates and one of the region’s tallest wooden churches.

Sapanta is a 20-minute drive from Sighetu Marmatiei, an important tourist and

cultural center in the region. The outdoor village museum in Sighetu Marmatiei

boasts dozens of homes and farm buildings assembled from around Maramures

County.

Other attractions include the 16th century Reform Church, the Elie Wiesel

Memorial House, and the Victims of Communism Memorial (Museum of

Arrested Thought), located in a former communist prison in the center of town. 

 

Maramures is dominated by a landscape of mountains and rolling valleys.

The Gutai, Lapus, Tibles Maramures and Rodnei Mountains are cut by passes

named Huta, Gutai, Prislop, Setref, and Botiza. Three large valleys cross the

region: Viseu, Iza and Mara. The Rodnei Mountains National Park, a natural

reserve filled with a rich diversity of flora and fauna, has been awarded biosphere status by UNESCO. Here, chamois leap between rocks, the cry of eagles’ rings out overhead and as the snows recede in the spring, crocus and other flowers create swathes of dazzling colors.

Authentic Experiences

 

For a one-of-a-kind experience, take the narrow-gauge steam train.

Starting from the small logging town of Viseu de Sus, the steam railway runs

along a scenic road for about 30 miles, chugging behind an old steam engine.

The train provides the only access - other than walking - to settlements higher

up in the valley. During stops, you can watch workers load firewood and take

on water from clear mountain streams.

On the trip back down in the evening, the engine driver whistles for brakemen

to stop the train - sometimes to pick up or drop off passengers, sometimes to

stop to pick wild mountain mushrooms.

 

 

We propose you to explore and enjoy :

 

• the wooden architecture and rural lifestyle of the traditional Maramures villages Berbesti, Barsana, Bogdan Voda, Botiza, Budesti, Calinesti, Desesti, Giulesti, Harnicesti, Ieud, Plopis, Poienile Izei, Rogoz, Sugatag and Surdesti, 

• the unique Merry Cemetery in Sapanta with its colorfully decorated wooden crosses

• the Vaser River Valley - onboard the narrow gauge railway ‘Mocanita’ 

• The glacier lakes, waterfalls, volcanic mountains, caves and the geological reserve of Creasta Cocosului.

 

 

There are a lot of places, undiscovered jewels, in Romania and you may found exciting tour information among these pages.

But if not perfect for you,  we will do the impossible to help you create special holidays and live incredible experiences in Romania.

Just drop an email and tell us your wishes.