Romania's Splendors

 

For visiting Romania's most exciting locations you should book an escorted tour starting in 

Bucharest. The first leg of the journey will take you across to Olt Valley and the first stop

will be at the Curtea de Arges Monastery,built between 1514-1517. 

The church was rebuilt to its actual shape in 1885, after a devastating fire. You can admire

the interior columns (12) representing the 12 apostles, the relics of different Saints and the

tombs of King Ferdinand, Carol I and of queens Maria and Elisabeth.

Here you will learn about the myth of the artisan Manole, the monastery being  associated

with the local myth of creation and hard work.  

 

Not far from here is the Poenari Citadel, the real Castle of Vlad the Impaler.  

To admire the beauty and the wilderness of Arges Valley, you will climb 1480 steps

reaching the Citadel.

 

Then you will enjoy the extraordinary landscape of Vidraru Dam and continue the journey

by crossing the mountains throught Transfagarasan Road towards Lake Balea.

The glacier lake is situated at 2,034 m of altitude in the Fagaras Mountains, the most

spectacular in Romania. This bit of the Carpathian Mountains is famous in all Europe for

the wild scenery, it's fauna and the amazing Transfagarasan road.

Once arrived at Balea Lake you will be surrounded by typical glacial views, wonderful in

winter as much as in summer. Also, the first ice hotel in Eastern Europe is built near the

lake every winter since in 2006. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A certain promise that you'll not be disappointed in the lucky decision of choosing such an

adventure. 

 

Transfagarasan Highway was build between 1970-1974. It's 92 km of twists and turns long

road and for the construction they dislocated 3 million ton of rock. Ceauşescu wanted to

ensure quick military access across the mountains in the event the Soviets attempted a

similar move into Romania. Consequently, the road was built mainly with military forces,

at a high cost both financially and from a human standpoint—roughly 6 million kilograms

of dynamite were used. It has more tunnels (a total of 5) and viaducts than any other road

in Romania.

Near the highest point, at Balea Lake (2043m), the road passes through the longest road

tunnel in Romania (884 m).

 

In September 2009 the cast and crew of the British television show Top Gear were seen

filming along the road. The segment appeared in first episode of Series 14, which first aired

November 15, 2009. Host Jeremy Clarckson claimed they had made a mistake in naming

the Stelvio Pass as the best road in the world and instead Transfăgărăşan should have this

title. Because of the countless turns, the average speed is maximum 40 km per hour. Along

this route there are 27 viaducts and bridges, and the longest road tunnel in Romania - 887

meters. The landscape is fantastic, and the differences of altitude and the curves represent

a challenge for both cars and drivers, so don't forget your camera to capture the

spectacular views! .

 

Also, the first ice hotel in Eastern Europe is built near the lake every winter since in 2006.

We go trough the tunnel to see Capra Waterfall which welcomes its visitors with cold water

draps. Ample time is allocated to admire  and take part in some of  numerous activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the end of the day you will be in Sibiu – one of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania.

 

Sibiu is one of the most important fortified towns in Transylvania, founded in 1191. Known in German under the name Hermannstadt, Sibiu has always been the most important center of the German minority in Transylvania. Nowadays, Sibiu has the most numerous German community in Romania but also a fairly important Hungarian community.Legend has it that the lost children of Hamelin came out of the ‘Almasch’ caves (Varghis) in Transilvania, somewhere near the nowadays location of Sibiu. This is the romanticized explanation of a unique phenomenon which explains the appearance of a blond-haired blue-eyed people on these lands, who spoke German and lived by the customs of peoples living thousands of kilometers away. In effect, the fortresses and fortified villages in Transylvania were founded in the 12th century by immigrants coming from the Moselle valley area, known under the name of Saxons.

Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture in 2007. This amazing place, with the "Old Town" (The Big Square, the Small Square, the Ursuline Church, The Franciscan Church, The staircase Tower, the Tanners Tower, the Liar’s Bridge , the House of the Butcher’s Guild and last but not least with the amazing Bruckenthal Museum) is a gorgeous place to see. Optional visit to Brukental Museum, the oldest museum in Romania with a vast collection of paintings, antiques, coins, and rare books.

A good option - overnight in Sibiel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely half-hour drive of the medieval city of Sibiu takes you into the pastoral

landscape of Hartibaciu Valley, once an important commercial route is nowadays

almost forgotten. Discover nature and churches not yet explored by mass

tourism. In a forgotten world, where the horse and carriage is the main means of

transport you will discover the simple life. Passing through this valley,  arrive in

Biertan and visit one of the most majestic and valuable fortified churches in

Transylvania.

 

In 1995, the fortified church of Biertan was included in the list of the world

architectural patrimony under UNESCO patronage. 

 

 

The next stop should be Sighisoara medieval city and fortress. In 1431, in the house at

Museum Square 6, within the shadow of the old town`s Clock Tower, a women

whose name is lost to posterity gave birth to a son called Vlad, who in later life

earned the title The Impaler, abroad better known as Dracula, derived from Dracul

or “the Devil” referring to his father Vlad Dracul, whom the Holy Roman Emperor

Sigismund of Hungary made a knight of the order of The Dragon in 1431.

 

The Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the Scholars Stairs, The Monastery Church,

the towers of the citadel (originally fourteen), The Shoemakers Town, the Tailors

Tower, the Tinsmiths Tower are only a few of the marvels of this place called

Sighisoara.

 

 

Continue towards Cluj-Napoca, the largest city of Transylvania with a stop at Turda Salt Mine, a real history museum of salt exploitation. Discovered first by the Romans, the Turda Salt Mine became an important exploitation center during the Habsburg’s control of Transylvania. The excellent state of preservation of mining and machinery used to transport salt, together with the cautious work carried out for preparing the mine, turned the Turda Salt Mine into a tourist attraction. Just 20 km from Turda Salt Mine we will reach Cluj and will take a tour of the most important sites. The focal point of the city is Union Square, with shops, cafés and restaurants and the monumental St Michael’s Cathedral, dating from 14th century. Next to the cathedral, is the imposing equestrian statue of Mátyás Corvinus (raised in 1902) tramples the crescent banner of the Turks underfoot. His formidable Black Army kept the Kingdom of Hungary safe from banditry  and foreign invasion for much of his reign. Next we visit The Pharmacy Museum that displays a beautiful collection of ancient prescriptions, jars and implements, as well as Baroque furnishings and glass cabinets. Down in the pharmacy basement something akin to a medieval dungeon – is the old laboratory, complete with an assortment of tools, pestles and containers. If we have enough time we will visit the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, the oldest ethnographic museum in Romania. It was founded on 16 June 1922 as a real science museum and managed to hoard in the eight decades of activity over 120,000 documents of traditional culture. Our tour of Cluj will end with a walk around Avram Iancu Square, where is located The Orthodox Cathedral inaugurated in 1933 to celebrate the Romanians’ triumph in Transylvania.

For those who like adventure, just nearby Cluj is Baciu Forest one of the most enigmatic places in Romania called the Bermuda Triangle of Romania. It is said that the place would be a gateway to another world. Strange things happening were considered as a taboo subject, but recent years more courageously people adventured. The paranormal phenomena of this place are studied from 1936 and despite technological evolution , even after 80 years scientists have not reached any conclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave Cluj Napoca and head to the region of Maramures (The Land of Wood). Reaching Maramures region visit Barsana Monastery, one of the highest wooden churches in the world with splendid gardens, and Toader Barsan’s house, a local wood carver who took part at the Smithsonian World Festival in Washington, famous for the wonderfully carved wooden gates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will meet the local farmers who sell their products at the vegetable market in Sighetu

Marmatiei. Then continue the Maramures tour with Sapinta Village, famous in the whole world

for "The Merry Cemetery". Ancient beliefs viewed death as a beginning, not as an 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 epitaphs that endeavor to capture

essential elements - both the good and the imperfections - of the deceased’s life. 

Next on the list should be the small town of Sighetu Marmatiei, where you should stop at the

“Memorial to the victims of Communism”, located in the building of the former Sighet Prison

used by the communist regime to silence its opponents, in the 50’s. 

Meet a Romanian family in their home for traditional lunch and take a stroll in the village of

Breb to discover it`s hidden treasures.

Visit a local distillery, used by the locals to prepare tuica or palinca, a sort of plum brandy.

Not far from the distillery, you’ll see how the locals are washing their carpets in the way they

did 200 years ago. You’ll continue your walking tour on the streets of the village admiring the

wooden gates, the wooden houses, the local architecture and the locals.

For persons who desire to spend one more day in this region, they can enjoy an unforgettable

trip in the mountains by steam powered train called mocanita. Vaserului Gorge, with the

appearance of a canyon, is located in the eastern part of the Maramures Mountains.

Tourists can travel through the entire gorge using one of the few steam trains in Romania,

“Mocanita de la Viseul de Sus”, that departs daily from Viseul de Sus village, reaching Novat,

Faina and even Macarlau villages.

 

The next day journey will be long and beautiful. Leave Maramures and  head to the beautiful region of Bucovina. Crossing the Eastern Carpathian Mountains through Borgo Pass you will discover a mysterious realm, the same one described in Bram Stoker`s Dracula. Have a break at Castle Dracula Hotel, with a fantastic view over the surroundings. Next stop would be in Bistrita Medieval Town for a short sightseeing tour and lunch. Then the journey will continue towards Vatra Dornei and Gura Humorului, through Tihuta Clough,  crossed by one of the toughest roads located in the mountains in Europe. The landscape in the area looks like untouched by man, which makes it an ideal place for relaxation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bucovina is among the most attractive and frequently visited tourist areas on Romania's map. Driving on one of the most beautiful roads in the country, crossing the gentle slopes of Bucovina Mountains, admiring the amazing panoramas from the Ciumarna Pass, you’ll reach Moldovita Monastery. Built in 1532, this monastery occupies a fortified quadrangular enclosure with tower, gates and well-tended lawns. The central painted church has been partly restored and features impressive frescoes from 1537. The southern exterior wall depicts the Siege of Constantinople in AD 626, under a combined Persian-Avar attack. Interestingly, the besiegers are depicted in Turkish dress – keeping parishioners concentrated on the current enemy. The journey should continue with the famous painted monastery of,Voronet. Erected in 1488, Voronet Monastery is a combination of Byzantine, Gothic and local elements. On the western wall, the exterior murals depict traditional scenes, and the famous Last Judgment scene, unique in the whole world. The tour should continue with an egg painting demonstration given by one of the many local artists from Bucovina.

After a delicious Romanian lunch in one of the best guesthouses in the area, you can visit Sucevita Monastery, where you will find out more about the “Virtue Staircase”, most impressive due to its dimension and contrast between the angel’s order and devil’s chaos.

Finish this day trip to Marginea Village, famous for the black ceramics with different shapes and various paintings. You can watch the preparation of clay and its modelling on the potter’s wheel, the decoration by polishing and the final burning process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave Bucovina behind and head to Transylvania, crossing the Eastern Carpathian

Mountains through Bicaz Gorge.  The canyon was dug by the waters of Bicaz River and it

serves as a passageway between the Romanian provinces of Moldova and Transylvania.

The road along the 8 kilometers of ravines, often in serpentines with rock on one side

and a sheer drop on the other, is one of the most spectacular drives in the country. 

 

 

 

The “Izvorul Muntelui” barrier lake is another tourist attraction (it’s 35 km long on an area

of 33 square meters.) and it is also known as “The Bicaz Lake.”

This is the largest artificial lake from Romania, being situated on the higher course of the

river Bistrita.

This place was formed as a result of the building of the Bicaz hydro-energetic dam,

which is 127 m tall. 

 

 

 

 

 

With their lovely image in mind and the view of the Red Lake,the largest natural mountain

lake in Romania, its name coming from the reddish alluvia (iron oxides and iron

hydroxides) deposited in the lake by the Red Creek. The lake appears dark and

threatening.

The trees that were swallowed by the water, which now appear on the

surface give the impression of strange and mysterious.

 

 

 

 

The journey will continue with Lake Sfanta Ana, the only lake from Romania located in a

volcanic crater. 

The lake is supplied with water exclusively from precipitations, therefore the degree of

mineralization of the water is very low. The water purity is close to that distilled water.

Also, there is no animal that can survive in the oxygen-filled water of Lake Saint Anne.

If the time will allow, we would visit as well the ~smelling caves~. Here, the emanation

of the sulfur shows the volcanic activity that is still active in the area. Many tourists come

here, at the smeling caves for medical purposes.

 

 

 

 

The next stop will be at Viscri Village, one of the most famous tourist destination of Romania. It`s being like this sice Prince Charles of Wales had discovered this amazing location, a fairy tale from the forgotten medieval times. Continue the route to Bran and visit the famous Bran Castle also called Dracula`s Castle. The castle got its fame from Dracula`s legend written in 1897 by Bram Stoker and later on made into a film by Francis Ford Coppola. The first documents about the Bran Castle date back from 1377. Along the ages, the Castle had a strategic position being on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. First it was under the rule of  Sigismund of Luxemburg, then it was owned by the Romanian voivods Mircea cel Batran and Vlad Tepes and later on it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Brasov. In the 20th century the castle was donated to the Romanian royal family and became a royal summer residence. The castle museum preserves the furniture and objects from that period.

End the day in Brasov, with a short tour of the magic medieval center of Brasov (about 2 hours). The city of Brasov is one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. During the Middle Ages, Brasov was known as a powerful fortress surrounded by high stone walls and defended by bulwarks, towers and other small fortresses. The buildings and the streets still preserve a medieval note. Visit the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania, see Catherine`s Gate errected in 1559, the only original gate that still survives since medieval times, visit the Weavers Bastion, the largest medieval bastion in Brasov and the best-preserved among the seven original watchtowers constructed around the city walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will also have the chance to discover the famous castles of Sinaia Mountain Resort – which served as a residence for the Royal family. The developing of Sinaia began once the construction of the famous Sinaia Monastery started in 1695 and it turned into an important settlement. The fast pace of Sinaia`s growth is connected to the development of the extractive and oil processing industries in the south Carpathian area, and to the construction of the road connecting it to Bucharest at the end of the 18th century. There followed the construction of the railway (1879) and of the Peles Castle. Thus being one of the oldest urban mountain settlements in the country Sinaia was declared a town in 1880.

Here at The Peles Castle Complex, there is one of the best-preserved royal palaces in Europe. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures. On the inside as well as on the outside, the Castle is full of ornaments and features elaborate wood sculptures and paintings representing scenes from the works of the German composer Richard Wagner. 

Pelisor Castle is a fantastic Art Nouveau Castle build at the beginning of the 20th century by Queen Maria & King Ferdinand of Romania. Every room has the fingerprint of queen Maria's taste of art. This Castle is impressive as Peles but smaller and with a fresh design. The highlight of Pelisor is the golden plated room where Queen Maria past away in 1938.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On your journey towards Bucharest you will pass through one of the most picturesque places of this region, with mountain resorts spreading across it. Wide and deeply carved by the homonymous river, the Prahova Valley is an unforgettable display of the splendors which nature most generously holds out. This valley is a narrow corridor between Transylvania and Wallachia, an ancient road that is crossed by both rail and motorways, making it one of the most visited routes in Romania.

 

Spending a few delightful days in Romania will prove to be one of the most enjoyable and cost-effective European vacations!