Discovering authentic Romania
Stunning little-known part of Europe
Discovering Romania - Wild Carpathia 1 (Transylvania)
Charlie Ottley ventures deep into the breath-taking but little known mountains and forests of Carpathia. Home to bears, wolves and the elusive lynx, this is perhaps the last great wilderness in Europe, seen as never before. Charlie provides a unique insight into the scenic beauty and rich culture of the region, exploring its chequered history from the mystical ruins of the ancient Dacian civilisations to its medieval communities, the heritage of which survives intact to this day.
Wild Carpathia takes you deep into these Transylvania forests and mountains. Presented by Charlie Ottley, it follows his quest to find remote villages, cross mountains and spot bears in the wild. During this journey he meets a dedicated group of individuals whose passion for this area is helping to redefine its importance as one of the great surviving wonders of the natural world. These include a Transylvanian Count, who is working to conserve some of the most ancient of Carpathia's medieval villages and HRH The Prince of Wales, who can trace his ancestry back to Romania's dark and distant past.
Discovering Romania - Wild Carpathia 2 (The Danube - Amazon of Europe- From The Mountains to The Sea)
The groundbreaking two-part documentary by Rita and Michael Schlamberger shows unknown sides of a river that shapes an entire continent. Along the course of the Danube, nature rules over the lives of people.
Discovering Romania - Wild Carpathia 3 (WILD FOREVER)
Charlie Ottley visits Northern Romania and the Maramures, one of the most picturesque regions in The Carpathians. Here Charlie experiences traditional festivals and weddings and learns about the evolution of Romanian music with renowned folk singer Grigore Lese and pop idol Loredana Groza. Travelling across the top of the country towards Moldova, Charlie meets the monks at the famous Bucovina painted monasteries. Ending his journey at the dramatic Bicaz Gorge and Lacu Rosu, Charlie looks at ways tourism is helping to preserve the last great wilderness in Europe. With a number of local and internationally acclaimed personalities also highlighting the importance of the area, Charlie discusses the region with HRH The Prince of Wales who, once again, demonstrates his great passion for this unique country.
TRANSFAGARASAN - The Best Road in the World
That's the most amazing road i've ever seen! [...] From above, it looks like every great corner from every great racetrack in the world has been knitted together to create one unbroken great ribbon of automotive perfection. [...] THIS is the best road in the world!
-- Jeremy Clarkson / Top Gear, 15 Nov 2009
Why not get to know Romania?
The mistery of the Romanian Sphynx-part 1