Blog | Romania
Romania. Nature, Strengths and Myths.
By Yadira Esquivel
If you travel to Europe do not forget to include in your tour one of the most beautiful Balkan countries: Romania.
Romania is located in a large plain divided by the Carpathian Mountains and surrounded to the south by the Danube River, which is currently navigated by many river cruises. It has an unfair image associated with the former oil and heavy industry, when in fact it has preserved many natural areas better than other countries in Europe. The Black Sea coasts, the Danube delta, the Carpathian Mountains and its mountains make it a spectacular country, and for hiking lovers this is an ideal country, since the views that the landscapes you will discover are practically unknown.
To think of Romania is not only to talk about Bucharest, its capital, full of monuments where at least 8 of them are considered World Heritage Sites, but you have to think of a country full of nature, fortresses, gastronomy and myths such as Count Dracula.
With at least 6 days in this country you will be able to discover the wonders it has to offer.
Bucharest
Spending at least one night in its capital, you will discover the diversity of French architectural styles of the early twentieth century; it was named "Little Paris" because it surprises with its monuments and diverse buildings.
Do not miss the opportunity to enter the Revolution Square, where the Revolution of 1989 began, which led to the change of the communist system.
Sinaia
This is one of the most visited places in Romania, just 1 hour 40 minutes from Bucharest, is a beautiful alpine town at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova Valley.
Its emblem is the Peles Castle, a palace of neo-Renaissance architecture with Saxon touches. It has more than 160 halls and rooms, with Murano glass chandeliers, richly decorated stained glass windows and Meissen and Sevres porcelain tableware. The castle's setting is in harmony with the surrounding fir forests and gardens.
A curiosity of this castle is that it was the first to be illuminated by electric current, a whim of its owners who built a small hydroelectric plant next to the river.
Sinaia is known not only for its castle but also for its thermal waters, whose mineral salts are appreciated for various treatments. Here you can find luxury hotels, which offer endless wellness treatments, casinos and all kinds of entertainment.
Brasov
It is also one of the most visited cities in Romania because of the number of historical sights it has and its beautiful monuments ranging from Gothic Baroque and Renaissance style. It is located in the center of the country 166 kilometers from Bucharest and 264 kilometers southeast of the Transylvania region. Brasov is considered the ideal place for any kind of vacation. Any time of the year is good to visit: from May to September the temperatures are ideal and from December to February you can enjoy winter activities in the ski resort of Poiana Brasov. When visiting Brasov you should not forget to visit: the museum of the First Romanian School, a museum that exhibits the first books printed in the Romanian language; the Black Church, a famous church in Gothic style started in 1384 and completed in 1477 and received its current name after the general fire of 1689.
The whole Brasov region has a German-medieval character.
One of the main attractions of Brasov is Bran Castle which is located 25 kilometers northwest of Brasov. It is a well-preserved medieval mansion, surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend surrounding Bram Stoker's Dracula myth. Although Stoker did not know Transylvania, he relied on research and his imagination to create the place where the character of Count Dracula lived. Built on top of a rock 200 meters high, Dracula's Castle impresses with its towers and turrets, houses about 60 rooms that are reached by narrow staircases and many are connected by subway passages in which there are collections of furniture, weapons and armor from the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries. From 1920 to 1957 it served as a royal residence since the people gave it as a gift to Queen Maria of Romania. It is now a museum open to tourists.
Sighisoara
It is another of the towns founded in the twelfth century by the Saxons who came from Germany during the Middle Ages, today is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe which made UNESCO included it as a World Heritage Site in 1999.
A must-see when arriving in Sighisora is the Clock Tower in the Citadel Square, one of the most famous and visited monuments of the city. The 17th century clock is an attraction with its figures, characteristic of Central European clocks. From the top you can see the rooftops of Sighisoara, giving the impression that time has not passed.
Sighisoara is famous for being the birthplace of Vlad Dracula (Vlad Tepes) ruler of Wallachia between 1456 and 1462, known for his terrible violence and for being the basis of the myth of Dracula.
Sibiu
It is located 140 kilometers west of Brasov and about 3 and a half hours from Bucharest, is the most important of the cities founded during the twelfth century, was the economic and cultural center during the Middle Ages. The wealth of the merchant families allowed the city to build large buildings and fortifications, achieving a splendor that is still appreciated.
Sibiu stands out for its historic center, which is pedestrianized, so that the beauty of the buildings and the calm of the terraces are not interrupted by cars, which has reinforced its commercial and tourist character, attracting stores and bars to this area. The center was surrounded by impressive walls of which a good part are still in good condition, especially 8 towers, the only ones still standing of the original 39. The center includes: the Upper Town, with the Great Square, the Huet Square and the Alley of Steps linking the Upper Town to the Lower Town; the Bridge of Lies and the Goldsmiths' Square.
Sibiu is a living museum. Remember to visit the oldest restaurant in Romania, the Butoiul de Aur (Golden Barrier) in the Alley of Steps.
Now if you are a wine lover, the Maldova region offers you without a doubt an excellent option to taste them. You can taste the 20-30 years old wine collection of the Milestii Mici winery, which is probably a dream destination for those who love and enjoy high quality wine.
Not to be forgotten are the homemade Moldavian wines with their incomparable taste and the Moldavian Vermouth considered the big brother of the Italian Martini which contains infusions of more than 20 types of plants.
To enjoy this, you will have to travel to Chisanau and from there enjoy a 5-day tour of the city and its wine cellars.
There are countless places in Romania that I invite you to discover on your next trip. Every city and corner of this country will make you spend a unique vacation, besides, like every country in the world, the population is the result of the mixture and miscegenation of the union of different people from different places; from this mixture has emerged a country with problems but with many friendly people willing to help selflessly with a smile because it is a country that brings everything together.
You have to live the best moments...!