We invite you to discover the mysterious and legendary Romania. For many, this is the camp where the terrible Count Dracula once lived, which undoubtedly attracted a stream of tourists since the late 19th century, after the publication of Bram Stoker's book. The name "Count Dracula" was borrowed from a real person - Vlad the Impaler. Tepes was a notorious Romanian prince in the 15th century. He was also known as Vlad III Dracul (i.e. son of the dragon). But the literary character and the historical count got mixed up in our heads. A trip to Romania will allow us to discover all the secrets about this legendary hero, separate truth from fiction, and look at Romania as an amazingly hospitable land that lives not only with legends about the count.
We will visit the central part of Romania - Transylvania. Transylvania attracts with numerous castles and medieval cities, and besides interesting museums and sites such as the Salina salt mine in Turda. We will visit the castle of the Hunyadi family in Hunedoara, visit the castle of Count Dracula - Bran, and also stop for a photo break at the castles of Fagaras and Rupea. Let's get acquainted with cities such as Brasov (Romanian Salzburg), Sibiu - cultural capital Transylvania, Alba Iulia with very ancient history, Sighisoara is the birthplace of Count Dracula.
Traveling around Romania will bring us many pleasant and picturesque pictures, because 55% of the Carpathian Mountains are located in the country. And an integral part of our tour to Romania will be getting to know the mountain landscapes. On our summer trip we will travel along the high-mountain Transfagarasan Highway.
This tour is recommended for lovers of mountain landscapes, medieval history and architecture. If you prefer “off-the-beaten-track” excursion routes, you won’t always be embarrassed good quality expensive, but very hospitable service, traditional cuisine and budget travel, then this is your country and this is your tour!
You will fall in love with Romania, and already during your trip you will dream of returning here again!
Tour program:
- 1 day 07/29/2017
- Departure from St. Petersburg to Brest by train No. 049 at 14.05. Night on the train.
- Departure from Moscow to Brest by train No. 027 at 15.12. Night on the train.
- Day 2 07/30/2017
- Arrival in Brest at 08.25 (All tour participants are requested to arrive in Brest before 08.25). Boarding the bus.
- Passage of the Belarusian-Polish border.
- Transfer to Kosice, hotel accommodation.
- Day 3 07/31/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Excursion around Kosice - the second largest city and cultural capital of Slovakia.
We will see the largest Gothic cathedral in Slovakia - the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, the Chapel of St. Michael, the Gothic belfry tower of St. Urban, the Plague Column, the Opera House, the City Hall, the Jesuit Church, the Romanesque Church of the Dominicans, the palaces of the Hungarian nobility. - Moving to Hungary to Tokaj. Excursion “Tokaj - the birthplace of the best Hungarian wines.”
Mount Tokaj and its vineyards are one of the main symbols of Hungary, glorified in the country's anthem. Louis XIV was a passionate admirer of Tokaj and called it “the king of wines, the wine of kings.” We will visit the center of the wine region, walk through the old part small town Tokaj, let's visit a family wine cellar, where every year winemakers present their pride - golden Tokaj wine! - Passing border formalities at the Hungarian-Romanian border.
Transfer to a hotel in Romania, accommodation. All tour participants must have a multiple-entry Schengen visa (with a Schengen visa issued by the consulates of Greece and Lithuania, it is necessary to visit these countries before leaving for Romania)!!! - Day 4 08/01/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- City tour of Alba Iulia – former capital Transylvania.
We will visit the Alba Iulia fortress with a tour of the Orthodox Cathedral, St. Michael's Cathedral, where the Transylvanian princes Hunyadi are buried, we will see the archbishop's chambers, the university and the first library in Transylvania, the Museum of the Unification of Romania and a remarkable city sculpture. Transfer to Hunedoara. - Visit to one of the most beautiful Gothic castles in Central Europe - the ancestral castle of the Hunyadi-Corvins.
We will walk across a huge bridge to the castle courtyard, see towers, bastions, outbuildings, Knights' Hall and Castle Chapel. Transfer to Sibiu. - Excursion “Sibiu – the cultural capital of the Transylvanian Saxons”,
where the strong influence of German settlers is still felt. We will explore the three main squares with palaces and houses of famous residents of the city, visit the Lutheran Cathedral, the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, visit the Bridge of Liars and walk along the fortress wall with towers. Transfer to a hotel in Wallachia, accommodation. - Day 5 08/02/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Visit to the Curtea de Arges Monastery
with the oldest Orthodox church in Romania, consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas, and the Royal Church of the 14th century, where the Wallachian rulers and members of the royal family of Romania are buried, including the granddaughter of Russian Emperor Alexander II - Queen Mary. - Traveling along the Transfagarasan highway - passing through mountain range Fagaras, the highest part of the Romanian Carpathians. Highest point reaches an altitude of 2034 meters and is the highest road in Romania. Abysses and mountains, a mountain lake and the fortress of Vlad Dracula - Poenari. This will be an unforgettable adventure of our trip! Photo breaks, if possible, along the way to explore the Poenari fortress and the dam of Lake Vidraru.
- Photo break at the Fagaras fortress, where Romanian rulers and their wives lived in the past.
- City Tour Brasov in, which is often called the “Romanian Salzburg”.
We will walk through the well-preserved historical center with Gothic quarters, fortress walls and towers, and visit the Black Church and the Church of St. Nicholas. Transfer to a hotel in the high mountain resort of Sinaia, accommodation. - Day 6 08/03/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Visit to the Orthodox monastery of Sinai, built in amazing beautiful place in the Southern Carpathians.
Here you can see the Old Church, the New Church with paintings and a museum with a collection of church utensils. - Visit to the 19th century Peles Castle, a former royal hunting residence,
which is now back in the hands of the royal family, but is accessible to tourists. This small palace looks like a spacious mansion in the Alpine style; everything here has been preserved as it was under the owners: rich furniture, luxurious collections of fabrics, paintings, weapons, porcelain and sculpture. The gardens and terraces are decorated with fountains, urns, staircases, lions, beautiful statues and other decorative details. - Visit to the castle Bran, where, according to legend, Count Dracula spent the night during his campaigns, and the area surrounding the castle was his favorite hunting spot. According to one version, he was tortured in the dungeons of the castle by Turkish enemies. The castle captivates with its medieval appearance and legends about the count.
- Free time to visit the bazaar,
where there are many souvenirs with Count Dracula, as well as delicacies of the region, such as smoked cheese. - Transfer to the hotel with a photo break at the Rupa peasant castle, accommodation.
- Day 7 08/04/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Tour of upper city Sighisoara is the best preserved Saxon city in Transylvania.
Surrounded by fortified walls and towers, the historic center is completely listed world heritage UNESCO. We'll see clock tower 14th century, the church on School Hill, the house of Count Dracula, the house near Olen and the monument to the poet Sandor Petofi, who was killed in the battle near the city. - Visit to the Salina salt mine in Turda,
which resembles the scenery of a science-fiction film with unique lighting. In the mine you can see underground structures, gazebos, underground salt lake, corridors. A visit to the mine is not only a beautiful underground workings, but also a session of healthy breathing exercises. - Transfer to the Romanian-Hungarian border. Passing border formalities. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
- Day 8 08/05/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- If the road situation is favorable, an additional excursion to Lancut Castle in Poland is possible.
Tour of palace and park ensemble Lubomirsky and Potocki "Lancut - a palace in a fortress."
This is a luxury residential building with defensive towers in the corners, fenced with bastions and a park. In the park we will see the Greenhouse, stables and carriage house, where the largest collection of carriages in the world is collected. - Moving to the Polish-Belarusian border. Passing border formalities. Accommodation at a hotel in Brest or in Poland.
- Day 9 08/06/2017
- Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the station. Please purchase train tickets no earlier than 14.05 Belarusian time.
- Departure of train Brest - St. Petersburg No. 050 at 14.05.
- Departure of train Brest - Moscow No. 004 at 17.40 or No. 028 at 17.50.
- Day 10 08/07/2017
- Arrival of the train in St. Petersburg at the Vitebsky station or in Moscow at the Belorussky station.
Attention:
- For participation in this round You must have a valid visa and health insurance.
- The tour program does not include visits to water parks, shopping malls and fish shops.
- In late autumn, winter, early spring, due to the short daylight hours, visiting some of the objects stated in the program may take place in the dark.
- The organizer is not responsible for queues at border checkpoints, delays in transit associated with customs, border and other official formalities, weather conditions, as well as traffic jams.
- If weather conditions on the route may threaten the safety of tourists (heavy snowfalls, low/high air temperatures, mudflows, rainstorms, floods, forest fires, smog, etc.), the organizer reserves the right to unilaterally change the tour program: replace some objects to others, and if replacement is impossible, exclude objects from the program.
- Seats on the bus are allocated by the organizer as the group is recruited.
Features of this tour:
- A multiple-entry Schengen visa is required to participate in the tour. Romania is not part of Schengen, but we can travel with a Schengen visa (minimum double entry). With Schengen visas obtained at the consulates of Lithuania and Greece, you can leave and enter from Hungary to Romania and back, only after staying on this visa in Lithuania or Greece (or you must have a document with you on the basis on which you received the visa).
- To travel around Romania, you must take out insurance valid in Romania (regular insurance for Schengen countries will not work).
- In Romania, when paying by card, an additional 3-4% will be added to the amount for its use. We recommend having cash in euros with you.
- There are many currencies on the tour (zlotys in Poland, euros in Slovakia, forints in Hungary, lei in Romania), which we can exchange from euros to the required currency of the route countries at the borders of these countries. It is better to take cash in euros when traveling.
Included in cost:
- Transport service on a comfortable bus
- Accommodation in hotels in double rooms with breakfast;
- Escort along the route, excursion services according to the program.
Additional charges:
- Additional payment on site:
- The cost of a train ticket St. Petersburg-Brest-St. Petersburg or Moscow-Brest-Moscow;
- Tourists eat at their own expense; The cost of lunch (hot food + drink) is approximately 35 lei, which equals 8-10 euros.
- Entrance fees to museums, other paid sites and additional excursions cost approximately 80 euros. For the convenience of tourists, the guide will collect money in euros.
- 29.7.2017
Cost of the tour with hotel:
630 euros- 1-seater
545 euros- 2-bed + 1 extra bed
545 euros- 2-seater TWIN
At the first mention of Transylvania, we immediately think of Count Dracula, gloomy castles, dark forests in mountainous areas and, of course, vampires. As you understand, all of these are, of course, cliches in the imagination of people, which were formed with the help of the well-known work of Bram Stoker.
The area, located in the northwestern part of Romania, is of great interest to the traveler and there is a lot of interesting things to see there, not including all sorts of vampire stories, although they should not be discounted. I would like to talk a little about why this particular place is worth visiting and what to see in Transylvania.
Regarding how to get to Transylvania, how to fly to Romania, how to buy tickets at a lower price, use well-known search engines - aviasales.ru, and Buruki. You need to monitor, call, compare, and believe me, you will find cheaper tickets.
The beauty of the surrounding nature
This area is located right on the border where the Carpathian Mountains meet the mountains of Western Romania. The territory of Transylvania consists of green hills smoothly transitioning into mountainous terrain, covered with ancient dense forests. The landscape of Transylvania is still untouched by urbanization, and remains one of the few in Europe that has a pristine appearance.
Here, almost in the very center of Europe, there are cleanest lakes, surrounded by dense, sometimes impenetrable forests, full of all kinds of living creatures, the people inhabiting this territory sacredly honor their foundations and culture, carried through the centuries - and this is all Transylvania.
Cities
By and large, Transylvania in the imagination of many people is perceived as a rural area with untouched nature, but this is not entirely true. There are quite large cities here. For example, Cluj-Napoca, which is also the most big city this area.
It can be very interesting for tourists with its architecture, many buildings made in the Baroque style, narrow and not very narrow streets paved with cobblestones, a large number of museums, etc. In a city in which, by the way, there are many students, a huge number of small cafes and life here does not stop for a minute.
From the history
Since ancient times, Transylvania was inhabited by the Dacians, who were very closely related to the Thracians. During the Roman Empire, this territory was captured by the Romans and turned into a province of the empire. Subsequently, Transylvania was under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire for a long time, although it was considered autonomous region. Even later, it was absorbed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In the last century, Transylvania belonged to both Hungary and Romania, then again to Hungary, and after World War II it finally came under the jurisdiction of Romania. The entire history of this land is complex and ambiguous, hidden in its cities, churches and castles. The history is multi-layered and colorful, and every tourist visiting Transylvania will find something interesting for themselves.
Fortresses of Transylvania
The fortified churches in this area of Romania are of particular interest and, while there, be sure to pay attention to them. These are the most colorful architectural monuments that have absorbed all the features of the turbulent history of Transylvania. There are more than a hundred of them in the region and each of them is unique in its own way. Fortresses were built in the Middle Ages and were intended to protect against foreign conquerors.
Multinational culture.
Transylvania is inhabited by many nationalities and therefore has such a diverse and colorful culture. Romanians, Hungarians, Armenians, Serbs, Saxons, Gypsies, etc. live here. Each nationality honors its cultural values and respects its history. This diversity is also very attractive for tourists, who can visit a large number of ethnic villages, learn the history and life of ordinary people.
Souvenirs and folk art
Anyone who travels tries to bring back souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends from their travels. And while in Transylvania, don’t forget about this. This region of Romania has long been famous for its folk craftsmen who create real works of art with their own hands.
Wood carving and embroidery with national patterns are especially common here. There is definitely no shortage of souvenirs here - figurines and household utensils made of carved wood, homespun shirts with embroidery, copies of Dracula's castle, etc. In the cities of Transylvania there are many tourist markets, souvenir shops and simply small workshops that will offer you widest choice souvenir products.
Winemaking
If we take Europe as a whole, then of course Transylvania and Romania itself will not be able to compare with countries such as Spain, Italy or France in terms of wine production. However, they also grow grapes here and, accordingly, make wine, and, let me tell you, the wine is very tasty and pleasant.
In the vicinity of the cities of Alba Iulia and Alba County there are impressive vineyards and there you can find several wineries that may be of great interest to true connoisseurs of this magical drink. In particular, when traveling to Transylvania, try to find time to visit a wine cellar in Alba Iulia called the Archbishop's Cellar. Taste the wine and enjoy the taste and bouquet of the drink.
Transylvania is not the stereotypical Romania you expect. There are mountains, castles and fortresses, perfectly preserved architecture from the Habsburg era, it’s clean, and the locals speak impeccable English. It’s worth getting out to this region to check out the largest fortress in the country, a tower like a Disney screensaver, a cave 30 floors deep, inside which you can ride a Ferris wheel or take a boat on an underground lake. Not Dracula alone!
The cities in the guide are relatively close to each other, buses in Transylvania run well, even locals use hitchhiking, and therefore we advise you to consistently include all the cities from the selection in your route.
Cluj-Napoca
European student city
The capital of Transylvania, a well-kept and lively city at the same distance from the Hungarian and Ukrainian borders, falls into the heart at first sight. Main square with the impressive Gothic St. Michael's Cathedral, where Erasmus students constantly make dates, the baroque Banffy Palace, which you want to put in your pocket and take home, and in it - the Art Museum, where you can spend hours looking at Romanian painting - and finally figure out why Romanians consider themselves descendants of the Holy Roman Empire. Be sure to look at the city from above - from Cetatuia. If you feel like you’ve had enough of peeling imperial architecture, take a minibus to the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania (open exhibition in Romulus Vuia Park). Here you will definitely exhale “I told you so,” because the authentic houses that make up the exhibition are exactly what we imagine when we hear the word “Romania.”
But please return to the city in the evening - there is always something interesting going on here. About official events, but about less formal events it is better to ask at the reception at the hostel. Try to get through to the production at the National Theater - everything, of course, is in Romanian, but the troupe is considered the leading one in the country. For the wildest parties, go to the club Janis, but before that, put a piece of paper with the address in your pocket - nights there usually end unpredictably.
How to get there? There are many options (it’s a pity, there is nothing direct from our region). Vilnius-Barcelona-Cluj or Vilnius-Milan-Cluj on Wizzair, Kyiv-Budapest on Wizz Air+ 7 hours by train from Budapest (from € 24). From the first Romanian city on the border with Ukraine (Valea Viseului) there is a train - 5 hours, € 6. And of course a plane, bus or train from Bucharest - it’s a pity, you still need to get there.
Turda
Your own underground world
Turda itself is not particularly remarkable - a few streets, a couple of Gothic churches, a dozen home-style restaurants. People come here to walk not around the city, but underneath it - Salina Turda - one of the oldest salt caves in Europe (mining stopped here in the 1930s), turned into a cool recreational center. The entire cave is divided into two parts: closed healing and open tourist. Anyone can get into the second one: ride a boat under the underground lake, sit in an open cabin of a Ferris wheel, which is installed directly underground, play mini-golf or table tennis - the height of the “ceilings” in the main hall is 80 meters (32 floors). You can take the elevator down, but it’s better to go down on foot - so as not to miss the long Franz Joseph gallery, the room with an echo (it repeats everything that was said after you 10 times, no less), the old equipment used to drill the rock, and even the chapel inside the mountain. The temperature in the mine is usually +12 degrees, dress according to the weather. You can't eat in Salina Turda, but the internet is excellent - definitely better than in your hotel. Locals come here for the whole day - the air in the cave is great for the lungs, and there are plenty of opportunities to have fun here.
After you rise to the surface, be sure to stop by for coffee
La Papion (Piata 1 December 1918 nr 1)
, and for lunch go to Restaurant Rusalca (Republicii No:37)- prices even in the most expensive establishments in the city make tourists smile happily.
How to get there? In Cluj-Napoca, take a minibus (Alis company, stop at the intersection of Piata Mihai Viteazu and Strada Ion Popescu Voitesti) - ride 35 minutes, € 1.5. The minibus will not take you to the entrance itself - you will have to walk for 10 minutes following the signs. Please note that the location has two entrances - you have a new one.
Alba Iulia
The largest citadel in Romania
One of the most ancient Transylvanian cities - ancient military brawls in its area were mentioned by Ptolemy. In the Middle Ages, the city was ruled by the Slavs, and therefore it was called Belgrade, then the Catholic center, the southernmost possession of the Habsburgs, and when Transylvania went to Romania in 1918, the place where the first king Ferdinand was married. When you get to the local museum dedicated to the unification of Romania, the abundance historical facts your head will spin.
Sighisoara
Homeland of Dracula and maximum flowers
Map of cities worth visiting in Transylvania
Planning Guide independent travel to Transylvania.
Preparing for a trip to Transylvania
- Tickets to Transylvania.
We buy a ticket for a train, bus. First, we book/purchase transport tickets, since the dates of arrival and departure will serve as the determining dates for booking a hotel. - Housing in Transylvania.
. This is a secondary task compared to transport tickets, since there are many hotels in Transylvania and there is always plenty to choose from. - Visa.
You can get a visa to Romania either on your own (embassy, Visa Center), and with the help of special companies for an additional fee. We do the visa last, since upon receipt you may need to provide documentary evidence of the purpose of the trip, for example, in the case of tourism, a hotel reservation will be proof. - Insurance.
All types of insurance are available online, order.
Planning a holiday in Transylvania
- Transport.(Bus | )
- to travel outside Transylvania.
What to see / Where to go
- , Museum, Bridge, Square, Palace. Meet interesting places Transylvania in advance, we described all the attractions and their locations.
While most of my friends were dreaming about paradise islands and luxury vacation, I lived the dream of seeing wild and poor (according to some circles of people) Romania. But for many years, as soon as time and money appeared, when choosing a place on the planet to visit, I preferred more prosperous countries to Romania. But a dream does not always remain a dream. And then, on the eve of the last month of the outgoing year, it happened: the decision was made! I'm going to the long-awaited country! I decided to start getting acquainted with Romania from Transylvania, namely from the city of Brasov (Romanian: Braşov). No tours were found for this period, and I don’t like exploring the country in the company of dozens of tourists, when the guide drags through huge city in five minutes. Firstly, you don’t have time to look at anything, only superficially. Secondly, you cannot be alone with your feelings and feel the spirit of the country. I decided to book flights and a hotel room through friends who work in the tourism industry. Having heard exactly what country I was going to, they began to persuade me not to go to a criminal, wild land full of gypsies, thieves and other dangers. Of course, I was wary, but even danger could no longer stop me, so I ordered tickets and booked a room, contrary to the requests of my friends. Tomorrow... 12/11/2014 At about 11 am the plane landed on Romanian soil (Henri Coanda airport International Airport in the suburb of Bucharest - Otopeni). After exchanging currency (euro to Romanian lei; 1 lei is approximately 15 rubles) and half an hour of searching, I was already sitting in the Shuttle bus, a minibus that takes you from the airport to Brasov in three hours. You must reserve your seats in advance on the website http://www.direct-aeroport.ro/grafic-course.html. To find its parking place, you need to go down to the ground floor from the arrivals hall at the airport. Having departed from the airport parking lot at 13:00, the minibus drove half the way through the flat part of the country with landscapes not much different from ours near Moscow: fields and modest houses by the road. The rest of the way across the Transylvanian land we drove in a terrible black fog, like in a horror film, along a winding mountain road, with dangerous turns, between huge mountains. By 16 pm local time (one hour behind Moscow time) we arrived in Brasov at the Aro Palace hotel. I chose the three-star guesthouse Residence Ambient at 3 Castanilor St., 500097 Brasov, Romania. Very close to the historical center. A very simple guesthouse, with a shared kitchen, poor furnishings in the room, breakfast is available for an additional fee on the premises of another hotel of this chain. You won’t be embarrassed by its simplicity and artlessness, but connoisseurs of comfort and luxury should stay in other apartments :) Small historical reference About the city Brasov is one of seven cities in the territory of modern Romania, founded in the Middle Ages by “German (or rather Saxon) colonists.” In the old days it was known as Kronstadt (German: Kronstadt); from 09/08/1950 to 12/24/1960 it was called Orashul-Stalin (in honor of Stalin). The Kronstadt fortress was founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Order. It was first mentioned as Brasov in 1251. In medieval documents the city was called Brasco, Brasso, Stephanopolis, Kronstadt and Brasov. Brasov is one of the main cultural and historical centers Transylvanian Saxons. Thanks to the successful geographical location and trade relations with Moldova and Wallachia, the city became one of the most important economic centers of Transylvania. 12/12/2014 Brasov is located at the foot of Mount Tympa (1000 m above sea level). It became the first item of the day. At the height of the mountain there is a huge inscription Brasov, which can be seen from below, from the city itself. You can climb to Tympa, there are trails there. Those who find it difficult or lazy can take the funicular for 16 lei (240 rubles). A few minutes of ascent and I’m already at the top☺ Here, unlike in the city, there is snow. observation deck Brasov is visible. And snow-capped neighboring mountains. Having admired the view from above, I went to explore the streets of Brasov directly. 12/13/2014 I decided to dedicate this day to one of the most famous places in Romania around the world - Bran Castle (better known as Dracula's Castle). A little history of the castle The castle was built at the end of the 14th century local residents on their own and at their own expense, for which they were exempt from paying taxes to the state treasury for several centuries. In 1622-1625. two defensive towers were completed. Built on top of a cliff and having an unusual trapezoidal shape, Bran Castle served as a strategic defensive fortress. It has 4 levels that are connected by a staircase. The halls and corridors of the castle make up a mysterious labyrinth. In the courtyard there is a well, which, according to legend, leads to underground rooms. Bran Castle has had many owners in its lifetime. First it belonged to the ruler Mircea the Old, and then to the inhabitants of Brasov and the Habsburg Empire. According to legend, the famous voivode Vlad Tepes-Dracula spent the night here during his campaigns, and the area surrounding Bran Castle was a favorite hunting ground for the ruler Tepes. According to one version, he was tortured in the dungeons of the castle by Turkish enemies. And that’s probably why Bran Castle is also called Dracula’s Castle. Bran Castle has had many owners in its lifetime. First it belonged to the ruler Mircea the Old, and then to the inhabitants of Brasov and the Habsburg Empire. According to legend, the famous voivode Vlad Tepes-Dracula spent the night here during his campaigns, and the area surrounding Bran Castle was a favorite hunting ground for the ruler Tepes. According to one version, he was tortured in the dungeons of the castle by Turkish enemies. And that’s probably why Bran Castle is also called Dracula’s Castle. After 1918, simultaneously with the proclamation of Greater Romania, the inhabitants of Brasov, whose ancestors built this castle, presented it to Queen Mary as a sign of their love and devotion, after which Bran Castle became a royal residence. Currently, the castle belongs to its rightful owner, a descendant of the Romanian kings, the grandson of Queen Mary, Dominic of Habsburg (in 2006, according to the new Romanian law on the return of territories to the previous owners). After the castle was handed over to the owner, all the furniture was taken to museums in Bucharest. And Dominic Habsburg had to recreate the decoration of the castle, buying various antique items. The official website of the castle, where you can find out the opening hours and how to get to it by car: http://www.bran-castle.com/ From the very morning I walked from my guesthouse to the Autogara 2 bus station, from where the Brasov-Bran bus goes ( about 30 km). The bus schedule can be found on this website: http://www.autogari.ro/, there is also the address of the bus station and the ticket price. The ticket is purchased from the driver. Soon after entering the village of Bran, the castle itself is visible. That's where I left. The walk to the castle is not long; you need to buy a ticket not only to enter the castle itself, but also to enter its territory (cost 25 lei, about 375 rubles). Even in Moscow, I read reviews from tourists that this castle was boring, hyped, “pop,” so to speak, just a tourist feature created thanks to the image of Dracula. Inside, the castle really turned out to be quite simple and modest. But I was not able to see the promised crowd of tourists, since it was not the season, and it was also morning. Therefore, I slowly examined everything and enjoyed it; I really liked the castle, although not externally, but rather energetically. Pleasant, calm, peaceful place. Then I walked around the souvenir market, almost the entire range of things sold are related to Vlad Dracula, many locally produced products, beautiful but very expensive handmade blouses (300 lei), paintings, I personally really liked the leather vests with fur. But the prices for everything are far from low. 12/14/2014 The morning of this day began again from the same bus station. This time the minibus should take me to ski resort Sinai. Sinaia, a popular and fashionable Romanian ski resort, is located in the valley of the Prahova River in the Southern Carpathians at an altitude of 900 m. Of course, this place is mainly interesting for people skiing alpine skiing. Information for them: ski slopes The resort is located on two slopes of Mount Vyrful-ku-Dor (2030 m) - eastern and western. The ski area is located at an altitude of 1000-2030 m, there are a total of 10 trails with a total length of 40 km and with a height difference from 100 to 500 m. The longest trail stretches 6 km. First of all cable car starts right from the center of Sinai. From the first station a trail more than 3 km long leads down - when there is a lot of snow, you can ski down right to the hotel entrance. The length of the second stage of the lift is about 2 km. The track passing under it is “black”, steep, 1.5 km long. The resort also has 20 km of cross-country ski trails, as well as sledding and bobsleigh tracks. I don’t consider myself an athlete, so I immediately went to see the Peles and Pelisor palaces. A little history of Peles: Peles Castle (Castelul Peleş) is located on the medieval route connecting Transylvania and Wallachia, in a picturesque place in the Carpathians, near the city of Sinaia in Romania. The castle was built in the neo-Renaissance style between 1873 and 1914 and was inaugurated in 1883. The name was given to it by a nearby mountain river. Currently, the castle is a historical monument. The first architect of the castle was the German Johann Schulz (1876-1883), his successor was the Czech architect Karel Liman. In terms of its structure and functions, Peles is a palace, but everyone lovingly calls it a castle. Main architectural style is Neo-Renaissance, but the half-timbered courtyard facades with their luxuriously painted walls show Saxon influence, and the Baroque influence is noticeable in the interiors, decorated with rich wood carvings and exquisite fabrics. Peles Castle has 3200 sq. meters of area, more than 160 rooms, 30 bathrooms, luxuriously furnished and exquisitely decorated. It has one of the finest collections of art from eastern and central Europe, which includes sculpture, paintings, furniture, weapons and armour, gold and silver work, ivory, porcelain, carpets and tapestries. The collection of weapons and armor includes more than 4,000 items. Oriental carpets were produced in the best workshops in Bukhara, Mosul, Isparta and Smyrna. The collection of Sevres and Meissen porcelain and leather from Cordoba is amazing, but the most impressive thing is the hand-painted stained glass windows from Switzerland. On the official website of the castle you can see opening hours, ticket prices, etc. http://peles.ro/ I didn’t buy a ticket to go inside Pelishor, I only saw it from the outside. To Peles, of the two possible types, I took a ticket for 75 minutes, which is 2 floors, the maximum possible at the moment. Costs approximately 750 rubles. It is either forbidden to take photographs there, or for an additional fee; I did not go into details of the photographic process and decided to do without photographs. Everything inside is chic and luxurious, groups move in an orderly manner, there are no crowds. If you come alone (without a tour), the excursion goes with an English-speaking or Romanian-speaking guide, but you can rent headphones with Russian text for 6 lei. After visiting the palace, I returned to the center of Sinaia, from where the ski lift takes tourists and skiers to the mountains. There is an option to climb to 1400 m and 2000 m, I chose the second option. With one transfer, a telecabin for 50 lei takes you 2 km up the mountain. Here, probably, words will be superfluous... However, the photo also will not convey all the beauty of the view from mountain peak , this is unearthly beauty! The sun was setting and in just an hour the temperature dropped from +6 to –1, it was time to go down. The minibus back, as I thought, should have stopped at the stop where I got off when I arrived in Sinaia in the morning. I waited for her for half an hour at this stop, she never arrived. The reason remained a mystery, either the minibus was canceled, or on the way back it stops somewhere else. I had to take a taxi. The journey to Brasov from Sinaia cost 100 lei (1,500 rubles). 12/15/2014 On the last day I had to visit the Rasnov fortress, which is located halfway from Brasov to Bran. The bus also departs from the Autogara 2 bus station. About the Rasnov fortress The fortress in Rasnov was built by the Knights of the Teutonic Order in 1215, first mentioned in documents in 1331. During its entire existence, the fortress was captured only once - around 1600 by Gabriel Báthory. There is a legend associated with the fortress. During one particularly long siege, the city's residents were in dire need of water. Then two Turkish prisoners, captured earlier, were forced to dig a well in the center of the city. They were promised to be given freedom as soon as the task was completed. According to legend, the work took 17 years, but then the prisoners were killed anyway. This well is located in the center of the fortress, its depth is 62 meters. Recent excavations have discovered the bones of two people at the bottom of the well. A road leads up from the town of Rasnov to the fortress. You can get there on foot or by original transport - trailer-train-tractor. Entrance to the fortress costs 10 lei. The fortress looks more interesting from the outside than from the inside; there are complete ruins there. But the view from the observation deck is magnificent. There was nothing more to see here, so I returned to Brasov early. There was still time in the city itself to climb another mountain and explore the fortress. Brasov Fortress is an ancient defensive citadel, part of the outer fortification of the Romanian city of Brasov, in Transylvania. This is one of the central attractions of the city. The Brasov Fortress is located on a low hill, offering magnificent views of the city. The construction of the citadel dates back to the sixteenth century - before that there was an ancient wooden fort here, but in 1553 the fortress was rebuilt from stone. For a long time, the Brasov Fortress was considered impregnable, but with the invention of cannons capable of breaking through its powerful stone walls, the strategic value of the citadel came to naught. For some time the fortress was used as a prison, but soon it was completely abandoned. Only in the twentieth century the fortress underwent a thorough restoration and finally turned into historical monument. Now the Brasov fortress is used as a museum-restaurant. Visitors can admire the extensive collections of medieval weapons and knightly armor, as well as enjoy the monumental ancient architecture this military fort. The fortress is very popular among both Brasov residents and city guests. And so my visit to the land of Dracula ended; in the morning I was waiting for a plane to Moscow. To summarize, I would like to say that I enjoyed the trip, especially Bran Castle and the Sinai Mountains. Come here, it's really beautiful here. Explore! Romania is not so popular tourist place Like other European countries, I didn’t meet any Russians, I didn’t hear Russian speech at all, I had to communicate with the locals in a mixture of English and Romanian, even though I don’t know any of these languages)) If only because of its unknown nature, for the majority, Romania is worth it to visit her, she is very beautiful and real, unspoiled. For myself, I know for sure that I will return.
