Sibiu Watchtower, Romania by Thomas Quine

Sibiu

The most physically attractive town in the heart of Romania is this little town called Sibiu. It is divided into two parts; lower town and upper town. The lower town is like a canvas painted with colorful houses that are nicely placed on the cobblestone path. The place is restricted by the fortified defense towers that dominate another attraction of Sibiu; Cibin river. The attractions of the lower town Sibiu are The Bridge of Lies, Goldsmith’s Square, the Stairs Passage and the Haller Bastion. The upper town is historically rich and is occupied by some of Romania’s best monuments. The famous squares; the Great Square, the Little Square and the Huet Square are all located in the upper town of Sibiu. Roman-Catholic Church and Brukenthal Palace form part of the Great Square where one can enjoy the artifact collections. The little tower is linked to the Great Square and one can visit this place for splendid illustration of the town. Huet Square has some of the best gothic buildings and is renowned for the Evangelic Cathedral that features five pointed towers. Apart from all these places; historic churches, indigenous museums and Saxon & Romanian Traditions of Sibiu cannot be missed.

Orthodox Cathedral in Sibiu, Romania by Camil Ghircoias

Sighisoara

A small medieval town formed by the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighisoara is an elegant illustration of Romania’s aesthetic sense. The whole town has old buildings, old lanes, old café and old churches wedged with traditional as well as modern populace. The most famous Bran Castle or call it the Dracula Castle in Romania is located in Sighisoara. One must visit the castle which, at one time, was the residence of Vlad the warrior. He was a renowned Gothic fighter who stayed in the Bran chamber for two days, but there is no confirmatory that he lived there. The imaginary character Dracula is based on him and hence the bran castle is also known as the Dracula Castle. Apart from the castle, the 14th century Clock Tower, Sighisoara Square, old passageway, Teo’s Cellar and Scala Coperta are some places of attractions to stopover for exploring. Teo’s Cellar is the most recommended place for experiencing ageing wine and strong spirits. Those interested in folk art can opt for Art Crafts and Tea shop where the owner makes wooden spoons. It’s quite an amusing view to watch him make spoons. Next is the Scala Coperta which is more than 370 years old wooden bridge that stands as a national treasure for Romania. The Sighisoara museum and old passageway have their own charm.

Sighisoara, Romania by CrimsonC

Transylvania Countryside

The countryside is like any other countryside with cattle grazing, bicyclers, horse cart rides and vast green mountainous landscape that makes any place more picturesque.

About Author

Irina Kirilov is an editor for Rent Car Romania. She started blogging 3 years ago and plans to do this for the rest of her life. You can follow Irina on Twitter: @carhireromania

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From its literary tradition of vampire hunting to the modern scars of communism and the Cold War, Romania is a destination that prefers to wear its heritage on its sleeve. Here’s a look at some of the must-see attractions for anyone considering a Romanian adventure.

1. Biertan Fortified Church

The village of Biertan is home to one of the largest medieval strongholds in all of Transylvania. Venture through the picturesque vineyards and the quaint cobbled streets to discover the dramatic 15th century fortified church at the village centre.

It was considered an impressive stronghold in medieval times and it’s easy to see why, with towers, gates and three tiers of 35-foot-high defensive walls. Today it’s an awe-inspiring destination for history lovers, architecture connoisseurs and sightseers alike.

Biertan Fortified Church, Romania by Otto Schemmel

2. Bran Castle

Few people can think of Romania’s heritage without mentioning Bram Stocker’s iconic legend, Dracula. Much of this story comes from the iconic architectural creation known as Bran Castle; formerly a Teutonic Knights stronghold with the edifice constructed atop a rock some 200ft high.

Interestingly the famed Irish author never visited Romania, yet for lovers of his iconic text, Bran Castle remains central to the plot. From 1920 to 1957 Bran served as a royal residence but today is a fascinating museum displaying art, furniture and weapons within 60 timbered rooms.

Bran Castle, Romania by Florin73m

3. “Cetatea de Balta”

This fascinating mix of traditions and cultures makes it a must see location on any Transylvanian getaway. It’s also located a stone’s throw away from the beautiful village community of Cetatea de Balta, with stunning surrounding landscapes and a distinctive old-world charm.

Cetatea de Balta, Romania by Alina Musat

4. Corvinesti / Hunyad Castle

With imposing towers, spires and walls, the great Corvinesti Castle is a true showcase of gothic architecture and style. Built by the Anjou family on the site of a former Roman camp, the castle acted as a working fortress well in the mid-4th century before being transformed into the residence of Iancu de Hunedoara, a Transylvanian ruler.

Visitors should leave plenty of time to visit the fascinating Knights’ Hall, marvel at the drawbridge and explore the 50 rooms filled with authentic medieval art.

Corvinesti Castle, Romania by Todor Bozhinov

5. Rasnov Fortress

Situated in the scenic Carpathian Mountains, the Rasnov Fortress is a must-see attraction on any Romanian getaway. First built to ward off the invading Tartars, the Fortress has served for centuries as a place of refuge and relief for extended periods of time. It was also home to schools, chapels and outbuildings, making it a fascinating snapshot of Romanian village life.

Visitors can also learn more about the fortress’ fascinating military history, including its single surrender in 1612. In the last decade the old fortress has undergone a makeover and today functions as a museum with plenty of interesting artefacts.

Rasnov Fortress, Romania by L.Kenzel

Written by: Sheryl Lovenkrandz – a freelance blogger who loves to write about travel and accommodation.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ocegep

The building is really monumental, and if you are disappointed by haunted Dracula’s castle Bran, be sure to set off in Hunedoara.

Fortress was founded here in the 13th century and up to 17th century was reconstructed and modified. At first in the 14th century by its owner, a general and Regent-Governor of the Kingdom of Hungary – John Hunyadi, and later in the 15th century by his son, Matthias Corvinus. Further alterations were no such significant. Inside the castle is a museum where you can find more information about the history of the castle.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cernavoda

There is no railway in Hunedoara, but you can take a bus from the nearby Deva. As I wrote, Hunedoara is a relatively small city, so finding the castle would not be a problem – you can go from the bus station along the main street up to the dirty river, go over bridge and you should see the towers of the castle.

Corvin Castle is open every day but the opening hours vary depending on the season. Basic admission is 10 Ron (approx. €2,3).

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Horia Varlan

A curious thing is that the cruel ruler Vlad III. Dracula, who was called Vlad the Impaler due to his horrific methods of torture and murders, in fact, never visited this historic castle. In spite of this fact, this place is now very popular among tourists and there are a large number of them.

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Bran Castle is located approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Brasov, right in the middle of Romania. Once you decide to visit the castle, you definitely should reserve some additional time and explore the surrounding countryside as well. Transylvania is a fascinating part of Romania, where you can still enjoy almost untouched wilderness.

But do not go there if you have a fear of vampires.

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Transylvania is located in the heart of Romania. Originally it was an autonomous region, which was gradually included under the government of Hungary, the Ottoman Empire or Austro-Hungarian Empire. Fortunately much of its history and cultural heritage still preserved.

The city of Cluj-Napoca is considered as the capital city and cultural and industrial center. Here you can find the famous Orthodox cathedral. Several state and private universities have their headquarters here, including the largest university in Romania – Babes Bolyai University. There are lots of museums in Cluj-Napoca. You can visit the Museum of Art, Museum of Pharmacy and Transylvanian Ethnographic Museum with its impressive exterior exposures.

Another medieval city that attracts visitors to Transylvania is Sighisoara. Especially its part called Upper Town, which is even included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its castle tower with astronomical clock, which now serves as a historical museum has even become a symbol and hallmark of the city. From a wooden walkway at the top of the tower you can enjoy a beautiful view of all the houses and roofs in the neighborhood, including the alleged birthplace of Count Dracula. Even Dracula, or Vlad Tepes, whose tyranny served as an inspiration to the famous theme of the novel, were not born here in fact.

Just in a short distance from Sighisoara, in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, you can find a popular ski resort of Poiana Brasov. But thanks to the spectacular peaks the resort worth visiting also during the summer months. Not far from it you can visit the famous “vampire” Bran Castle. Although here you can virtually meet with Dracula at each step, inside the majestic castle he is not even mentioned. The ruins of the “real” castle, inhabited by the dreaded Vlad Tepes, is located elsewhere, not far from here, but they are hardly accessible and would certainly not impress much more as more attractive Bran.

Romantic wooden churches in the northern part of Transylvania are other of the places that were included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The narrow, but tall buildings with turrets, complete the true face of the Romanian mountain landscape. It is surprising that this museum of rural life, which belongs to the greatest treasures of Romania is often omitted by many tourists on their trips around Transylvania.

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Moldoveanu peak is 2544 m high. There are many hiking trails leading from the villages in the valley to the top of Moldoveanu, but they are mainly very steep. Therefore the most popular trail, however it is longer, leads over the Viştea Mare (2527m), by coming from Podragu, Sambata, or by the Vistea Valley.

From the top of Moldoveanu you can enjoy beautiful views of the Făgăraş Mountains and the valley. Below the peak there is a tourist lodge where you can sleep for free and take the water for the following hike.

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Orava Castle, Slovakia by Wojsyl

The Castle itself was constructed at the site were an old wooden fort had once stood during the Mongol invasion. The old Fort unfortunately did not survive the invasion, and soon after was replaced with the Orava Castle, which stands today. And while the Castle has undergone a number of reconstructions throughout the centuries, the most extensive reconstruction occurred back in 1611.

Unfortunately, as the centuries went on the Castle eventually fell into disrepair until the early 1800s when it was burnt to the ground completely. However, thanks to the extensive efforts of the government as well as locals, another major reconstruction effort began shortly after the end of World War II.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects about the Orava Castle is that of the entrance to the Castle. There are three levels of the Castle, which includes lower, central as well as upper parts. As a result, anyone who enters the Castle will have to walk through a tunnel under which the Castle’s dungeon can clearly be seen beneath. The highest part is on a steep rocky limestone cliff 112 m above the Orava river. Middle part consists of medieval buildings – Corvinus Palace and the Palace of Ján from Dubová village. The lower castle is particularly Thurzo Palace and the castle church where some members of Thurzo family are buried, the older tower and terrace. On this terrace there was a summer theatre for several years.

Today the Castle itself serves as a Museum to not just the Castle, but also to the archaeology of the region, the history of the settlements along the Orava River as well as the nation. There are countless exhibits that can be found throughout the Castle including a regular theatre and street performers. One of the most interesting aspects about visiting the Orava Castle is that it is open in the night-time to allow visitors to have a truly enchanted experience.

The basic admission is €5 – €6 and often include also the fencing duel or several music concerts from the previous periods. If you are planning your trip to Slovakia, do not forget to visit Orava castle, you will be surprised how nice it is.

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The Bicaz Gorge itself is more than eight kilometres long and today can be more readily traversed thanks to the road that now follows the canyon as it meanders its way to the countryside. Many people insist that choosing to drive along the edges of the Bicaz Gorge affords one some of the most spectacular views of the Romanian countryside.

Bicaz Gorge, Romania by Mudkipz_KGM

Nearby, you will also find the Red Lake, which is known locally as Lacul Roşu. A landslide formed the Red Lake in the early part of the 19th century. It is one of the most famous lakes in all of Romania and has attracted countless visitors over the years. Today there are number of accommodation options that can be found along the shores of the lake.

It is also interesting to note, that the Bicaz Gorge also boasts sheer rock wall faces that have attracted countless climbers to the area. As a matter of fact, the canyon is one of the most popular rock-climbing destinations in all of Romania. One of the most popular climbing sites is a section of 300 meter tall rock which overhangs the river and has been aptly dubbed the Neck of Hell by many climbers over the years. But there are also all phases which are perfect for the beginner including that of the Hasmasul Mic wall.

The entire Canyon rests within 7000 hectares large national Park that was established in order to protect more than 1150 species of plants that can be found within the Bicaz Gorge itself. And although there are a number of animal life that can be found within the gorge, for the most part the animals tend to stay away from the torrential water flows of the Bicaz River.

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