Romania
Weekender
Abta Magazine
Day 1: Bucharest
Once known as 'Little Paris' for its French-inspired grand boulevards
and architecture, Romania's capital has since suffered earthquakes,
war and Communist rebuilding. Historical pockets and pleasant
parks and lakes survive. Spend a day around the city or take
a quick driving tour before heading North to Brasov.
Modern history: Take a guided tour of the city or use the metro
to get around. The must-see is the Palace of Parliament with
which megalomaniac Nicaloi Ceausescu replaced a quarter of the
old city. The Communist dictator gave his last speech from a
balcony in Revolution Square, where the National Museum of Art,
housed in the former Royal Palace, is also worth seeing.
Old town: Stroll through Bucharest's surviving old streets in
Lipscani district, taking in Curtea Veche - the remains of the
princely court of 15th century ruler Vlad 'The Impaler' Dracula,
and, next door, the oldest church in Romania. Culture is also
persevered at the award-winning Peasant Museum which celebrates
Romania's rich folk art and also includes the Communist Iconography
Museum.
Entertainment: If overnighting in Bucharest, take in some budget
priced opera or enjoy themed dining at the Count Dracula Club.
Set in a Bucharest mansion, the club's Bram Stoker inspired
décor includes a vampire-friendly coffin filled with
Transylvanian soil. www.count-dracula.ro
Day
2: Sinaia, Bran and Brasov
Take a tour into scenic Transylvania with its mountain landscapes,
medieval towns and Dracula associations. It takes about two
hours from Bucharest to reach the regional capital Brasov. For
longer in the region, skip Bucharest and head there on day one.
Note, winters are harsh and not ideal for touring.
Sinaia: En route to Brasov, call in at Sinaia. The town has
a 300-year-old monastery but its main attraction is Bavarian
style Peles Castle, a late 19th century home of Romania's King
Carol I. Its rich decorations include paintings by Gustav Klimt
and stained glass windows depicting fairytales. (Closed Mondays,
also Tuesdays October - May and entirely in November.)
Bran castle: 16 miles from Brasov is the country's most popular
Dracula attraction. This pretty 14th century turreted fortress
is more like something from a fairytale than a horror story
and nowhere near where Bram Stoker located his vampire Count.
Some believe, however that Stoker's inspiration, Vlad Dracula,
once laid it siege. (Closed Mondays.)
Brasov: Baroque buildings line Brasov's picturesque Old Town
Square along with the largest Gothic church in Romania - named
The Black Church after 17th century fire damage but now lined
with antique Turkish carpets. Seek out the remains of the town's
Saxon defences or relax and enjoy the mountainous surroundings
from the plentiful bars and cafes.
Day 3:
Brasov exploration or Sighisoria
Spend your final day lingering around pretty Brasov before returning
to Bucharest, or start out early for Sighisoara, about two hours
away. (If you headed to Brasov on day one, Sighisoara would
be best seen at more leisure on your second day.)
Mountain views: If you're sticking to Brasov take the cable
car or hike (about an hour) up Tampa Mountain where Vlad Dracula
once impaled his local opponents. Alternatively take a bus to
Piona Brasov ski resort at the foot of Postavaru mountain. Nicole
Kidman, Jude Law and Renee Zellweger relaxed here after filming
Cold Mountain in the region.
Sighisoara: Step back in time in the Medieval streets of Sighisoara,
an UNESCO world heritage site and the largest inhabited citadel
in Europe. The whole place is a photogenic treat but highlights
include the fresco-decorated Church on the Hill and the ornate
clock tower with its moving figurines depicting peace, justice,
law, day, night and the days of the week.
Dracula's birthplace: Before departing Sighisoara for the 290km
return to Bucharest, get a bite to eat at the birthplace of
the notorious Vlad Dracula, which now contains a restaurant
and weapons museum. Time permitting, you may be able to stop
at another medieval town, Sibiu - a former European City of
Culture.
Best for...
Best for activity: Take in the fantastic scenery from hiking
trails around Piona Brasov or, in winter, try budget skiing
at the resort.
Best for bears: Bear watching can be arranged from late March
to May and Mid August to December by Mikes Castle Estate, a
hotel in Zabala, Transylvania, featured by Sunvil.
Best for spa: Though not famed for wellness retreats like Hungary,
Romania claims a third of Europe's mineral and thermal spas.
See www.spas.ro.
Best for twin-centres: Romania multi-centre possibilities include
Regent Holidays' Budapest-Sofia-Instanbul tours and Romania
and Bulgaria fly-drives.
Don't Miss: Tuica, the Romanian plum brandy or the country's
well regarded wine.
Top six highlights
Palace of Parliament, Bucharest: Ceausescu's epic folly is the
second biggest building in the world, after the Pentagon. Today
it houses Romania's Parliament. Guided tours take in some of
its 600 opulent rooms.
Scenery: The Transylvanian countryside is truly beautiful with
the forested slopes of the Carpathians descending to farmed
valleys dotted with conical haystacks. You can still see horse
and carts and traditionally decorated houses.
Dracula connections: Purists should head for Bistrita then eastwards
on the Borgo Pass (towards the fictitious castle of Bram Stoker's
Dracula), or seek places connected with the man who inspired
his name, Vlad 'the impaler' Dracula.
Food: Contrary to reputation, Romania's food can be very good.
Tourist restaurants with traditional music and dancing include
Piona Brasov's Sura Dacilor (Dacians' Barn), Coliba Haiducilor
(Outlaw's Hut) and Stana Turistica (Tourist Sheepfold).
Painted Monasteries: Romania's UNESCO-protected monasteries
with richly frescoed walls lie around Bucovina, near Suceava,
440 miles from Bucharest. (Flying via Europe into Iasi or taking
an internal flight to Suceava would cut transfer times).
Music festival: The biannual George Enescu international festival
of classic music, is next held Aug 30 - Sept 26 2009.
Concerts and heats of a competition for violinists and pianists
will be held in Bucharest. www.festivalenescu.ro
Sample package:
Romania Travel Centre can tailormake the Bucharest, Sinaia,
Bran, Brasov and Sighisoara itinerary described above from £469
per person (plus flights from £220 each). This covers
three nights' B&B in three-star hotels, the services of
an English speaking guide/driver with air-conditoned car, plus
entrance fees.
A day trip from Bucharest to Sinaia, Bran and Brasov costs from
£80.
www.romaniatravelcentre.com
0800 132973
Tourist board: Romanian National Tourist Office: 0207 224 3692,
romaniatravel@btconnect.com,
www.romaniatourism.com
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