ROMANIA DANUBE DELTA 10 DAYS

Today we will start exploring , founded as Hermannstadt by German settlers, it is still the center of the “Transylvanian Saxons”, that’s why its architecture reminds us of old German towns. Even signs and tourist information are labeled both in Romanian and German, although most German residents long ago left the city and moved to Germany. While walking through the city center you get the impression of the European Capital of Culture in 2007. During a city tour you can see the large and the small city ring, the Liar ’s Bridge, the Protestant cathedral and ‘lower city’ with its famous city wall. Even signs and tourist information are labeled both in Romanian and German, although most German residents long ago left the city and moved to Germany. While walking through the city center you get the impression of the European Capital of Culture in 2007. During a city tour you can see the large and the small city ring, the Liar ’s Bridge, the Protestant cathedral and ‘lower city’ with its famous city wall.

In the morning you still have some free time, so not to miss anything in this city. You can just stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. We recommend you to visit the Brukenthal Museum with a considerable collection of works, related to the main European artistic schools from the 15th to the 18th century. Then we start our drive through the region, also known as Transylvania. The name is self-explanatory and is translated as “the land behind the woods”. The German name “Siebenbürgen” goes back to the first German residents. They settled here in the 12th century and erected a bastion with seven fortified towns against the Ottomans. On the way you will see gorgeous mountains with forests and rich wildlife, fabled castles, allegedly full of werewolves and vampires, ancient Roman, Scythian and Dacian settlements, modern villages with spooky traditions. For the traveler, it is a one-in-lifetime opportunity to make a time leap and to experience the ancient customs that close. But for now our first stop today is Cisnadie – a small town not far from Sibiu. A few kilometers further in Sibiel we visit the unique glass icon museum. Here we have lunch at one peasant family, taste homemade spirits and learn about everyday life of ordinary Romanian people. On the way to Sighisoara we visit – the multi-ethnic city and cultural center, as well as the “Hungarian” center of Romania. Numerous places in the city serve as an evidence of its multinationality – buildings since epoch of mayor György Bernady, the administrative district in Art Nouveau style, Palace of Culture in the modernist style, typical for the late Austrian times, and the Baroque building of the Teleki-Bolyai Library. A short city tour completes our impressions of the city. In the evening we arrive in – to the place with single absolutely intact inhabited medieval fortress in Eastern Europe. After the accomodation in the hotel, the dinner will be arranged on you

After breakfast we explore Sighisoara, a real architectural jewel. During the city tour we, totally charmed, pass by the medieval castle. We also pay attention to its famous clock tower. No surprise that the castle is UNESCO World Heritage site. Here is located the house where the Wallachian prince Vlad Dracul, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was allegedly born. It’s him who served as a prototype for Bram Stoker ’s main character in the legendary novel “Dracula”. From the Gothic church we have a breathtaking view over the city. Interestingly, Sighisoara is another city, marked by multinationality, as here are recognized three official languages: Romanian, Hungarian and German. In the afternoon we visit the small village of Viscri/Weißkirch, which with its fortified church is listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. The London Mihai Eminescu Foundation is responsible for preserving that ‘core’ sight of the village. Prince Charles of Wales, the Patron of the Foundation, has already paid a few visits and even bought a house of  Mrs. Caroline Fernolend to support the village. In the evening we arrive in Brasov/Kronstadt. A vibrant, rising city, thanks to its eventful history, managed to keep many treasures to offer a tourist. Now the largest Transilvanian city, Kronstadt was founded as the southeasternmost bastion of Transylvania. The well-preserved historical center is surrounded by hills and makes up an immaculate medieval cityscape. The Baroque Town Hall, rebuilt after the fire in 1698, is situated on the triangular square.

In the morning we continue our Brasov walks. In the daylight we can fully admire the main symbol of Brasov, Black Church of 14-15th century, the largest Gothic religious building of Eastern Europe. Also you will see the church of St. Nicholas with the elements of Gothic and Byzantine style. We also visit the synagogue. After acquaintance with Brasov let’s explore its beautiful surroundings. Our first destination is the small town of Fagaras and an impressive 700-years-old castle. Its importance for local rulers was proved with several renovations, until finally the communist regime restructured it to prison for the opponents. Today the castle fascinates with its authenticity, comparing to other forts in Romania. Hidden in the wooded area in Rasnov, the ancient citadel dominates the skyline, majestically towering on a limestone cliff above the city. You will also hear an interesting legend about the castle fountain. During a small tour we visit worship places of different confessions. In the evening we will come back to Brasov and share our impressions from the day during the dinner.

Today we drive towards the Romanian capital. Our path leads through Prahova Valley Sinaia – “Pearl of the Carpathians”. In Sinaia we visit Peles Castle – a mixture of styles with Gothic and Renaissance elements, considered by many as the most beautiful castle in Romania. Until 1914 it was the summer residence of King Karol the First and his favorite castle. Its walls and orioles are reminiscent of the ‘Imperial and Royal style’ of Austrian Hungarian Empire(aka K.U.K.), as well as Hohenzollern castle, the birth house of the Romanian King. Next to it is situated a beautiful monastery of the Monks of the Sinai Peninsula (17 c.), after whom the town Sinaia got its name. In the afternoon we reach Bucharest, have lunch, do hotel check-in and still have time for the first acquaintance with the city. We drive to the city center,particularly to the Square of Revolution with Athenaeum. A special pride of Bucharest is the parliamentary building – the second largest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon) – the gigantic architectural structure, built under pompous project of the dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu. Around 700 architects and 20,000 workers had been building it for 5 years, about 40% of Romanian GDP was spent for it. We take a walk through the government district of Romanian capital.

In the morning we explore the Romanian capital. ‘Paris of the East’ has lost some of its former glory. Half-destroyed and unkempt houses neighbour with well-kept buildings and courtyards.  Neither multiple occupations nor numerous revolutions managed to really destroy city ’s beauty as Ceausescu‘s ‘building rage’ did to Bucharest. The dictator demolished large parts of the historic city center for the sake of its personal architectural mania. On the city tour you will also see the Patriarch Church – seat of the Orthodox Head of the country, the old court museum, Union Square and Hanul lui Manuc, where in 1812 The Peace Agreement between Turkey and Russia was signed. We also stroll through the trendy quarter Lipscani – a small tourist paradise with fashion shops, fast food chains and classy restaurants. In the afternoon you still have a plenty of time to explore Romanian capital on your own. Depending on your interests, we recommend two museums. If you still can not get enough of the rural motives, pay a visit to the Muzeul Satului, the open-air village museum of everyday life various regions of Romania. The Jewish Museum in Bucharest is located in the former synagogue “United Holy Temple “(Templul Unirea Sfanta), representing both the Second World War and the Nicolae-Ceausescu’s epochs. In the museum you can find a huge collection of books written, published, illustrated or translated by Romanian Jews, and a wide range of Jewish ritual objects.

In the early morning we make our way to Constanta, one of the most elegant and beautiful seaside resorts on the Black Sea. This important cultural and economic center is worth a visit for its many archaeological treasures. The ancient metropolis has a colorful past, which we will feel in the city center. A lot of ancient ruins, monuments and facades make this port city tourist destination. This Romanian Black Sea metropolis is expected to show all its glory due to recent large-scale renovation in the city center. On a guided tour we discover the ruins of the Tomis fortress, trading house with Roman floor mosaic, the casino, several churches and basilicas, imperial necropolis and a mosque. After sightseeing and break we start our drive towards Tulcea – the gateway to the Danube Delta. We drive through a dry, steppe-like area of with sheep breeding, cotton, vineyards and sunflower fields – the landscape of Dobrudja. In the evening we reach Tulcea, get accomodated and exchange the impressions of the day at the dinner.

The whole program day we devote to the Delta with its unique primeval landscape. The Danube branches into three main distributaries into the delta, two of which form famous Tulcea channel. These small rivers create a unique landscape, a maze of canals and lakes. The whole area here was recognized as a biosphere reserve and included into the UNESCO World Heritage. The biosphere reserve covers nearly 6,000 km 2 and comprises the core area of the Delta. Large lagoon complexes are interspersed with open lakes, vast reed beds, marshes, dunes and surrounding primeval oak forests. The reserve is home to birds, mink, wild cats and monk seals. You may experience this breathtaking natural landscape as close as possible on a boat trip at the delta region. In the late afternoon you will again feel solid ground under your feet and enjoy your free time. This unforgettable day we will end up tasting fish, right from the Danube, and drinking dry regional wine in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Europe.

On this day our journey comes to the end. After the breakfast we have together transfer to Bucharest. We hope you have discovered Romania, its culture, traditions and nature, and will keep this emotions for your lifetime. We are always happy to become your devoted companion for your future travels!