In the Footsteps of Dracula
(4days/3nights)
A very interesting tour guiding you back to the 14th century, in a world of constant threads, wars, betrayels and struggles for power, but also in a world of myths and legends, some of them kept alive until today. Medieval cities and fortified castles offer the appropriate scenery for discovering the life of Vlad the Impeller and the legend of Dracula, the blood-thirsty Wallachian prince. From the real figure of Vlad, descendent of a long line of Romanian rulers, to the legendary Dracula, you will learn about his real life and deeds, visit the Princerly Courts where he used to rule (Targoviste and Bucharest), but also the castles related to his name - Poenari and Bran, and of course the places where everything started and ended: Sighisoara and Snagov Monastery. The tour will also bring you to cities like Sibiu, Brasov or Medias, cities inhabited by Dracula's worst enemies. Learning about the medieval legends of the blood drinking vampire you will understand why Bram Stocker's figure became one of the most feared but also intrigueing characters of world culture, comparable Jack the Ripper, Frankenstein or Rasputin. Eventually, we will never know exactly where reality stops and the legend beginns.
More information about Dracula.
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Day 1: Bucharest - Targoviste - Poenari - Curtea de Arges
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You will be picked-up at your hotel in Bucharest by your private experienced guide who will accompany you troughout the tour. First stop will be the Princerly Court in Bucharest build and inhabited by the Romanian ruler as he moved the capital from Targoviste to Bucharest and where he was the first to mention Bucharest in a written statement. Afterwards you will continue towards the city of Targoviste, once the place where Vlad attended the throne. After visiting the fortification and climb up the Sunset Tower (former prison of Dracula), you will head towards the Carpathian Mountains where, deep in a valley and "high upon a rock" (as Bram Stocker desribes it) lies the Fortification of Poenari, the Real and only castle build by Vlad the Impeller. The almost 1500 steps to climb up to the fortification will offer you a very good view of the pitoresque and excellent strategic location of the castle. In the late afternoon you will arrive in Curtea de Arges, a town with ower 700 years old roots which was inhabited by Vlad the Impeller's ancestors.
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Day 2: Curtea de Arges - Cozia Monastery - Sibiu - Medias - Sighisoara
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 Today you leave the land of Vlad the Impeller and head towards the city which was inhabited by his worst enemies - Sibiu. Build by the Saxons in the early 13th century, the city soon became the capital of saxon medieval Transylvania due to it's strategic location and is today one of Romania's largest ones. Here you will visit the Old Town with the Catholic and the Lutheran chuch, the latter one having the highest tower in Transylvania, as well as the residences of Vlad's enemies and the strong and very ingenious build city walls. Afterwards depart towards Medias where Vlad is believed to have been kept prisoner for some time. In the afternoon you will arrive in Sighisoara, the famous birth place of Vlad the Impeller and included today on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List, as it is one of the few medieval tows in the world which was constantly inhabited for over 700 years. Here you will visit the house where Dracula was born (today housing a restaurant), but also the famous Clock Tower - symbol of the city, transformed into the regional history museum. Dinner will be served in the Dracula House restaurant.
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Day 3: Sighisoara - Brasov - Bran - Sinaia
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Your takes you today on the medieval commercial route towards the city of Brasov, who's merchants also comploted against Dracula. Your walking city tour trough the old part of Brasov will also include a visit of the Black Church, the largest gothic construction in south-eastern Europe, housing also a very large collection of oriental carpets. Afterwards you will visit the famous Bran Castle, also known as Dracula Castle as it was the sceene of many vampire movies troughout time. Build in 1377, the fortification from Bran was used in as a border castle and preserves even today it's Middle Aged spirit although it was attacked several times by Vlad the Impeller. In the late afternoon you will arrive in the mountain resort of Sinaia, located on the other side of the Carpathians.
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Day 4: Sinaia - Snagov - Bucharest
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In the morning you will visit the former summer residence of the royal family of Romania, the beautiful Peles Castle which will prove to be comparable to the royal castles and palaces of Europe. Driving southwards you will stop and visit the island of the Snagov lake where Dracula organized one of his prisons for "special guests" and where he was also burried inside the local monastery, as a real prince that he was. Though, despite the tradition, his grave is located infront of the altar, so that everyone should step over it, not allowing him a pleasant rest - maybe the last revenge upon Dracula which haunts him even today. Enjoy the boat ride and the location and mabye drink a glass of water from the fountain, which according to the legend dates back to Dracula's times. Your tour ends at your hotel.
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Thank you for travelling with us and hope you had an interesting trip.
Price / person: 395 euro / person
Single supplement: 46 euro / person
Price is valid for minimum 3 persons.
Price includes: English speaking guide / driver throughout the itinerary, modern a/c car, accommodation in double room (breakfast included), half board throughout, entrance fees at tourist sites (with displayed entrance fee), welcome pack (detailed tour description and travel information upon arrival).
Price does not include: services and entrance fees to other sights than mentioned in the itinerary, eventual visa or special insurance taxes, foto and filming taxes.
