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Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest
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Welcome 2 Romania. You will be met by your private driver and guide at Bucharest Interational Airport and transferred to your hotel in the city. The rest of the day is at leisure.
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Day 2: Bucharest city tour
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Hello again and have a wonderful morning. Today we start our ciry tour of the Romanian capital. At the beginning we will visit the old quarter of Bucharest which was first mentioned in 1459 by the already famous Vlad the Impeller, also known as Dracula. Later on, during the 19th century this quarter got Bucharest the nick-name of Little Paris. We will also drive by some of the most important and impressive sights of the city: the Newspaper House, the Arch of Triumph, the Peasant Museum, the Athenaeum, the Revolution Square, the Opera, the Peoples' Palace and many, many more. Visits are included at the People's Palace and at the History museum of Romania. The rest of the day is at leisure. You may relax and get over your jet leg or make the last preparations for the trip ahead of you.
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Day 3: Bucharest - Sibiel - Sibiu
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Today we start the actual round trip of medieval Romania. We will drive along the highway through the oil fields of Romania towards the city of Curtea de Arges, the first important capital of the Romanian historical province of Wallachia. Visiting the remains of the 14th century princerly court will offer you an image of it's importance during the medieval period. The Princerly Church offers a beautiful and unique collection of frescoes and is considered to be the oldest and most important one in Wallachia. Only a mile away, another church enchants the eye. It is said that the wife of the master architect is buried somewhere within the church walls, which is the only reason the constructions was finished. It's beautiful carvings and it's importance given also by the remains of St. Filofteia which are held here in a coffin, made the royal family of Romania decide this to be their burial ground. You might visit in the courtyard of the monastery the tombs of all queens and kings of Romania. We continue along the Olt River valley towards the Nun monastery of Ostrov and the monk Monastery of Cozia. Ostrov was the fist nunnery to be foundated in Wallachia in the mid 16th century, and Cozia is considered to be one of the eldest ones being build in 1377 by Mircea the Old, the Grandfather of Vlad the Impeller. Our journey continues trough the picturesque valley of the Olt river until Sibiu. We will be accommodated in the city center, at the oldest hotel in town, build in 1555.
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Day 4: Sibiu - Medias - Sighisoara
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The morning is reserved to discover the beauty of the former medieval Transilvanian capital: Sibiu. The refurbished houses of the old city center offer us a very good image of what used to be Sibiu: majestous constructions, coats of arms everywhere, two imposing churches in city center and of course the Liar's Bridge, the first iron bridge in Romania. Those interested can walk up the main city tower and admire the whole city and it's surrounding from it's top. After lunch, we will head to the city of Medias where we will visit the Lutheran church. Legends say, that even Vlad the Impeller (Dracula) was imprisoned some days within it's walls. In the late afternoon we'll arrive the medieval city of Sighisoara.
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Day 5: Sighisoara - Biertan - Sighisoara
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Located on top of a hill, the whole old city of Sighisoara is considered a historical monument and an Unesco world cultural heritage site as it is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. During the visit of the Clock Tower you will discover the old roots of the region and it's cultural, commercial and medicinal significance during the middle ages. And from it's top you have a beautiful view upon the surrounding valleys. Impressive houses guard the small central square of the city from which you can see the Catholic and the Lutheran church. Also impressive is the House with the Stag, patroned by Prince Charles of Great Britain. And only some steps away is the birth house of the famous Vlad the Impeller, so very well known under the name of Dracula.
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Day 6: Sighisoara - Targu Mures - Cluj Napoca
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Today we'll drive from Sighisoara towards the north-eastern part of Romania, to the historical province of Moldova. Our first stop will be only some miles away from Sighisoara, in the city of Targu Mures which bares a lot of medieval history within. Continuing our journey, we will arrive in the afternoon in the imposing city of Cluj Napoca which is even today the cultural capical of Transilvania. We will have the whole afternoon to discover the beauty of the feudal settlement, it's beautiful churches, the medieval city walls, the Hungarian and the Romanian theatre which date back over a century.
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Day 7: Cluj Napoca - Sapanta and the wooden churches - Sighetul Marmatiei - Maramures Farmer's house
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This day is dedicated to the region of Maramures. We will visit some of the numerous wooden churches in the region, among them also Surdesti, which is considered to be one of the largest wooden constructions in the world with it's tower reaching over 200 feet above the ground. During the city tour of the largest city in the region, Sighetu Marmatiei, you will discover the interesting social, cultural and religious consistency of the whole region. Synagogues stand besides Lutheran, Catholic, Romanian orthodox and Russian orthodox churches. The monument dedicated to the thousands of Jews which were deported from Sighet at the end of WWII, stands just across one of the most feared communist prisons, which houses today a memorial. Driving only a few miles towards the Ukrainian border we will arrive in the village of Sapanta where the unique Merry Cemetery is located. The colorful gravestones with funny inscriptions stand as proof of the ancient Romanian way of regarding death: not as an end, but as a new beginning.
In the late afternoon we return to our farmer's house for dinner and overnight.
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Day 8: Maramures - Ieud - Moldovita - Gura Humorului
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We start off today towards another historical province of Romania: Moldova. Just before leaving Maramures area, we will visit the eldest wooden church in the region which dates back to 1356 and is located in the village of Ieud. Crossing the mountains will offer us a gorgeous scenery and some quite windy roads. Everywhere we look, nature embraces our views. In the late afternoon we will arrive in the town of Gura Humorului where we will be accommodated the next 2 nights.
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Day 9: Gura Humorului - Arbore - Marginea - Sucevita - Arbore - Voronet - Humor - Gura Humorului
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Today we have the whole day at disposal to discover the beautiful and unique monasteries with exterior frescoes. Constructed in traditional Moldavian architectural style, each of them preserves a specific feature and a specific color which brought it's fame. Most of them constructed by the famous Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great in the late 15th century as thank to God for winning battles against the Turks, their exterior painting started only 1532. Interesting enough, this painting was not restored throughout time but can be clearly seen even today. They were included on Unesco's list of World Cultural Heritage.
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Day 10: Gura Humorului - Piatra Neamt - Red lake - Brasov
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Today we depart Moldova Region and drive southwards to Piatra Neamt in order to cross again the mountains towards Transilvania. On route, we will make a short stop to the first important medieval Moldavian capital: the Neamt fortification. Located on a hill on the right side of the street, the ruin of the former castle which stood there against the Turks, the Polish and all other invaders. In order to pass the mountains we will have to drive trough the beautiful Bicaz cliffs. The 500 feet high vertical stone walls offer shade almost all day long, but the views are more than impressive. Along with it's sister-road Trans-Fagarasan over the Fagaras mountain, this street was designed and build by the communist regime in secrecy and had to serve as secret passage over the mountains in case of emergency. After this interesting views a short stop for lunch will probably be appreciated at the Red Lake reservation. The legends surrounding this lake with petrified trees from centuries ago are numerous and it would probably take days to hear them. We continue our journey westwards through the Hungarian region of Romania in order to get to the city of Brasov for our next accommodation.
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Day 11: Brasov - Harman - Prejmer - Brasov
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After the long drive from yesterday, we'll have time today to enjoy the beautiful city of Brasov and it's surroundings. First of all, we will head towards the villages of Harman and Prejmer to visit the local fortifications, the latter one being listed as Unesco site as it very well preserved from medieval times. The first one, due to it's heavy and strong walls, was never conquered until the revolution from 1848. Both stand proof for the intelligent building style of the Saxon peasant. The afternoon is at disposal to visit the city of Brasov, especially the old part with the Council Sqare and the imposing Black Church. A visit to the local history museum will offer you a lot of information on the medieval history, the military and economic importance of the city. The rest of the day will be at leisure.
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Day 12: Brasov - Bran - Sinaia - Bucharest
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Today we start to visit two of the best preserved and most famous castles of Romania. First we head to the village of Bran to visit the fortification which became famous as Dracula's castle. The strange building style of the former border castle build in 1377, it's narrow passages, the location "high upon a rock" as well as the wing whitch was partially redecorated by the Romanian royal family have many stories to tell. After a short stop at the bazaar in front of the castle, we will head towards the mountain resort of Sinaia to visit the summer residence of the Romanian royal family: the Peles Castle. Build within a beautiful scenery and in a typical german style, the castle can be easily compared to those on the river Rhein. In the afternoon we will arrive Bucharest where you will still have some time for your last souvenier shopping or just to prepare the return flight.
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Day 13: Bucharest departure
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You have the day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your return flight.
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