Hotels with charm
Contact MC Transilvania
Duration: 9 nights / 10 days
Type: fly & drive
Route: Romania - Bucharest, Sinaia, Brasov, Sighisoara, Bucovina, Maramures, Sibiu
Day 1
Arrival in Bucharest.
The rented car is delivered for you at the airport.
Accommodation at hotel Opera 3*+ /Venezia 4*/Central 4* - situated in the city center. Small hotels with charm. www.thhotels.ro.
Bucharest: Romania's capital is a city that offers a variety of architectural styles: French from the early 20th century, communist and modern.
The city was mentioned for the first time in 1459 in connection with Vlad the Impaler.
Called "the little Paris", the city surprises with its monuments and various buildings.
Important places:
- The Revolution Square - where the Revolution of 1989 happened, that led to the change of the communist system.
- The old building of the Communist Party, the Royal Palace, the Romanian Athenaeum, the University, the University Square, the National Theatre, the Military Centre, the Opera, Cotroceni Palace, the Academy of Military Studies
- The Parliament - the second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon
- The Arc of Triumph, the House of the Free Press, parks, Victoria Square, Romana Square etc.
- The old town with the ruins of the former palace of princes, where Vlad the Impaler lived, Hanul lui Manuc, very lively streets today, with historic buildings.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from Bucharest in the direction of Ploiesti-Sinaia.
Possible visits in the region during the day:
- The Peles and Pelisor castles in Sinaia.
- The monastery of Sinaia, built in 1695, from the order of Prince Mihail Cantacuzino and named after Mount Sinai.
Sinaia: The history of the place begins with the monastery of Sinaia around which the entire city was built, today a holiday destination.
The castle of Peles in Sinaia (www.peles.ro). The castle was built between 1875 and 1914 and was summer residence of the kings of Romania, the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family. It is considered as one of the richest castles in the German family.
The visit of the interior takes about 40 min.
Accommodation in Sinaia, in 3 * hotel with charm located inside Peles Castle park.
Bastion 3* hotel quoted, or similar.
Distance Bucharest - Sinaia: 150 km.
Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel.
Day in the region of Brasov.
Possible visits in the region during the day:
- the Cantacuzino Palace in Busteni, recently entered in the tourist circuit. Built in 1911, the castle has a Neo-Romanian architectural style and a great historical value. The entrance hall includes a unique heraldic collection. The surrounding park has waterfalls, fountains and a cave.
- the former royal wineries of Azuga, now owned by the English company Halewood.
- Bran Castle, known as Dracula's Castle. Bran: village located at 40-45 min. from Brasov where you will find a castle named Dracula’s by tourists (www.brancastlemuseum.ro). Actually, the castle is more related to the history of the royal family of Romania, and especially to the life of Queen Mary. It is not much related to Vlad the Impaler, who gave birth to the legend of Dracula – supposedly the prince passed here or he was taken prisoner in the zone. Visiting time indoors: 30 - 40 min. To this length of time free time is added for shopping in the area for souvenirs around the castle.
- The fortress of Risnov - one of the best preserved medieval settlements in Transylvania. It is located above the limestone hill of the city of Risnov. The oldest parts date back to the 14th century.
- The Valea Cetatii cave - new entry into the tourist circuit
- the Poiana Brasov mountain resort, famous for winter sports and its ski slopes.
- The city of Brasov with the center - the Black Church, the Council Square, the first Romanian school, the church of San Nicolas.
The city of Braşov was through the centuries one of the most important, powerful and flourishing cities in its region. Thanks to its geographical position and its infrastructure, it allows the development of many economic and cultural activities. Points of interest:
- The museum of the First Romanian School, a museum that exposes the first books printed in Romanian language
- The Black Church - a famous church in Gothic style begun in 1384 and finished in 1477. It received the current denomination after the general fire of 1689.
- The church of Saint Nicholas - dating from the 14th century.
- The walls of the old fortifications
- Tampa Mountain
The entire region of Brasov has a German-medieval character.
Accommodation in Brasov, in the Council Square - 3 * hotel with medieval charm, Casa Wagner or Bella Muzica.
Distance Sinaia - Brasov: 44 km (without detours). You can reach 100 km or more with the vast majority of tours included.
Day 4
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from Brasov in direction of Sighisoara - ancient medieval fortress, 12th century, UNESCO monument.
Possible visits en route:
- in the vicinity of Brasov: the peasant fortresses of Prejmer (the best preserved peasant fortress in Eastern Europe) and Harman (fortified church) etc.
- fortified churches, some UNESCO - Saschiz (massive church, built in stone, Gothic style), Viscri (it is one of the most spectacular German churches, being listed UNESCO).
Accommodation: 3 * hotel with charm, medieval character, typical furniture, located inside the fortress.
Visit the interior of the fortress. This city is also known as the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler - the prince who gave birth to the legend of Dracula.
Sighisoara is a medieval fortress of the 12th century, UNESCO listed.
The Clock Tower keeps the entrance in the Fortress that has a system of walls of almost 1 km, 9 defense towers, 160 houses, churches and a long history. Sighisoara has a unique charm, it is the gateway into a medieval world.
http://infosighisoara.ro/
http://www.sighisoara-transilvania.ro/index.php?option=com_frontpage&lang=en
Distance: Brasov - Sighisoara: 120 km, without detours for visits.
Day 5
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from Sighisoara to the region of Bucovina - region of monasteries.
There are two routes, by Tirgu Mures - Bistrita or Gheorgheni - Piatra Neamt.
Possible visits on the way (route 1):
- The city of Tirgu Mures: Romanian-Hungarian city, Art Nouveau architecture.
- The city of Bistrita (German tradition).
- The castle - hotel Dracula at Piatra Fantanele.
Or taking the Bicaz route (route 2):
- The Bicaz gorge - the narrowest in the country
- The Red Lake - formed from an earth fall.
- The monasteries of Moldova - Agapia, Neamtu, Varatec. They are the monasteries of Moldova, different from those of Bucovina but equally interesting. Agapia has a real village inside the monastery, with houses where the nuns live, Varatec has paintings by the most important Romanian painter Nicolae Grigorescu, Neamtu is the largest and hosts monks.
- The Tirgu Neamt fortress - newly renovated, impresses with its location and view from above.
- The natural park of Vanatori Neamt.
Route 2 is usually more spectacular and more likely to visit.
Accommodation at Gura Humorului or Vama - Charming Pension 4 *, Bucovina Lodge or similar.
Distance Sighisoara - Gura Humorului: 300-350 km, according to visits and detours.
Day 6
Breakfast.
Day dedicated to the visit of the monasteries - U NESCO monuments, famous for the original exterior frescoes.
With original paintings from the 16th-17th century, the monasteries are spectacular and surprising: Sucevita, Moldovita, Voronet, Humor.
Websites:
http://www.ceramicamarginea.ro/en/index.php
http://www.manastiri-bucovina.go.ro/bukovina.htm
http://www.turism.ro/espanol/moldova.php
Possible visits:
- The monasteries of Sucevita, Moldovita, Humor, Voronet, Arbore.
- Marginea ceramics workshops.
- The city of Suceava.
- Dragomirna and Putna Monasteries (further than the other monasteries)
- The Painted Eggs Museum, in the village of Vama.
Accommodation at Gura Humorului - same as the previous night. + 40-744 / 38 66 98
The circle of the 4 monasteries covers a distance of 150 km with the town of Marginea included.
Distance Gura Humorului - Suceava: 35 km.
Day 7
Breakfast.
Departure from the region of Bucovina towards the region of Maramures.
There will be wooden churches, large doors carved in wood, traditional houses. If it is Sunday, people leave the church in traditional clothes.
Sites to see: Rozavlea, Barsana with its monastery - is largest in the region, with all the buildings made from wood, Bogdan Voda.
Arrival at Sighetu Marmatiei.
Visits in the region:
- The city of Sighetu Maramatiei (the former communist jail, the house of Elie Wiesel, the village museum).
- The merry cemetery of Sapanta, famous for its sculpted and decorated crosses.
Other towns in the vicinity of Vadu Izei. Ask the people there.
Accommodation: small hotel / guesthouse with charm, typical of the region, Casa Iurca de Calinesti or similar.
Distance Gura Humorului - Sighetu Marmatiei: 200 km.
Day 8
Breakfast.
Departure from the village of Vadu Izei or Sighetu Marmatiei in the direction of Baia Mare.
Continue to Dej - Gherla - Cluj Napoca - Alba Iulia - Sebes - Sibiu.
Distance Sighetu Marmatiei - Sibiu: 380 km.
Visits possible:
- the city of Cluj Napoca - the Saint Michael church in the centre, the Orthodox cathedral, the university. Cluj Napoca was capital of Transylvania.
- the city of Alba Iulia with Vauban style fortress and cathedrals. The fortress has had a long process of renovation.
- The city of Sibiu
Sibiu: city with medieval centre, one of the most "alive" places in the country. It was the European Capital of Culture in 2007 and remains a centre for many events of all kinds. The city has modern and charming accommodation facilities and restaurants with specific Romanian atmosphere at night. The visit of the city is done on foot and includes: The Big Square, the Haller House, the Teutsch House, the Small Square, the Bridge of Lies, the Huet Square, the Evangelical Church, the Metropolitan Church, the Walls of the fortress, the Schiller Square.
Accommodation in Sibiu - 3 * charming hotel, located in the heart of the city.
Distance Sighet - Sibiu: 350 km
Day 9
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from Sibiu, taking the valley of the river Olt, one of the most interesting passages of the Carpathians. It is 47 km long, being the longest gorge of Romania.
En route, you can visit the monastery of Cozia, one of the oldest in the region.
Possible stop in Curtea de Arges, where the kings of Romania where buried and legends stil exist. The city houses a various number of medieval churches. Important churches are Biserica Domneasca (The Royal Church) build by Mircea the Brave, monarch of Walachia who reigned between 1386-1418. The structure resembles a stone fortress, connected through catacombs with a watchtower situated on a nearby hill.
Curtea de Argeş is a city of varied cultural activities with various festivals of music and poetry. To the north are the ruins of Poienari Castle.
If the season allows, you can take the route of Transfagarasan, the most spectacular in the country.
After Pitesti, entrance on the road to Bucharest.
Accommodation in Bucharest in charming hotel, same as the first night, Opera 3 * + / Venezia 4 * / Central 4 * - located in the center of the city. Small boutique hotels. www.thhotels.ro.
Distance Sibiu - Bucharest: 300 km, without detours for visits.
Day 10
Breakfast at the hotel.
Return the car, according to flight schedule and end of services.
Contact MC Transilvania
