A magnetic mix of modern and ancient, that is Romania in 2021. And as magnificently modern as the shopping precinct at Iulius Town Timisoara is where Atterbury Europe partnered with Iulius Group, a world of ancient citadels perched on impossible abysses, mist-shrouded forests and legends of vampires also awaits the visitor who travels around this beautiful country. Make a note in your travel diary!
1 Transfagarasan Highway – the mountain road winding through the Faragas Mountain in the Romanian Carpathians is often called the most beautiful road in Europe, and it really gives hairpin bends a new meaning. So much so that Top Gear visited it to race some Ferraris along its length, where Jeremy Clarkson enthusiastically proclaimed it “the best road in the world!” Hikers can stay in a number of cabins along the 150km route and there is also a cable car to make the most of the majestic views. Watch Top Gear’s thrilling race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCd7A-BD02c
2 Bran Castle – this medieval fortress in the town of Bran, between Transylvania and Wallachia, is popularly known as Dracula’s Castle. There is no evidence that Bram Stoker knew about it when he wrote his immortal tale of the vampire count Dracula in 1897, but the mountainous setting surrounded by forest and fog and the ancient battlements and turrets certainly make it look the part. The castle was built in the 13th Century for military purposes, and it stood abandoned for many years until it was yielded to Queen Mary of Romania in 1920. Today, it is a national monument and a museum where visitors can view memorabilia from Queen Mary’s reign. Earlier this year it was even the site of a unique Covid-19 vaccination drive, where people could come for their Pfizer jab and free entry to the castle’s collection of 52 medieval torture instruments.
Did you know?
The character of Dracula was based on the 15 Century Prince Vlad Tepes of Wallachia, who was known as “Vlad the Impaler”. The name Dracula apparently came from the Crusader Order of the Dragon, to which both Vlad and his father had been associated.
The Dracula myth was born from the legends and popular beliefs in ghosts and vampires that is prevalent throughout Transylvania.
3. The “real” Dracula castle, Poenari – Vlad Tepes actually lived in this hilltop citadel for a while during the 1500s, so this is where to come if you are serious about chasing the vampire legend! Built high up as a lookout to anticipate and defeat invasions by the Ottomans, it was always very difficult to access and was eventually abandoned and fell into ruins during the 1700s. It still offers magnificent views across the Arges River if you are inclined to tackle the 1480 very steep concrete steps that lead up to the site.
4 The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina are known for the spectacular frescoes that decorate the outer walls and which earned them their status as Unesco World Heritage Sites. There are six monasteries, all in tiny villages in the north-eastern region of Bocuvina, but Voronet is arguably the most famous. It is sometimes called “the Sistine Chapel of the East”, for its exquisite artworks depicting scenes from Biblical tales painted in traditional Voronet blue.
5 Sighisoara Citadel Historic Centre – a charming little city in Transylvania, with picturesque cobblestone streets lined with houses in lollipop colours. The citadel overlooking the town is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe, and the bright yellow house in the town was the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler. During summer the town hosts the Sighisoara Medieval Festival where authentic medieval culture is celebrated with sword-fighting, traditional dancing, stalls of artisan wares and delicious food.
6 The Merry Cemetery. Death be not proud, they say, and here in the village cemetery of Săpânța in Maramures region, sombreness is the last thing you’ll find. Tombstones are bright and colourful, telling the stories of the deceased on vividly painted picture panels, with naïve pictures of the person buried in each grave, and witty lines and poetry. You’ll need a guide to translate so that you can appreciate the humour, such as this poem, which rhymes perfectly in Romanian: “Under this heavy rock/Lies my poor mother-in-law/ 3 days longer had she lived/ I’d be buried and she’d be reading/ Those of you who pass on by/ Try not to wake her/ Because if she comes back home/She’ll be on my case again”.
7 Top souvenir – a painted egg. Intricately painted eggs are the most recognisable examples of Romanian art, and were traditionally real hollowed-out eggs decorated ahead of Easter. The decorations actually told stories that were only recognisable in the regions where they were painted. Today you can buy versions of these all over the country.
Sources: romaniantourism.com, inyourpocket.com, Instagram