Transylvanian week

We meet at your hotel in Bucharest or at the airport and start our 3-day tour by car, through the scenic Olt River’s Valley. Our first stop is Cozia Monastery founded in 1388 by Mircea the Elder – a brave middle ages Wallachian Prince, and grandfather of the most notorious Vlad the Impaler.

After a quick lunch and a short rest, we have a guided tour of the old city of Sibiu. A great sight over Sibiu rewards our effort of climbing the medieval stairs of the Council Tower. We stroll the old streets of Sibiu and it’s most important plazas: the Grand Square, the Small Square, and the Albert Huet Square (the oldest square, dating from 12-th century). We also pay a visit to the Orthodox Cathedral (discovering the similarities with the Saint Sofia’s Basilica of Constantinople) and to the impressive Evangelical Church.

In the second day of our private tour we discover the facts, the places and the legends of one of the greatest military leaders and statesmen of the Middle Ages - John Hunyadi (Corvin). In 1409, the Hungarian king Sigismund of Luxembourg ennobled one of his faithful knights – a Wallachian boyar named Voicu (Vojk) – and gave him a castle from Hunedoara – the Hunyadi Castle. Voicu was the father of a great millitary leader, John Hunyadi, who became the regent of Hungary during turbulent times and defeated in Belgrade the Sultan of the Ottoman empire, Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople.

We visit the Alba Iulia fortress (Alba Carolina) where John Hunyadi was laid to rest in the impressive, ancient Saint Michael Cathedral (the construction started in 1004). We also pay a visit to the Orthodox Coronation Cathedral and to the ruins of the Roman castrum of the elite 13th Gemina Roman Legion.

We return for a second overnight in SIBIU.

From Sibiu we head towards the medieval city of Sighisoara through the Hartibaciu Valley road, crossing old Saxon villages and passing through deep forests.

Our next destination is Malâncrav village. Only 25 kilometers away from Sighisoara fortress, this small village hosts the largest Gothic church fresco in Transylvania. It was discovered during the 1914 restoration works, under the coat of chalk paint applied over the old Catholic paintings after the Lutheran reform. Miraculously surviving the Reformation, the medieval frescoes of Malancrav church (built around 1305) are nowadays a feast for our eyes.

We end our day in the medieval citadel of Sighisoara – UNESCO site. We enjoy the late afternoon and evening visiting the citadel, the birthplace of the famous Wallachian ruler, Vlad the Impaler.

In our way from Sighisoara to Brasov we gaze at Saschiz fortified church - UNESCO World Heritage monument - built at the end of XVth century with a tower reminding us the Clock Tower of Sighisoara.

In our way from Sighisoara to Brasov we enjoy our lunch time in Viscri, the remote village Prince Charles fell in love with. This Transylvanian region of fortified churches became a famous tourism attraction after he bought an old Saxon household in Viscri -- no. 163, a blue house built in 1753. Prince Charles use to come here every few years, to ride horses, and to travel.

In our way from Viscri to Brasov, we also catch sight of the Rupea fortress, one of the oldest fortifications in Romania (built over preexisting Roman and Dacian fortresses).

Around 1200, the Teutonic Knights were asked by a Hungarian king to set up in south-eastern Transylvania to defend this region, Country of Bârsa, against Tatars coming from the east. Prejmer fortificationsThe knights set up the foundations of the impressive Prejmer church and fortress. The constructions were finished decades later by the humble Saxon settlers who replaced the military order following a quarrel between the knights and the King. The Prejmer fortified church stands today as one of the seven Saxon fortifications in Transylvania included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

With a strong industry during the past century, Brasov was a magnet for people from all around the country and has become one of the most vibrant Romanian cities. This booming city has been developed around the initial fortress established in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights and later on, after a quarrel between the knights and the king, by German settlers. Once in Brasov, after the check-in, we visit the fortifications, bastions and towers of the medieval fortress, the curious Rope Street (one of the narrowest in Europe).

We take the high road to Poiana Brasov resort. A cable-car ride up to 1,7227m (5,666ft), close to the Postavaru Peak, so, if the weather is fine, we would be able to enjoy the stunning views over the Carpathians and Transylvanian plateau. We are going to complement this scenic view later on, at Bran Pass, just above the Bran Castle.

We visit the Bran Castle, built in the 14th century to guard the strategic commercial route between Walachia and Transylvania. ”Built on the corner of a great rock, so that on three sides it was quite impregnable, on the very edge of a terrific precipice”, the Bran Castle was quickly identified as the place of the nefarious actions of Count Dracula.

Coming back to Brasov, we admire from afar the Rasnov fortress, built on XIII century, probably during the short ruling of the area around Brasov by the Teutonic Knigths (1211-1225).

After clarifying Dracula legends at the Bran Castle, we return to Brasov. In the afternoon, we visit the imposing Gothic Black Church of Brasov.

We leave Transylvania heading south, on the scenic Prahova Valley, from Brasov to Bucharest. At Sinaia mountain resort, we visit the Peles Castle, built at the end of 19-th century. This flamboyant castle is in such a stark contrast with the austere character of its founder: the first King of Romania, the sober Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1839-1914), of German origins. Fully committed to the modernization of Romania, Carol I ruled for 48 years, ”wearing the crown even while he was sleeping”, as his Queen, Elisabeth, said.

In the afternoon we arrive in Bucharest. After check-in, you can take your time to allow your impressions of Transylvania to settle down. In the evening we have a guided tour of Bucharest. We would not miss the elegant Stavropoleos Church (built in 1724), a monastery in the heart of the city.