Of course, now you will want to argue and say that you do not see any good reason to travel to Romania. "Romania is not Switzerland or even Cyprus with its wonderful beaches," you say. You will be right, but only partially. Not everyone knows exactly where is Romania. Showing where Romania is on the map is generally a challenge for advanced travelers. But in fact, we just don't know anything about this country. Located in the south-east of Europe, Romania has access to the Black Sea and borders many European countries. And membership in the European Union gives the right to free movement of citizens of the country within the Schengen area. In short, we Google "how to get visa for Romania" and go to the Romanian embassy. Then “what to see in Romania" and make a travel itinerary. And Romania will show its sights on its own.
1. Fortresses castles in Romania
Romania on the mapis not only mountains, plains and rivers. This is the territory of the ancient Romans and the Dacians, where many ancient castles and fortresses have been preserved, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. And there is something to see.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle is one of the best castles in Romania. By far the most attractive place for tourists was the Bran Fortress or Dracula's Castle. To a large extent, interest in this place was fueled by Hollywood, where several films based on the novel by Bram Stoker were shot. Since then, the image of Dracula (Count Vlad Tepes) excites the imagination of hunters to tickle their nerves and lovers of mysticism. The castle, built by the Teutonic Knights at the end of the XIV century as a defensive fortress and still looks very impressive. Towering over the surrounding landscape, the citadel seems to prop up the sky with its towers with bright red-tiled roofs. The inner rooms are dotted with labyrinthine corridors, which are connected to the castle's underground with the help of a well. Today, there is a museum on the territory of the fortress, where you can get acquainted with the collection of armor and weapons, ceramics and furniture, as well as tools of torture of the Middle Ages. Here, in the town of Baranov, tourists can taste delicious local cheese, and in the city, market to buy wool products of local craftsmen.
Peles Castle
The charming summer residence of the royal family of Charles I of the Hohenzollern dynasty - Peles Castle - was built in the heart of the Romanian Carpathians, near the city of Sinaia in 1914. The choice of the construction site was not accidental - the fascinating beauty of nature, the view of the Carpathian Mountains, the clean air did not leave the emperor indifferent. There was also a medieval route from Transylvania to Wallachia. Thus, by the will of the people and the command of the king, Romania acquired another piece of architectural art - an airy and light castle, created in the manner of the Neo-Renaissance. The construction of the structure seems to float among the tall trees and looks very decorative. Around the building, there is a wonderful garden with Italian terraces, decorated with statues made of the most valuable Carrara marble. The architectural monument of the beginning of the XX century has now sheltered in its halls a Historical Museum, where you can admire works of art and see the armor of a medieval warrior.
2. The Corvin Castle
The Gothic castle of Corvinus- the Hungarian heritage of the country-stands out among its peers with an impressive view of the fortress walls and a bridge laid to the castle, seemingly by giants. It looks so powerful. Giant stone bulls support the wooden deck, on which the figure of St. John of Nepomuk - the patron saint of all bridges-has been standing for many centuries. As soon as you find yourself on the opposite side and enter the territory of the castle, you will be covered with a feeling of unreality of everything that is happening. The torture chamber and the well for holding prisoners make a strong impression. And the walls and cobblestones remember the bloody Vlad the Impaler. Since its foundation in the XIV century, the castle has changed more than one owner and has been rebuilt many times. Today, it is a unique architectural structure that has incorporated the Neo-Gothic and Renaissance styles.
3. The Citadel of Rasnov
The main difference between the fortress of Rysnov is that it was built not for the powerful, but for ordinary peasants who needed to hide somewhere in case of danger. And here the walls of the fortress, though not very elegant, but quite strong and high, were saved. Built by the knights of the Teutonic Order in the XIII century, the fortress was able to withstand a long siege: on the territory of the citadel, there were residential buildings, a church and a school, as well as a deep well. The legend says that it was dug by captured Turks in the hope of a reward - the preservation of life. But, alas, after completing the work, they were executed. And the well until the middle of the XIX century supplied residents with drinking water. For many centuries, the fortress stood abandoned and useless, because of the last siege it saw in 1690. Today, the fortress has been restored and is accessible to tourists. And all these thanks to one Italian who took the fortress on lease from the local authorities for a period of 49 years. And revived it from oblivion.
4. The Fortress of Alba Iulia
One of the most ancient cities in Romania is Alba Iulia-the pearl of Transylvania. And the fortress of the same name inside the city is a star in the crown of the country's ancient buildings. And the "star" is not a metaphorical expression of the essence, but the real form of the famous citadel. Built in the XVIII century in the form of a seven-pointed tower, the fortress still impresses with its scale. The length of the fortress walls reaches 12 kilometers. It looks especially picturesque from a bird's-eye view. Despite the fact that the fortress is the hallmark of Alba Iulia, the ancient city has something to surprise and please you in addition to its main celebrity. In the Cathedral of St. Michael is sure to make a wish and it will come true. And the Royal Court is famous for the fact that it was here that the foundations of the modern Romanian state were laid.
5. The fantastic world of Romania
Do you think that Count Dracula is the only unidentified and unexplained manifestation of magical power in this ancient land? You're wrong. Romania is just a storehouse of the phenomenal. Nature shamanizes here at every turn.
6. Buzau mud volcanoes
Do you want to visit the moon without leaving Earth? Then go to the small town of Berka, which is located 105 kilometers from Bucharest, the capital of Romania. The vigorous, in the literal sense of the word, activity of mud volcanoes in this natural park began relatively recently. The impetus was a strong earthquake with an epicenter in the Romanian Carpathians in 1977. Since then, the transformation of the territory of the abandoned mine into a fantastic lunar landscape has begun. The height of some volcanic cones with craters of dried mud reaches three meters. Now in the area of the park there are 4 permanently active volcanoes and several periodically reviving mini-craters. The striking contrast of the earth and the alien is striking for the first time here. Against the background of green hills, the desert looks unreal with cracked clay soil and fountains of a mixture of gas, saltwater and mud, which from time to time are splashed out by the main characters of the show - the mud volcanoes of Buzau.
7. Museum of Trovants - living stones
Stones that can grow, move independently, and even multiply! Isn't that fantastic? It is hard to believe, but such a miracle really exists. And you can see it in the only museum in Romania "Trovantilor" in the village of Costesti, where the trovantes are displayed in the open air. This unique geological phenomenon will surprise not only you. Scientists are still unable to fully explain the nature of the stones. Their life and appearance are very unusual. Trovants begin to grow intensively in rainy weather, and they reproduce by budding. Smooth, spherical and cylindrical, angular stones have annual rings on the cut, just like trees. And if the growth of the stone and its reproduction are amenable to at least some logic, then the movement of the trovants from place to place puts even scientists in a stupor. Based on the knowledge that is currently collected about the trovants, it was concluded that the stones belong to an inorganic form of life. And here is such an unusual substance in the form of a small souvenir you can take with you and even try to grow it. The main thing is not to run away!
8. Hoya-Bachu Forest
How many times have the filmmakers turned to the theme of the mysterious forest, in which it is so easy to get lost and lose the real sense of time? The screenwriters called on all their imagination, describing the horrors of the fairy-tale wilds. In fact, such a forest exists, and Romania will show it. You can find it in Transylvania near the town of Cluj-Napoca, in the vicinity of the castle of the same Count Dracula. Despite the fact that locals have long been afraid to go to this forest, calling it the Bermuda Triangle of Romania, tourists are very willing to visit the gloomy attraction. Of course! After all, Vlad Tepes himself was so fond of hunting here. Rumor has it that they even saw him here quite recently. So, if nothing bothers you, and you are not afraid to get lost in the forest-go there for a tour. But remember, the forest really looks creepy. At the beginning of the last century, it began to change before the eyes of the natives of these places. First, all the birds and animals disappeared, then the ground began tobe covered with thick moss, and the trunks and branches of the trees danced in a kind of devilish dance. The first victim of the forest was the shepherd Bachu, who ventured to drive the herd through the thicket. He was never seen again. Since then, this paranormal place has been named Hoya Bachu.
9. Salina Turda Salt Mine
It turns out that the old mine can also surprise you. Yes, indeed! Who would have thought that this is just a salt mine, and not an intergalactic station for alien ships? Well, or, in extreme cases, the shooting pavilion of the new series of the movie “Star Wars". The scale and unearthly splendor of the structure is amazing. No wonder this mine is called the most beautiful underground attraction on our planet and one of the 25 best places underground that tourists have not heard of. Salt in the Salina Turda mine began to be extracted during the Roman Empire. But then the development was carried out only on the surface. For many hundreds of years, the mine has acquired its present size, but its brilliant appearance underground walls, passages, platforms, adits and salt lake received only at the beginning of the XXI century with the help of European development funds. Today it is a whole entertainment complex, located at a depth of more than 100 meters, with an amphitheater, sports fields, medical halls, a Ferris wheel and even its own lake and boat station. Just do not forget to bring warm clothes! Even if it is very hot outside, the air temperature in the cave is always constant and is 11-12 degrees Celsius.
10. Merry Cemetery
So where is Romania? In Europe, that's right. And also where it is fun, even if this place is not at all conducive to joy. Apparently, this is the essence and phenomenon of the national character of Romanians-to smile where everyone is crying. For example, in a rural churchyard, which has become a real open-air museum and a tourist mecca. The rural cemetery in the village of Sapyntsa is distinguished by a special atmosphere and entourage that does not combine with the words “death”, “grief” and “loss”. Even from a distance, the tombstones are visible, painted with bright colors and original drawings in the style of naive art. And poetic texts-epitaphs involuntarily make you smile - with such subtle humor, character traits and the earthly life of the deceased person are described. The author of the idea and the creator of the unusual cemetery was Jon Petrasch-a village woodcarver. The man is apparently cheerful, cheerful and not deprived of a sense of humor. Now he also rests here, and the inscription on his grave reads: "Here lies the one who has never harmed anyone in his entire life." Romania is always open to its sights and welcomes its guests with hospitality. Come to this magical, sunny and open country and you will see much more than the guidebooks and maps offer. A little Romanian mysticism will only add spice to your journey.
