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OUR TOURS

One of the most classic itineraries is to follow in Dracula's footsteps by visiting Snagov monastery, Brasov, Bran castle and Sighisoara. Lovers of culture and tradition can take some time to explore the villages in Maramures and the monasteries in Bucovine, whereas nature lovers will be enticed by stunning hikes through the forests of the Carpathian mountains and the Danube delta.

Whether you want to explore the mountains of Romania - Carpathian or just want to discover the Romanian cultural heritage even recognized by UNESCO as a medieval fortress or fortified churches in Transylvania, also known as Vlad Dracul Kingdom, the painted monasteries from Moldavia and Bucovina, Wooden Churches of Maramures and not least the Black Sea, with a length of 244 km and Delta - considered the best preserved delta in Europe, we will put in your hands trying to make Romania an unforgettable experience .

We can handle every type of demand for additional services to guide transfers from rent-a-car to the coaches for guided tours anywhere in Romania (8-19 seater minibuses, minibuses or buses 23-33 places of 44-55 seats).

​What We Offer

 

Discover Romania ! You will see here a way of life disappeared elsewhere: the life of the villagers, highly respectful of nature and traditions. Once you come to Romania, it will be hard for you to leave it


We organize the tours across the whole Brasov:Poiana Brasov -schi ,Bran Castle-Dracula Land, Peles Castle, mountains, monasteries Moldavia and Maramures, Danube Delta and many other amazing destinations. We also organize transportation services, business meetings, book hotels and provide any information about our snowy region.

Transylvania

Facts about Transylvania

About thename

Transylvania or Transilvania(from Latin – “the land beyond the forest”)

Location

Central Romania - surrounded by the arc of theCarpathian mountain chain

Area

34.177 sq miles

Population

Approximately 5 million

Main cities

Alba Iulia, Bistrita, Brasov, Cluj Napoca, Medias, Miercurea Ciuc, Sebes, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Targu Mures

Transylvania Highlights

Transylvania is home to some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns, most notably Brasov, featuring Old Saxon architecture and citadel ruins; Sibiu with its cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses, and Sighisoara, adorned with a hilltop citadel, secret passageways and a 14th century clock tower. Tiny shops offer antiques and fine hand-made products by local artisans and artists.

Visitors to Transylvania will also encounter stunning castles such Bran, near Brasov, - a Gothic fairy-tale structure, often associated with 15th century Walachian Prince Vlad Tepes, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. While the connection with Vlad is tenuous, the deep bond of local villagers with the legend is not.

In close proximity to Brasov and Bran are the fortified churches at Harman, with its massive 13th Saxon towers, and Prejmer, the largest fortified church in Southeastern Europe. The 15th-century Corvinesti Castle, the most beautiful in Transylvania, located nearby Hunedoara, has a sumptuous Knights Hall – that can be used for functions or parties, as well as towers and buttresses reminiscent of the medieval times.

Transylvania is the birthplace of the Unitarian Church that merged with the Universalist Church here in America in 1961 to form the present Unitarian Universalist Association.

Transylvania’s multi-ethnic heritage (including German and Hungarian ) is delightfully apparent in the folk costumes, architecture, cuisine, music and festivals.

Colorful centuries-old traditions are alive and well in the small villages of Transylvania. People here still make a living at such time-honored occupations as shepherds, weavers, blacksmiths and carpenters.

The Apuseni Mountain range, in the western Carpathians, is a landscape of exquisite beauty and mystery. Here, you’ll find ancient legends of mountain spirits and rare species of wildlife, along with 4,000 caves, many of which can be explored. Scarisoara Glacier, a national monument, shelters the second largest underground glacier on the continent.

Places to explore in Transylvania

  • Some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns: Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara

  • Bran Castle (also known as Dracula’s Castle), built in 1377

  • Rasnov Fortress – built in the 1300s by the Teutonic Knights to protect Transylvania against the Tartars and the Turks

  • The Saxon fortified churches at Biertan, Calnic, Harman, Darjiu,Prejmer, Saschiz, Valea Viilor, and Viscri  - all designated by UNESCOas World Heritage sites

  • Transylvania’s finest art museum – the Bruckenthal Palace in Sibiu

  • Marginimea Sibiului, an area northwest of Sibiu home to more than18 traditional villages

  • The Museum of Glass-Painted Icons in Sibiel, the largest of its kind in Europe

  • The city of Hunedoara with its 14th-century Gothic Corvinesti Castle

  • The Dacian Fortresses at Sarmisegetuza (UNESCO World Heritage List)

  • The Moti Land (Tara Motilor) on the Ariesi Valley - moţi is the name given to the inhabitants of this region. They live in scattered villages at altitudes up to about 4,265 feet and have preserved their century-old traditions and lifestyle.

  • The Apuseni Mountains with Scarisoara and Focul Viu glaciers, Chiscau Bears’ Cave and Vartop Cave as well as other 400 caves.

 

Main Museums in Transylvania

  • Unification Museum in Alba Iulia

  • Ethnographic Museum in Brasov

  • Art Museum in Brasov

  • Brasov History Museum

  • Weavers’ Bastion Museum in Brasov

  • Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania in Cluj

  • National Art Museum in Cluj – collections of weaponry and Romanianpaintings dating from the Middle Ages

  • National History Museum of Transylvania in Cluj

  • Skezely Museum in Miercurea Ciuc

  • ASTRA Museum of Traditions and Folk Art (ASTRA) in Sibiu – originaldwellings, workshops, and churches from around the country

  • Bruckental Museum in Sibiu – Transylvania’s finest art museum

  • History Museum in Sighisoara, featuring the Torture Room

 

Performing Arts

  • Brasov: Gheorghe Dima State Philharmonic, National Opera,Puppet Theater, Sica Alexandrescu Drama Theater

  • Cluj: National Theater, Hungarian State Theater & Opera

  • Sibiu: Radu Stanca National Theater, State Philharmonic

  • Targu Mures: Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hall of Mirrors

 

Transylvania Outdoor Adventures & Parks

  • Apuseni Nature Park – caver’s paradise

  • Gradistea Muncelului-Cioclovina Nature Park– site of the Sarmisegetuza archaeological ruins

  • Piatra Craiului National Park – spectacular rocky steep walls, virginforests, and one of the world’s deepest underground abysses(Coltii Grindului shaft, - 1771 feet)

Activities

Biking, Camping, Caving, Climbing, Fishing, Hiking, Nature walks, Rafting, Skiing, Wildlife and Bird Watching

Food & Wines of Transylvania

Traditional food

Transylvania's cuisine displays a variety of flavors with dishes spiced with thyme, red pepper or tarragon.  Meats, such as pork, mutton, veal, are among the most popular ingredient in Transylvania’s cuisine. The soups, to which sour cream and egg yolk are ofted added, also include flour dumplings or homemade pasta.

Romania is one the world’s leading producers of cabbage (varza).  Make sure you don’t leave the region without trying the delicious “Varza a la Cluj” – the Romanian version of lasagna - prepared from several layers of finely shredded cabbage (fresh or sour) and minced pork or veal mixed with rice and bacon and baked in the oven.

Vineyards

Transylvanians - among whom the Saxons make their particular contribution - are not only artisans in producing fragrant, pleasant and light wines, but also sophisticated double-distilled liquors: palinca, horinca and rachie (varieties of brandy). These are made of fruits, particularly plums, apples, and pears, aged in mulberry tree barrels, acquiring a golden color and a taste often rivaling whisky.

Tarnave Vineyards

 

The vineyards in Tarnave area: Blaj, Jidvei, Medias, Tarnaveni, Zagar and Valea Nirajului are known for their excellent white wine producers. With its cool climate and vineyards on slopes that stretch from the Tarnava Mare to the Tarnava Mica rivers, Tarnave is ideal for fruity white grapes with a very good acidity. The area has a long tradition of producing excellent dry, and medium-dry flavored wines such as Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Traminer.

Even if wooden tools have been replaced by modern winepresses and state of the art technology, grape picking, the control of fermentation, clarity, stability, the storage and maturation of wine are all carried out according to a special set of rules handed down from generation to generation. There are also traditions of wine making in some of the Saxon villages in this region, with small vineyards producing must for the larger wineries.

Maramures

Facts about Maramures

Location

Northwest Romania (bordering Ukraine in the north,Satu Mare county in the west)

Area

6,662 sq miles

Population

Approximately 550,000

Main cities

Baia Mare ( Baia-Mare.html )Sighetu Marmatiei ( Sighetu-Marmatiei.html )

Climate

Temperate continental with rich precipitation in the summertime and abundant snow in the wintertime

Highlights

The northwestern Romanian region of Maramures is home to many villages where century-old traditions are still part of daily life. The inhabitants of this area have preserved, to an amazing extent, the rural culture and crafts of their Dacian ancestors.

Maramures villages are distinguished by their unique wooden churches with tall spires and shingled roofs. Woodlands still account for more than four-fifths of the land surface of Maramures. It is understandable, therefore, that wood has long been - and continues to be - the medium of expression for the region’s artisans. Elaborate woodcarvings decorate the eaves, entryways and windows of houses. The local handiwork is also seen in the hand-woven carpets and intricate embroidery that adorns folk dresses still worn by the locals.

Carved Wooden Gates

The local craftsmanship can be best observed in the monumental Maramures gates, guarding the entry to the houses. Supported by three columns, they feature traditional ornamental motifs, including the sun and the twisted rope - both symbols of life and continuity. Some of the most beautiful wooden gates are found in the villages of Vadu Izei, Desesti, Giulesti, Budesti, Sarbi, Barsana and Oncesti. The villages of Barsana and Oncesti have, perhaps, the greatest number of impressive gates.

 

Wooden Churches

 

As it has for hundreds of years, social life in Maramures continues to revolve around the village church. The Wooden Churches of Maramures  - in Surdesti, Plopis, Rogoz, Ieud, Poeinile Izei, Barsana, Budesti and Desesti - have been recognized by UNESCO as some of the most important sites of world heritage. Unique in shape and ornamentation, they have characteristic high roofs and tall, narrow, pointed steeples, often collectively describer as ‘the Gothic style of Maramures.’

 

The primary wood material used by the artisans who built them was local oak, which has survived the elements with sturdy elegance until today. The interior walls of the churches were painted by local artists, with biblical scenes often juxtaposed against the familiar landscape of the village.   

 

The spiritual philosophy of the people of Maramures is perhaps nowhere more apparent than in Sapanta. The town folks’ ancestors considered death as a beginning, not the end, and this faith is reflected in the carvings in the town’s unique Merry Cemetery . Blue wooden crosses feature a carved scene and humorous verses that endeavor to capture essential elements - both the good and the imperfections - of the deceased’s life. Even without benefit of translation, visitors can appreciate the handiwork of sculptor Stan Ion Patras, who began carving these epitaphs in 1935, and his successors. Patras’ house in the village is now a fascinating museum. Sapanta is also home to several wooden gates and one of the region’s tallest wooden churches.

Sapanta is a 20-minute drive from Sighetu Marmatiei, an important tourist and cultural center in the region. The outdoor village museum in Sighetu Marmatiei boasts dozens of homes and farm buildings assembled from around Maramures County. Other attractions include the 16th century Reform Church, the Elie Wiesel Memorial House, and the Museum of Arrested Thought, located in a former communist prison in the center of town. 

Maramures is dominated by a landscape of mountains and rolling valleys. The Gutai, Lapus, Tibles Maramures and Rodnei Mountains are cut by passes named Huta, Gutai, Prislop, Setref, and Botiza. Three large valleys cross the region: Viseu, Iza and Mara. The Rodnei Mountains National Park, a natural reserve filled with a rich diversity of flora and fauna, has been awarded biosphere status by UNESCO. Here, chamois leap between rocks, the cry of eagles’ rings out overhead and as the snows recede in the spring, crocus and other flowers create swathes of dazzling colors.

Authentic Experiences

For a one-of-a-kind experience, take the narrow-gauge steam train. Starting from the small logging town of Viseu de Sus, the steam railway runs along a scenic road for about 30 miles, chugging behind an old steam engine. The train provides the only access - other than walking - to settlements higher up in the valley. During stops, you can watch workers load firewood and take on water from clear mountain streams. On the trip back down in the evening, the engine driver whistles for brakemen to stop the train - sometimes to pick up or drop off passengers, sometimes to stop to pick wild mountain mushrooms.
 

Places to explore

  • The wooden architecture and rural lifestyle of the traditional Maramures villages Berbesti, Barsana, Bogdan Voda, Botiza, Budesti, Calinesti, Desesti, Giulesti, Harnicesti, Ieud, Plopis, Poienile Izei, Rogoz,Sugatag and Surdesti

  • The unique Merry Cemetery in Sapanta with its colorfully decoratedwooden crosses

  • The Vaser River Valley - onboard the narrow gauge railway ‘Mocanita’

  • The glacier lakes, waterfalls, volcanic mountains, caves and the geological reserve of Creasta Cocosului.

 

Main Museums

  • Elie Wiesel Memorial House in Sighetu Marmatiei

  • Maramures Entographic Museum and Maramures Village Museum inSighetu Marmatiei

  • Museum of Arrested Thought  in Sighetu Marmatiei

  • Art Museum in Baia Mare

  • Ethnographic Museum and Village Museum in Baia Mare

  • History & Archaeology Museum in Baia Mare

  • Mine Flowers Museum in Baia Mare - displaying rare 'mine flowers'appreciated by collectors around the world

 

 Outdoor Adventures & Parks

Rodnei Mountains National Park - featuring the highest peak in the
Eastern Carpathians (Pietrosu - 7545 feet), glacier lakes, remarkable caves
(Izvoru Tausoarelor) and the UNESCO biosphere reserve, Pietrosul.

 

Activities

Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Nature walks, Paragliding, Rafting,

Skiing,
Wildlife and bird watching

 

Food & Wine

 

Traditional food

It is a Maramures custom to welcome travelers and guests with homemade breads and a small glass of horinca - a traditional double-distilled local plum or other fruit brandy. Other local specialties include smoked sausages, bacon and fresh ewe’s milk cheese.

A very tasty dish in this area is balmos, oven baked and mixed with ewe’s milk cheese or cheese fermented in special wooden or clay pots and served alongside warm polenta.

For Easter, baskets covered with towels adorned with flowers containing red painted eggs, ‘pasca’ (a sweet cheese cream cake), knot-shaped bread, pies, and braised lamb - are brought to the local churches to be blessed before the traditional Easter lunch.

On Christmas night and on New Year's Eve, all the members of the family must eat a slice of pork jelly (called piftie in Romanian).

Highlights

 

Wallachia’s unique mix of historical and natural attractions promises a different experience each day. Discover heritage buildings and museums in the capital city, enjoy day trips to a royal palace or century-old monastery, hike the mountains or follow Brancusi’s art trail - the choice is yours.

First documented in 1459 by Vlad Tepes, Bucharest is the main city of the region and the capital of Romania. Whether you are spending most of your travel time here or just using it as a gateway to a discovery journey around Romania, Bucharest and its cultural scene is going to surprise you: 37 museums, 22 theaters, 18 art galleries, opera houses and concert halls await your visit.

The best way to explore Bucharest is to take a stroll along Calea Victoriei to Piata Revolutiei, site of the Romanian Athenaeum and the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum of Art. The old city center (near Lispcani) is a must to understand why Bucharest was known as "Little Paris" in the 1920s. Also, don’t miss the Palace of Parliament, the second largest building in the world.

Beyond Bucharest, the foothills of Wallachia give way to the Carpathian Mountains. Just an hour and a half north of Bucharest is the beautiful Prahova Valley, where the popular ski resorts of Predeal, Busteni and Sinaia are located. Sinaia is also home to the magnificent Peles Castle - a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered one of the best-preserved royal castles in Europe. In the summer time, these resorts are starting points to hiking trails in the nearby Bucegi Nature Park.

A must stop for art lovers is the town of Targu Jiu on the banks of the Jiu River. This former market town is closely associated with Constantin Brancusi, the Romanian artist who is considered to be the founder of modern sculpture.

Some of Romania’s most tranquil monasteries can be found in this region, including Horezu, a masterpiece of the 'Brancovenesti' architectural style and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Horezu is also a renowned pottery center, where travelers can marvel at the colorful pottery created in local workshops by talented artisans.

 

Places to explore

  • Bucharest, Romania’s largest city and capital, with its Frencharchitectural old center, the Palace of Parliament, The Museum of theRomanian Peasant, the Village Museum and many other attractions

  • The magnificent Peles Castle in Sinaia, considered one of thebest-preserved royal castles in Europe

  • The Princely Court and Poenari fortress (the authentic residences ofVlad the Impaler)

  • The beautiful Orthodox monasteries built in a Byzantine style, tuckedinto the foothills of the Carpathians:  Arnota,  Bistrita, Cozia,Curtea de Arges, Govora and Horezu

  • The pottery workshop center at Horezu

  • The 16th century Princely Court and monastery at Curtea de Arges

  • The Constantin Brancusi architectural complex in Targu Jiu,with its famous masterpieces: Endless Column, Gate of the Kiss,Table of Silence and Avenue of Chairs

  • Prahova Valley and the popular ski resorts of Predeal, Busteni and Sinaia

  • The Unirea salt mine in Slanic Prahova, where 2.9 million tons of salt have been extracted since 1685. Due to the therapeutic microclimate, former mine shafts are used as asthma treatment facilities. Visitors can also enjoy a walk around the mine and the salt-carved sculptures.

 

Main Museums

  • The National Art Museum in Bucharest – works by Romanian and international artists such as Constantin Brancusi, Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ioan Andreescu, Stefan Luchian, Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, Messina, Titian, Tintoretto, Velasquez, and others

  • The Museum of the Romanian Peasant in Bucharest – over 90,000 items,such as traditional costumes, textiles, ceramics and icons

  • The Village Museum in Bucharest – complete traditional houses, workshops,and churches that have been brought here from around the country

  • The History Museum of the Romanian Jewish Community in Bucharest

  • Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest

  • The Ethnography and History Museum of Oltenia in Craiova

  • The Art Museum in Craiova – a collection of Brancusi’s finest work is on display

  • The Iron Gates Museum in Drobeta-Turnu Severin

  • The Museum of Printing & Old Romanian Books in Targoviste – exhibiting the 1521 manuscript believed to be among the earliest texts written in Romanian

 

Performing Arts

  • National Opera House and Operetta House in Bucharest

  • National Theater in Bucharest

  • Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest – 19th century concert hall,home of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra

  • National Theater in Craiova  

  • Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra in Craiova 

  • Opera and Operetta Theater in Craiova

 

Outdoor Adventures & Parks

  • Cozia National Park – important bird migration corridor from central Europeto the Aegean Sea on the Olt Valley

  • Bucegi Nature Park – featuring near-vertical cliffs which drop up to 1000m,glacial circle valleys, waterfalls and ski slopes

  • The Small Moor of Braila Nature Park – nesting ground to over 205 speciesof birds

 

Activities

Biking, Camping, Caving, Climbing, Fishing, Hiking, Nature walks,
Wildlife and bird watching

Food & Wine

Traditional Food

Muntenia and Oltenia cuisine feature a variety of sour soups with lots of vegetables. It is not unusual to find an earthen oven in the backyards of houses in the Muntenia region. Here knot-shaped bread and pies are baked and delicious vegetable stew is slow cooked in clay jars.

Soup as well as haricot bean stew, potato stew with plenty of onions, braised sauerkraut and scovergi are popular dishes in this area of the country. Other traditional dishes include chicken soup with homemade noodles, giblet sour soup, tripe soup, meatballs soup, meat and/or rice (cabbage or grapeleaf) stuffed rolls, grilled fish in pickle sauce served with polenta.

Local lore has it that the famous mititei, one of the most popular Romanian gastronomic specialties, were created by accident in the kitchen of "La Iordache" restaurant, a fin de siècle culinary hotspot in Bucharest.  One night, when there were no more of the famous sausages known as patricieni, as the cook had runt short of bowels to stuff with the remaining minced meat, he placed the meat straight on the grill. The emerging sausages were somewhat smaller but the customers highly appreciated them, naming them mititei (meaning “the wee ones”).
The owner of the restaurant added thyme, caraway and saltpeter to the local recipe to enhance its flavor.

When you mention traditional food in the Oltenia region, Oltenian sausages come first to mind - finely chopped beef and pork meat mixed with garlic, pepper and salt, and then stuffed into sheep guts and smoked for two hours. Then you have to mention beef ragout, carp stuffed with mushroom, lamb stew with chives and smoked bacon.

In this region, like all over the country, onion and garlic are highly praised, combined with other ingredients to make deliciously savory dishes.

Other local specialties:
Fried or broiled Danube mackerel
Dried prune stew or prune and meat stew
Cheese or pumpkin pie
A la russe or boeuf salad
Moussaka (of Mid-Eastern origin)
Chulama – chicken cooked in white sauce

Vineyards

This region produces some of Romania's best red wines including Feteasca Neagra, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dealu Mare / Valea Calugareasca Vineyards

 

Dealu Mare, extending from the Prahova Valley along the south-facing hillsides of the Carpathian foothills eastwards to Vrancea County, is considered to be the best area in Romania for the cultivation of red grapes.

Valea Calugareasca (Valley of Monks) - one of a series of vineyards forming the Dealul Mare wine-growing region, owes its name and quality of wines to a hermitage - and perhaps the particular skill of the monks in preparing the wine. The standard-bearer of this vineyard is Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dealu Mare Vineyard is very generous with foreign grape varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, as well as Romanian grape varieties - Feteasca Neagra.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bucovina & Moldova

Wallachia

About thename

Land of the Vlachs or Walachs, the ancient populationof the area

Location

Southern part of Romania; The Olt River divides Wallachiainto Muntenia in the east and Oltenia in the west

Area

41,000 sq miles

Population

Approximately 6 million

Main cities

Bucuresti, Craiova, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Ploiesti, Targoviste

Climate

Temperate continental with hot summers and cold winters

 

About thename

The name Bucovina means beech land

Location

Northeastern Romania - between the Carpathian Mountains and the Prut River. Bucovina is situated in the northern part of the region of Moldova, bordering with Ukraine.Note: The region of Moldova (often referred to in the Western press as Moldavia) is not to be confused with the Republic of Moldova, its eastern neighbor.

Area

27,062 sq miles

Population

Approximately 4.5 million

Main cities

Bacau, Botosani, Galati, Iasi, Piatra Neamt, Radauti, Suceava

Climate

Temperate continental with hot summers and cold, snowy winters

Highlights

Moldova rivals Transylvania when it comes to rich folklore, natural beauty and astonishing history. Over the past 500 years, history, culture and religious life have molded Iasi, the cultural capital of Moldova. Iasi boasts an impressive number of Orthodox churches, almost 100, most of them located in the Golden Plateau, representing the nucleus of the city, around which the city developed over the centuries. One of the most famous monuments in the city is the stunning Church of the Three Hierarchs, built in 1639. Another major landmark in Iasi is the neo-gothic Palace of Culture, built between 1900-1926, currently housing the Ethnographic Museum, the Art Museum, and the History Museum of Moldova.

Nestled in the rolling hills of northern Moldova is the region of Bucovina, home to one of the world’s greatest art treasures: the UNESCO World heritage sites of the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries and featuring colorful exterior frescoes depicting dramatic religious scenes, these richly decorated houses of worships are unique in the world.

The most famous of these, often called "the Sistine Chapel of the East" is Voronet Monastery. Erected in 1438 by Stefan the Great, Voronet’s most stunning feature is a Last Judgment fresco painted – as at all the churches – on the exterior façade. The blue paint that has miraculously never faded is known throughout the world as ‘Voronet blue’. The artists here worked in isolation, guarding their trade secrets and to this day, the composition of the paint remains a mystery.

Other painted churches not to be missed include Sucevita, with its distinctive greens, and Humor, where the frescoes are predominantly red. Also nearby are, Arbore, Dragomirna, Moldovita and Putna monasteries.

For more information about The Painted Monasteries please visit www.RomaniaTourism.com/Painted-Monasteries.html

The town of Suceava, may be the best starting point for a trip to the monasteries. Once the capital of Moldavia (from 1375 until 1565), it has some noteworthy attractions of its own, such as the remains of the Fortress of Suceava built in 1388. Today, visitors can tour the remains of the impressive fortifications and take in a great view of the city. Other sights in Suceava include the St. George Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site),  Mirauti Church, the Zamca Monastery and a number of museums dedicated to woodcraft, ethnography, history and folk art. The Bucovina History Museum displays medieval armor, coins, tools and ancient documents. Its Hall of Throne is a re-creation of Stephen the Great’s court with furniture, weapons and costumes.

A visit to Bucovina would not be complete without some stunning nature walks through Ceahlau National Park, Romania’s Olympus – the sacred mountain of the Dacians, the forefathers of the Romanian people. Make sure you bring binoculars as some 90 species of birds can be seen in the park area. Hikers won’t want to pass up taking a crack at the Bicaz Gorges, a steep, twisting-and-turning climb more than three miles long.

 

Featured county of the month: Neamt

Neamt County is located in the central-eastern part of Romania.
Neighboring counties are: Suceava, Harghita, Bacau, Iasi and Vaslui.
Size:  2,276 square miles

Highest elevation: Ocolasul Mare Peak (Ceahlau Mountain) of 6,256 ft.

Neamt County is aa area blessed with many touristic sites: Century-old monasteries, fascinating museums, fortresses and strongholds as well as many natural parks ideal for hiking and wild-life watching. Monasteries Neamt - the oldest in eastern Romania (Moldova) and Agapia – featuring by Romania’s best known painters: Nicolae Grigorescu at Agapia Monastery,  the Ceahlau Mountain - also known as The Athos of Romanian Orthodoxy - the beautiful and spectacular Cheile Bicazului (Bicaz Gorges) Vanatori natural reserve are all located in Neamt. 

 

Neamt County Main Museums

  • Ion Creanga Memorial House (Targu Neamt) - the house where the greatest storyteller of Romania was born is located at the entrance in Targu Neamt and represents a symbol of the Romanian traditional architecture

  • Cucuteni Culture Museum (Piatra Neamt) - a museum that displays an impressive collection of painted ceramics.

  • Nicolae Popa Museum from Tarpesti village (near Targu Neamt)

  • Neamt Monastery Museum (Neamt Monastery)

  • The History and Archeology Museum (Piatra Neamt)

  • The Art Museum (Piatra Neamt)

  • The Ethnography Museum (Piatra Neamt)

  • The Natural Science Museum (Piatra Neamt) - famous for a unique collection of fossil fishes

  • Calistrat Hogas Memorial House (Piatra Neamt)

  • The Museum of Agapia Monastery - founded in 1927 displays religious objects, paintings, fabrics and wooden sculptures. Here you'll also see some of the paintings of painter Nicolae Grigorescu.

  • The Religious Collection from Varatec Moanstery

  • The History and Ethnography Museum (Targu Neamt)

  • Veronica Micle Memorial House (Targu Neamt) - the house of Veronica Micle is located in Targu Neamt, across the street from The History Museum and on the road that goes to Neamt Stronghold

  • The History and Ethnography Museum (Bicaz)

  • The History Museum (Roman)

  • The Art Museum (Roman)

  • The Natural Science Museum (Roman)

All museums in Neamt County are closed on Mondays. 
Visiting times are Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am until 5 pm (October – March) and from 10 am to 6 pm (April – September)

 

Places to explore

  • The monasteries and churches with painted exterior frescos of Bucovina: Voronet (‘the Sistine Chapel of the East’), Moldovita, Sucevita, Humor, Probota, Arbore, Rasca

  • The old monasteries and convents of: Putna, Dragomirna, Bogdana-Radauti, Neamt, Agapia (one of the largest nun monasteries in the Orthodox world)  and Varatec

  • Trei Ierarahi Church  in Iasi - built in 1635, its walls, real stone embroidery

  • The Neamt Fortress (Cetatea Neamtului) in Targu Neamt

  • The natural scenery of the Bicaz Gorges – one of the most spectacular roadpasses in Romania

  • The Ceahlau, Romania’s Olympus – sacred mountain of Dacians, the forefathersof the Romanian people, where Zamolxes, their supreme god, had his temple.

  • Take a wine tasting tour and try some of Romania’s finest sweet wines atCotnari Vineyards, established in1448

Main Museums

  • Art Museum in Iasi

  • Ethnographic Museum in Iasi

  • Jewish History Museum and Great Synagogue in Iasi

  • Moldavian History Museum in Iasi

  • Bucovina History Museum in Suceava

  • Etnographic Museum in Suceava

Performing Arts

  • Moldova Philharmonic in Iasi

  • National Opera and Opereta House in Iasi

  • Vasile Alecsandri National Theater in Iasi

Festivals & Events

  • The Regional Festival of Folk Music and Dance (April) - Radauti

  • Ceahlau Folk Music Festival (Second Sunday in August) - Durau

  • Harvest Celebration at the Cotnari winery (September) - Iasi

  • Trandafir de la Moldova Folk Music Festival (October) - Iasi

Outdoor Adventures & Parks

  • Calimani National Park - volcanic plateau dominated by the Calimani caldera

  • Vanatori Neamt Nature Park – home of the Dragos Voda bison andCarpathian wildlife reserve

  • Ceahlau National Park – the Olympus of Romania

  • Hasmas-Cheile Bicazului National Park – spectacular gorges and theRed Lake natural reservoir

Activities

Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Nature walks, Skiing, Wildlife and bird watching

Food & Wine

Traditional food

Bean soup, stewed sauerkraut, parjoale (the local version of meatballs) or iahnie (a dish made of beans), are some of Moldavians’ favorite dishes. Standing out among the soups and broths is ciorba de potroace, made with chicken entrails boiled with carrots, onions, parsley, a spoonful or two of rice and flavored with bors.

The Moldavian sarmale (meat rolls in sauerkraut leaves) are not only very popular in Romania but are also a famous dish served in Romanian restaurants around the world. These meatballs, rolled in cabbage or vine leaves, are made from minced pork mixed with rice, salt, pepper, chopped dill and parsley as well as chopped onion; small portions of this mixture are then rolled in cabbage or vine leaves and boiled. The sarmale are always accompanied by polenta, a finely ground yellow cornmeal.

Local deserts include papanasi – cottage cheese dumplings (boiled or fried) and  Poale in Brau(sweet cheese pie).

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