Jewish Heritage Tour

This 6 nights tour offers you the opportunity to get a glimpse at the history and heritage of the Jewish Community of Romania learning about the hard times it has been through and seeing some of the treasures it leaves behind.
Bucharest – Galati – Barlad – Iasi – Podu Iloaiei – Piatra Neamt – Brasov – Sinaia – Bucharest

Day 1 – Bucharest
Upon arrival at Bucharest International Airport you will be welcomed by your tour guide. After the transfer to your hotel you will begin a sightseeing tour of Bucharest the city also named “Little Paris“.
Accommodation in Bucharest at a 3*, 4* or 5* Hotel.
Meals: N/A
Day 2 – Bucharest – Galati - approx. 240 Km/ 143 miles
The second day is dedicated to the Bucharest Jewish Heritage Tour – that includes visits to the Synagogues in Bucharest, the National Jewish Museum and other treasures of the Jewish community in Bucharest.
In the afternoon we will drive to Galati, the largest Romanian town on the Danube where we will spend the night.
Accommodation in Galati at a 3* Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 – Galati – Birlad – Iasi - approx. 315 Km/ 195 miles
Early in the morning we will start our day by visiting the Craftsmen’s Temple in Galati, built in 1896, a big part of the Jewish life in this small town. After this interesting visit we will continue our way towards the former capital city of the Romanian region of Moldova, the city of Iasi. We will stop along the way for a short visit at the synagogue in the town of Birlad.
Our day ends in Iasi after a driving tour of this very beautiful city that used to have the largest Jewish community in Romania, headquarters of the Hacham Bashim in the 17th century, one of the great European Centers of Jewish learning during the 19th century and the birth place of the Yiddish Theater.
Accommodation in Iasi at a 3* or 4* Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 – Podu Iloaiei – Tirgu-Frumos – Roman – Piatra Neamt- approx. 145 Km/89 miles
On this day we will visit the Podu Iloaiei Jewish Cemetery. The Jewish community in the village of Podu Iloaiei appeared in the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th. Unfortunately the synagogue no longer exists, only the Jewish cemetery remains, still preserving tombstones from 1829 and 1830.
Next we will visit the Mass Grave in Tirgu-Frumos Cemetery, created during the pogrom of Iasi. Near the common grave there is a commemorative monument, built in the communist period, with an inscription in Hebrew and Romanian: “To the 640 Jews buried here, victims of the fascist barbarism, killed in the “death train” on 29-30 June and 1 July 1941. Let us not forget the Fascism’s crimes!”
After a short drive we will stop in the town of Roman to visit the Tailor’s (Poel Tzedek) Synagogue. The Tailor’s Synagogue is a medium type edifice erected in 1898. The Jewish Community in Roman is at least four centuries old, as is shown on tombstones and documents. There were 16 synagogues in Roman in 1887 and a total of 15 synagogues and prayer houses in the 1930’s.
Accommodation in Piatra Neamt at a 3* or 4* Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 – Piatra Neamt – Brasov- approx. 240 Km/146 miles
We will start day 5 of our tour with a visit at the Piatra Neamt Cathedral Synagogue, acknowledged as an historic monument by the Romanian Academy. It is the oldest wooden synagogue still standing in Romania (according to some legends, this synagogue dates from the 15th century). Strongly influenced by the local architecture, the synagogue shares a resemblance with the synagogues from Poland and Bohemia. Next we will make a short visit at the Piatra Neamt Jewish cemetery, with tombs from the XVII century.
In the second part of the day, after lunch we will take a relaxing drive through the Carpathians to the city of Brasov where we will spend the night.
Accommodation in Brasov at a 3* or 4* Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 – Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest- approx.  170 Km/ 105 miles
City tour of Brasov, one of the most prosperous Saxon cities of its time with a Baroque “old town” (the Black Church, the Council Square, the old Saxon houses from the old town – and these are only a few points of attraction from the old town). A tour of the Jewish Synagogue Poarta Schei built in 1898, damaged by the 1977 earthquake and repaired with the help of the Romanian Jewish Federation. It is a large Synagogue, in the Gothic Romanesque style.
Leaving Brasov behind we will head towards Bran Castle (also known as Dracula castle), built in 1377 – 1382, to safeguard the vital artery from Transylvania to Walachia. Centuries later, one of the famous residents was Queen Maria of Romania, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of Prince Ferdinand.
After the visit at Bran Castle we will continue towards Sinaia.
Sinaia, is known for its famous Royal Peles Castle as well as for the Sinaia Monastery. The Peles Castle was built between 1875 and 1883 by Carol I the King of Romania, and decorated by his wife, Queen Elisabeth. The castle contains 160 rooms, richly decorated in ebony, mother of pearl, walnut and leather.
The drive back to Bucharest will take us through the town of Ploiesti where strategic fights took place during the World War II.
Accommodation in Bucharest at a 3* or 4* Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 – Bucharest – departure
Today you will say goodbye to Romania, and the friends you made here. Your private guide will escort you to the airport for your departure.
Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Included features:
* 6 nights in 3, 4 or 5 star hotels with breakfast included;
* air conditioned car for the above mentioned route, gasoline price and parking fees;
* guided tours and entrance fees for the sights included in the itinerary;
* a professional private English speaking guide/driver, at your disposal throughout the trip;
* guide’s expenses;
* all transfers;
* VAT and local tax;
* map of Romania;
Not included:
* meals other than the ones included in the program;
* individual travel insurance;
* photo and video fees;
* gratuities;