duminică, 20 ianuarie 2013

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joi, 10 ianuarie 2013

UNESCO Heritage

Romanian Unesco Heritage Sites Tour

Highlights of UNESCO sites:

Horezu Pottery

Sighisoara Medieval Citadel

Viscri Fortified Church

Bucovina - Painted Monasteries

(Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita, Agapia, Varatec)

Maramures - Wooden Churches and Gates of Maramures

Sapanta Merry Cemetery - a place unique in the world

Prejmer Fortified Church

Other attractions included in the tour:

Sibiu city 2007 European Cultural Capital

Brasov - medieval town and one of the most beautiful in Romania

The famous Bran Castle or Dracula's Castle

Peles Castle - one of the most beautiful in Europe

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

No people: starting with 2 persons

Period: March - November 2013

Day 1: Bucharest - Horezu Poterry - Sibiu.

We start the tour in the morning heading Sibiu city.

On the way we will have visit of Curtea de Arges Monastery and Horezu Pottery.

Overnight in Sibiel, a pitoreque village at guest house. We have dinner included, traditional homemade food and drinks: tipical wine and traditional drink named tuica or palinca, a kind of plum brandy.

Room with private bathroom and all the conditions.

Day 2: Sibiu - Alba Iulia - Turda - Cluj

After breakfast, we will go to Alba Iulia where will visit Carolina Citadel.

Then we will go to Turda and visit Turda Salt mine, the largest and modern in Romania.

Arrive in Cluj in the afternoon and have a city tour discovering the most important sites.

Overnight in Cluj Napoca at 3* hotel, breakfast included, centrally located.

Day 3: Cluj - Baia Mare - Wooden Churches - Sapanta Merry Cemetery - Sighetul Marmatiei

Leaving Cluj, we will enter to Baia Mare, the gate to Maramures county, a region where you'll feel like you're back in time.

Old customs, old and traditional houses, traditions, wooden churches, wooden gates, special people and much more you'll discover in this part of Romania.

Visit Sapanta Merry Cemetery, a place unique in Europe.

Overnight in Sighetu Marmatiei, 3* hotel, breakfast included.

Day 4: Sighetul Marmatiei - Barsana - Vatra Dornei

After breakfast will discover the wonderful, Unesco included wooden churches.

The most beautiful is Barsana Monastery. Then will take Iza Valley and pass thru Botiza, Bogdan and other traditional villages with wonderful nature and landscape.

We will pass the Carphathians from Maramures to Bucovina and arrive in the evening in Vatra Dornei.

Overnight at 3* hotel, breakfast included.

Day 5: Vatra Dornei - Voronet - Sucevita - Piatra Neamt.

Breakfast and fresh air! Today will visit the most important and beautiful of Bucovina/Moldova s monasteries.

Perhaps the most famous and stunning of the painted monasteries is Voronet, founded in 1487 by Stephen the Great to celebrate a victory over the Turks. Widely known throughout Europe as "the Sistine Chapel of the East" due to its interior and exterior wall paintings, this monastery offers an abundance of frescoes featuring an intense shade of blue commonly known as ‘Voronet blue.’ The composition of the paint continues to remain a mystery even now, more than 500 years after the church was built.

The will visit Sucevita Monastery and arrive in Piatra Neamt where will overnight.

Overnight at 3* hotel, breakfast included.

Day 6: Piatra Neamt - Bicaz Gorges - Red Lake - Brasov

Breakfast buffet at the hotel and start to Brasov. We continue via Bicaz Gorges, gorges in the Eastern Carpathians, on the river Bicaz, making the connection between Transylvania and Moldavia. The gorges attract by its beauty many tourists every year. They are crossed by a winding road.

We will pass thru Lacu Rosu/Red Lake Resort where we will have a short stop for admire the landscape, taking some nice pictures and find out the legend of this wonderful place.

We will visit The Fortified Church in Prejmer - the biggest fortified church in the Southeastern Europe built in the 14th century and included in Unesco for its special value in 1999.

Arrive in Brasov in the evening and overnight to a 3* Hotel, breakfast included.

Day 7: Brasov - Viscri - Sighisoara - Brasov

Discovering Brasov in the morning in a walking tour and then depart to Viscri village.

Viscri, for such a remote and small village, is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Romania. It’s being like this since Prince Charles of Wales had discovered this amazing location, a fairy tale from the forgotten medieval times. Today, almost there is no travel book, brochure or advertise which would not present the image of this frozen in time town.

We will visit Viscri Church, one of the oldest in Transylvania.

Then, we will go to Sighisoara, Europe,s best preserved medieval town. The entire town is listed to Unesco World Heritage.

Here will have a walking city tour including Guild Tower, Venetian House (built in the 13th Century), Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, Antler House, Wood Covered Staircase, Hill Church, Hermann Oberth Square.

Day 8: Brasov - Bran Castle - Sinaia - Peles Castle - Bucharest

Leaving Brasov, we will go to Bran village where will visit one of the most talking place in the world Dracula,s Castle, made famous by Bram Stocker in his nouvel.

Then we will continue to Sinaia, the beautiful mountain resort surnamed “The pearl of the Carpathians”, where you will visit Peles Castle, one of Romania’s most beautiful palaces, once the summer residence of Romanian Kings, and also one of Romania’s most important museums.

In the evening arrive in Bucharest. End of tour.

The treasures of Romania: Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina - the best escorted tour

Discover the natural beauty of Romania, a country closed behind the “the Iron Curtain” and almost isolated from the rest of the world by the tough communist regime that ruled the country for over 40 years. Situated in Eastern Europe and often called the “Latin island in a Slav sea", Romania has many treasures that are waiting to be discovered.

DEPARTURES 2013! Special offer: 695 euro/person (minimum 2 persons)

May: 4th, 18th

June: 8th, 22nd

July: 6th, 20th

August: 10th, 24th

September: 7th, 21st

Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina

Fortified and wooden churches, wild nature, traditions, painted monasteries, people and many more!

Day 1: Bucharest - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiu (310 km)

Meet the guide at 9.00 a.m.

We will start the tour heading north from Bucharest to Sibiu, passing through the Carpathians Mountains into Transylvania. On your way visit CURTEA DE ARGES CATHEDRAL, one of the most famous buildings in Romania. Built in the 16th century by Prince Neagoe Basarab of Wallachia, the cathedral is the burial place of many kings, queens and princes of Romania. Its legends have inspired many Romanian poets.

After visiting Curtea de Arges, start driving to Sibiu/Hermannstadt, European Capital of Culture in 2007.

Sightseeing tour in Sibiu, visit: Piata Mare (The Big Square), Piata Mica (The Little Square), Piata Huet (Huet Square), Iron Bridge, Biserica Evangelica (The Evangelical Church) and Mitropolia (The Orthodox Church).

Accommodation at guesthouse in Sibiel and traditionally dinner with pure biological, home made food - very tasty, included.

**The tour will take the way with Curtea de Arges between July 1st and October 15th when the Transfagarasan Road is open. For the other periods we will take the Olt river valley course and on our way to Sibiu will visit Cozia Monastery.

Day 2. Sibiu – Sighisoara (100km)

After breakfast drive to Sighisoara, Europe’s best preserved medieval town.

Highlights include: Guild Tower, Venetian House (built in the 13th Century), Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, Antler House, Wood Covered Staircase, Hill Church, Hermann Oberth Square.

Sighisoara is one of the most beautiful towns in the heart of Transylvania. The whole medieval citadel is a part of UNESCO World Heritage. German architectural influences are visible throughout the entire city. Sighisoara was for several centuries a military and political stronghold. One of its most famous attractions is the Clock Tower (Council Tower), built in the 14th Century. The tower has seven foot thick walls and was used to store ammunition, food reserves, archives and the city's treasures.

Optional: lunch/dinner in the house where Dracula was born, today a famous restaurant.

Accommodation in Sighisoara, 3* hotel, breakfast included.

Day 3. Sighisoara – Wooden Churches - Sighetu Marmatiei (320 km)

In this day we will visit the wooden churches of Maramures. Following the Iza and Mara rivers, admire impressive landscapes and visit some of the oldest churches made of wood, special places within UNESCO's patrimony, as well as a row of Maramures gates, authentic rustic triumphal arches.

In the afternoon drive to Sapanta where we will visit the Merry Cemetery, unique in the world, amazing due to its originality. The wooden crosses, sculptured and painted by craftsman Stan Patras, turned it into an authentic museum. The colours of the crosses and the humorous texts on them capture for eternity the essential episodes of life and show the strength of the Romanian spirit, which do not fear of the Romanian spirit, which do not fear of death.

Accommodation in Sighet, 3* pension, breakfast included.

Day 4: Sighetu Marmatiei - Moldavian Painted Monasteries (220km)

After breakfast, we will cross the Carpathian Mountains to Bucovina, the famous region in the north-east of Romania.

The "Painted" Monasteries is the major Moldavian destination, because of the vivid and animated frescoes on their church walls. These depict Biblical and other scenes, designed in sequences almost like strip cartoons to educate the local people in the Orthodox religion. Due to their singleness, the monasteries in Bucovina are now UNESCO protected cultural sites. The art historians compare their artistic value with the mural paintings of San Marco church of Venice or the church of Orvietto. The secret of the Moldavian painters who prepared the colors and the techniques that made the paintings incredibly resistant is still a mystery.

Leaving Maramures, we will have a stop to Brarsana Wooden Monastery, one of the most beautiful in Maramures.

Accommodation in Monasteries area, breakfast included.

Day 5: Voronet Monastery – Agapia Monastery - Neamt Monastery - Piatra Neamt (190 km)

After breakfast will visit VORONET Monastery (1547, most known for the frescoes with predominant blue color - Voronet blue, surnamed “The Sixtin Chapel of the East", these frescoes depict a fairy-tale world, painted on a "piece of heaven". This "jewel of Bucovina" was built by Romanian great ruler Stefan the Great in 1488).

After Voronet, continue driving and visit Agapia and Neamt Monasteries.
The interiour of Agapia Monastery was painted in 1858 by our greatest painter, Nicolae Grigorescu, at the age of 20. Due to their artistic value, these painting can be considered a real art gallery.
Surrounded by old forests, at the bottom of the mountains, is raising the oldest monastery of Moldavia - Neamt Monastery. Sumptuous, with delicate color effects, only by architectural point, the monastery shows the maturity of the Moldavian architectonic style, curdled during Stefan cel Mare (Stephan the Great) ruling.

Accommodation in a 3* hotel in Piatra Neamt city.

Day 6: Piatra Neamt-The Red Lake / Lacu Rosu - Prejmer – Brasov (250 km)

We will pass thru Lacu Rosu/Red Lake Resort where we will have a short stop for admire the landscape, taking some nice pictures and find out the legend of this wonderful place.

On the way to Brasov we can visit: The Fortified Church in Prejmer - the biggest fortified church in the Southeastern Europe built in the 14th century. The fortress with double walls and dungeons makes me think to the ancient tales. Inside its walls there is a church, but the interesting thing here is the honeycomb like inner wall. Every family had one small room for sheltering in case the village was attacked. In peaceful times they used it as a storage room for food.

Arrival in Brasov. Accommodation in a 3* pension in Bran Village, brakfast included.

Optional: a special musical dinner in Cetate Restaurant in Brasov, for the opera music lovers – with Filarmonica from Brasov. In the Medieval Saloon you will enjoy a recital including chamber music, dance and arias of classical and pre-classical music.

Day 7: Brasov – Bran - Sinaia – Bucharest (175 km)

Enjoy a city tour and then depart for an excursion through the Carpathian Mountains to the town of Bran.

Brasov is one of the most beautiful city in Romania. The main attraction is the medieval part of the city with: The Black Church that houses a priceless collection of Oriental rugs as well as a 4000-pipe organ. The Town Hall Square, the Franciscan Monastery, The Central Park, The Black Tower, The White Tower, Ecaterina’s Gate, Schei Gate and the Rope Street – the narrowest street in Europe.

In the afternoon will go to Bran village to visit Bran Castle.

Here, enjoy the tour of the famous Bran Castle (known as “Dracula’s Castle”).

Situated at 30 Km from Brasov, between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, Bran Castle is an important national monument and landmark of the Romanian tourism, due not only to the beauty of the Castle and the landscape but also to the legend of Count Dracula.

PELES Castle was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs, including King Carol I, who died here in 1914, as well as King Ferdinand and Queen Maria.

In the evening arrive in Bucharest. End of Romanian Tour.

Prices for other departures:

549 euro/person in double room (calculated for 4 - 6 persons).
510 euro/person in double room (calculated for 7-16 persons).

Included in the price

Transport by modern car/mini-bus
6 nights accommodation with breakfast in 3* hotels and 3*guesthouses
1 traditional dinner in the first night without alcoholic drink. Every meal is very tasty because everything is home made and pure biological food.
Professional guide assistance during the whole trip English speaking
City tour in each city in the trip

Not included in the price

Entrance tickets for all attractions in the trip

If you have any question, please send us an e-mail:office@casiopeea.com

Count Dracula best tour!

Welcome to Eastern Europe s most infamous land of the unholy, Transylvania (Romania). A tour you will never forget! The tour is part history, involving Vlad Tepes, and part mystery surrounding the undead blood sucker, Dracula.

Departures May-October 2013

Highlights:

Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest

Snagov Monastery where Vlad was buried after his assassination

The Famous Bran Castle

Sighisoara with the house where Vlad Tepes was born

Borgo Pass in the Carpathian Mountains,

Bistrita city

Poienari - Vlad’s old and faithful citadel..

Day 1: Bucharest. Welcome to Dracula's Land, a land of mystery!

We will start to discover Count Dracula's traces at the Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest, built in the second half of the XIVth century. The guide will pick-you up and you will start to discover the city. The city tour includes all the important places and architectural buildings: Parliament Palace, Arch of Triumph, the former Royal Palace (nowadays the Art Museum), the Athenaeum (Romania’s most famous concert hall), the Revolution Square (where the 1989 anti - Communist revolt went nationwide), ride along Victoria Avenue, the University, the National Theatre, the Opera House, Manuc’s Inn, the medieval core of the town, the Patriarchy.

We will not unpack because our adventure just started and tomorrow...

Day 2: Bucharest – Snagov Monastery – Brasov. Prepare to immerge into the legend!

The guide will pick you up from hotel and will go to Snagov to visit Snagov Monastery where Vlad was buried after his assassination. The monastic establishment is located on a small island of Snagov Lake so you’ll also enjoy a boat trip across the lake. The architectural style of the monastery follows the architectural pattern that is characteristic to the monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos in Greece. Then, we will go to Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities in Romania and will visit the Black Church.

The Black Church is the largest gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul and boasts the largest church bell in Romania, weighing in at seven tons.

Day 3: Brasov – Bran Castle – Sighisoara: Follow in the footsteps of Count Dracula!

This day is dedicated to Bran Castle, well known as Dracula's Castle. This castle came to be connected with the legend of Dracula the Vampire. It was built between 1377 and 1382, on a 60 m high rock with a strategic, military and commercial purpose. The building has four towers positioned at the four cardinal points. The walls are made of stone blocks, the rooms and narrow corridors constitute a mysterious labyrinth of ghostly nooks and secret chambers, whilst in the inner courtyard there are artesian wells, connected to an underground network. The castle had both a military and a customs point purpose.

We head towards Sighisoara. Here we will visit the house where Vlad Tepes was born, now a cozy restaurant. You can serve his favorite dish and drink his Vampire red wine. Sighisoara is the best preserved medieval town in Romania.

Day 4: Sighisoara – Bistrita – Borgo Pass – Piatra Fantanele.

Walking tour: visit the medieval citadel (the “Upper Town”) of Sighisoara: the Clock Tower, the Evangelical Church etc. After The city tour, we will drive across Transylvania via Targu Mures and Bistrita (walk through the medieval town center) to the Borgo Pass in the Carpathian Mountains. The landscape is amaizing.

Accommodation at the “Dracula Castle” Hotel. At the construction of the hotel, in the year 1980 the 21 members of the „Dracula” Society from London carried bricks by hand or by barrow, leaving a document with their signatures closed hermetically in an empty Scotch whisky bottle (the president at that time was Mr. Bruce Wightman). The place where the document is located is known only by the master of the „Dracula” castle from Piatra Fântânele in Romania.

In front of the hotels is the statue of legendary Bran Stocker. The hotel is situated in the mountain and has a wonderful view of the area.

Day 5: Piatra Fantanele – Biertan – Sibiu

In the morning continue your tour with a walk in the spectacular scenery around the hotel, and then drive southwards to Biertan Fortified Church and visit it. In 1995, the fortified church of Biertan was included in the list of the world architectural patrimony under UNESCO patronage. The eclesiastic and defence complex was built in 15th-16th centuries in the late Gothic style,with specific Renaissance element.

From Biertan, we will go to Sibiu where will overnight. City tour of Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007.

Day 6: Sibiu – Poienari, Vlad Tepes’s Citadel – Bucharest

In the last day in Transylvania, we will complete our tour with a visit to Poienari, Vlad’s old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1000 stairs to climb. In 1459, Turks captured by Vlad Tepes in revenge for killing his father and brother were made to march to this site, where they were ‘encouraged’ to build this amazing defensive fortress. It’s rightfully considered by Dracula buffs to be the ‘real’ Dracula’s castle.In the evening will arrive in Bucharest.

The tour includes:

-transport by car for the entire tour for 6 days

-English speaking guide (or German, French) for 6 days at your disposal

-accommodation for 5 nights, breakfast included … close to Dracula

-assistance

Not included:

Entrance tickets to all the museums and touristic attractions included in the program.

tags: Dracula, myth, and, reality, sighisoara, transylvania, tour, guide, visit, blood, meat, count

Mysterious Nights with Dracula

Are you confused between Transylvania, Wallachia, Romania and Dracula name? Join the tour to discover Romania s history and legends.

Departures May-October 2013

Highlights:

Bucharest city

Princely Court - Dracula's Palace in Bucharest

The Famous Bran Castle or well known as Dracula,s Castle

Sighisoara with the house where Vlad Tepes was born- Dracula House

Peles Castle- the most beautiful castle in Romania

Sibiu medieval city - Cultural European Capital in 2007

Brasov medieval city - the most beautiful mountain city in Romania

Fortified Churches

Sambata de Sus Monastery

Villages in Transylvania

Traditional dinners

DRACULA TOUR IN TRANSYLVANIA: 6 NIGHTS with Halfboard!

Day 1: Bucharest

Welcome to Dracula's Land!

We will start to discover Count Dracula's traces at the Princely Court - Dracula's palace in Bucharest, built in the second half of the XIVth century.

The guide will pick-you up and you will start to discover the city. The tour includes all the important places and architectural buildings. Highlights: the Arch of Triumph (inspired by the one in Paris), the Press Square (where a copy of the Moscow University can be seen), the former Royal Palace (nowadays the Art Museum), the Athenaeum (Romania’s most famous concert hall), the Revolution Square (where the 1989 anti - Communist revolt went nationwide), ride along Victoria Avenue, the University, the National Theatre, the Opera House, Manuc’s Inn, the medieval core of the town, the Patriarchy. Visit the Palace of Parliament, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon.

Accommodation in Bucharest.

Day 2: Bucharest – Sibiu - Sibiel

After breakfast, we drive to Sibiu through the Valley of Olt River, stop and admire the majestic of Cozia Monastery.

Known as the oldest and most complex historical and art monuments from Romania, Cozia Monastery was built between 1386-1388, being one of the most important foundations of the ruler Mircea cel Batran.

Continue our journey to Sibiu City. Enjoy a relaxing city tour in the one of the most visited areas in Romania. It holds one of the best preserved historical sites in the country, many of its medieval fortifications having been kept in excellent state. Its old center has begun the process for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Sightseeing Sibiu: Defense Wall, the Stairs', the Gate's, the Drapers', the Potters', the Carpenter's, the powder Mill Towers, Thick Tower, Council Tower.

We conclude our journey in the charming village of Sibiel, a picturesque Romanian village well-known for its icon on glass museum. Enjoy a traditional dinner and accommodation at guess house form Sibiel.

Day 3: Sibiel - Biertan - Sighisoara - Sibiel

Breakfast buffet at the hotel in Sibiel.

The tour begins with a drive to one of the most majestic and valuable fortified churches in Transylvania, Biertan.

In 1995, the fortified church of Biertan was included in the list of the world architectural patrimony under UNESCO patronage. The eclesiastic and defence complex was built in 15th-16th centuries in the late Gothic style,with specific Renaissance elements.

The next stop will be in Sighisoara, the town where Dracula was born in 1431. Walking sightseeing tour of Sighisoara, the lively European medieval town whose old houses and edifices are still functional and well preserved.

Objectives which can be visited: Medieval fortifications (12th-17th Century) among which: Council Tower/Clock Tower at present History Museum; Hill Church; Vlad Dracul's House; Venetian House; Wooden Covered Staircase, Old Ladies’ Corridor.

Lunch at Dracula's House Restaurant (in the same room the prince Vlad Dracul was born) and return to the guest house, in Sibiel, in the evening. Dinner included.

Day 4: Sibiel – Sambata - Brasov - Bran

Breakfast buffet at the guest house in Sibiel.

We will spend first part of this day visiting Brancoveanu Monastery from Sambata de Sus. Located on the valley of Sambata river- it is famous for being a place of recovery, comfort and spiritual balm for visitors who halt or pray in this sacred dwelling.

Departure for a Sightseeing tour of Brasov by foot, including Piata Sfatului, Central Park and the Black Church that houses a priceless collection of Oriental rugs as well as a 4000-pipe organ. Brasov is home to what is said to be the narrowest street in Europe. The Black Church is the largest gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul and boasts the largest church bell in Romania, weighing in at seven tons.

Accommodation in Bran village.

Day 5: Bran (Bran Castle)

Visit to Bran Castle: Dracula's Castle - with its medieval atmosphere, this castle came to be connected with the legend of Dracula the Vampire. The castle was built between 1377 and 1382, on a 60 m high rock with a strategic, military and commercial purpose. The building has four towers positioned at the four cardinal points. The walls are made of stone blocks, the rooms and narrow corridors constitute a mysterious labyrinth of ghostly nooks and secret chambers, whilst in the inner courtyard there are artesian wells, connected to an underground network.

After the visit in Bran drive to Moeciu a very picturesque mountain village; traditional lunch taken in a dream country-side landscape (drinks included).

Accommodation in Bran village.

Day 6: Bran - Sinaia

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Departure for Sinaia and visit Peles Castle: one of Romania's most beautiful palaces once the summer residence of the Romanian king.

Nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe.

Peles Castle was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current. The electricity was produced by the castle’s own plant.

Accommodation al 3 stars hotel in Sinaia.

Day 7: Sinaia- Bucharest (departure)

After breakfast buffet at the hotel we come back to Bucharest airport for departure.

Included in the price:

-6 nights accommodation in double rooms in 3* hotels and guesthouses /Pensions, breakafst included.

-Halfboard (6 meals: lunches or dinners).

-Transport by car (air condition), includes gas.

-Professional guide/driver assistance during the whole trip English speaking.

-Guide’s expenses: meals, accommodation.

-Surprises !!!

Not included in the price:

-Entrance tickets to all the museums and touristic attractions included in the program.

tags: mister, dracula, peles, bistrita, bram, stocker, vampire, blood, myth, real, true, Brasov, Bran, sighisoara, Vlad, Tepes, impaler, snagov, tomb

Complete Transylvania 8 day tour

Join us for 8 day tour in Transylvania, a complete tour where you will discover a wonderful county with castles, palaces, fortified churches, medieval cities, UNESCO protected sites, Saxon Villages, people and much more...

Highlights of the tour:
Medieval cities of Transylvania: Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara.
Most important Castles and Palaces: Bran-the Famous Dracula's Castle, Peles Castle,
Fortified Churches of Transylvania: Biertan Fortified Church.
Living in the country side, an unique experience: Sibiel and Bran villages.
Transfagarasan Road - the highest road in Romania.
Traditional dinners in Sibiel and Bran, home made food prepared by farmers.
Saxon Villages of Trasylvania.
Snagov city with Snagov Monastery where Vlad Tepes is burried
Cluj city: the treasure of Trasylvania.
Turda Salt mine - the most beautiful and modern in Romania.

Day 1: Bucharest

Transfer from Bucharest Airport to the hotel.

Accommodation with breakfast in a 3* hotel, centrally situated.

Depends your arrival, city tour of Bucharest.

Day 2: Bucharest – Snagov – Sinaia (130 km, 2h)

After breakfast (9.00 am) we will drive to Snagov where in the middle of the Snagov Lake will see Snagov Monastery, a rustic cloister from 1364, on a small isolated island, the reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula, who, it is claimed, lies beneath the floor of the church.

Drive to Sinaia where you will visit Sinaia Monastery and the famous Peles Castle.

Peles Castle is one of Romania's most beautiful palaces once the summer residence of the Romanian kings and one of Romania's most important museum. PELES Castle was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs, including King Carol I, who died here in 1914, as well as King Ferdinand and Queen Maria.

Visit to Sinaia Monastery - the name of the town comes from the Monastery of Sinaia, built in 1695 by the "spatar" (old high rank among the military nobility of the Valahian kingdom) Mihai Cantacuzino after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, at Mount Sinai; the monastery contains religious objects, icons, rare books and the exhibition of pottery and porcelain ware (dating from 16th - 19th cent.).

Accommodation in Sinaia with breakfast at 3* hotel.

Day 3: Sinaia – Bran – Brasov (85 km, 1h 20 min)

In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel we will depart for an excursion through the Carpathian Mountains to the town of Bran to visit the famous Bran Castle. (known as “Dracula’s Castle”).

Overnight in Bran with breakfast at 3* hotel.

Day 4: Brasov – Viscri Fortified Church - Sighisoara (140 km)

After breakfast will have a city tour of Brasov and then drive to Sighisoara.

City tour of Brasov: maybe the most beautiful city in Romania. It really worth’s visiting the medieval part of the city with: The Black Church that houses a priceless collection of Oriental rugs as well as a 4000-pipe organ, The Town Hall Square, The Central Park, The Black Tower, The White Tower, the Rope Street – the narrowest street in Europe and the first Romanian School in Transylvania.

On the way to Sighisoara we will visit Saxon Village of Transylvania and we'll have a stop to one of the most beautiful named Viscri Village. Here, we will visit the oldest fortified Church in Transylvania: Viscri.

Then, drive to Sighisoara, Europe’s best preserved medieval town. It's one of the most beautiful towns in the heart of Transylvania the whole medieval citadel is a part of UNESCO World Heritage. German architectural influences are visible throughout the entire city. Sighisoara was for several centuries a military and political stronghold. One of its most famous attractions is the Clock Tower (Council Tower), built in the 14th Century. This was the control tower of the main gate of the 2,500 foot long defensive wall. The tower has seven foot thick walls and was used to store ammunition, food reserves, archives and the city's treasures. The clock was placed in the tower in the 17th Century. Highlights include: Venetian House (built in the 13th Century), Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, Antler House, Wood Covered Staircase, Clock Tower, the History Museum and the Torture Room.

In the evening, you can walk and admire the town because Sighisoara is really wonderful if you see it under the moonlight.

Overnight in Sighisoara, 3* hotel with breakfast.

Day 5: Sighisoara – Biertan Fortified Chuch - Medias - Turda Salt Mine - Cluj. (200 km)

After the breakfast, leave Sighisoara and go to Cluj city, the treasure of Transylvania.

First, we will visit Biertan Fortress, World Cultural Heritage site and the largest fortress church in Transilvania. This church, surrounded by three rows of fortifications was used for nearly 300 years as the residence of the Transilvanian Archbishop.

Biertan locality lies in the middle of the Transylvanian plateau, in the North of Sibiu city, at equal distance between the cities Medias and Sighisoara. Biertan is documentary testified for the first time in 1283, along with other 7 villages, inhabited in that period by the Saxons of Transylvania.

Then continue our tour to Medias city where will have a panoramic tour and then we depart to Turda where we will visit one of the most interesting, modern and beautiful Salt Mine in Romania.

In the afternoon, city tour of Cluj Napoca.

Accommodation in Cluj Napoca at 3* hotel.

Day 6. Cluj - Alba Iulia - Sibiu - Sibiel (200km)

After breakfast, we will go to Alba Iulia the capital of the independent Principality of Transylvania, where the Union Act of the Romanian Principalities was signed in 1918. It is also known under the Latin name of Apulum, the Hungarian name of Gyulafehérvár and the German name of Karlsburg/Weißenburg.

We will visit The Alba Carolina Citadel - the symbol - capital of the Romanians. The Alba Carolina Citadel is the heart of the town of Alba Iulia. The Citadel was design to be the main defensive point of Transylvania, a militay center and arm storage facility. It is composed of 7 bastions confering it the star shape characteristic to such citadels.

Visit also Catedrala Romano-catolica (the Roman Catholic Cathedral), the most valuable monument for the medieval architecture in Transylvania, inside which can be found the tomb of Iancu de Hunedoara (John Hunyadi). We should not forget Muzeul Unirii (the Union Museum), the place where the Union Act between Transylvania and Romania was signed on 1st December 1918.

In the evening we will go to Sibiel village a picturesque village situated 18 km away from Sibiu on the Sibiel River. The village goes on his history in an ancient natural beauty of culture and Romanian tradition. The unwritten history of this village starts in Neolithic with the relies founded in the area of the village and kept in the museum of the village.

Visit the Glass Icon Museum and the church.

Overnight in Sibiel at guest house and serve a delicious traditional home made dinner, drinks included.

Day 7: Sibiu - Transfagarasan Road - Curtea de Arges - Bucharest. (360km)

Breakfast and drive to Sibiu to discover the city.

“Sibiu 2007” represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a Romanian city to host the European Capital of Culture designation. Sibiu/Hermannstadt as European Capital of Culture in 2007 aims at opening gates through which the city’s rich cultural landscape and diverse life will meet that of Europe.

Sightseeing tour in Sibiu, visit: Piata Mare (The Big Square), Brukenthal Museum, Piata Mica (The Little Square), Piata Huet (Huet Square), Iron Bridge, Biserica Evangelica (The Evangelical Church) and Mitropolia (The Orthodox Church).

We leave Sibiu and drive to Transfagarasan Road, one of most spectacular road in Romania.

Then will drive to Curtea de Arges changing the course to Ages River’s valley and we'll visit the monastery.

Monastery of Curtea de Arges was founded by Prince Neagoe Basarab between 1514-1517 years.

Day 8: Bucharest

City tour in the morning (around 3h).

Places that worth seeing: the former Royal Palace (nowadays the Art Museum), the Athenaeum, ride along Victoria Avenue, the University, the National Theatre, the Opera House, Manuc’s Inn, the medieval core of the town, the Patriarchy, the Antim Monastery, the Italian church, St. Joseph Cathedral. Visit the Palace of Parliament, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon.

Transfer to the Airport.

Included in the price:

- Transportation by modern and comfortable car (fuel, assurance, parking)

- Accommodation for 7 nights, breakfast included

- Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport in the first and the last day in Bucharest

- Professional guide assistance during the whole trip English speaking. The guide will be at your disposal for the entire period.

- City tour for each city in the program

- City tour of Bucharest in the last day

- Visit for the attractions in the program (not the entrance tickets)

Not included in the price

- Entrance tickets to all the museums and touristic attractions included in the program.

Casiopeea Travel