Romania Medieval Tour – 5 Days

Description

ROMANIA MEDIEVAL TOUR

Day  1: Bucharest Sightseeing Tour

Today we take a full day tour of Bucharest, dubbed “Little Paris”. The tour starts with the Parliament House, the largest administrative building in Europe, second in the world. Built between 1984 and 1989, right in the former historical center of Bucharest, The Parliament Palace, better known as The House of People, is the most grandiose administrative construction in Europe.

Out tour continue with the Village Museum, one of the best of it`s kind in Europe. With 300 traditional houses representing the history and design of  Romania`s rural architecture. See Bucharest`s Arch of Triumph, built to honor the Romanian soldiers who fought in the First World War.

Overnight in Bucharest: Tempo Hotel 3***

Day 2: Bucharest – Targoviste – Curtea de Arges – Sibiu

Morning drive from Bucharest towards Targoviste, the former capital of Wallachia Province. Here you’ll visit the Princely Court and the Sunset Tower built for the first time during Vlad Impaler’s (Dracula) reign. The tour continues toward the Poienari Fortress, the real castle built by Vlad The Impaler (Dracula). The fortress can be reached only after you have climbed 1480 stone stairs. This path through the forest used to be surrounded by hundreds of impaled people, the image being terrifying for the enemies of Vlad.

You’ll be taken back to Curtea de Arges and further on you’ll admire the beautiful valley of the Olt River. On the way you’ll stop to visit Cozia Monastery. Mircea the Elder, prince of Walachia and grandfather of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), built the monastery in the 14th century. Here you’ll have a first contact with the painted frescoes. On the entrance wall of the church you’ll see an impressive “Last Judgment” fresco. In the evening we reach Sibiu.

Accommodation in Sibiu: Continental Forum Hotel 3***

Day 3: Sibiu – Hartibaciu Valley – Biertan – Sighisoara

Enjoy a relaxing city tour of Sibiu, The European Capital of Culture in 2007, a medieval city with narrow streets and gothic architecture, considered to be the jewel in the crown  of  the German  Siebenburgen. A lovely half-hour drive from Sibiu takes you into the pastoral landscape of Hartibaciu Valley, once an important commercial route is nowadays almost forgotten. You will discover nature an churches not yet explored by mass tourism. In a forgotten world, where the horse and carriage is the main means of transport we will discover the simple life. Passing through this valley, we arrive in Biertan and visit one of the most majestic and valuable fortified churches in Transylvania. In 1995, the fortified church of Biertan was included in the list of the world architectural patrimony under UNESCO patronage.

Romania Medieval Tour continue with Sighisoara Old Town and fortress. In 1431, in the house at Museum Square 6, within the shadow of the old town`s Clock Tower, a women whose name is lost to posterity gave birth to a son called Vlad, who in later life earned the title The Impaler, abroad better known as Dracula, derived from Dracul or “the Devil” referring to his father Vlad Dracul, whom the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Hungary made a knight of the order of The Dragon in 1431. The Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the Scholars Stairs, The Monastery Church, the towers of the citadel (originally fourteen), The Shoemakers Town, the Tailors Tower, the Tinsmiths Tower are only a few of the marvels of this place called Sighisoara.
Overnight in Sighisoara Hotel Casa cu Cerb 3***

Day 4: Sighisoara – Viscri – Brasov

Explore the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, also called “The Pearl of Transylvania” the old medieval city is included on UNESCO’s Word Heritage.

Along the medieval streets of Sighisoara, we visit the Clock Tower, dating from 14th century, the Venetian House, the Antlers House and Dracula’s house where Vlad Tepes was born in 1431 and lived with his father until 1435. We leave Sighisoara on route to Brasov area. The road will pass through beautiful German villages and one can admire their architecture and also a couple of citadels and churches which can be seen from the road as Crit, Saschiz, Rotbav.

First stop will be at Viscri Village,is one of the most famous tourist destination of Romania. It`s being like this sice Prince Charles of Wales had discovered this amazing location, a fairy tale from the forgotten medieval times. Continue our route to Bran and visit the famous Bran Castle also called Dracula`s Castle. The castle got its fame from Dracula`s legend written in 1897 by Bram Stoker and later on made into a film by Francis Ford Coppola. The first documents about the Bran Castle date back from 1377. Along the ages, the Castle had a strategic position being on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. First it was under the rule of  Sigismund of Luxemburg, then it was owned by the Romanian voivods Mircea cel Batran and Vlad Tepes and later on it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Brasov. In the 20th century the castle was donated to the Romanian royal family and became a royal summer residence. The castle museum preserves the furniture and objects from that period.

End the day in Brasov, with a short tour of the magic medieval center of Brasov (2 hours). The city of Brasov is one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. During the Middle Ages, Brasov was known as a powerful fortress surrounded by high stone walls and defended by bulwarks, towers and other small fortresses. The buildings and the streets still preserve a medieval note. Council Square, Black Church, White and Black Towers, Weavers Bastion and Catherine`s Gate are the tour highlights.

Overnight in Brasov at Bella Muzica 3***

Day 5: Brasov – Bran Castle – Sinaia Resort – Peles Castle – Bucharest

Start your tour in Brasov with the Town Hall Square, where you can admire the colorful painted and ornate baroque structures. Visit the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania. Continue your visit and see Catherine`s Gate erected in 1559, the only original gate that still survives since medieval times. Visit The Weavers Bastion, the largest medieval bastion in Brasov and the best-preserved among the seven original watchtowers constructed around the city walls.

Passing through the fabulous mountain scenery, we arrive in Bran Village. We will visit Dracula`s Castle, whose striking hilltop appearance stands at the basis of many myths and legends.

The first historical reference of Bran Castle or Dracula`s Castle, dates back to 14th Century, when Brasov inhabitants received the privilege of building the a fortress “at their own work and expense”. Between 1920-1927 Bran Castle was restored under the supervision of Karel Liman, the architect of the Royal Court, who turned it in a beautiful summer residence surrounded by a park with promenade alleys, lake, fountains, and a tea house. In 1938 Queen Maria of Romania bequeathed Bran Castle with all its domains, to her daughter Princess Ileana, who owned it until 1948.

On your way to Bucharest we stop in Sinaia Mountain Resort where you will visit Peles Castle. The famous Peles Castle, a masterpiece of German New-Renaissance architecture, commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures. Accommodation in Bucharest: Tempo Hotel  (3*).

Route:

Bucharest-Targoviste-Curtea de Arges-Sibiu-Biertan-Sighisoara-Viscri-Brasov-Bran-Sinaia-Bucharest