Today we will start our beautiful trip in Romania, heading directly to Sibiu city (UNESCO), where we will overnight. We will cross the mountains passing the Transfagarsan Road, one of the most beautiful roads in the world at an altitude of over 2000m! On our way, we will also visit Curtea de Arges Cathedral (UNESCO). Built in the 16th century by Prince Neagoe Basarab of Wallachia, the cathedral is the burial place of many kings, queens and princesses of Romania. We will also be passing Poienari Fortress, the real castle of Prince Vlad Dracula, perched high on a cliff above the Arges river valley, and then we will reach the impressive Vidraru Dam - one of the highest dams in Europe, a landmark of Arges County. Constructed on Arges river and formed Lake Vidraru. Construction stretched between 1961-1966, when finished it ranked 5th in Europe. There is wonderful scenery in every season. Then, we will have a short stop at Balea Glaciar Lake, at the top of the mountain from where you can see the entire Road - beautiful scenery and unique feeling. We can also enjoy a coffee in the restaurant located at the edge of the lake while admiring the scenery, before continuing our route along the Transfagarasan to Sibiu.

Arrival in Sibiu and after check-in, walking tour. The old city center is just lovely to walk around in or sit down at the various inviting coffee shops and restaurants, it is a real pleasure and an unforgettable experience.

NOTE: Between 1st of July and 15th October, Transfagarasan Road is usually open and we can visit the Curtea de Arges Monastery; when the weather conditions do not permit it or the road is closed with no prior notice (due to various events), we will visit the Cozia Monastery, which is located on the beautiful Olt River Valley.

Breakfast in the morning, then enjoy a city tour of Sibiu. (UNESCO Tentative List)
Highlights of the tour: Piata Mare (The Big Square), Piata Mica (The Little Square), Piata Huet (Huet Square), Iron Bridge, Biserica Evangelica (The Evangelical Church), and Metropolia (The Orthodox Church). 

Sibiu/Hermannstadt, the capital city of Transylvania, founded in the 12th century it is considered today one of the most beautiful historical cities not only in Romania but in entire Europe. Over the last nine centuries, Sibiu was not only the largest and the wealthiest of the seven fortified cities established by the Saxons in Transylvania known in German as Siebenburgen but also the most important trading center with 19 guilds and the cultural capital of the region.  The historic center displays an extensive stock of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, as well as examples of late 19th to early 20th-century date. Amongst its key buildings are: St. Mary's Parish Church, c. 1350; the Altenberger Haus (the old City Hall), 1475-1704; and the Brukenthal Palace, 1778-1788. The plot shapes, layout, and organization of the larger merchants' houses in the upper town, with their large courtyards behind, are also distinctive. The evolution of the city from its initial strategic stronghold protecting a rural settlement to a mercantile and artisan center and the powerful regional capital city is expressed in the important collection of vernacular buildings, to be seen especially in the lower town. The historic center of Sibiu covers an area of approx. 80 ha. It comprises the whole of the area within the fourth ring of fortification and is situated at the heart of the modern city.

Sibiu was the European Cultural Capital in 2007 and the European Region of Gastronomy in 2019.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Alba Iulia - Carolina Citadel.

Alba Iulia is the site of the ancient Apulum, founded by the Romans in the 2nd cent. A.D., and destroyed by Tatars in 1241. It was the seat (16th–17th cent.) of the princes of Transylvania, of a Roman Catholic bishop, and of an Eastern Orthodox metropolitan.
From 1599 to 1601, Alba Iulia was the capital of the united principalities of Walachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia. It was the site (1918) of the proclamation of Transylvania's union with Romania and of the coronation of King Ferdinand in 1922.  Today, many Romanians consider Alba Iulia to be the spiritual capital city of Romania. 

We will visit Alba Iulia Fortress - Alba Carolina - back in time. It takes just a few hours spent in Alba Iulia to show you and prove to them and to all who accompany you, that return over time is possible. Not a psychological time, one imaginary, not even the Classic, knew, talking about scholars, but a time of retrieval of oneself in a place where history has had the courage to rebuild and live again, at present: Alba Carolina Citadel. 

In the evening we will arrive in Cluj Napoca where we'll overnight. 

Breakfast in the morning. Explore Cluj Napoca, named by the Saxon merchants in the 18th century as the “treasure city” and one of the "Seven Cities" /Saxon cities of Transylvania.
 
Starting our walking tour with the ruins of the old Roman camp, we’ll discover the old Benedictine monastery, the square of the history museum and we will meet one of the city’s famous sons, Matei Corvin. The Catholic Church “St. Michael”, a milestone in Cluj (the second largest Gothic church in Transylvania) is an absolute must. Bannfy Palace, “old Town Hall” and the “mirror street” complete the city’s urban architecture. The headquarters of the «Babes Bolyai» University is proof of the cities student tradition, Cluj being the host of more than one hundred thousand students every year.

In the afternoon - visit Turda Salt Mine, the magical land in the depths of Transylvania.  Turda Salt Mine is a gift of these lands to anyone who lives here or just passes by as a tourist through Turda. The Salt Mine is a symbol and a source of prosperity, health, and pride for every citizen of Turda. 

Now, underground, but several millions of years ago, underwater. As in Prehistoric times, millions of years ago, Transylvania was covered by an immense sea. The present Transylvanian Basin is a sedimentary basin that was formed through a slow and continuous sinking, thus creating a continental type of sea. Millions of years later, the waters evaporated and left behind an impressive layer of salt, which spreads across the entire subsoil of Transylvania, with an average thickness of about 400 m. So, the salt from Turda Salt Mine dates back to prehistory, a treasure left behind by time.

Inside the old Turda Salt Mine stands the world's largest salt mine museum. The massive mines were formed completely by hand and machine rather than by using explosives. Visitors are invited to descend as far down as almost 400 feet into the Earth in order to witness the history of the trade. Throughout the cool interior, which averages about 50-55˚F with 80% humidity, there are a variety of mines, rooms, and spaces to be explored. At almost 140 feet down, Rudolph Mine offers a 180-seat amphitheater, a carousel, ping-pong tables, basketball hoops, mini-golf, and bowling.

In the evening we will drive to Sighisoara - Europe’s best-preserved medieval town and all UNESCO World Heritage.
You have the possibility to serve dinner in the house where Dracula was born – today a famous restaurant “Casa Vlad Dracul”. Then, we will discover together the beautiful medieval citadel of Sighisoara.  

Overnight in Sighisoara, right in the heart of the Citadel. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore Sighisoara. 

Highlights of the city tour 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. 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. 

Then, we will cross the mountains to Bucovina, passing to Bistrita. One of the seven cities of the Saxons, the small medieval town of Bistrita has preserved a series of attractive landmarks from the medieval period, including the Saxon Evangelical Church, a Gothic construction rivaling Brasov’s famed Black Church, and the Coopers’ Tower, the last of the 18 bastions that protected the city.

In the evening, arrive in Bucovina and overnight for 2 nights.

Moldavian dinner included. 

Bucovina is the land of boletus (mushrooms), cream, and fish but also pork dishes, chicken soup, or local stew with polenta. The food is plentiful and delicious, and if you eat at a local’s house, make sure you finish everything because it is considered impolite to leave food on your plate. But that shouldn’t be too hard to do with such appetizing cuisine. 

After breakfast, we will visit today the Moldavian Painted Monasteries. The "Painted" Monasteries are the major Moldavian destination, because of the vivid and animated frescoes on their walls. 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, and its composition is almost impossible to replicate today.

We start our visit in the morning with VORONET Monastery (1547), most known for the frescoes with predominant blue color - Voronet blue, surnamed “The Sistine Chapel of the East". Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, this monument is a powerful symbol of how local medieval princes emphasized their support for the Orthodox faith in a time when it was threatened by the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. The church was built in just a couple of months, in 1488. Its founder, Stephen the Great, remains one of the most popular princes of Moldavia. He promoted an architecture known as the Moldavian style, and many of the churches from his time are still preserved in the regions of Moldavia and Bucovina. 

Continue then with the Museum of Painted Eggs "Lucia Condrea" - the museum was founded in 2007 by the artist Lucia Condrea, member of the Artists Union of Romania, known for over two decades by the value of the Easter painted eggs she exhibited in over 112 international exhibitions in 11 countries. The museum contains over 5,000 exhibits arranged artistically on the surface of the two levels of the building, in 41 windows. 

Then we will continue our day visits with Sucevita and Moldovita Painted Monasteries. 

High walls and heavily buttressed defensive towers surround the great monastic complex of Sucevita, giving it the appearance of a fortress. In a time when the Ottoman Empire ordered the Moldavian state to destroy its fortresses, local princes fortified monasteries to use them as a safe retreat in the darkest times. Was founded in 1581 by Gheorghe Movila, Bishop of Radauti. Truly unique is the way in which its paintings surpass all the highlights of the previous one hundred years. Its rich and monumental external murals are the best conserved and the most impressive of all the painted churches in Bucovina. Even its northern façade murals, usually the most damaged by weather conditions, is almost intact.

Today, the thick walls shelter a museum presenting an outstanding collection of historical and art objects. The tomb covers of Ieremia and Simion Movila – rich portraits embroidered in silver thread –, together with ecclesiastical silverware, books, and illuminated manuscripts, offer eloquent testimony to Sucevita's importance first as a manuscript workshop, then as a printing center.  Sucevita was the last of the 22 painted churches of Bucovina and has the largest number of painted images. 

The Monastery of Moldovita, located in the village of Vatra Moldovitei, was built by Petru Rares in 1532. The predominantly gold and deep blue paintings on the exterior walls were completed in 1537.  The large and vivid Siege of Constantinople highlights the frescoes. Another stunning representation depicts the Tree of Jesse, representing Christ’s genealogy, a wide-spread iconographical theme in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Overnight in Bucovina. 

Today we will enter again in Transylvania’s legendary land after crossing the Carpathian Mountains through the spectacular Bicaz Gorge and after a brief stop at the Red Lake. 

Bicaz Gorges making the connection between Transylvania and Moldavia. The gorges attract by its beauty many tourists every year. They are crossed by a winding road, and the landscape is amazing. 

The Red Lake is an awesome paradise-like looking pond of water, with tree trunks popping out of the water to form a dramatic scenery - add to that mountain cliffs towering above, and you get a jaw-dropping corner of the country! If time permits, you can rent a boat and admire the landscape. 

In the evening, we will arrive in Brasov and we will enjoy this wonderful, mountain, a medieval town for the rest of the day! 

Brasov is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania, one of the "Seven Saxon Cites" of Transylvania. 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. 

We will explore it by walking, wich is the best way to feel that great city. 

Overnight in Brasov. 

Today we will visit two of the most notable, beautiful, most talked castles in Romania.

We will start with Bran village and follow the legend to discover Dracula’s castle. Today we will visit Bran Castle, the most talked castle in the world!

The fortification was popularly known as 'Dracula's Castle' and was built on top of a steep rock in the Carpathian Mountains by Prince Mircea in 1377, where it protected the border of Valahia and Transylvania.

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 will then head to the king’s summer residence, the wonderful Peles Castle, a masterpiece! It is the first castle in the world to have central heating and electricity! The construction of the castle began in 1875 and the building was inaugurated in 1883. 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, we will arrive in Bucharest where your tour will end and you will remain with beautiful memories, a great experience and the feeling that you will return one day, soon.