Romania and Transylvania
A short 3 hour flight lands you deep into Eastern Europe. Romania is a country with a rich history, which is still evident with the variety of cultures, buildings and sights that can be seen in the cities and countryside.
Romania is about the same size as Great Britain but with only a third of the population at 22.5 million. Romanian is the main language spoken although French and English are taught as a second language in schools and German is useful in Transylvania. The climate in Romania sees summer highs of 30ºC in July and August dropping to a chilly -8ºC in January.
On this trip we will be based in the most famous region of Romania. Transylvania is well known for the infamous Count Dracula! Prince Vlad who ruled Wallachia in the 15th Century gained the name Impaler after using a wooden stake nailed through his enemies’ backbone as his primary form of capital punishment! The home of Dracula, Bran castle is just a short drive away from Brasov.
Brasov is the main city of the region it is a medieval town and a good place to base any trip to Romania. It has a large attractive square in the centre surrounded by impressive buildings with Baroque facades and a ‘trumpeters’ tower standing in the centre. There is an abundance of outdoor cafes and trendy shops in the square and along the pedestrians-only promenade. The ‘Black Church’ a striking Gothic church dating back to the 14th century stands just south of the square provides tours in English.
A short drive north of Brasov you can visit two small Saxon villages Prejmer and Harman with well-preserved citadels complete with peasant cells and churches. Prejmer now has World Heritage status.
South of Brasov you will find the ski resorts of Predeal and Sinaia. Here there are good walking and skiing opportunities in the Bucegni mountains.
More >>Walking in Romania
For a good website for further information on Romania visit: