Iași is the second largest city of Romania, nearing 400.000 people and even surpassing half of million when including the metropolitan area. Over 56.000 of them are the students of the six universities in town. And almost as young are the employees of numerous IT corporations present, that make the economy dynamic and the area […]
A small part of the memories of Maramureș are kept in this museum that has two sections, dedicated to history and ethnography. Included in the larger area of Transylvania, Maramureș is a historic region of Romania, in the north western extremity. As borders were redrawn in the twentieth century, the Nordic piece of historic Maramureș […]
The abbey at Cârța was established in 1205, or maybe next year by the Cistercian monks at the behest of Hungarian king Emerich, who was continuing a project of the Arpad dynasty of colonizing Transylvania. Prior to that, these monks, coming from Burgundy, a region in the east of France had established the first monastery […]
It is one of those places you have to see to better understand history. During communism, in Romania there were functioning 44 political prisons and 72 forced labor camps. They were the place of torture and often death for something like 1 out of 10 Romanians in the first two decades after the second world […]
The good old countryside of a traditional village at the foot of the mountain! Nothing fancy, just the life as it seemed to be a century ago. Or for eternity, if you ignore the railroad tracks. Maramureș is a special mountainous region of northern Romania, distinct in the larger area of Transylvania. It’s not easy […]
The Museum of Military History in Bucharest, found on Mircea Vulcănescu Street, is almost a century old, but obviously was transformed to include the participation of Romanian army in two world wars, a revolution and other events. It was given the name of King Ferdinand, the German monarch who achieved the great reunification of 1918. […]
In the north-western end of Romania lies a special land who’s fame turned into legend. Historic Maramureș extends a bit into today Ukraine, but is a region where genuine Romanian spirit is preserved as a valuable heritage. Locals return from hundreds of kilometers from their workplaces in Spain, Italy, England or Holland to wear folkloric […]
This lake is man made and less than 50 years old, but it offers such impressive pictures, that it is considered a natural marvel. Vidraru Lake, created on the flow of river Argeș, is part of a tourist route that should not be missed, in which the gifts of nature entangle with human achievements. The […]
Two centuries after the Italian Renaissance and at a much lower scale, Romanian County experienced its own period of blooming arts. Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu assumed the role of „The Magnificent” Lorenzo de Medici as protector of arts, commissioner of great buildings and patron of a new original style in architecture that bears his name. And […]
Brașov is just another town of Transylvania established by the Germans, in this case, the Teutons, who were defending this regional periphery. The necessity for defense walls grew in the 13 century with the invasions of the Tatars (Mongols), but the constructions were extended and improved for almost six centuries after. In the 15 century, […]
This stronghold is outside the walls of the fortified city, but it is now right in the center of the modern town of Brașov. You get to it very simple, coming from Calea București, the main road to the capital of Romania, than taking the boulevard Iuliu Maniu from the round about, than follow the […]
This rocky hill has been defended since the time of the Dacians, more than two thousand years ago, according to some archeological findings. The Teuton knights, who were under a contract with the Hungarian king to defend this border region of Transylvania, also built some fortification here in the 14 century. But we have no […]
When taking the national road from Brașov to Sighișoara, you can’t help notice two monuments that remind you of the rich medieval history of Transylvania. The first is the peasant fortress of Rupea, and the other is the clock tower of Saschiz. The latter is a replica of the clock tower in Sighișoara, present in […]
Sighișoara is the medieval fortress with the longest uninterrupted dwelling in Europe, so the typical images from this Romanian city would include Gothic churches, narrow cobble streets and bastions. But this city of Transylvania has it’s modern neighborhoods, where the bulk of the population lives, outside the walls of the hill fortress. Just a few […]
Though the Black Church in downtown Brașov is the most famous monument in the city, there is another religious building, not far away, that is about one century older: the Orthodox church of Saint Nicholas. Compared to the massive and grim Evangelical Black Church, the Orthodox church is slimmer and covered in Byzantine frescoes on […]
Lower than the Alps, but spreading over a longer distance, the Carpathians are a unique eco-system of Europe. One third of the plants on the continent can be found here, in the vast and wild forested areas, full of life. The majority of Europe’s carnivores lurk in these forests, with more than half of Europe’s […]
Surrounded by the highest peaks in Romania (the Făgăraș Mountains, part of the Carpathian chain), this monastery assures you that God can be found where is beauty. The beauty of the natural surroundings and the spiritual tradition of Sâmbăta de Sus work together to create one of the most special places you will ever encounter. […]
Brașov is rapidly catching up on the race for the unofficial title of Transylvania’s most important town. Sibiu had a head start after gaining the European Cultural Capital title, which came with heavy investments in restoring landmark buildings and museums. And Cluj secured its name as Transylvania’s business hub. But Brașov has on its side […]
German settlers built a lot of fortified churches allover Transylvania, but what makes Prejmer stand out from other similar monuments from UNESCO World Heritage list is the strength of the defense walls and the quality of the recent restoration. The styles and craftsmanship may vary from one construction to another, but you can still see […]
The oldest site in the city of Făgăraș is not the most famous castle in Romania but can offer some of the best exterior images, thanks to the way it is maintained by the local authorities. It does not rest on a high hill with romantic towers emerging from a rock like the Hunyadi Castle, […]