The 25 sites listed by UNESCO as part of the World Cultural Heritage are situated throughout the historical provinces of Romania. The wooden Churches of Maramures were built after the Hungarian Kings the painted churches in Bucovina were built earlier and in a very unusual style. Gothic elements are used for rising Byzantine churches and therefore the churches look very distinct because of this mixture between the main eastern and western architectural styles in the Middle Age. Their main attraction is not the building style it consists in the peculiar way the churches were covered on the outside walls with paintings. The outside frescoes on those churches replace the words of the priests being religious scenes but mixed with day-to-day life and battle scenes as well.
In Transylvania, the main focus (and UNESCO appreciation) relies on the Saxon fortress - churches. The Saxons, after settling in Transylvania in the early 11th Century, started to build fortified cities while the people in the rural villages fortified their churches against migratory people. Only a few of the over 500 German fortifications are now listed by UNESCO, with probably the most representative one, at the city of Sighisoara. The Fortress here is considered to be the best preserved, continuously inhabited early Middle Age city in Europe. Last but not least, the Danube Delta is listed by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage, one of the most impressive natural parks with unaccountable species of animals, plants and insects, a paradise for fishermen, birdwatchers or just nature lovers.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Bucharest. Our Romanian visit starts with a warm welcome at Bucharest Otopeni Airport with a Romanian style offering of bread & salt. We are transferred to our hotel and later taken to a Welcome Dinner with Folklore Show, at the Pescarus (Seagull) Restaurant. Overnight: Hotel Lido, Bucharest (2 nights) Includes: (D).
Day 2: Bucharest. Though there is some reference made to a settlement on the site of today’s modern Bucharest as early as 1368, it was in 1459 that Prince Vlad Tepes, (called Dracula), first called it Bucharest. After breakfast we’ll take a city tour and visit the Palace of Parliament (it is told to be the second largest building in the World after the Pentagon), the Metropolitan Church, Romanian Athenaeum and the Arch of Triumph. Finally, we will enjoy a walk/visit to the Herastrau Park and tour the open-air Village Museum. This Museum is really “Romania in a nutshell” because it displays over 70 traditional Romanian building-structures in an open-air setting. The rest of the afternoon is free for us to further explore Bucharest on our own. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 3: Bucharest/Tulcea (drive 370 km). After breakfast we leave from hotel and drive toward Murighiol in the Danube Delta. En route we’re crossing the Danube River at Giurgeni and drive through the arid but interesting Dobrogea Province. Once there, we’ll have a quick boat transfer to our «Anastasia Floating Hotel». If weather conditions are not permitting, we’ll use alternative overnight in a hotel at Tulcea. Overnight «Anastasia Floating Hotel» or Hotel in Tulcea (2 nights). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 4: Danube Delta. Today we’ll admire the youngest territory in the World, the Danube Delta, which came into being only 10,000 years ago and it is still in the process of formation. Its scenic beauty and the wildlife here makes the Delta a unique place and it is also known as the birdwatchers' paradise. We can relax while sailing through the narrow canals and maybe try some fishing and also tasting the Danube Delta cuisine. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 5: Tulcea/Piatra Neamt (drive 400 km). We’ll cross again the Danube River by ferryboat at Galati and then drive northwards, to Bucovina Region - a charming area of Moldavia filled with beech forests, whitewashed villages, horse - drawn carts and the famous painted monasteries. Drive through the scenic Moldavian landscape and arrive in Piatra Neamt late in the afternoon. Overnight Hotel Central, Piatra Neamt (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 6: Painted Monasteries Tour (drive). Today get ready for the full-day tour of the famous painted monasteries of Bucovina Province: Humor Monastery, with the best preserved inside frescoes, Voronet Monastery, the "Sistine Chapel" of Eastern Europe - famous for the blue color used by the artist as background for its frescoes, Moldovita Monastery, where the Golden Apple award given to the monastery in 1975 by UNESCO affiliated journalists organization is to be seen and Sucevita Monastery - the best preserved of all with imposing walls and defensive towers. After our full day of wonder, we drive to Gura Humorului for dinner and accommodation. Overnight Hotel Best Western, Gura Humorului (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 7: Gura Humorului/Hoteni (drive 320 km). This morning we drive through the scenic Prislop Pass into Maramures Province, the land of wooden churches and carved wooden gates, unique folk costumes and traditions. On route to Hoteni, we stop and visit the 18th Century Rozavlea Wooden Church with its well preserved interior paintings, and at the superb Barsana Monastery to admire wooden architecture at its best. Today we’ll also enjoy a special treat as we spend the evening & night in a farmhouse in Hoteni, where treated by a local family we’ll be sharing a wonderful home cooked dinner. Overnight at a Farmhouse in Hoteni (2 nights). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 8: Maramures. Today is our full-day tour in Maramures, the land of wooden churches and carved wooden gates. Our tour will include a visit to the World-unique Merry Cemetery of Sapanta, created by a local «peasant-artist» in a very personal, colorful and sometimes funny way. The tour will include visits to some of most representative wooden churches of Maramures, part of UNESCO World Heritage such as Calinesti and Desesti. Since today it is Sunday, we’ll join the locals for the Holy Sunday Mass and mingle into the colorful crowds, wearing traditional folk-costumes and observing centuries-old customs. Return for Dinner and overnight in Hoteni at the farmhouse. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 9: Hoteni/Cluj/Targu-Mures/Sighisoara (drive 330 km). After an early breakfast, and before leaving Maramures, we also visit Surdesti Village, which hosts the highest wooden church in Europe with its 57 m high spire. Continue then to drive to Cluj-Napoca, the Cultural Capital of Transylvania. The highlights of our visit here are the St. Michael Roman - Catholic Cathedral, in front of which stands the equestrian statue of King Mathias Corvinus, the Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Cathedral, and the Centuries - old & famous Hazsongard Cemetery. Our route then takes us southwards, into the heart of the Legendary Transylvania, "the land beyond the forests". A short stop in Targu – Mures will consist in a visit to the Palace of Culture and the Teleki Library, followed by an evening arrival to Sighisoara. This Medieval Saxon fortress-town has become a part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, and it is known as the best-preserved and continuously inhabited early medieval citadel in the world. Overnight Hotel Sighisoara, Sighisoara (2 nights). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 10: Sighisoara/Biertan/Sighisoara (drive 60 km). After breakfast we’ll have a half-day city tour to explore old Sighisoara. Here are located the famous Clock Tower Museum with the Torture Room, the Evangelical Church and the Armor Room, the house in which Count Dracula/Vlad the Impeller was born, and the most impressive «Church on the Hill». From here a short drive gets us to Biertan, where we visit the Fortress Church, a World Cultural Heritage Site that hosts the largest wing altar in Romania and also was the Evangelical Bishops’ residence for more than 300 years. After our tour, we return to Sighisoara. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 11: Sighisoara/Brasov/Bran/Sinaia (drive 250 km). We leave Sighisoara today and spend some time visiting Brasov and later drive to Bran - two of Romania's well-known places. Brasov, a «fairy-tale» town founded in the 12th Century by the Saxon settlers, today still preserves its beautiful medieval atmosphere created by many Middle Age buildings. The highlight of the city tour is surely the visit to the Gothic Black Church, the largest church in South-Eastern Europe. Visit the St Nicolae Church and the First Romanian School, where a lecture about Old Brasov it will be offered by a local teacher. Drive on to Bran to visit the castle – made famous by Bram Stoker's novel - the former residence of the Vampire Count, Vlad. The Castle in fact it was built by the merchants of Brasov in the 14th Century to protect the border between Vallachia and Transylvania. In the evening we’ll arrive in Sinaia, the mountain resort known as the "Pearl of Carpathians". Overnight Hotel Sinaia Palace, Sinaia (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).
Day 12: Sinaia/Bucharest (drive 150 km). After breakfast, have some time here to discover all the treasures Sinaia holds for the visitors. Visit the famous Peles Castle, an exquisite piece of architecture, which has served as the summer residence for King Carl I. of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Then enter Sinaia Monastery - a beautiful example of the Valachian-Byzantine construction style, and the first building of Sinaia. In the afternoon drive through the picturesque Prahova River Valley, dotted with several mountain resorts and then the oil fields of Ploiesti and Campina to Bucharest, the capital City of Romania, founded in 1459 by Vlad the Impaller. Overnight Hotel Lido, Bucharest (1 night). Includes: (D).
Day 13: Bucharest/Homebound. Today we will be transferred to the airport for our flight back home.
Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS):
* Bucharest City
* The Danube Delta (WHS)
* Painted Churches & Monasteries of Northern Moldavia (WHS)
* Wooden Churches of Maramures (WHS)
* Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (WHS)
* Medieval Town Centre of Sighisoara (WHS)
* Brasov Town Centre
* The Peles Castle in Sinaia
Tour dates for 2008:
Any Sunday between Mar 23 and Oct 05.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Overnight at hotels as per itinerary inclusive all taxes
- All transfers & tours with private transportation
- Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Entrance fees to all Sites and Museums & performances
- Services of English Speaking local guides
- Road taxes, parking fees, driver’s overnight wages
Price Excludes:
- Personal expenses such as bar, phone and laundry bills
- International flight tickets
- Departure airport taxes (if any)
- Visa fee (if any) and insurance
- Tips or other such costs
- Anything else not mentioned
Single supplement is USD/CAD: 650.00
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Romania
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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