Medieval Transylvania Tour

Pick up at the airport and sightseeing tour of Bucharest including: the Palace of the Parliament (Casa Poporului), The Revolution Square with its beautiful Atheneum, Victoria Avenue the oldest boulevard in Bucharest, Dambovita River and the historical center - Lipscani area. Typical Romanian dinner and overnight in Bucharest hotel.

In the morning departure for Curtea de Arges former capital of Wallachia. Here there is Curtea de Arges Monastery considered to be the most beautiful monastery from the Eastern Europe, built at the beginning of the XVIth century by Prince Neagoe Basarab and his famous teacher, Master Manole, whose legend stays alive until today. Then we can take the Transfagarasan road, an impressive road through the mountains, built in the communist period that is accessible only 3 months in a year during summer time. It’s considered by TOP GEAR the no 1 panoramic road in the world. We continue with the Cozia Monastery, one of the most important examples of medieval art in Romania in 1387 erected on the banks of the Olt river from the time of the Prince of Wallachia - Mircea the Elder - who has his eternal sleep in this Church. Next direction: Sibiu, the beautiful medieval city located in the center of the Carpathian Mountains. City tour in the evening walking through the Big Square, the Little Square and the Huet Square. Dinner and overnight in Sibiu.

In the morning sightseeing tour of Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture in 2007. During the visit you will pass through the old streets to admire the main monuments, such as the Bruckenthal Palace in Baroque style from the late XVIIIth century, the infamous Liers bridge built over a road that connects the lower city with the upper city, the Saxons Cathedral erected at the beginning of the XVIth century that preserves a precious fresco of the Crucifixion from 1445, the Catholic Cathedral in German Baroque style built at the beginning of the XVIIIth century, the main places of the city ( the Big Square, the Little Square and the Huet Square) and Christian Orthodox Cathedral, the seat of Transylvania's Metropoly. Afterwards departure to Alba Iulia, the historical and spiritual capital of Romania, where on 1st December 1918 was proclaimed the national unity between Transylvania and Romania with the name of Great Romania. Visit of the citadel of Alba Iulia, in Vauban style, the Cathedral of the Unification, a beautiful Roman-Catholic with Wallachian and Moldavian elements. In the afternoon we arrive in Turda to see the biggest salt mine in Romania from the times of the Roman occupation of Dacia. Those time the city had the name of Potaissa and there were the beginnings of mining and exploration of iron, polymetallic ores, gold, silver, and salt in Transylvania. Arrival in Cluj Napoca in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Cluj.

In the morning city tour of Cluj Napoca where you can still see the ruins of the ancient Roman city Napoca, the Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael built in Gothic style in XIVth century, the Communal Theatre and the Orthodox Cathedral built in the early Byzantine style in the XXth century. Departure to Targu Mures, a political, economic and cultural center, a multi-ethnic city that became a Romanian city after the First World War. Here today live also Hungarians and Romanians. We will visit the old town with the most important monuments from the period of the mayor György Bernady: the Prefecture in Art Nouveau style, the Palace of Culture in style Viennese Secession, but also eclectic style, the University of Medicine, Banya House etc Afterwards arrival in Biertan village, a typical Saxon village with its fortified church, the biggest in Transylvania and the most important religious center of the Saxons of Transylvania for almost three centuries, during which time it served as a Bishop See. It is also part of Unesco heritage. In the evening we arrive in Sighisoara, a beautiful medieval town, inhabited from the XIII-th century till now. Guided tour of Sighisoara, the city-fortress among the very few in Europe, which retains its medieval center on the fortification on the hill. There are several defensive towers that surround the city named after the trades of their builders: the Tailors Tower, the Shoemakers tower etc. Also among the houses of the town there is the home of Vlad Dracul, building that has inhabited by the great Lord of Wallachia and where his son was Vlad Tepes born. We have dinner in the restaurant Count Dracula, the house where Vlad Tepes was born, now a medieval restaurant. Overnight in Sighisoara.

In the morning departure to Viscri,a charming Saxon village, hidden among the hills of Transylvania and protected by its fortified citadel, UNESCO monument. Later we visit the fortified town of Saschiz a typical village with its Saxon citadel famous for its traditional products. In the afternoon arrival in Brasov, a medieval city known as the "the crown city", the city of merchants and craftsmen. Guided tour of the city of Brasov, an important medieval cultural center, where in the XVIth century were printed the first books in Romania. Starting from the splendid Council Square we will make a tour of the historic center, enriched by particular civic and religious buildings, such as the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania, the Council House a building from the XVth century, rebuilt after the great fire of 1689 in baroque style, the St. Nicolae Church that combines the Gothic style in the exterior to the Byzantine style in the interior and the Museum of the First Romanian School from Scheii Brasovului, that hides a great treasure of old books and manuscripts, the Ecaterina and Schei Gates. Dinner and overnight in Brasov.

In the morning visit of Bran Castle ( known as Dracula's castle ), a real fortress built upon a rock. Vlad used this castle as headquarters for his incursions into Transylvania. Then we arrive on Prahova Valley and Sinaia "the pearl of the Carpathians". Here we visit the most beautiful castle in Romania, in Bavarian style, the summer residence of King Carol I - the Peles Castle. Nearby there is the Pelisor Castle - built for Ferdinand and Mary, successors of King Carol I and Queen Maria decorated by herself in art nouveau style. Departure to Bucharest and in the afternoon and arrival in Otopeni airport.