The Beautiful Romania

Lamit Sports Shooting Trap Cup 18-20 May 2012

2012-04-14T17:38:00.000+01:00

Lamit Sports Cup - 18-20 May 2012

Lamit Sports, is pleased to announce that the clay shooting competition Lamit Cup will be held between the 18th and 20th of May 2012 in Bucharest – Romania. We would like to extend a warm welcome to all our friends, being them hunting or clay shooting enthusiasts. After each contest day we invite our competitors and guests to dinner and introduce them to the Romanian traditional hunting cuisine.

More details about the event you can find on Lamit Sports website

Hunting with Lamit Sports

2012-04-14T17:04:00.001+01:00

Hunting in our Beautiful Romania with LAMIT SPORTS

If you like what you see here and you love to hunt you should visit our Beautiful Romania.

We will let you to enjoy the beautiful pictures made by Lamit Sports

Source of pictures : Lamit Sports

Prince Charles is in love with The Beautiful Romania

2012-04-14T16:08:00.001+01:00

Prince Charles could finally become king... of ROMANIA, thanks to his ancestor Vlad the Impaler

European newspapers claim Charles could be anointed should monarchy be restored
Prince of Wales's ancestral links with Vlad the Impaler and King Michael cited as reasons
Charles is passionate about the country and owns a holiday home in picturesque town of Viscri

He is already the longest serving heir apparent in British history.
So if Prince Charles ever gets too bored of waiting to accede to the throne, then he might just be tempted to have himself crowned King Carol 111 instead.
Central European newspapers yesterday were alight with speculation that the Prince of Wales could be anointed the next King of Romania if the country’s monarchy is restored.

Related: Speculation has mounted that Prince Charles could be crowned king of Romania after he revealed in a recent interview that he is related to bloodthirsty Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler

The last royal ruler, King Michael – who reigned from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1940 to 1947 - was forced to abdicate by the country’s new Communist leaders, who threatened to carry out mass executions if he refused to step down.
Romania went on to endure decades of communist government, most notably under dictatorial party leader Nicolae Ceausescu who ruled the country with an iron fist from 1965 until he was deposed and executed in 1989.
Admittedly, it is unlikely that he will ever be a serious contender for the throne as the deposed King, Prince Michael, is still alive – albeit rather elderly at 90 – and has family of his own.
Despite the reintroduction of democracy, in recent years there have been increasing calls for the monarchy to be restored.
And after he revealed in an interview just a few weeks ago that he is related to historical Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler – the bloodthirsty nobleman who inspired Dracula – Charles’s name has now, bizarrely, been thrown into the ring.

Connections: Prince Charles further cemented his links with Romania when he held a private meeting with Romanian tourism minister Elena Uldrea at Clarence House last week

But local newspapers have taken great pains to point out that as well as his ‘stake’ in the throne through his ancestor Vlad, Prince Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, is also third cousin to the deposed King whose great-great-grandmother was Queen Victoria.
The rumour mill went into further overdrive when the country’s powerful tourism and development minister, Elena Udrea, flew to London last week to meet with Charles at Clarence House.
The meeting was not publicised in advance, although pictures were subsequently released, and the glamorous Udrea subsequently spoke of her host in glowing terms and said Romanians should be more like Charles and ‘appreciate the country they live in’.

Links: Queen Elizabeth met Romanian President Ion Iliescu, at Buckingham Palace in 2004 (left) - but her ties with the monarchy are stronger - she is third cousin to Romania's King Michael (right) who reigned from 1927 to 1930 and again from 1940 to 1947 - but was forced to abdicate by the country's new Communist leaders

Newspapers have even gone so far as to speculate that Charles could give up the British throne in favour of his popular eldest son and heir, Prince William, to become the next King of Romania instead.
They say the suggestion has such currency it is the reason its rattled president, Traian Băsescu, has launched a series of attacks on the former King Michael and the monarchy in general.

Iron fist: Romania endured decades of communist government, most notably under Nicolae Ceausescu who ruled from 1965 until he was deposed and executed in 1989

Intriguingly Charles is incredibly passionate about Romania. Indeed, he loves the area around the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania so much that he has bought a holiday home in the region and recently said in an interview: ‘The genealogy shows I am descended from Vlad the Impaler, so I do have a bit of a stake in the country.’
Charles secretly bought the simple, white-washed property in the heritage site of Viscri in 2005 with the help of the Mihai Eminescu Trust, a British-based charity which works to preserve Romania's historic Saxon villages from destruction, of which he is patron.
He paid £18,000 for the three-bedroomed, 18th Century farmhouse.

Viscri lies in a picturesque valley in the heart of Transylvania, north-west of Brasov, and is comprised of men and women of mainly of Romanian and gypsy origin.
It has already won many of Europe's highest awards for cultural restoration and economic regeneration.
Charles has visited the village several times and is so taken with the simplicity of local life that he holidays there each summer.
He and his security team sleep in the traditional white-washed village house - complete with wooden truckle beds and outside toilets - and drink locally-pressed organic apple juice.
The house is rented out to overseas tourists when the prince is not in residence.

Clarence House last night confirmed the prince had a meeting with the Romanian minister but declined to be drawn on the nature of their conversations.
A spokesman did, however, say the prince was very fond of the country and pointed out that he already owned properties in the region.
But senior royal sources have dismissed the speculation as ‘ridiculous’.

Passionate: Charles paid £18,000 for this property in the heritage site of Viscri in 2005, and has since holidayed there every year

By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent

Liberty Parade 2010

2010-11-20T11:28:00.001+00:00

Have a look what was that summer in my Beautiful Romania, at Liberty Parade 2010.

Let's start with the beginning :

"Making Of Liberty Parade 2010"

The official movie of Liberty Parade 2010

Above and Beyond Show at Liberty Parade 2010

I hope you like what you see, and next year you 'll be there and hove some fun and why not met some nice people or some nice girl or guys.

Winter in Romania

2010-11-14T19:38:00.001+00:00

We are invite you to view some pictures with my beautiful country Romania in winter season. I i will make you curious and visit my beautiful country. I you need to know anything about my country please to not hesitate to contact me.

Transylvania Romania in Winter Times

Romania Clubbing

2010-09-20T18:09:00.000+01:00

This weeks in Romania Clubbin:

Ultimele evenimente adaugate Saptamana asta

Sam, 02 Oct 2010
RALMM & Toni Nonini @ Lust Club Yellow Submarine
Sam, 25 Sep 2010
Reopening Party @ Q Club Dance Liquid Studio
Vin, 24 Sep 2010
FRUDAY with SYNTHPLANTS Mon Amour
Vin, 24 Sep 2010
Freestylerz Ultimatum Battle @ Malibu Club Club Malibu
Vin, 24 Sep 2010
Audiofly @ Club Midi Midi
Sam, 18 Sep 2010
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER@CLUB KAPITAL(SIBIU) Club Kapital
Vin, 17 Sep 2010
PREZENTARE LENJERIE BY "HLN"@CLUB KAPITAL(SIB Club Kapital
Vin, 17 Sep 2010
Jukebox @ Coyote Cafe Coyote Cafe
Dum, 19 Sep 2010
Concert "120 Minute" ! The Silver Church
Dum, 19 Sep 2010
1Oarecare va lansa albumul “Oarecareala” FABRICA
Mie, 22 Sep 2010
Concert aniversar Club A 40 de ani Club A
Sam, 18 Sep 2010
ButterFlyEffect Night The Silver Church
Vin, 24 Sep 2010
Concert Bolthard @ Fabrica FABRICA
Vin, 17 Sep 2010
Karaoke @ Hard Rock Cafe Hard Rock Cafe
Sam, 28 Aug 2010
DARK FOREST PARTY Padurea Snagov
Sam, 25 Sep 2010
Adrian Eftimie @ Club Caractere Club Caractere

Sam, 25 Sep 2010 / Arenele Romane
The Mission 10 Years presents Viva Music Night
Dum, 26 Sep 2010 / Arenele Romane
Concert Scooter@Arenele Romane
Mar, 21 Sep 2010 / Romexpo
Concert Guns n'Roses in Romania!
Mie, 22 Sep 2010 / Sala Palatului
Inima mea Moldova
Mar, 21 Sep 2010 / Bucuresti
Curs GRATIS de dans latino in fiecare MARTI la Shakespeare Bar de la 19:00
Dum, 26 Sep 2010 / Teatrul C.I. Nottara
Sotul pacalit@Nottara
Mie, 22 Sep 2010 / Parcul Herastrau
Concert extraordinar jazz - SWING DE PARIS cu EMY DRAGOI la Tete-a-Tete
Mar, 21 Sep 2010 / Parcul Herastrau
Teatru - Alt bărbat.Altă femeie la Tete-a-Tete Coffee Art & Chill
Sam, 25 Sep 2010 / Club Caractere
Adrian Eftimie @ Club Caractere
Vin, 24 Sep 2010 / FABRICA
Concert Bolthard @ Fabrica
Joi, 23 Sep 2010 / Bucuresti
Shakespeare Goes Latino
Sam, 25 Sep 2010 / Hard Rock Cafe
Tribute - Dressed to Kiss
Sam, 25 Sep 2010 / Teatrul C.I. Nottara
Doamna si Specialistul
Mie, 22 Sep 2010 / Club A
Concert aniversar Club A 40 de ani
Dum, 26 Sep 2010 / Ateneul Roman
Sam Haywood - Recital
Vin, 24 Sep 2010 / Midi
Audiofly @ Club Midi
Vin, 24 Sep 2010 / Club Malibu
Freestylerz Ultimatum Battle @ Malibu Club
Vin, 24 Sep 2010 / Mon Amour
FRUDAY with SYNTHPLANTS
Sam, 25 Sep 2010 / Dance Liquid Studio
Reopening Party @ Q Club
Lun, 20 Sep 2010 /
Moto Xcountry Busteni 24-26 septembrie 2010

recomandarile noastre

2010

Source : Afterparty

Liberty Parade Romania

2010-05-08T19:02:00.004+01:00

The Liberty Parade 2010

Liberty Parade was burn in 2001

Here are few video from 2009 :

We are waiting you on 24 July on beach between Venus and Saturn in Constanta (Black Sea)

National Romanian Parks

2010-03-07T15:53:00.003+00:00

National Parks

Apuseni Nature Park
Bicazului Gorges - Hasmas Nat. Park
Calimani National Park
Ceahlau National Park
Piatra Craiului National Park

Retezat National Park

Romania’s national and natural parks, displaying a unique variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife, protect some of the largest remaining areas of pristine forest in Europe. Grasslands, gorges, subterranean caves, volcanic lakes, and extensive river network add to the richness of the park system that also includes the Danube Delta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Europe’s largest wetland.

The Oas – Harghita range in the Carpathian Mountains is the longest volcanic mountain chain in Europe.

The 3500-year old Scarisoara glacier, located in the Bihor Mountains – 90 miles southwest of Cluj Napoca - has a volume of 2,649,000 cubic feet (75,000 cubic metres), making it the second largest European underground glacier, after the Eisriesenwelt ice cave in Austria.

Romania’s diverse natural landscapes offer numerous choices for exciting outdoor experiences. Travelers can walk through serene alpine meadows covered with scores of wildflowers, trek around glacial lakes, take in the lush-green scenery while horse riding or mountain biking, climb curious rock formations, photograph fossil traces of 15,000-year old cave-bear species, track gold eagles or other rare birds, study endangered flora, wander in the countryside, picnic in the fields, try your hand at traditional crafts, - or just relax in the home of a village family and sample wholesome, country fare with home made wine and plum brandy.

Adventurers and wildlife enthusiasts who hear the call of the wild can add these unique experiences to the top of their activities list:

- Spotting wild egrets, Dalmatian pelicans, glossy ibises or some other 300 species of birds in the Danube Delta
- Rock climbing the unusual-shaped rocks Pietrele Doamnei in the Rarau Mountains
- Visiting the Scarisoara ice cave in the Apuseni Nature Park – the
153.6 ft. deep entrance shaft leads to some impressive ice structures, including spectacular six meters high ice stalagmites.
- Exploring the Berca mud volcanoes near Buzau – a stark lunar landscape of erupting mud.
- Taking the Sky Highway challenge — a trek around the Capra glacier lake in the Fagaras Mountains.
- Paddling through the frothy waves of the Crisul Repede and Bistrita rivers.
- Trekking Retezat, the rockiest mountain massif of the country, home to more than 80 glacial lakes and over three hundred flower species.
- Watching wolves at play in the natural park of Vanatori-Neamt in the Stanisoara Mountains, once the hunting ground of Stephen the Great.
- Horse riding in the Calimani National Park, renown for its volcanic bizarre shapes, traces of old craters, and the largest volcanic caldera in Carpathians.
- Completing an exciting multi-day hike along the main ridge of the Fagaras Mountains - one of the longest continuous high mountain traverses in Europe, taking you over three of Romania's highest peaks (Moldoveanu - 8,346 ft.; Negoiu - 8,317 ft.; and
Vistea Mare - 8,291 ft.).

National parks encompass extensive areas of particular geographical interest or outstanding natural beauty. They have an important conservation role and offer protection to many rare species of animals and plants. In addition to nature conservation, Romania’s natural parks also play an important role in preserving local customs, traditional crafts, historical settlement patterns, and regional architecture. Most of Romania’s national parks have arrangements for outdoor activities with a network of marked paths and trails and overnight accommodation in either staffed lodges or local guesthouses. In vulnerable areas where it is desirable to limit the impact of visitors, paths and accommodation are minimal.

National Parks

Cheile Bicazului (Bicazului Gorges) – Hasmas
Calimani
Ceahlau
Cozia
Domogled – Valea Cernei (Cerna Valley)
Muntii Macin (Macin Mountains)
Cheile Nerei (Nerei Gorges) – Beusnita
Piatra Craiului
Retezat
Muntii Rodnei (Rodnei Mountains)
Cheile Semenic - Carasului (Semenic – Carasului Gorges)
Buila-Vanturarita

Nature Parks

Apuseni
Balta Mica a Brailei (Small Moor of Braila)
Bucegi
Comana
Gradistea Muncelului-Cioclovina
Lunca Muresului
Muntii Maramuresului (Maramures Mountains)
Portile de Fier (Iron Gates)
Vanatori Neamt

Romania's natural areas captured scientific attention early in the 20th century. The first law on environment protection was passed in 1930; the first forest reservation (Domogled-Baile Herculane) was set up in 1932, the first National Park (Retezat) in 1935 and the first geological reservation (Detunata Goala - Apuseni Mountains) was recognized in 1938.

APUSENI NATURE PARK

Fast Facts

Location	Western Carpathians (Alba, Bihor and Cluj counties)
Size	187,000 acres
Best known for	Over 200 caves (including the famed Bears’ Cave in Chiscau and the Scarisoara Glacier) and the predominant karst formations
Natural features	Caves, Deep valleys and gorges, Karst landscapes, Rocky steep walls, Underground watercourses
Activities	Caving, Cross-country skiing, Hiking, Mountain biking, Rock climbing, Skiing, Wildlife and bird watching

Park Highlights

The Apuseni Nature Park (Parcul Natural Apuseni) - known as the cavers’ paradise, protects one of the most interesting cave fauna in the country. Traces of the prehistoric man, as well as fossils of animals that lived in the Ice Age were found in several of the caves, along with rare bat populations. The higher ridges of the park are covered with spruce fir, while at lower levels the forest is dominated by mountain beech.

Limestone underlies most of the park and is responsible for the area's impressive landforms. Sculptured mountain ridges, mysterious underground rivers, and delicate cave decorations will surely keep visitors’ photo cameras busy.

The complex karst landforms of Apuseni Nature Park are an attraction on their own, especially hikers with a fascination for geology. Deep valley and gorges, karrens and karst depression – where underground rivers and streams flow - give the landscape an exceptional character. Below ground lies the important and fragile ecosystem of the caves, the main attraction for amateur and professional cavers.

Note: Apart from the Bears’ Cave and Scarisoara Glacier, caving in the Apuseni Nature Park is not visiting nicely prepared tourist caves but visiting them as the first explorers have seen them. That means that you’ll have to climb, use ropes, crawl and creep to see their splendid beauty.

As opposed to other national and nature parks in Romania, the Apuseni Mountains are populated up to high altitudes, with permanent and quasi-permanent dwellings. The hamlets on the Ocoale – Scarisoara plateau, at 3840 ft., are among the highest settlements in the country.

If you wish to discover local life and preserved traditions, one of the main points of interest is the Aries Valley, where the beautiful villages of Albac, Garda, and Arieseni are located. Skilled artisans, the Motzi people, carve musical instruments, hope chests and houses from the local wood, the spruce. The Apuseni Motzi villages are some of the best places in which to find tranquility and timeless wisdom of the traditional village way of life. In Patrahaitesti, a little mountain village, you may hear the famous Bucium ("Alps horns"), used for generations in the Apuseni Mountains.

Natural attractions

Scarisoara Glacier (Pestera Scarisoara)

Location: 4 miles north Garda de Sus commune

Nearby large town: Alba Iulia (52 miles southeast)

Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission charge

Average temperature inside: 32 °F (0 Celsius)

A national monument sheltering the second largest underground glacier on the continent, the 3,500-year-old ice cave features spectacular icy stalactites and stalagmites.

Bears’ Cave (Pestera Ursilor)

Location: Chiscau village (1/2 miles south of Pietroasa)

Nearby large town: Oradea (50 miles northwest)

Another natural wonder in the Apuseni Park is the Bears’ Cave, named after the skeletons of bears (extinct 15,000 years ago) discovered here by mine workers in 1975. Arranged on two levels, it features galleries of animals and castles-resembling stalagmites and stalactites more than a half mile long. Some of the stalactites are estimated to be 22,000 years old. They continue to grow at a rate of about one-third inch every 20 years. The upper level (292 miles) is open to visitors, while the second one (312 miles) is reserved for scientific research.

Fortresses of Ponor (Cetatile Ponorului)

Location: Padis Area (7 miles from Pietroasa commune)

Nearby large town: Beius (22 miles northwest)

Web: www.padis.ro/e_index.html

One of the most spectacular and rugged lime formations in Romania, the area known as Cetatile Ponorului was declared natural reservation in 1952and soon after became a natural monument. Extending some 21 miles, the area includes the Flowers’ Glade (Poiana Florilor) and the Galbenei Gorges (Cheile Galbenei).

Flora and fauna

The cave fauna is the main attraction of the Apuseni Mountains, with some of the caves sheltering rare bat species, such as the dwarf bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). Fossils of animals that lived in the Ice Age, as well as traces of the prehistoric man, have been found in some of the caves in the park.

Protected mammals such as the bear (Ursus arctos), the Carpathian elk and the black goat (Rupicapra rupicapra) can be seen in the forest area. The park is also home to several alpine birds, such as the ural owl (Strix uralensis), the nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) and the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina).

Nearby attractions

Turda Gorges Natural Reserve – located just 6 miles outside the city of Turda, the limestone gorges feature peaks, caves, sinkholes and 800 ft. high walls. From here, hiking trails lead to Turen Gorges, Ciucas Waterfalls, and Borzesti Gorges.
The city of Cluj Napoca
The city of Oradea
The city of Alba Iulia

PARK ESSENTIALS

Main access points

Albac
Arieseni
Belis
Chiscau
Garda de Sus
Nucet
Scarisoara
Sighistel

How to get here

- By air

Nearest airports located in:

Cluj - www.airportcluj.ro
Sibiu - www.sibiuairport.ro
Targu Mures - www.targumuresairport.ro

- By car

European road E60: Oradea – Huedin – Gilau - Cluj-Napoca

From Huedin, take county road 761B towards Belis-Fantanele or

Rachitele - Ic Ponor - Padis

From Gilau, take county road 108 to Marisel - Belis-Fantanele

European road E79: Oradea - Beius - Deva

From Sudrigiu take the country road to Pietroasa - Boga - Padis Plateau

or the veer towards Bears’ Cave and Craiasa Valley.

National road D75: Turda – Campeni – Albac -Stei

- By train

Nearby train stations:

Beius
Huedin

Train schedules: To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Lodges (Cabane)
Tourist pensions (Pensiune)
Camping areas (Poiana Glavoi; Valea Craiesii - near the Bears’Cave;
Valea Sighistelului; IC Ponor; Ponor-Runcu Ars)

Tourist info

Padis Area tourist information:

www.padis.ro/e_index.html

Apuseni Nature Park Administration

Address: Sudrigiu, Comuna Rieni

Telephone: (259) 329.3338 or (372) 702.242

Email: office@parcapuseni.ro

Web: www.parcapuseni.ro

BICAZULUI GORGES - HASMAS NATIONAL PARK

Fast Facts

Location	Eastern Carpathians (Harghita and Neamt counties)
Size	17,000 acres
Best known for	The impressive Bicaz Gorges and Lacu Rosu (Red Lake)
Natural features	Gorges, Jurassic limestone walls
Activities	Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Rock climbing, Wildlife and bird watching

Park Highlights

The Bicaz Gorges are famous for their 1000 ft. limestone rocks towering over narrow roads and passes. The road that slices through the Bicaz Gorges (Cheile Bicazului) is among Romania's most stunning and spectacular.

For kayakers and fly-fishing enthusiasts the park's main attraction is the Red Lake (Lacul Rosu), created in 1837 after a major natural landslide. Short and long walks provide access to the lake's spectacular scenery and many fishing spots. The Bicaz Gorges offer a unique view of the Ceahlau Mountains.

Natural attractions

Bicazului Gorges - the most spectacular road pass in Romania
The Red Lake (Lacul Rosu) - formed by the natural damming of the waters of the Bicaz stream
Sugaului Gorges
Piatra Singuratica Peak

Flora and Fauna

The alpine wildlife is represented in this area by: the wall lizard (Lacerta muralis) the red deer (Cervus elaphus), the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the lynx (Lynx lynx), the wolf (Canis lupus), the pine marten (Martes martes) and the beech marten (Martes foina).

The wall creeper (Tichodroma muraria), the three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the rock bunting (Emberiza cia), the raven (Crovus corax), the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the oral owl (Strix uralensis), the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocops major) can be seen in the park area as well.

Nearby Attractions

The monasteries around Targu Neamt (Agapia, Neamt, Varatec) -

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

The famous hand-made pottery center at Corund

The town of Suceava

PARK ESSENTIALS

Main access points

Balan, Bicaz Chei, Barnadu, Lacul Rosu

How to get here

- By air

Nearest airports located in:

Iasi - hwww.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htm
Suceva - www.aeroportsuceava.ro/index_en.html

-› By car

National road DN 12C (Miercurea-Ciuc - Suceava) to Bicaz Chei

National road DN 12 (Brasov – Miercurea Ciuc) to Balan

- ›By train

Nearby train stations:

Piatra Neamt
Gheorghieni
Bicaz

Train schedules: To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Camping areas
Hotels
Tourist pensions

Tourist info

Bicaz Gorges – Hasmas Mountain National Park Administration

Address: Str Principala 44 A, Izvorul Muresului

Telephone: (266) 336.540

Email: parculncbh@hr.astral.ro

Web: www.cheilebicazului-hasmas.ro/en/index.php

CALIMANI NATIONAL PARK

Fast Facts

Location	Northern side of Eastern Carpathians (Bistrita – Nasaud, Harghita, Mures and Suceava counties)
Size	64,000 acres
Best known for	The volcanic plateau dominated by the Calimani caldera and the abundance of Swiss stone pine and juniper trees that shelter the endangered black grouse (Tetrao tetrix)
Natural features	Massive eruptive rocks, Craters of old volcanoes, Swiss stone pine and juniper tree forests
Activities	Cross-country skiing, Hiking, Mountain biking, Horseback riding, Skiing, Wildlife and birds watching

Park Highlights

Mountain with volcanic origins, Calimani features the biggest inactive caldera in Europe (about 6 miles in diameter).

Massive eruptive rocks and craters of old volcanoes in the Calimani National Park (Parcul National Calimani) are spawn over breathtaking landscapes, matched by the presence of large areas of natural ecosystems and the abundance of Swiss stone pine and juniper trees.

The Calimani Mountains features the highest massif in the Romanian volcanic chain, the Pietrosu Peak (standing at 6896 ft.).

The natural erosion process in the volcanic plateau has led to the formation of the unusual shaped 12 Apostles (Cei 12 Apostoli), Red Stones (Pietrele Rosii) and Nefertiti geological reserves.

Natural attractions

Iezerul Calimani Natural Reservation preserving the natural elements of vegetation and featuring the beautiful Iezer Lake bordered with dwarf pine and alpine roses
12 Apostles, Red Stone, and Nefertiti geological reserves
Tihu Waterfall – located at the confluence of Tihu and Paraul Umed brooks
Retitis Peak - from the top, there are magnificent views of Ceahlau Mountain and the distant Fagaras Mountains on clear days.

Flora and Fauna

For those interested in botany, Calimani National Park makes it possible to observe 774 species of plants, many of them marked as rare: alpine leek (Allium victorialis), narcissus anemone (Anemone narcissifolia), and mountains soldanella (Soldanella Montana). In juniper tree forests or on soils of volcanic nature, the rose bay (Rhododendron myrtifolium) is frequently encountered.

Calimani National Park is home to several endangered species,such as: the bear (Ursus arctos), the elk (cervus elaphus), the wild boar (sus scrofa), the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the wolf (Canis lupus), the tree marten (Martes martes) and the lynx (Lynx lynx). The cedar forest and juniper trees area on the western slope of the Calimani Mountain is home to the black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), a very rare species in Romania.

Nearby Attractions

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
The Rodnei Mountains National Park
The wooden architecture, rural life and civilization of the traditional Maramures villages
The glacier lakes, waterfalls, volcanic mountains, caves and the geological reserve Creasta Cocosului in the Viseu Valley

Park Essentials

Main access points

Gura Haitii
Dorna Candrenilor
Poiana Stampei
Rastolnita
Ilva

How to get here

- By air

Nearest airports located in:

Cluj - www.airportcluj.ro
Suceva - www.aeroportsuceava.ro/index_en.html
Targu Mures - www.targumuresairport.ro

- By car

European road E 85/E 576 to Dorna Candrenilor (Bucuresti - Suceava – Vatra Dornei -Bistrita)

- By train

Nearby train stations: Ilva Mica, Lunca Bradului, Vatra Dornei

Train schedules: To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Camping areas inside the park area
Villages around the park offer tourist facilities, including accommodation.

Tourist info

Calimani National Park Administration

Telephone: (230) 374.197 or 371.104

Email: office@calimani.ro

www.calimani.ro

CEAHLAU NATIONAL PARK

Fast Facts

Location	Northern side of Eastern Carpathians (Neamt county)
Size	19,523 acres / 7,742 ha
Best known for	Its legends and significance in the history of the Dacians, the ancestors of the Romanian people. Ceahlau was considered to be the sacred mountain of Zalmoxis, the ancient deity of the Dacians.
Natural features	Numerous mountain peaks, Ridges, Basal rocks (limestone and conglomerates placed on crystalline bedrock)
Activities	Cross-country skiing, Hiking, Wildlife and birds watching

Park Highlights

Surrounded by watercourses and dam lakes, Ceahlau Mountain, the Olympus of Romania, displays an incredible concentration of flora - over 2,000 flower species, and wildlife. Fossil limestone, the rock formations Dochia, Cusma Dorobantului, and the Duruitoarea waterfall are just some of the main attractions in the park. The park is bounded to the east by the Bistrita River and Lake Bicaz, and to the south by the Bicaz River.

Some of the most exciting Romanian legends refer to the strange stone shapes spread around the peaks in the park. The Dochia rock formations are said to represent a mean old woman (“baba”) who came on Ceahlau to feed her sheep. Deceived by the sunny days of early spring, she took off, one by one, all her nine-sheepskin waistcoats. When the frost came, it turned both her and her animals into ice, which over the years transformed into the stones we see now.

Natural attractions

The rock formations Dochia and Cusma Dorobantului
Duruitoarea waterfall (Cascada Duruitoarea)
The Ocolasul Plateau, with the Great Ocolasul Peak (6256 feet) - the highest
peak in the Ceahlau Mountains – and the Toaca Peak (6246 feet)

Flora and Fauna

Over 90 species of birds can be seen in the Ceahlau National Park. The capercaillie (Tetrao urogalus), the biggest among the birds in the park, can be seen in Piciorul Schiop and Poiana Maicilor, during the mating period in April. With a little luck you can also spot in the same area: the three clawed wod-pecker (Picoides tridactylus) a glacial relict, and the wall creeper (Tichodorma muraria). The raven (Corvus corax) usually builds its nest in the high areas of the mountain.

Among the rare birds nesting in the park are the cliff butterfly (a bird that could be found also in Cheile Sugaului and in Cheile Bicazului), the aquila (Aquila chrysaeltus) and the mountain cock (cocosul de munte).

The park is also home to the black goat (Rupicapra rupicapra), which has been colonized here, the lynx (Lynx lynx), the wolf (Canis lupus), the fox (Canis vulpes), the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the pine marten (Martes martes). The elk (Cervus elaphus var. carpathicus) - monument of nature and the most valuable species of Ceahlau - can be admired in: Izvorul Alb, Poiana Maicilor, and Izvoarele Bistrei Mari.

Nearby Attractions

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
The Bicaz Gorges - Hasmas National Park
The monasteries around Targu Neamt (Agapia, Neamt, Varatec)

PARK ESSENTIALS

Main access points

Neagra, Tasca, Izvorul Alb, Izvorul Muntelui, Ceahlau village, Grinties village,

Durau resort

How to get here

- By air

Nearest airports located in:

Iasi - www.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htm
Suceva - www.aeroportsuceava.ro/index_en.html

- By car

National road DN15 Piatra Neamt – Toplita

- By train

Nearby train stations: Bicaz

Train schedules: To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Camping areas (near Cabana Dochia)
Mountain chalets (Cabana Izvorul Muntelui; Cabana Fantanele;
Cabana Dochia)

Tourist info

Ceahlau National Park Administration

Telephone: (233) 256.600

Email: pnc@ceahlaupark.ro

Web: www.ceahlaupark.ro/index.html (Romanian only)

PIATRA CRAIULUI NATIONAL PARK

Fast Facts

Location	Southern Carpathians (Arges and Brasov counties)
Size	91,000 acres
Best known for	The most spectacular ridge in the Carpathian Mountains. The backdrop scenes filmed here for the movie Cold Mountain
Natural features	Caves, Meadows, Rocky steep walls, Spruce forests
Activities	Caving, Hiking, Horseback riding, Horse carriage / sled strolls, Rock climbing, Wildlife and bird watching

Park Highlights

Piatra Craiului Natural Park features the longest and highest limestone ridge in the country (over 15 miles long and 6560 ft. high). Bordered by glacial lakes, the ridge is regarded as one of the most beautiful sights in the Carpathians. The two-day north–south ridge trail is both challenging and rewarding. Starting at either Plaiul Foii in the northwest or Curmatura in the northeast, hikers climb up to the ridge along the narrow spine of the range. The descent at the southern end leads into a karst landscape of deep gorges and pitted slopes where water penetrating the rock has carved a series of caves.

The traditional villages of Magura, Pestera, Ciocanu, Sirnea, make for interesting starting points for the routes on the eastern slope and for getting in touch with the traditional Romanian way of life.

Natural attractions

Zarnesti Gorges
Dambovicioara Cave

Flora and Fauna

Sheltering one of the largest biodiversity of wildlife in the country, the national park is home to about 300 fungi species, 220 lichen species, 100 different mosses, and 1100 species of superior plants (a third of the number of all plant species found in Romania). On the high cliffs there are chamois, wild boar, red and roe deer, pine martens and red squirrels. Some 270 butterflies species, 110 birds species, 17 bats species, many large carnivores (wolfs, brown bears, lynx) can be observed in the park. The gorges are a good place to see wallcreepers and alpine swifts, three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers and Ural owls in the forested areas.

Nearby Attractions

Halmeag Horseridersinn Merlelor
Sinca Noua Horseriding Center
Fagaras Fortress
Rasnov Fortress
The medieval old town of Brasov

PARK ESSENTIALS

Main access points

Bran
Cheia
Dambovicioara
Magura
Moeciu
Pestera
Podu Dambovitei
Satic
Sirnea
Zarnesti

How to get here

- By air Nearest airports located in:

Bucharest (Henri Coanda) - www.baneasa-airport.ro
Bucharest (Traian Vuia) - www.otp-airport.ro/index.php
Sibiu - www.sibiuairport.ro

- By car

Zarnesti, located 18 miles southwest of Brasov and accessible both by road and by railway, is the most important town for access to the northern part of the ridge. From Zarnesti, a 6-mile road makes the connection with Plaiul Foii; a forest road starts from the southwestern part of town, going through Prapastiile, Valea Cheii and Valea Vladasca.

The villages of Magura, Pestera, Ciocanu and Sirnea are starting points for hiking routes on the eastern slope. Podu Dambovitei is the point of approach from the south. From here, the national road DN 73 branches off to the road on Valea Dambovitei through Saticu de Jos and Saticu de Sus, from which several hiking routes lead to the western slope of the Southern Ridge.

- By train

Nearby railway stations: Zarnesti

Train schedules: To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Camping areas
Mountain chalets
Tourist pensions in the villages located within the park (Pestera and Magura) and in the surrounding communities (Zarnesti, Moeciu, Sirnea, Ciocanu, Podul Dambovitei, Dambovicioara and Satic)

Tourist info

Piatra Craiului National Park Administration

Tel: (268) 223.165

Email: office@pcrai.ro

Web: www.pcrai.ro/index_en.html

RETEZAT NATIONAL PARK

Fast Facts

Location	Southern Carpathians (Hunedoara county)
Size	94,000 acres
Best known for	- Its more than 80 glacial lakes, including the largest – Bucura (8.8 ha./22 acres), and the deepest - Zanoaga (29 m/92ft) in the country - The highest number (over 20) of mountain peaks over 2,000m/6,560 ft. in Romania - Being the oldest Romanian national park - established in 1935
Natural features	Alpine and sub-alpine meadows, Deep ravines and ice-scoured parable synclines, Dwarf-pine formations, Glacial lakes
Activities	Camping, Cross country skiing, Hiking / walking / trekking, Mountain biking, Rock climbing, Wildlife and bird watching

Park Highlights

Hiking in Retezat National Park you may well lose your breath, not from the climb, but from the breathtaking views of nature at her wildest. Peaks of differing heights, many topping the 8,028 ft. mark (such as Peleaga Peak), provide hikers with plenty of challenges. Travelers willing to tackle them will have their efforts well rewarded.

Local communities and cultural sights from around the park area add a special value to that of the landscape and the biodiversity inside the park. The people in the villages of Salasu de Sus, Rau de Mori and Campu lui Neag preserve to this day the traditional lifestyle of the area.

Natural attractions

Over one third of the Romanian flora can be found in the Retezat Mountains. High meadows create a haven for rare alpine flora. Long, steep slopes are covered with different types of forest, especially beech, spruce and fir. At the sub-alpine level, slopes shaped by ice are often protected by dwarf pine. The forest line reaches 6,080 ft. with some Spruce adapted to the harsh climate.

More than one quarter of the mountain is above the 5760 ft. altitude where timberline and glaciers have created terraced valleys that end in magnificent glacial bays, lakes and waterfalls. Extraordinary passes, gorges, cavernous limestone caves and sinkholes can be found on the South-Eastern part of the mountain range, in the limestone area of the Retezatul Mic (the Small Retezat).

Flora and Fauna

Wildlife enthusiasts will find here many species of animals, including chamois, red and roe deer, wild boar, bear, wolf, and fox, and may come across lynx tracks. Otters find themselves at home in the park’s rivers. Chaffinch, song thrush, ring ouzel, red-breasted flycatcher, chiffchaff, nutcracker and the rare golden eagle, leaser spotted eagle, eagle owl, pigmy owl, crag martin, scarlet rosefinch, three toed woodpecker, horned lark are among the 120 nesting bird species of Retezat.

Retezat National Park was included in the Important Bird Areas Network. Butterflies are abundant in Retezat, in number and species, and specialists designated two Prime Butterfly Areas here.

Nearby Attractions

Corvinesti Castle in Hunedoara
The Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains
Densus Church
The city of Alba Iulia
The city of Tragu Jiu
Domogled – Valea Cernei National Park

PARK ESSENTIALS

Main access points

North

Carnic
Rausor
Gura Apei

South

Buta
Cheile Butii
Campusel

How to get here

- By air

Nearest airports located in:

Sibiu - www.sibiuairport.ro
Timisoara - http://aerotim.ro/index.php?lang=en

- By bus

For the Northern park entrances there are mini buses from Ohaba de sub Piatră to Carnic in the summer time.

For the Southern park entrances there are regular mini buses from Petrosani to Buta and Cheile Butii and from Lupeni to Campu lui Neag.

- By car

National road DN66 / E79 (Hateg – Targu Jiu) to Santamarie Orla

and then 686D to Raul Mare

National road DN66 / E79 (Hateg – Targu Jiu) to Petrosani

then DN66A from Vulcan to Campusel

- By train

For the Northern park entrances:

Baru
Ohaba de sub Piatra.
Pui
Rusor
Subcetate (near Hateg)

For the Southern park entrances:

Petrosani
Lupeni

Train schedules: To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Mountain chalets
Tourist pensions can be found in the nearby villages and around the towns. For more information please visit:
www.turismretezat.ro/index.php?page=cazare

Tourist info

Retezat National Park Administration

Email: office@retezat.ro

Web: www.retezat.ro

Souce : ROMANIA - Official Travel and Tourism Information

Romanian TV

2010-02-27T15:27:00.003+00:00

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Romanian TV Programs

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Free World Directory - Free SEO Friendly

2010-02-27T13:44:00.002+00:00

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Sport in Romania

2010-02-20T19:21:00.002+00:00

Sport in Romania :

Nadia Comăneci celebrating after she obtained the first-ever perfect score in an Olympic gymnastics competition

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Romania.[196] The governing body is the Romanian Football Federation, which belongs to UEFA. The top division of the Romanian Professional Football League attracted an average of 5,417 spectators per game in the 2006–07 season.[197] At international level, the Romanian National Football Team has taken part 7 times in the Football World Cup, and it had the most successful period throughout the 1990s, when during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Romania reached the quarter-finals and was ranked by FIFA on the 6th place. The core player of this "Golden Generation"[198] and perhaps the best known Romanian player internationally is Gheorghe Hagi (nicknamed the Maradona of the Carpathians).[199] Famous currently active players are Adrian Mutu and Cristian Chivu. The most famous football club is Steaua Bucureşti, who in 1986 became the first Eastern European club ever to win the prestigious European Champions Cup title, and who played the final again in 1989. Another successful Romanian team Dinamo Bucureşti played a semifinal in the European Champions Cup in 1984 and a Cup Winners Cup semifinal in the 1990. Other important Romanian football clubs are Rapid Bucureşti, CFR 1907 Cluj-Napoca and FC Universitatea Craiova.

Tennis is the second most popular sport in terms of registered sportsmen.[196] Romania reached the Davis Cup finals three times (1969, 1971, 1972). The tennis player Ilie Năstase won several Grand Slam titles and dozens of other tournaments, and was the first player to be ranked as number 1 by ATP from 1973 to 1974. The Romanian Open is held every fall in Bucharest since 1993.

Popular team sports are rugby union (national rugby team has so far competed at every Rugby World Cup), basketball and handball.[196] Some popular individual sports are: athletics, chess, sport dance, and martial arts and other fighting sports.[196]

Romanian gymnastics has had a large number of successes – for which the country became known worldwide.[200] In the 1976 Summer Olympics, the gymnast Nadia Comăneci became the first gymnast ever to score a perfect ten. She also won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze, all at the age of fifteen.[201] Her success continued in the 1980 Summer Olympics, where she was awarded two gold medals and two silver medals.

Romania participated for the first time in the Olympic Games in 1900 and has taken part in 18 of the 24 summer games. Romania has been one of the more successful countries at the Summer Olympic Games (15th overall) with a total of 283 medals won throughout the years, 82 of which are gold medals.[202] Winter sports have received little investments and thus only a single bronze medal was won by Romanian sportsmen in the Winter Olympic Games.

Bucharest

2010-01-31T18:28:00.009+00:00

BUCHAREST (BUCURESTI)

Bucharest General Information
Location: Southern Romania
Size: City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq.km); Bucharest Metropolitan area - 587 sq.m(1,521 sq.km)
Elevation: 190-295 ft (55-90 m)
Population: 2.6 milion (2007)
Inhabited since: 500 BC
First documented: 1459 AD

City Highlights

Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris"), Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis.

Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means "joy." His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.

In the 15th century, the princely court of Vlad Tepes (thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula) was established here and by the end of the 17th century, the city had become the capital of the province of Walachia. In 1862, Bucharest became the capital of Romania.

Remodeled in the late 19th century by French and French-trained architects, the city features large neoclassical buildings, fashionable parks, and even its very own Arc de Triomphe on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, an avenue longer than the famed Champs-Elysees and home to the city's mansion district.

Bucharest is laden with historical charm - from the streets of the Old City Centre, which are slowly being restored, to the grand architecture of the Royal Palace and the lush green of Cismigiu Park. The city also claims a large number of museums, art galleries, exquisite Orthodox churches and unique architectural sites.

Nicolae Ceausescu's legacy, including the Parliament Palace (formerly called the People's Palace), which at 3.76 million square feet stands as the world's second largest building after the U.S. Pentagon, provides an interesting introduction to the dictator's megalomaniac vision.

Bucharest's buzzing cultural scene - 37 museums, 22 theatres, concert halls, opera house, 18 art galleries, jazz clubs and hip nightclubs - will certainly keep you busy. Every two years, Bucharest is host to the George Enescu International Festival, a prestigious cultural event named after the famous Romanian musician and composer. Renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists perform at the Romanian Athenaeum, a hall with acoustics comparable to Milan's La Scala.

City Landmarks

House of the Free Press (Casa Presei Libere)
Address: Piata Presei Libere 1 (map)
An impressive edifice standing somewhat menacingly at the entrance to the capital, Casa Scanteii (as it is still universally known) was designed by architect Horia Maicu and completed in 1956, one year after the strikingly similar Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, Poland. Originally housing almost all of the capital's printing presses and newsrooms, it, today, carries out much the same function, with the addition of the Bucharest Stock Exchange in the southern wing.

The Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf)
Address: Piata Arcul de Triumf (map)
Initially built of wood in 1922 to honor the bravery of Romanian soldiers who fought in World War I, Bucharest's very own Arc de Triomphe was finished in Deva granite in 1936. Designed by the architect, Petre Antonescu, the Arc stands 85 feet high. An interior staircase allows visitors to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city. The sculptures decorating the structure were created by leading Romanian artists, including Ion Jalea, Constantin Medrea and Constantin Baraschi.

Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue)
Calea Victoriei is Bucharest's oldest and arguably, most charming street. Built in 1692 to link the Old Princely Court to Mogosoaia Palace, it was initially paved with oak beams. The street became Calea Victoriei in 1878, after the Romanian War of Independence victory. Between the two world wars, Calea Victoriei developed into one of the most fashionable streets in the city.

Stroll along this street from Piata Victoriei to Piata Natiunilor Unite to discover some of the most stunning buildings in the city, including the Cantacuzino Palace, the historical Revolution Square, the Military Club, the CEC Headquarters and the National History Museum.

Cantacuzino Palace (Palatul Cantacuzino)
Address: Calea Victoriei 141
Admission charge
Grigore Cantacuzino was thought to be one of Romania's wealthiest citizens in 1899. As Prime Minister, it was his wish to have the most elegant residence in Bucharest. Using the designs of architect Ion Berindei, the Cantacuzino Palace was built between 1898 and 1900 in eclectic French style. Combining a neoclassical architectural style with art nouveau elements, it features wrought iron balconies, tall arched windows and a porte-cochere (an elegant wrought-iron doorway) flanked by two lions. Today, the palace houses the George Enescu Museum.

Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei)
The square gained worldwide notoriety when TV stations around the globe broadcasted Nicolae Ceausescu's final moments in power on December 21, 1989. It was here, at the balcony of the former Communist Party Headquarters, that Ceausescu stared in disbelief as the people gathered in the square below turned on him. He fled the angry crowd in his white helicopter, only to be captured outside of the city a few hours later.

The square's importance stretches back long before the dramatic events of the 1989 Revolution. On the far side of the square stands the former Royal Palace, now home to the National Art Museum, the stunning Romanian Athenaeum and the historic Athenee Palace Hotel. At the south end of the square, you can visit the small, but beautiful, Kretzulescu Church.

The Royal Palace (Palatul Regal)
Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53 (map)
Erected between 1927 and 1937 in neoclassical style, the palace was home to King Carol II and to his son, King Mihai I, until 1947, when the monarchy was abolished in Romania. It was inside the halls of this palace that King Mihai, aged 18, led a coup that displaced the pro-Nazi government during the World War II and put Romania on the Allies' side. Today, the former Royal palace houses the Romanian National Art Museum.

The Romanian Athenaeum
(Ateneul Roman)
Address: Str. Benjamin Franklin 1 (map)
Tel: (021) 315.00.26 or 315.25.67
Web: http://fge.org.ro/filarmonica-george-enescu/
The work of French architect Albert Galleron, who also designed the National Bank of Romania, the Athenaeum was completed in 1888, financed almost entirely with money donated by the general public. One of the preeminent public fundraising campaigns ever in Romania, the "Give a penny for the Athenaeum" campaign saved the project after the original patrons ran out of funds. With its high dome and Doric columns, the Athenaeum resembles an ancient temple.

The lobby has a beautifully painted ceiling decorated in gold leaf, while curved balconies cascade in ringlets off a spiral staircase. A ring of pink marble columns is linked by flowing arches where elaborate brass lanterns hang like gems from a necklace. Inside the concert hall, voluptuous frescoes cover the ceiling and walls. Renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics, it is Bucharest's most prestigious concert hall and home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic.

Athenee Palace Hotel
Address: Str. Episcopiei 1-3 (map)
Built in 1914 by French architect Teophile Bradeau, the Athenee Palace (currently a posh Hilton hotel) was made famous in Olivia Manning's novel, Balkan Trilogy, as a centre of intrigue and espionage during World War II. British and German diplomats plotted, schemed and spied on each other in the epoch atmosphere of the hotel's English Bar, while a host of rich and famous gathered and intrigued as their society collapsed around them. The hotel suffered heavy bombing during the war and consequently, was rebuilt in 1945.

Kretzulescu Church
Address: Calea Victoriei 47 (map)
Nestled amid the other historical buildings in Piata Revolutiei, this small red-brick Orthodox church was built in 1722 by the great chancellor Iordache Kretzulescu and his wife, Safta (a daughter of Constantin Brancoveanu) in the Brancovenesti architectural style. The interior frescoes were executed around 1860 by the famous Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu.

Royal Palace Great Concert Hall (Sala Palatului)
(map)
Located next to the Royal Palace, the concave-roof structure was built in 1960 to accommodate the 3,000 Communist party members who every five years attended the communist party congress. It was on this stage that Nicolae Ceausescu would deliver his vision of a multilaterally developed socialist society. Today, the massive auditorium plays host to various conferences and events, including some of the George Enescu International Festival concerts.

The Military Club (Cercul Militar National)
Address: Blvd. Regina Elisabeta 21 (map)
Tel: (021) 313.86.80
Standing guard imposingly, this neoclassical masterpiece, designed by Romanian architect Dimitrie Maimaroiu, was built in 1912 to serve the social, cultural and educational needs of the Romanian army. Banquets and official events are still hosted in the ballrooms, while the upstairs area is reserved for the army's library, as well as offices and classrooms for officer instruction. The main part of the building is off-limits to civilians, but the sumptuous restaurant and summer terrace is open to the public.

The Palace of the Savings Bank (Casa de Economii si Consemnatiuni / CEC)
Address: Calea Victoriei 11-13 (map)
Boasting one of the most impressive neoclassical facades in the city, this structure was built in the 19th century to the design of French architect Paul Gottereanu (who between 1875 and 1900 designed more than 50 buildings in the city, to house the first Romanian Savings Bank. The square-shaped palace has a large central dome with metallic ribs separated by glass, which allows natural light to come in; there are also four smaller domes. The arch at the entrance, with its Corinthian columns, is a highlight of any architectural tour of the city.

Old Historical Center of Bucharest (Centrul Vechi al Orasului)

Lipscani District
Perhaps the city's unique charm can be best observed in the area known as Lipscani, which consists of a jumble of streets between Calea Victoriei, Blvd. Bratianu, Blvd. Regina Elisabeta and the Dambovita River. A once-glamorous residential area, the old city centre is now slowly being refashioned into an upscale neighborhood.

At the beginning of 1400s, most merchants and craftsmen - Romanian, Austrian, Greek, Bulgarian, Serbian, Armenian and Jewish - established their stores and shops in this section of the city. Soon, the area became known as Lipscani, named for the many German traders from Lipsca or Leiptzig. Other streets took on the names of various old craft communities and guilds, such as Blanari (furriers), Covaci (blacksmiths), Gabroveni (knife makers) and Cavafii Vechii (shoe-makers). The mix of nationalities and cultures is reflected in the mishmash of architectural styles, from baroque to neoclassical to art nouveau.

Today, the area is home to many art galleries, antique shops and coffeehouses. On a beautiful day, you can stroll down the narrow cobblestone streets and imagine the shopkeepers outside near their stores, encouraging people to buy their merchandise and negotiating prices with them. Don't forget to stop by Hanul cu Tei, which is a rectangular courtyard between Strada Lipscani and Strada Blanari, home to an array of art and antiques shops.

Old Princely Court & Church (Palatul si Biserica Curtea Veche)
Address: Strada Franceza 25-31 (map)
Tel: (021) 314.03.75
Museum open: Mon. – Sun 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.;
Admission charge
At the centre of the historic area are the remains of the Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche), built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula. According to local lore, Vlad kept his prisoners in dungeons which commenced beneath the Princely Court and extended under the city. All that remains today are a few walls, arches, tombstones and a Corinthian column.

The Old Court Museum was established in 1972 when an archaeological dig revealed the remains of the fortress, along with Dacian pottery and Roman coins, evidence of Bucharest's earliest inhabitants. The oldest document attesting to the city's origin under the name of Bucuresti (Bucharest) was discovered here. It was issued on September 20, 1459 and signed by Prince Vlad Tepes.

Next to the palace stands the Old Court Church (Biserica Curtea Veche), dating from 1559 and considered the oldest in Bucharest. For two centuries, the church served as coronation ground for Romanian princes. Some of the original 16th century frescoes have been preserved.

Manuc's Inn (Hanul lui Manuc)
Address: Str. Franceza 62-64 (map)
Tel: (021) 313.14.11
Built between 1804 and 1808 by the wealthy Armenian trader Emanuel Marzaian (called by the Turks, Manuc Bey), the inn was witness in 1812 to the preliminary talks of the Peace Treaty that put an end to the Russian -Turkish War (1806-1812). A favorite meeting and resting place for tradesmen in those times, Manuc's Inn has preserved to this day its old style and flavor. It now serves as a hotel with a restaurant, a wine cellar and a pastry shop.

The Beer Cart Restaurant (Carul cu Bere)
Strada Stavropoleos 3-5 (map)
Tel: (021) 313.75.60
Opened in 1879, this famous restaurant and beer house soon became one of the most popular meeting places for Bucharest's literati who would gather to discuss matters of their time. Its neo-gothic architectural style is reflected both in the façades and the interior decorations: columns, arches, chandeliers, a wooden staircase, furniture and murals on the walls and ceiling.

National Bank of Romania (Banca Nationala a Romaniei)
Address: Str. Lipscani 25 (map)
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) stands on the site of one of the most famous buildings in Romania: the Hanul Serban Voda, which from 1678 until 1883 was the home of various institutions ranging from a pub to an inn to a girl's dormitory! After two fires gutted the building, however, the land was leveled and in 1883, work began on the BNR, completed to the designs of French architects Cassien Bernard and Albert Galleron in 1885. Built in neoclassical French style, the building boasts a facade with Corinthian columns and an enormous central banking hall. The passing of time has left its marks on the building, but it remains a classic worthy of admiration.

University Square (Piata Universitatii) (map)
Buzzing with crowds and traffic from early morning until late at night, this area is one of the most popular meeting places in Bucharest. The square brings together some remarkable architectural masterpieces on each of its four corners, starting with the University of Bucharest's School of Architecture, the Bucharest National Theatre, the neoclassical Coltea Hospital and its lovely church (1702-1794) and the Sutu Palace, now home to the Bucharest History Museum.

In the middle of the square, on a little island, 10 stone crosses pay respect to those killed during the 1989 revolution. Below the square is an underground passage with shops and eateries, allowing pedestrians to cross from one side of the square to another and to access the subway station.

University of Bucharest (Universitatea Bucuresti)
Address: Blvd. Regina Elizabeta (near University Square) (map)
Bucharest remains first and foremost a hub of higher education. The University of Bucharest was founded in 1864 by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, ruler of the newly united principalities of Walachia and Moldova. Work on the neoclassical building began in 1857 and finished in 1859.

Between the two World Wars, the libraries and corridors of the University hosted an impressive number of Romanian personalities, including Mircea Eliade, Emil Cioran, Eugène Ionesco, Sergiu Celibidache.

Year-round, you can find book merchants near the University building selling anything from antique books, records, discontinued newspapers and illustrated broadsheets from another age to secondhand books.

Coltea Hospital (Spitalul Coltea)
Address: Blvd. I.C. Bratianu 1 (map)
The oldest hospital in Bucharest, dating from 1704, Coltea was built on land belonging to the Vacaresti family, who at the time owned many of the great prosperities of the capital. The original building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1802, and the neoclassical building standing today dates from 1888. The church next to the hospital is the original 1701 construction, and is currently undergoing much-needed renovation. The hospital remains a functioning public health centre; you may enter only if you have official business. The church, however, is open to all, and the saintly silhouettes on the ceiling are admirable.

Sutu Palace (Palatul Sutu)
Address: Blvd I.C. Bratianu 2 (near University Square) (map)
Famous for the grandiose balls held here in the 1900s, Sutu Palace was built in neogothic style between 1832 and 1834 by foreign minister Costache Sutu, to designs of architects Johann Veit and Konrad Schwinck. In 1862, the palace was redecorated by sculptor Karl Storck, who created three arcades and a monumental stairway; a huge Murano mirror was added in the hallway. Only the painted ceilings, the stucco, the parquet flooring and the tile stoves have been preserved.
Since 1959, the building has housed the Bucharest History & Art Museum

Communist legacy

Parliament Palace (Palatul Parlamentului)
Address: Calea 13 Septembrie 1, Intrarea A3 (map)
Tel: (021) 311.36.11
Hours: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 4:00pm
Admission charge (English guided tour available)
Built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, the colossal Parliament Palace (formerly known as the People's Palace) is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build. The palace boasts 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, a 328-ft-long lobby and four underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker.

When construction started in 1984, the dictator intended it to be the headquarters of his government. Today, it houses Romania's Parliament and serves as an international conference centre. Built and furnished exclusively with Romanian materials, the building reflects the work of the country's best artisans. A guided tour takes visitors through a small section of dazzling rooms, huge halls and quarters used by the Senate (when not in session). The interior is a luxurious display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows and floors covered in rich carpets.

Interesting facts:
-It is the world's second-largest office building in surface (after the Pentagon) and the third largest in volume (after Cape Canaveral in the U.S. and the Great Pyramid in Egypt)
- The crystal chandelier in the Human Rights Hall (Sala Drepturilor Omului) weighs 2.5 tons
- Some of the chandeliers have as many as 7,000 light bulbs

Civic Centre (Centrul Civic)
Ceausescu's building megalomania climaxed with the construction of the Civic Centre, an area located at the south end of the Palace of Parliament along Bulevardul Unirii. Bucharest had taken significant damage from the Allied bombing during World War II and the earthquake of March 4, 1977. However, neither of these events changed the face of the city as much as the redevelopment schemes of the 1980s, when eight square kilometres in the Old Historical Centre of Bucharest were leveled, including monasteries, churches, synagogues, a hospital and a noted Art Deco sports stadium. Some 40,000 people were evicted with only a single day's notice to make room for the construction of these Stalinist apartment buildings topped with neoclassical follies.

Historic Churches

Apostles' Church (Biserica Sfintii Apostoli)
Address: Str. Sfintii Apostoli 1 (map)
Tel: (021) 336.07.84
One of the oldest churches in Bucharest (with parts dating back to the 16th century and a steeple built in 1715), the Apostles' Church is brimming with some rather strange portraits that are well worth seeing.

Metropolitan Church (Biserica Patriarhiei)
Address: Aleea Dealul Mitropoliei (map)
Set atop one of the city's few hills, known as Mitropoliei, the Metropolitan Church has been the centerpiece of the Romanian Orthodox faith since the 17th century. The church was built by Constantin Serban Basarab, ruler of the province of Walachia between 1656 and 1658, to a design inspired by the Curtea de Arges monastery. It became the Metropolitan Church in 1668 and the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1925.

The Byzantine interior, containing the most dazzling of the city's iconostasis, as well as a couple of exquisitely carved side altars, bestows great beauty on the services presided over by the Romanian Patriarch. A huge crowd gathers here for the Easter midnight service.

The outstanding bell-tower at the entrance was built in 1698 and restored in 1958. Next to the church, and closed to the public, is the Patriarchal Palace (1708), residence of the Teoctist, supreme leader of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Stavropoleos Church (Biserica Stavropoleos)
Address: Str. Stavropoleos 4 (map)
Tel: (021) 313.47.47
The Stavropoleos Church was built in 1724 by the Greek monk Ioanikie Stratonikeas. Featuring a combination of Romanian and Byzantine architecture, it has a beautiful façade and a delicately carved columned entrance. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, it is an architectural jewel, with beautiful frescoes and wood-painted icons. The mass (in Romanian) is worth viewing if you can find room in this small and cozy church.

St. Joseph's Cathedral (Catedrala Sfantul Iosif)
Address: Str. G-ral Berthelot 19 (map)
Tel: (021) 312.12.08
Constructed in red brick between 1873 and 1884, this Roman Catholic cathedral is an architectural masterpiece combining both gothic and Roman elements. Organ recitals are held every week.

St. Nicolas Church (Biserica Sfantul Nicolae)
Address: Str. Ion Ghica 9 (map)
Tel: (021) 314.64.50
Built in 1909 by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II for 600,000 gold rubles, this Orthodox Church has a wooden, gold-gilded iconostasis allegedly modeled after the altar in the Archangelskiy Cathedral in Moscow.

Jewish Bucharest

Bucharest is home to one of the oldest and most important Jewish communities in Romania. Sephardic Jews arrived here in the 16th century. Around the beginning of the 17th century, during the Cossack uprising, the first Ashkenazi Jews came from Ukraine and Poland. A sacred brotherhood, a charity box and a prayer house were registered in 1715. Some of the synagogues built during the 18th and 19th century also featured ritual baths (mikve). By 1832, 10 holy houses had been established. Their number would increase significantly before the end of the century, almost every one having its own Rabbi and cult performers. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish population in Bucharest numbered 40,000 people with 70 temples and synagogues. From this great number, only a few survived the brutality of history - fascism and communism - and two still serve the city's present Jewish community.

Dr. Moses Rosen Museum of the History of the Jewish Community
in Romania
(Muzeul de Istorie al Evreilor din Romania)
Address: Str. Mamulari 3
Tel: (021) 311.08.70
Web: www.romanianjewish.org
Open: Mon. - Wed. & Fri. - Sun. 9:00am - 1:00pm; Thu. 9:00am - 4:00pm
Free Admission
Housed in the magnificently preserved Great Synagogue (1850) in the city's historically Jewish neighborhood, this museum traces the history of Romania's Jewish population. The displays include a collection of books written, published, illustrated or translated by Romanian Jews; a small collection of paintings of and by Romanian Jews (many of the same artists' works hang in the National Museum of Art) and memorabilia from Jewish theatres including the State Jewish Theatre. The museum also contains a large collection of Jewish ritual objects from Romania, collected by Rabbi Moses Rosen (1912-1994), the late Chief Rabbi of the Romanian Jewry.

Choral Temple (Templul Coral)
Address: Str. Sfanta Vineri 9 (map)
Tel: (021) 312.21.96
Built in 1857, the red brick temple (noted for its magnificent Moorish turrets, choir loft and organ) is the largest active synagogue in Bucharest. Services are held every day at 8am and 7pm. On Saturday, they are held at 8:30am and 7pm.

Yeshoah Tova Synagogue
Address: Str. Tache Ionescu 9 (map)
In a busy side street going towards Piata Amzei from Magheru Bulevard stands the only other functioning synagogue in the city apart from the Choral Temple. Services take place at Sabbath hour on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Bucharest Jewish Community (Comunitatea Evreilor din Bucuresti)
Address: Str. Sf. Vineri 9 -11
Tel: (021) 313.17.82

Museums

Art Collections Museum (Muzeul Colectiilor de Arta)
Address: Calea Victoriei 111
Tel: (021) 212.96.41
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/muzsatelit/EN_muzcolectiilor.php
Note: The museum is closed for renovations until the end of 2010.
Admission charge
Founded in 1978, the Art Collections Museum, a branch of the National Art Museum, houses private collections donated over the course of time. Collections include European as well as Oriental art works.

Bucharest History & Art Museum (Muzeul Municipiului Bucuresti)
Address: Blvd. I.C.Bratianu 2
Tel: (021) 315.68.58
Web: www.muzeulbucurestiului.ro/main.html
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Housed in the neoclassical Sutu Palace (1834), the museum features some 300,000 artifacts, from coins, books, maps, engravings, paintings, arms and furniture to old traditional costumes. Among the most valuable exhibits are the document attesting for the first time the name of the city of Bucharest, issued by Vlad Tepes in 1459, and a sword set in precious stones that belonged to Prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714).

Communist Iconography Museum
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 3 (inside the Romanian Peasant Museum)
A compact, but fascinating, cellar room inside the Peasant Museum is home to a collection of communist-era busts (including that of Lenin), paintings and memorabilia.

Cotroceni Palace & Museum (Muzeul National Cotroceni)
Address: Str. Geniului 1
Tel: (021) 317.31.07 or 430.44.85
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge (Guided tours are available in English)
Note: Guests are received by appointment only; please call for reservations.
A former royal residence built between 1679 and 1681 by Prince and ruler Serban Cantacuzino, the palace was home to King Carol I, who made important changes in its architecture. At the end of the 19th century, Heir-to-the-Crown Ferdinand ordered the partial demolition of the palace, which was later reconstructed by French architect Paul Gottereau in neoclassical style. In 1977, Nicolae Ceausescu transformed it into an official guesthouse with the addition of a new wing.

After 1990, the old wing of the palace became a museum. The Oriental Hall, the Norwegian Hall and the Queen's Chamber are almost unchanged from the original design and are worth visiting. Very important collection of medieval art also can be seen here. The new wing serves as the seat of the Romanian Presidency.

George Enescu Museum (Muzeul National George Enescu)
Address: Calea Victoriei 141
Tel: (021) 318.14.50
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
The museum, housed in the Cantacuzino Palace, displays documents and various objects that belonged to the great Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu (1881-1955), including a Bach music collection he received as a gift from Queen Elisabeta of Romania. A world-class violinist, Enescu studied at the Vienna Conservatory, where he met German composer Johannes Brahms and where he also gave his first concerts. In Paris, Enescu graduated from the French Conservatory in 1899. His best-known works, the Romanian Rhapsodies, earned him national and international fame. In 1936, his Oedipe tragic opera premiered in Paris and Enescu was awarded the French Legion of Honor award for the composition. A member of the Romanian Academy and corresponding member of the Institute of France, George Enescu was the teacher of renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Every two years, the Romanian Athenaeum celebrates the maestro by hosting the George Enescu International Festival.

Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie Naturala)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 1
Tel: (021) 312.88.63
www.antipa.ro
Note: The museum is currently closed for renovations.
Admission charge
Recently renovated, this museum is the largest natural history museum in Romania, housing collections of reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. More than 300,000 artifacts and specimens are on display, including a dinosaur fossil. A whole floor is dedicated to sea life and features examples of whales, dolphins and seals. The museum also contains a beautiful butterfly collection.

Minovici Museum of Ancient Western Art (Muzeul de Arta Veche Apuseana)
Address: Str. Dr. Minovici 3
Tel: (021) 665.73.34
Note: The museum is currently closed.
Admission charge
In addition to the small renaissance art collection of Dumitru Minovici, who made barrels of lei in the oil business in the 1930s, the museum features Belgian tapestries, Dutch furniture, Swiss stained glass, a complete library and Italian paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Muzeul Taranului Roman)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 3
Tel: (021) 317.96.60
Email: info@muzeultaranuluiroman.ro
Web: www.MuzeulTaranuluiRoman.ro/en/index.php?page=colectii
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Opened in 1906, the museum features the richest folk art collection in Romania, with over 90,000 artifacts that trace the colorful and diverse cultural life of the Romanian people. The Pottery Collection includes some 18,000 items, representative of the most important pottery centres in the country. The oldest ceramic item found in the museum bears the inscription 1746. Equally impressive, the Costume Collection comprises almost 20,000 traditional folk costumes, some dating from the beginning of the 19th century, giving visitors insight into the styles and traditions of the Romanian peasants.

The displays dip into all aspects of life in the Romanian countryside. Exhibits of agricultural tools, carpets, icons, furniture, photographs and films build up a complete picture of Romanian folk culture. In one of the galleries, you can see a wooden church and in another, a wooden peasant house. Four more wooden churches stand in the outdoor museum area. In 1996, the museum was named European Museum of the Year. Visitors can buy regional handcrafts and textiles in the museum's extensive gift shop.

National Art Museum (Muzeul National de Arta)
Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53
Tel: (021) 313.30.30
Email: national.art@art.museum.ro
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/EN_home.php#
Open: Wed. – Sun.. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (May - September);
Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (October - April); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge (English guided available)
Romania's leading art museum was founded in 1948 to house the former Royal Collection, which included Romanian and European art dating from the 15th to the 20th century. Located in the neoclassical former Royal Palace, set amid a wealth of historic buildings such as the Romanian Athenaeum, Kretzulescu Church and the Hotel Athenee Palace-Hilton, the museum currently exhibits over 100,000 works divided into two major sections. Its National Gallery features the works of major Romanian artists, including Grigorescu, Aman and Andreescu. There is also a roomful of early Brancusi sculpture, such as you won't find anywhere else, demonstrating how he left his master, Rodin, behind in a more advanced form of expression. The European Gallery, comprising some 15 rooms, displays little-known art gems from the likes of El Greco, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Breughels (father and son) Cezanne and Rubens. If you only have time to visit one gallery, make it the Romanian one. It is the most complete collection of Romanian works of art in the country and quite possibly, the world.

National Geological Museum (Muzeul National de Geologie)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 2
Tel: (021) 212.89.52
Web: www.onlinegallery.ro/mgeo_flori-mina.html
Open: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 4:00pm
Admission charge
Impressive collections of minerals and quartz formations specific to the area are found here, including a well-presented geological structure of Romania.

National History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie al Romaniei)
Address: Calea Victoriei 12
Tel: (021) 315.82.07
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. (May - September); Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon. (October - April)
Admission charge
Housed in a 1900s neoclassical building that once served as the city's main post office, the museum offers a great introduction to the exciting history of Romania. Spread throughout 41 rooms, the exhibits recount the country's development from prehistoric times to the 20th century. The highlight is the National Treasury Hall where visitors can enjoy a dazzling display of some 3,000 gold items, including jewelry and valuable Neolithic artifacts.

Among the displays are the 12 pieces of the 4th century Pietroasele Treasure Collection. First presented at the 1867 World's Fair in Paris, it was considered the most valuable treasure collection in the world (the tomb of Tutankamon had not yet been discovered). One year later, the collection was displayed at the Second Annual International Exhibition in London and in 1872, at the International Exhibition in Vienna.

Romania was the only Warsaw Pact country without Soviet troops on its soil after 1958.

National Military Museum
(Muzeul Militar National)
Address: Str. Mircea Vulcanescu 125-127
Tel: (021) 638.76.30
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Founded in 1972, the museum illustrates the most important battles for independence and freedom in Romanian history. The museum features collections of Oriental and Occidental weapons, Romanian and foreign uniforms, military medals and awards, trophies, artillery, canons and airplanes as well as a library of historical military documents.

The centerpiece is the 1989 Revolution exhibit, displaying mainly personal belongings donated by families of soldiers and civilians killed during the upheaval.

National Museum of Contemporary Art
(Muzeul National de Arta Contemporana)
Address: Calea 13 Septembrie 1, entrance E4
Tel: (021) 411.10.40
Email: info@mnac.ro
Web: www.mnac.ro
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm;
Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Bucharest's newest museum, the MNAC, as it is often called by museum-goers, displays works of Romania's contemporary artists as well as many temporary exhibits by international artists. The museum is housed in a wing of the Palace of Parliament, the space which would have served as Nicolae and Ileana Ceausescu's private apartment (where just the bathroom occupied 680 square feet, while the adjoining boudoir was three times that size).

National Museum of Old Maps & Books (Muzeul National al Hartilor si Cartii Vechi)
Address: Str. Londra 39
Tel: (021) 230.44.68
Email: muzeulhartilor@artelecom.net
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Though it may not house the world's biggest collection, this museum is worth a visit, especially if you are interested in old maps and books.

Romanian Railways Museum (Muzeul Cailor Ferate Romane)
Address: Calea Grivitei 193
Tel: (021) 222.75.20
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed
Admission charge
Several engines and wagons are on display in the open-air section of the museum. Inside, you can find an 1869 Morse telegraph, memorabilia, turn-of-the-century pictures and some age-old Romanian railway uniforms.

Storck Museum (Muzeul de Arta Frederic Storck si Cecilia Cutescu-Storck)
Address: Str. Vasile Alecsandri 16
Telephone: (021) 317 38 89
Email: muzeul.storck@muzeulbucurestiului.ro
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
This museum pays tribute to the works of sculptor Frederick Storck, founder of the Romanian school of architecture, and his wife, Cecelia Cutescu-Storck, an artist and a keen advocate of enhanced recognition for women in the arts. Some 150 paintings and 250 sculptures are featured in the beautiful Storck residence, built in 1913 by a French architect after the plans of Frederick Storck.

Technical Museum (Muzeul Tehnic)
Address: Str. Candiano Popescu 2 (inside Carol I Park)
Tel: (021) 336.93.90
Open: Wed. - Sun. 11:00am - 6:30pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
This museum displays some 5,000 exhibits covering a wide range of industrial models: turbines, compressors, steam engines, the cylinder from the first steam engine that was used in a Romanian factory, as well as antique cars and motorcycles.

Theodor Pallady Museum (Muzeul Theodor Pallady)
Address: Str. Spatarului 22
Tel: (021) 211.49.79
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/muzsatelit/EN_pallady.php
Open: Wed. – Sun.. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (May - September);
Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m (October - April); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Housed in the beautifully restored Melik house, built around 1750 by the rich Armenian Hagi Kevork Nazaretoglu, and currently, the oldest house in Bucharest, the museum features six Pallady paintings, a couple of his sketches and various other art objects.

Village Museum (Muzeul Satului)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 28-30
Tel: (021) 317.91.03
E-mail: contact@muzeul-satului.ro
Open: Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.;
Tue. - Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Admission charge
Founded by royal decree in 1936, this fascinating outdoor museum, the largest in Europe, covers some 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau in Herestrau Park. It features a collection of 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture. Steep-roofed peasant homes, thatched barns, log cabins, churches and watermills from all regions of the country were carefully taken apart, shipped to the museum and rebuilt in order to recreate the village setting. Throughout the year, the Village Museum hosts special events where you will have a chance to witness folk artisans demonstrating traditional skills in weaving, pottery and other crafts. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.

Zambaccian Museum (Muzeul Zambaccian)
Address: Str. Zambacian 21A
Telephone: (021) 230.19.20
Open: Sat. - Wed. 11:00am - 7:00pm; (May - September);
Sat. - Wed. 10am - 6pm (October - April); Closed Thu. & Fri.
Admission charge
The museum possesses the private art collection of Krikor Zambaccian (1889-1962). Names such as Andreescu, Grigorescu, Luchian, Pallady and Tonitza are famous in Romania, albeit less known outside the country, but the works, mainly following the Impressionist school, are of the highest quality. There are also several small sculptures that complement the canvases. Although Zambaccian was a big patron of the art of his home country, he also collected European works from artists such as Cezanne, Renoir, Delacroix, Corot, Derain, Matisse, Pissaro, Bonnard, Utrillo and Picasso. The museum preserves the initial display as it was conceived by the art collector himself.

Parks & Gardens

Cismigiu Garden (Gradina Cismigiu)
Address: Blvd. Regina Elisabeta (across from Bucharest City Hall)
Designed in 1845 by the German landscape architect Carl Meyer, the garden opened to the public in 1860. The name, Cismigiu, comes from the Turkish cismea, meaning "public fountain." More than 30,000 trees and plants were brought from the Romanian mountains, while exotic plants were imported from the botanical gardens in Vienna. Cismigiu is Bucharest's oldest park and a great place to stroll and enjoy a break from the hectic city. Set amid green lush lawns and winding paths, the park offers a lake with rowboat rentals, a beer garden, a playground for children, a chess area for amateurs and plenty of park benches for relaxing and people-watching.

Botanical Garden (Gradina Botanica)
Address: Sos. Cotroceni 32 (across from Cotroceni Palace)
Tel: (021) 410.91.39
Open: Mon. - Sun. 8:00am - 5:00pm
Admission charge
Opened in 1891, the garden features over 5,000 varieties of plants from Romania and around the world. The garden also encompasses a beautiful building in the Brancovenesc architectural style, housing the Botanical Garden Museum. Here, you can peruse manuscripts, old botanical research devices and a collection of artifacts made of vegetal materials. Locals treat the gardens as a park, and on warm afternoons, you may see more young lovers than plants. The huge greenhouses are open Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun, 9am - 1pm.

Carol I Park (Parcul Carol I)
Address: Calea Serban Vodá
This large park is one of the most beautiful in the city and contains a massive monument that once housed the remains of communist leader Gheorge Gheorgiu Dej, as well as the eternal flame that marks the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Designed by French landscape architect Eduard Redont in 1900s, the park offers pleasant walks down tree-lined paths, a good view of central Bucharest (from the monument) and plenty of photo opportunities. In summertime, the park's Arenele Romane is the stage for open-air concerts.

Herastrau Park (Parcul Herastrau)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 32
Spread over some 400 acres, from the Arch of Triumph to the Baneasa Bridge, the park is home to numerous attractions, including a boat rental complex, tennis courts, and a rather old-fashioned fairground. In the summertime, many terraces open up on the shores of the lake. For an overview of the park, take a ride around the lake on the ferry or rent your own boat. The park is also home to the Village Museum. The area surrounding the park holds even greater treasures. The streets between Bulevardul Mircea Eliade and Soseaua Kisileff contain extraordinarily beautiful houses in architectural styles ranging from 19th century neoclassical to 20th century art nouveau and modern luxury villas. This is where Bucharest's elite once lived - and still do today.

Nearby Attractions

Mogosoaia Palace & Brancovenesc Museum
(Palatul Mogosoaia & Muzeul Brancovenesc)
Where: 9 miles north of Bucharest
Access: car, taxi
Address: Str. Valea Parcului 1
Tel: (021) 490.42.37
Open: Mon. - Sun. 8:00am - 6:00pm
Admission charge
Located in the village of the same name on the shore of Mogosoaia Lake, this palace reflects the Brancovenesc architectural style, featuring traditional Romanian staircase balconies, arcades and columns. Built by the Walachian prince Constantin Brancoveanu between 1698 and 1702 as a summer residence, the palace features a beautiful Venetian-style loggia on the facade facing the lake and a balcony with intricate Brancovenesc-style carvings overlooking the main courtyard. Today, the palace houses the Brancovenesc Museum with exhibits of valuable paintings, wood and stone sculptures, gold and silver embroideries, rare books and precious manuscripts.

Inside the complex, there is also a church built in 1688 and decorated by a team of Greek artists. The original interior murals have been well-preserved, including a painting showing Constantin Brancoveanu with his wife, Maria, and their four sons and seven daughters, all wearing royal dress.

Snagov Monastery & Lake (Manastirea & Lacul Snagov)
Where: 25 miles north of Bucharest
Access: car, bus, taxi
One hundred years after the church was built (1364), Vlad Tepes (Vlad Dracula) added the fortress walls and a dungeon. A plaque on the floor of the church marks the grave with the presumed remains of the count. The monastery, located on an island on the far side of the lake, can only be accessed by boat.

Day Trips

Bucharest is a great starting point from which to explore the rest of the country. Away from the buzz of the city, you will find a different side of Romania - life in the countryside moves more slowly, the air is crisp and hospitality abounds.

Peles Castle & Sinaia Monastery in Sinaia

Where: 80 miles north of Bucharest
Access: car, bus, train

Bran (Dracula's) Castle in Bran & Ethnographic Museum in Bran
Where: 84 miles north of Bucharest
Access: car, train to Brasov, and bus from Brasov to Bran
www.RomaniaTourism.com/castles.html

Medieval town of Brasov & Poiana Brasov Resort
Where: 96 miles north of Bucharest
Access: car bus, train
www.RomaniaTourism.com/Brasov.html

Targoviste - Curtea de Arges - Poenari Fortress
Where: northwest of Bucharest (total distance: 138 mile)
Access: car
In Targoviste, tour the 14th century Princely Court (Curtea Domneasca) and Chindiei Watchtower (Turnul Chindiei). The grounds are open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am till 5pm. From Targoviste, continue to Curtea de Arges.

Once you reach Curtea de Arges, visit the 14th-century Princely Court and the Princely Church, with its lovely interior frescoes. According to tradition, Curtea de Arges was founded in the early 14th century by Prince Radu Negru. The town succeeded Campulung as the capital of Wallachia, hence its name Curtea (The Court).

Another stunning architectural gem is the 16th century Curtea de Arges Monastery (Manastirea Curtea de Arges), toppled with two towers spiraling in opposite directions. Behold the sad legend of Manole* as you take in its beauty. Romania's first two kings and queens are buried here.

Interesting fact:
Legend says that Manole, the master builder, had to sacrifice his wife by imprisoning her in the monastery walls to prevent them from falling apart.

Fifteen miles north of Curtea de Arges, Dracula fans surely will not want to miss the ruins of Poenari Fortress (considered to be the authentic Dracula's Castle). Only the walls and towers still stand from the original fortress located near Poienari village on the Transfagarasan highway over the Transylvanian Alps. You will need stamina to climb the 1,462 steps to reach the castle ruins, perched high above the surrounding area like an eagle's nest.

Horezu Monastery & Horezu Pottery Centre
Where: 120 miles northwest of Bucharest
Access: car, bus
Fifty miles west of Curtea de Arges stands Horezu Monastery, the largest monastic settlement in Walachia, founded in 1690 by Prince Constantine Brancoveanu. A masterpiece of the Brancovenesti style and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Horezu is renowned for the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religious compositions and its painted decorative works. The monastery houses precious collections of frescoes and icons dating from the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.

The nearby village of Horezu is home to one of the biggest pottery centres in Romania. Nearly a century ago, local nuns taught the villagers how to make and paint pottery, and ever since, people have come from far and wide to get their hands on Horezu's ceramic.

Targu Jiu
Where: 190 miles west of Bucharest
Access: car, bus, train
www.RomaniaTourism.com/Targu-Jiu.html
A must for all art lovers is a visit to Targu Jiu on the banks of the River Jiu. This former market town is closely associated with Constantin Brancusi, considered by many to be the father of modern sculpture. While most of his works are on display in prestigious museums throughout the world, his trilogy of public sculptures, The Table of Silence (Masa Tacerii), The Gate of the Kiss (Poarta Sarutului) and The Endless Column (Coloana Infinitului) can be admired at the Constantin Brancusi sculptural complex in downtown Targu Jiu.

Nearby in Hobita, the birthplace of Constantin Brancusi, you can visit the house in which the sculptor spent his childhood; it now houses a small museum dedicated to the master. The house preserves the original architecture and accessories (the bed, the cellar and the well). The village is also home to the national sculpture camp "Brancusiana".

Performing Arts

Bucharest has a great many theatres and concert halls. You can purchase tickets for performances directly at the venue's box office. To find out what's playing currently, check the listings in Sapte Seri (Seven Evenings): www.sapteseri.ro

» Opera & Ballet

National Opera & Ballet (Opera Nationala Romana)
Address: Blvd. Mihail Kogalniceanu 70-72
Tel: (021) 313.18.57
Web: www.operanb.ro
Box office hours: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 1:00pm & 2:00pm - 7:00pm
The city's artistic life stood up to its Parisian nickname in the 1930s and today, is as vibrant as ever. The Opera House, completed in 1953, is worth visiting, not only for its brilliant performances but also for the lavish interior design. The world-renowned Romanian Opera performs in Romanian as well as Italian and German. You will be able to enjoy the classic repertoire - Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Mozart -, innovative staging, lavish costumes, seasoned performers and choreographers. The Romanian National Ballet also performs in this theatre. Performances are held Wednesday through Sunday evenings, except during July and August.

National Operetta Theatre (Teatrul National de Opereta 'Ioan Dacian')
Address: Blvd. Nicoale Balcescu 2
Tel: (021) 313.63.48
E-mail: opereta@rdslink.ro
Web: www.opereta.ro
Box office hours: Tue. - Sat. 11:00am - 6:00pm; Sun. 2:00pm - 6:00pm; Closed Mon.
Comic plots, extravagant staging, lavish costumes, high caliber singers and orchestra are all part of the charm of the light, frothy performances at the Ion Dacian Operetta.

» Symphonic Music

George Enescu Philharmonic at Romanian Athenaeum
(Filarmonica George Enescu)
Address: Str. Benjamin Franklin 1
Tel: (021) 315.00.26 or 315.25.67
Web: http://fge.org.ro/
Box office hours: Tue. - Fri. 12:00pm - 7:00pm;
Sat. & Sun. 4:00pm - 7:00pm; Closed Mon.
George Enescu International Music Festival: www.festivalenescu.ro
Renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics, the Romanian Athenaeum is the home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic. Famous artists and conductors have performed here throughout the years. Among them: Erich Kleiber, Sergiu Celibidache, Ionel Perlea, Herbert von Karajan, Dinu Lipatti, Arthur Rubinstein, Pablo Casals and Yehudi Menuhin.

National Radio Orchestra and National Chamber Orchestra
Address: Str. General Berthelot 60-64 (Sala Radio)
Tel: (021) 303.12.11 or 303.14.28
Web: http://orchestre.srr.ro/program/index.htm
Box office hours: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm
The National Radio Orchestra, one of the best in the country, presents frequent classical chamber music performances at the music hall in the radio building.

» Theatre

The Russians introduced the Stanislavski technique - the method which gave the world Marlon Brando - to Romanian theatre and this keeps acting standards high. While most theatre productions are performed in Romanian, sometimes, it is possible to find performances in German or English at various small theatres. The theatre season closes during the summer, from July to September, although some small student and underground theatres do remain open.

National Theatre (Teatrul National)
Address: Blvd Nicolae Bálcescu 2
Tel: (021) 314.71.71
Three auditoriums host professional domestic and foreign plays by a broad selection of both classical and contemporary Romanian playwrights. The theatre's Big Hall (Sala Mare), hosts the grand productions, while the Amphitheatre (Sala Amfiteatru) shows smaller productions and TV shows, and the Studio Hall (Sala Atelier) gets a mix of low-key shows and presentations.

National Jewish Theatre (Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat)
Address: Str. Dr. Iuliu Barasch 15
Tel: (021) 323.39.70
The Jewish Theatre presents plays in Yiddish, Hebrew or Romanian (with translations via headphones).

Entertainment

» Live Music

Art Jazz Club
Address: Blvd. Nicolae Balcescu 23A
Tel: 0722.589.058
Web: www.artjazzclub.ro
Open: Tue. - Sun. 1:00pm - 3:00am; Closed Mon.

Green Hours 22 Jazz Café
Address: Calea Victoriei 120
Tel: (021) 314.57.51
Web: www.green-hours.ro
Open: 24 hours

Laptaria lui Enache/ La Motor
Address: Blvd. Nicolae Balcescu 2
Tel: (021) 315.85.08
Located nearby the National Theatre, this bar is filled with university students, artists, musicians and young professionals. Usually crowded, the bar (called Laptaria lui Enache) is open all year long, while its rooftop counterpart (called La Motor) is open only during the summer when movies are shown on the terrace. At Laptaria, you can catch live music most evenings.

» Cinemas

Foreign movies are generally shown in the original language with Romanian subtitles. Current film listings are available online www.sapteseri.ro

» Circus

Bucharest Globus Circus (Circul Globus Bucuresti)
Address: Aleea Circului 1
Tel: (021) 210.24.19 or 210.49.98
Built in 1960, the enormous, permanent big-top circus is the centerpiece of a small but lovely park. With seating for more than 3,500 spectators, Bucharest's circus continues to host excellent performances, put on by both local and touring companies.

» Casinos

When it comes to gambling, Las Vegas or Monte Carlo may come first to your mind. In recent years, however, more and more casinos have opened up in Bucharest, one of the few cities in east-central Europe offering gambling opportunities. Many 18th and 19th century palaces and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos, where guests can play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance, dine on sumptuous buffets and dance all night to live music.

Bucharest Casino (Inter-Continental Hotel)
Address: Blvd. Nicolae Balcescu 4
Tel: (021) 310.20.20
Web: www.casinobucharest.ro
Open: Mon. - Sun. 6:00pm - 6:00am

Grand Casino (Marriott Grand Hotel)
Address: Calea 13 Septembrie 90
Tel: (021) 403.08.01
Open: 24 hours

Havana Princess Casino
Address: Blvd. Elisabeta 13
Tel: (021) 313.98.23
Open: 24 hours

Lido Casino
Address: Str. C.A. Rosetti 13
Tel: (021) 311 0101
Open: 24 hours

Mirage Casino
Address: Blvd. Magheru 8-10
Tel: (021) 313.89.52
Open: 24 hours

Palace Casino
Address: Calea Victoriei 133
Tel: (021) 311.97.44
Web: www.casinopalace.ro
Open: 24 hours

Partouche Casino (Hotel Athenee-Palace Hilton)
Address: Str. Episcopiei 1-3
Tel: (021) 314.72.00
Open: 24 hours

Plaza Casino Club
Address: Calea Victoriei 163
Tel: (021) 310.24.80
Open: Mon. - Sun. 2:00pm - 7:00am

Queen Casino
Address: Calea Dorobantilor 5-7
Tel: (021) 599.11.26
Web: www.queen-casino.ro
Open: 24 hours

Festivals & Events

Easter Gifts National Arts & Crafts Fair (April)
International Music Festival "Jeunesses Musicales" (May)
Bucharest International Music Festival "EuropaFest" (May)
Bucharest of Old Festival (May)
'GayFest' Gay Pride Festival (May)
Bucharest 'ArtPhoto' Image & Photography Festival (May - June)
Bucharest International Film Festival (April)
Bucharest "D'Ale Bucurestilor" Street Music Festival (June)
Craftsmen's Fair (June - July)
Bucharest City Challenge - Car Racing (August)
George Enescu Music Festival (September- every two years)
International Furniture and Interior Design Fair / BIFE-TIMB (September)
Romania Tennis Open - an ATP event (September)
Winter Gifts Arts & Crafts Fair - Museum of the Romanian Peasant (December)

CITY ESSENTIALS

Transportation
» By Air
» By car
» By Train
» Public Transportation
» Taxi Companies

» By air

Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP)
Address: Calea Bucurestilor 224
Tel: (021) 204.12.00 or 204.12.10
Web:www.otp-airport.ro
Most international flights arrive at Henri Coanda International Airport (Otopeni), located about 12 miles north of downtown Bucharest. Facilities include ATMs, an exchange office and cell phone rentals. Major car rental companies have offices located on the baggage claim level.

There are direct flights from multiple destinations in Europe and connecting flights from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Airlines fly from North America to Romania
(with a stop in major European cities) include:
Austrian Airlines, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa

Domestic Flights:

There are scheduled domestic flights from/to Cluj-Napoca (CLJ), Iasi (IAS), Oradea (OMR), Satu Mare (SUJ), Sibiu (SBZ), Suceava (SCV), Timisoara (TSR).

For domestic flights information and reservations please visit: www.tarom.ro

Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and city centre:

Currently the only taxi company licenced to pick-up passengers from the airport is Fly Taxi (telephone: 9411). Fare to downtown Bucharest is about $25. Fly Taxi's fee per km for trips from the airport is about 3.30 Lei ($1.8/mile).

Express Bus 783 offers daily service to the city centre, with stops at Baneasa Airport, Piata Presei Libere, Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Piata Universitatii and Piata Unirii.
The bus leaves from the international departures terminal every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes after 8:30pm and during weekends), from 5:30am until 11:00pm.
The journey to downtown takes approximately 40 minutes.
Fare is 7 Lei (about $2.5) for a round-trip ticket.

Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and
the main train station (Gara de Nord):
By Bus
Express Bus 780 offers daily service to the main train station (Gara de Nord) with stops at: Henri Coanda Airport - Baneasa Airport - Piata Presei Libere - Clabucet - Gara de Nord - Str. Fluviului.
The bus runs every 30 minutes from 5:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. seven days a week.
It leaves from the international arrivals terminal; the journey to the train station takes 40 minutes to 60 minutes.
A roundtrip ticket costs (about $2.50) per trip.
Note: You need to purchase a RATB ticket before boarding the bus (for sale at the 'RATB' ticket booth in the arrivals termina; Open: Mon - Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
By Train
Henri Coanda Express Trains offer daily service from Balotesti (0.5 miles from the airport) to the main train station (Gara de Nord) with one stop at Mogosoaia.
Trains run hourly from 5:56 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; the journey from the airport to the train station takes about one hour and 10 minutes.
One-way ticket costs 6 Lei ($2.20). Transfer from Balotesti train station to the International Arrivals Terminal is included.
Note: Tickets can be purchased at the CFR booth International Arrivals Terminal.

Bucharest Limousine Services:
Tel: (021) 201.49.37
Web: www.starlimoservices.com (fare averages $35)

Baneasa Airport
Address: Sos. Bucuresti-Ploiesti 40
Tel: (021) 232.00.20 or 9713
Web: www.baneasa-airport.ro

Baneasa Airport, located six miles from downtown Bucharest, is used for charter flights and scheduled low-cost flights from/to destinations in Europe.

Low-cost airlines with service to Baneasa Airport:
Blue Air, German Wings, MyAir, Sky Europe, Wizz Air.

Public transportation between Baneasa airport and city centre:
Bus #131 to downtown Bucharest
Bus #205 to the main train station (Gara de Nord)
Taxi - $10.00 (average)

» By train

Bucuresti North - main train station (Gara de Nord)
Address: Blvd. Garii de Nord 2
Tel: 9521
Bucharest's main station, Gara de Nord, is located three miles from downtown Bucharest and is a major rail centre with daily connections from/to cities throughout Europe and main cities in Romania.

Interesting fact: The original Orient Express ran from Paris to Istanbul.

International trains

There are daily trains from/to Athena, Belgrade, Budapest, Istanbul, Kiev, Moscow, Prague, Sofia, and Vienna. Trains from/to Western European cities run via Budapest.

Getting to Romania / By Train
http://www.RomaniaTourism.com/Transportation.html#ByTrain

» Romania by Rail

There are daily trains from/to Arad, Baia Mare, Bistrita, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Iasi, Medias, Piatra Neamt, Oradea, Satu Mare, Satu Mare, Sebes, Sibiu, Sighetu Marmatiei, Sighisoara, Suceava, Targu Mures, Timisoara, Tulcea, and numerous other towns in Romania.

Express (Rapid and INTERCITY) train connections between Bucharest and main cities: (Schedule as of January 9th, 2009)
Bucharest (Nord Station) / Departure time	To / Arrival time
1:00 pm	Arad / 11:07 pm
7:07 am	Brasov / 10:07 am
1:00 pm	Brasov / 3:48 pm
4:45 pm	Brasov / 7:39 pm
1:00 pm	Cluj Napoca / 9:16 pm
7:45 am	Constanta / 11:54 am
6:45 am	Craiova / 9:26 am
5:35 am	Galati / 8:58 am
6:02 am	Iasi / 12:47 pm
5:50 pm	Iasi / 11:58 pm
1:00 pm	Oradea / 12:04 am
7:50 pm	Satu Mare / 7:54 pm
3:30 pm	Sibiu / 8:57 pm
5:33 pm	Sighetu Marmatiei / 7:14 am
1:00 pm	Sighisoara / 5:55 pm
1:30 pm	Sinaia / 2:45 pm
6:02 am	Suceava Nord / 12:20 pm
5:01 pm	Suceava Nord / 11:20 pm
6:45 am	Timisoara Nord / 2:33 pm
10:45 pm	Timisoara Nord / 7:00 pm
3:45 pm	Timisoara Nord / 11:30 pm

To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways:
www.infofer.ro
The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.
Note: For Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

SNCFR's advance booking office (Agentia de Voiaj SNCFR Bucuresti)
Address: St. Domnita Alexandra 10-14
Tel: (021) 313.26.42
Open: Mon. - Fri. 7:30am - 7:30pm; Sat. 8:00am - 12:00pm; Closed Sun.
You can get train schedule information and make reservations up to 24 hours in advance. Tickets for same-day travel can only be purchased at the station.

Wasteels Travel
Address: Gara de Nord
Tel: (021) 317.03.69
Email: marketing@wasteels.eunet.ro
Web: www.wasteels.ro/en
Open: Mon. - Fri. 8:00am - 7:00pm; Sat. 8:00am - 2:00pm; Closed Sun.
Advance reservations for national and international trains.

» By bus

International Bus Companies serving Bucharest:

Anesis
Address: Str. Poterasi 20-22
Tel: (021) 330.91.76
Scheduled service to Athens (Greece)

Atlassib
Address: Blvd. Gh. Duca 4
Tel: (021) 222.47.35
Scheduled service to France, Germany, Italy, Sweden

DoubleT
Address: Calea Victoriei 2
Tel: (021) 313.36.42
Scheduled service to Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland

Eurolines Touring
Address: Blvd. Al. Ioan Cuza 5A
Tel: (021) 210.08.90
Scheduled service to Germany with connections to any country in Europe

Murat
Adress: Blvd. Dinicu Golescu 31
Tel: (021) 336.6215
Daily service to Istanbul (Turkey)

Toros
Adress: Calea Grivitei 136-138
Tel: (021) 223.18.98
Daily service to Istanbul (Turkey)

Distance from Bucharest to:
City	Distance (miles)	Flight time	Aprox. driving time	Express train travel time
Belgrade	449	1:05	9:30	12:15
Brasov	96	N/A	2:30	3:00
Budapest	526	1:00	11:00	12:00
Cluj-Napoca	270	0:50	6:30	7:30
Constanta	135	0:35	2:50	4:00
Iasi	269	1:00	6:30	6:45
Istanbul	398	0:55	8:30	18:00
Oradea	365	1:10	7:30	11:15
Satu Mare	378	1:10	8:30	14:30
Sibiu	170	0:45	4:30	5:00
Sofia	254	0:45	5:30	10:15
Suceava	282	1:05	6:30	6:30
Targu Jiu	179	N/A	4:00	5:45
Tulcea	174	0:40	3:30	5:30
Timisoara	347	1:10	7:30	6:30
Vienna	692	1:15	14:00	17:00

» Public Transportation

Bucharest has an efficient public transportation network made up of: bus (autobuz), tram (tramvai) and trolley bus (troilebuz) as well as subway (Metrou).

The ground transportation system operates - between 5:00am and 11:59pm.

Tickets must be purchased beforehand and validated in the ticket-stamping machine upon boarding. You may be requested to show the stamped ticket during the trip. One-way tickets or passes valid for one day, one week, 15 days or one month can be purchased at any kiosk displaying the RATB logo. A one-way ticket is 1.3 Lei (approx. 50 cents). Tickets are interchangeable for the bus, tram and trolley bus, with the exception of express buses.

The express bus system is more useful for reaching destinations outside the city centre, as only a few express buses actually pass through the centre itself. Two- or 10-journey tickets, as well as monthly passes, are available for these buses.

RATB maps can be found at kiosks near bus and tram stops or you can print one here.

The subway (Metrou) is best for getting around the city centre; the system operates - between 5:00am and 11:30pm.

There are four metro lines (M1, M2, M3 and M4). The most frequently used line is the north-south M2 line (going from Pipera to IMGB, stopping at Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Universitate and Piata Unirii along the way. Metro stations are indicated by white signs with a blue "M." Tickets can be purchased inside the stations at counters indicated by a "Casa" sign.

Metro maps can be printed here or can be purchased in bookshops and kiosks (and are also posted near the ticket gate entrance). The final destination is indicated on the front of the train. Each stop is announced as the train nears the station. At peak times, they arrive every four to seven minutes, off-peak times every 15-20 minutes.

There are two types of ticket - two-trip 2.2 Lei (approx. $1.00) and ten-trip 8.0 Lei (approx. $3.00) tickets. One-day and one-month passes are also available at the station.

» Taxi companies

Several taxi companies operate in the city. Taxis can be summoned by telephone or hailed on the street. Fares per km are posted on driver's and passenger doors.

Average Taxi fares:
Initial Fee: 2.0 Lei ($0.7) plus 2.0 Lei / km ($1.12 / mile)

Check the taxi fares and ask the driver to confirm the approximate cost of the ride, if not sure. Please note that some taxi companies may post and/or charge up to five times the fares mentioned above.

Alfa - 9488
As - 9435
Cristaxi - 9461
Cobalcescu - 9451
Fly - 9440
Leone - 9425
Meridian - 9444
Mondial- 9423
Perozzi - 9631
Prof Taxi - 9422
Speed - 9477
Taxi 2000 - 9494

Shopping

Since the 1990s, brand names and high-end stores have been pushing their way into the Romanian market. From high fashion boutiques to art galleries, shopping in Bucharest can fit any taste or budget. Stroll down Blvd. Magheru from Piata Romana to Piata Universitatii for a shopping extravaganza or hit one of the many shopping malls favored by the local rich & famous.

» Shopping Centers

Afi Palace Cotroceni Mall
Address: Blvd. Timisoara
Tel: (031) 425.75.10
Web: www.aficotroceni.ro
Open: Mon. – Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Baneasa Shopping City
Address: Sos. Bucuresti – Ploiesti 42
Tel: (021) 306.06.58
Web: www.baneasashoppingcity.ro
Open: Mon. – Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Bucuresti Mall
Address: Calea Vitan 55-59, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 327.67.00
Web: www.bucurestimall.com.ro
Open: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 10:00pm

Grand Arena Mall
Address: Blvd. Metalurgiei 12-18, sector 4
Tel: (031) 425.75.14
Web: www.grandarena.ro/orar.php
Open: Mon. – Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Liberty Center
Address: Str. Progresului 151 - 171
Tel: (021) 369.98.75
Web: www.libertycenter.ro
Open: Mon. – Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Mario Plaza
Address: Calea Dorobantilor 172, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 230.47.71
Open: Mon. - Sat. 10:00am - 9:00pm, Sun. 10:00am - 2:00pm

Plaza Romania Mall
Address: Blvd. Timisoara 26, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 407.84.16
Web: www.plazaromania.ro/index.php
Open: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 10:00pm

Unirea Shopping Center
Address: Piata Unirii 1, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 303.03.07
Web: www.unireashop.ro
Open: Mon. - Sat. 9:00am - 10:00pm; Sun. 9:00pm - 8:00pm

World Trade Plaza
Address: Blvd. Expozitiei 2, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 202.44.50
Web: www.wtcb.ro/shopping_gallery.html
Open: Mon. - Sun. 8am - 8pm

» Art Galleries

Galeria 23
Address: Str. Lipscani 63 - 65, Bucharest
Tel: 740.819.826
Web: www.hantei23.com
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Sat. 10:00am - 2:00pm; Closed Sun.

Galeria Galateca
Address: Str. C. A. Rosetti 2-4, Bucharest
Web: www.onlinegallery.ro/Galatec.html#
Open: Mon. - Sun. 11:00am - 7:00pm

Galeria Galateea
Address: Calea Victoriei 132, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 659.38.14
Web: www.onlinegallery.ro/galleries_galateea.html
Open: Mon. - Sat. 11:00am - 7:00pm; Closed Sun.

Galeria Hanul Cu Tei
Address: Str. Blanari 5-7, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 313.01.81
Web: www.hanulcutei.ro/index.php
Open: Mon. - Sat. 11:00am - 7:00pm; Closed Sun.

Galeria Nemtoi
Address: Calea Victoriei 126, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 312.98.00
Web: www.nemtoigallery.com/
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00am - 8:00pm, Sat. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Sun.

Galeria Noua
Address: Str. Academiei 15, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 322.81.59
Web: www.galerianoua.ro
Open: Wed. - Sun. 11:00am - 7:00pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.

Galeria Orizont
Address: Blvd. Nicolae Balcescu 23A, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 315.89.22
Web: www.onlinegallery.ro/galleries_orizont1.html
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00am - 7:00pm; Sat. 10:00am - 2:00pm; Closed Sun.

Galeria Simeza
Address: Blvd. Magheru 20, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 659.38.25
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Sat. 10:00am - 2:00pm; Closed Sun.

» Antiques

If it is antiques that you fancy, Bucharest provides plenty of opportunities to fulfill your every whim. Antiques can be found in art galleries along Calea Victoriei and around the Old Historical Center (Lipscani street).

Amadeus Antiques
Address: Str. Quinet 3, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 315.10.83
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Sat. & Sun.

Craii de Curtea Veche
Address: Str. Covaci 14, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 314.83.04
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Sat. 10:00am - 3:00pm; Closed Sun.

Da Vinci
Address: Calea Victoriei 118, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 210.40.94
Open: Mon. - Fri. 9:00am - 6:00pm; Sat. 9:00am - 3:00pm; Closed Sun.

Galeria de Arta Dorobanti
Address: Str. Tudor Stefan 13, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 231.49.53
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:30am - 6:30pm; Sat. 11:00am - 3:30pm; Closed Sun.

Hanul cu Tei
Address: Str. Lipscani 63, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 315.56.63
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:00m - 6:00pm; Sat. 10:00am - 3:30pm; Closed Sun.

Quasar Antiques
Address: Calea Victoriei 63-81, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 313.47.26
Open: Mon. - Fri. 10:30am - 7:30pm; Sat. 10:30am - 2:30pm; Closed Sun.
Web: www.quasarantiques.ro

Book stores (Librarie)

Libraria Carturesti
Location 1: Str. Edgar Quinet 9, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 311.06.46
Location 2: Str. Pictor Verona 13, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 212.19.22
Web: www.carturesti.ro
Open: Mon. - Sun. 9:00am - 10:00pm
Books, tea, music . (some books in English)

» Handicrafts (Artizanat)

Folk crafts, such as embroidered clothing and linen, painted or beaded eggs, carpets, pottery, woodcarvings and icons, make interesting gifts and souvenirs. Romanian peasants do magnificent embroidery on cotton, wool and leather. Look for blouses, skirts, exotic coats, rugs, tablecloths and lacework. Icons, new and old, painted on glass or wood are outstanding. A good selection can be found at the Romanian Peasant Museum, the Village Museum, most department stores.

Music (Muzica)

Visitors interested in Romanian music can find recordings of pop artists and bands, such as Loredana Groza and Morandi, pan flute artist Gheorghe Zamfir and popular folk singers such as Maria Tanase.

Magazinul Muzica
Address: Calea Victoriei 41- 43, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 313.96.74
Open: Mon. - Fri. 9:30am - 7:00pm; Sat. 9:30am - 2:30pm; Closed Sun.

» Fresh Produce Markets (Piata)

Piata Amzei
Address: Str. Christian Tell 6, Bucharest -(between Calea Victoriei and Blvd. Magheru
near Piata Romana)
Tel: (021) 211.67.26
This is the city's most centrally located outdoor market. Small stores surrounding the outdoor market carry meats, medicinal plants and flowers.

Piata Dorobantilor
Address: Blvd. Radu Beller 3-5, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 231.92.99
Upscale neighborhood market with a selection of fresh produce and flowers

Piata 1 Mai
Address: Blvd. Ion Mihalache 123, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 317.14.63

Resembling an Oriental bazaar, this is the place to find everything from fresh cheese and eggs, fruits and vegetables, to flowers and household items.

Piata Obor
Address: Campul Mosilor 5, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 252.69.54
Bucharest's biggest outdoor market; here, you can find here a food market and a mini-bazaar.

Accommodations
For a list of available accommodations in Bucharest please check the Bucharest Hotel List or our Accommodations guide.

Studio & suite - short term - rental in Bucharest:
www.bucharest-apartments.ro

Tourist Info

Bucharest is safe and hospitable. Violent crime against visitors is almost non-existent. As in any large city visitors are advised to take usual safety precautions. Do not draw unnecessary attention to your person, money or jewelry and be aware of pickpockets and scam artists. Never accept taxi/ car rides, tours or guide services from strangers, no matter how presentable or fluent in English, who approach you on the street.

» Weather

Bucharest has a four-season climate. In the spring, the weather can quickly alternate between rain and sunshine. June, July and August are the hottest months. As the leaves begin to change color, you can still enjoy warm and sunny days while taking a stroll in the city's many parks or down Calea Victoriei. Winters can be quite cold with moderate snowfall.

Average temperatures (Fahrenheit)
Month	Average
January	22-34°F
February	26-39°F
March	32-50°F
April	42-64°F
May	50-73°F
June	57-80°F
July	60-83°F
August	70-90°F
September	52-76°F
October	42-64°F
November	34-50°F
December	27-38°F

Bucharest Weather Forecast
www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/weather/tenday/ROXX0003

» Postal Services & Telephone

Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.

Main Post & Telephone Office
Address: Str. Matei Millo 10 (off Calea Victoriei)
Open: Mon. - Fri. 7:30am - 8:00pm; Sat. 8:00am - 2:00pm; Closed Sun.

Telephoning Bucharest from Abroad
International Access Code +40 (country code) + 021 or 031 (area code) + telephone number (seven digit number)

» Pharmacies & Hospitals

Pharmacies in the capital are well stocked and pharmacists may be able to suggest a medication for certain complaints. There are several pharmacies (farmacie) open 24 hours a day in the city.

Emergency Clinic Hospital (Spitalul de Urgenta Floreasca)
Address: Calea Floreasca 8, Bucharest
Tel: (021) 317.01.71 or 317.01.21

Bucharest - Useful Telephone Numbers
Bucharest Area Code (Prefix Bucuresti)	021 or 031
Ambulance (Ambulanta)	112,961 or 973
Police (Politia)	112, 955 or (021) 311.20.21
Fire Department (Pompierii)	112, 981
Local Archives (Arhivele locale)	(021) 313.92.95
City Hall (Primaria)	(021) 305.55.00
Better Business Bureau	980 or (021) 250.54.47
International calls (Convorbiri internationale)	971

Source : Romania Tourism

Romanian Winter Season

2010-01-22T21:43:00.005+00:00

In Romania, the winter holiday season is truly in full-swing from December 24 to January 7. Highlights include: Christmas Day, New Year and Epiphany, with their respective eves. The most important feature of these celebrations is their unique variety of colorful Romanian customs, traditions, and believes, of artistic, literary, musical, and other folklore events, which make the winter holidays some of the most original and spectacular spiritual manifestations of the Romanian people.
Children of all ages go from house to house singing Christmas carols, or through the streets on New Year's Eve reciting congratulatory verse. The whole traditional village participates in waists, although mostly children practice this custom.

The Caroling - Colindatul

Traditionally, during the first hours after dark on Christmas' Eve is the time for children to go caroling and the adults stay home to greet them. As they go caroling from house to house, the children receive treats like candy, fruit, baked treats and sometimes even money in appreciation of their performance and as a sign of holiday good will.

The grown-ups caroling goes on Christmas evening and night. The waits -young and mature people - gather in groups and they choose a leader. When they are in the front yard of a house, they perform their repertory to the host. The songs are always accompanied by dance. When the performance is over, the host invites the carolers inside the house for food, drinks and presents.

The Star Carol - Steaua

Children make a star using colored paper and then they put in its middle an icon of Jesus. Many of children decorate their star using shiny tinsel. The “Star Carol” is a tradition during the 3 days of Romanian Christmas.

While holding the star in the hands the children sing:

"The star has appeared on high,
Like a big secret in the sky,
The star is bright,
May all your wishes turn out right…"

The Goat Tradition * Capra

Throughout the season, teenagers and young adults especially enjoy caroling with the “Goat”. The “Goat” is actually a usually boisterous young person dressed up in a goat costume. The whole group dances through the streets and from door to door, often with flute music. This tradition comes from the ancient Roman people and it reminds us of the celebration of the ancient Greek gods.

This custom is also called "brezaia" in Wallachia and Oltenia, because of the multicolored appearance of the goat mask. The goat jumps, jerks, turns round, and bends, clattering regularly the wooden jaws.

Bear Custom - Ursul

This custom is known only in Moldavia, a part of Romania, on the Christmas Eve. In this case a young person dresses up in a bear costume adorned with red tassels on its ears, on his head and shoulders. The person wearing the bear costume is accompanied by fiddlers and followed by a whole procession of characters, among them a child dressed-up as the bear's cub. Inspired by the crowd’s singing:

"Dance well, you old bear,
And I’ll give you bread and olives",

the bear grumbles and imitates the steps of the bear, striking strongly against the earth with the soles of its feet to the sound of drums and pipes.

The Little Plough * Plugusorul

Plugusorul is a small plough. In Romanian folklore is a traditional procession with a decorated plough, on New Years' Eve. This is a well wishing custom for the field fruitfulness into the new year. This custom arises from "Carmen arvale", a Roman wish for bountiful crops.

The ploughmen are teenagers and children carrying whips, bells and pipes in their hands.

Sorcova

"Sorcova" is a special bouquet used for New Year's wishes early New Year’s morning. Children wish people a “Happy New Year!” while touching them lightly with this bouquet. After they have wished a Happy New Year to the members of their family, the children go to the neighbors and relatives. Traditionally, the "Sorcova" bouquet was made up of one or several fruit - tree twigs (apple-tree, pear-tree, cherry-tree, plum-tree); all of them are put into water, in warm place, on November 30^th (St. Andrew’s Day), in order to bud and to blossom on New Year's Eve.

Sorcova, vesela,
Sã trãiti, sã-mbãtrâniti,
Ca un mãr, ca un pãr,
Ca un fir de trandafir,

Tare ca piatra,
Iute ca sãgeata,
Tare ca fierul,
Iute ca otelul,

Peste varã, primavarã,
Nici capul sã nu te doarã,
La anu' si la multi ani !

Merry Sorcova,

May your health be strong

And you life long:

As an apple tree

As a pear stately

As a rose bush fair

Blossoming beyond compare:

Strong as a granite rock

Quick as an arrow’s shock

Hard as an iron bar

Tougher than steel by far,

Over summer, over spring,

May your health be great

A New Year with happiness

And in everything success.

Nowadays people often use an apple-tree or pear-tree twig decorated with flowers made up of colored paper. The children receive all kinds of treats such as: cakes, honeycombs, biscuits, pretzels, candies, nuts, money.

Geography of Romania

2010-01-11T15:11:00.002+00:00

With an area of 238,391 square kilometers, Romania is the twelfth largest country in Europe. Situated in the northeastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula, the country is halfway between the equator and the North Pole and equidistant from the westernmost part of Europe--the Atlantic Coast--and the most easterly--the Ural Mountains. Romania has 3,195 kilometers of border. Republic of Moldova lies to the east, Bulgaria lies to the south, Serbia to the southwest, and Hungary to the west. In the southeast, 245 kilometers of Black Sea coastline provide an important outlet to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Traditionally Romania is divided into several historic regions that no longer perform any administrative function:

* Dobruja is the easternmost region, extending from the northward course of the Danube to the shores of the Black Sea.
* Moldavia stretches from the Eastern Carpathians to the Prut River on the Moldovan and Ukrainian border.
* Wallachia reaches south from the Transylvanian Alps to the Bulgarian border and is divided by the Olt River into Oltenia on the west and Muntenia on the east. The Danube forms a natural border between Muntenia and Dobruja.
* The west-central region, known as Transylvania, is delimited by the arc of the Carpathians, which separates it from the Maramureş region in the northwest; by the Crişana area, which borders Hungary in the west; and by the Banat region of the southwest, which adjoins both Hungary and Serbia. It is these areas west of the Carpathians that contain the highest concentrations of the nation's largest ethnic minorities--Hungarians, Germans, and Serbs.

Romania's exterior boundaries are a result of relatively recent events. At the outbreak of World War I, the country's territory included only the provinces of Walachia, Moldavia, and Dobruja. This area, known as the Regat or the Old Kingdom, came into being with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire in the mid-nineteenth century. At the end of World War I, Romania acquired Transylvania and the Banat. Some of this territory was lost during World War II, but negotiations returned it to Romania. Although this acquisition united some 85 percent of the Romanian-speaking population of Eastern Europe into one nation, it left a considerable number of ethnic Hungarians under Romanian rule. Disputes between Hungary and Romania regarding this territory would surface regularly, as both considered the region part of their national heritage. Questions were also periodically raised as to the historical validity of the Soviet-Romanian border. Bukovina and Bessarabia, former Romanian provinces where significant percentages of the population are Romanian-speaking, were part of the Soviet Union from the end of World War II to its dissolution, and subsequently part of the (formerly Soviet) states of Ukraine and Moldova. Despite ongoing and potential disputes, however, it was unlikely in 1989 that Romania's borders would be redrawn in the foreseeable future.

Topography
Physical map of Romania showing the Carpathian Mountains
Geology of Romania and neighbouroughs

Romania's natural landscape is almost evenly divided among mountains (31 percent), hills (33 percent), and plains (36 percent). These varied relief forms spread rather symmetrically from the Carpathian Mountains, which reach elevations of more than 2,500 meters, to the Danube Delta, which is just a few meters above sea level.
Main article: List of mountains in Romania

The arc of the Carpathians extends over 1,000 kilometers through the center of the country, covering an area of 70,000 square kilometers. These mountains are of low to medium altitude and are no wider than 100 kilometers. They are deeply fragmented by longitudinal and transverse valleys and crossed by several major rivers. These features and the fact that there are many summit passes--some at altitudes up to 2,256 metres--have made the Carpathians less of a barrier to movement than have other European ranges. Another distinguishing feature is the many eroded platforms that provide tableland at relatively high altitudes. There are permanent settlements here at above 1,200 meters.

Romania's Carpathians are differentiated into three ranges: the Eastern Carpathians, the Southern Carpathians or Transylvanian Alps, and the Western Carpathians. Each of these ranges has important distinguishing features. The Eastern Carpathians are composed of three parallel ridges that run from northwest to southeast. The westernmost ridge is an extinct volcanic range with many preserved cones and craters. The range has many large depressions, in the largest of which the city of Braşov is situated. Important mining and industrial centers as well as agricultural areas are found within these depressions. The Eastern Carpathians are covered with forests--some 32 percent of the country's woodlands are there. They also contain important ore deposits, including gold and silver, and their mineral water springs feed numerous health resorts.
Romanian Sphinx situated on the plateau of Bucegi Mountains at 2,216 m. altitude, measures 8 meters in height and 12 meters in width

The Southern Carpathians offer the highest peaks at Moldoveanu Peak (2,544 m) and Negoiu (2,535 m) and more than 150 glacial lakes. They have large grassland areas and some woodlands but few large depressions and subsoil resources. At higher elevations, the wind and rain have turned the rocks into spectacular figures such as the Sphinx and Babele.

The region was crisscrossed by an ancient network of trans-Carpathian roads, and vestiges of the old Roman Way are still visible. Numerous passes and the valleys of the Olt, Jiu, and Danube rivers provide routes for roads and railways through the mountains.

The Western Carpathians are the lowest of the three ranges and are fragmented by many deep structural depressions. They have historically functioned as "gates," which allow easy passage but can be readily defended. The most famous of these is the Iron Gate on the Danube. The Western Carpathians are the most densely settled, and it is in the northernmost area of this range, the Apuseni Mountains, that permanent settlements can be found at the highest altitudes.

Enclosed within the great arc of the Carpathians lie the undulating plains and low hills of the Transylvanian Plateau--the largest tableland in the country and the center of Romania. This important agricultural region also contains large deposits of methane gas and salt. To the south and east of the Carpathians, the Sub-Carpathians form a fringe of rolling terrain ranging from 396 to 1,006 metres in elevation. This terrain is matched in the west by the slightly lower Western Hills. The symmetry of Romania's relief continues with the Getic Tableland to the south of the SubCarpathians , the Moldavian Tableland in the east between the SubCarpathians and the Prut River, and the Dobrujan Tableland in the southeast between the Danube and the Black Sea. The Sub-Carpathians and the tableland areas provide good conditions for human settlement and are important areas for fruit growing, viticulture, and other agricultural activity. They also contain large deposits of brown coal and natural gas.

Beyond the Carpathian foothills and tablelands, the plains spread south and west. In the southern parts of the country, the lower Danube Plain is divided by the Olt River; east of the river lies the Romanian Plain, and to the west is the Oltenian or Western Plain. The land here is rich with chernozemic soils and forms Romania's most important farming region. Irrigation is widely used, and marshlands in the Danube's floodplain have been diked and drained to provide additional tillable land.

Romania's lowest land is found on the northern edge of the Dobruja region in the Danube Delta. The delta is a triangular swampy area of marshes, floating reed islands, and sandbanks, where the Danube ends its trek of almost 3,000 kilometers and divides into three frayed branches before emptying into the Black Sea. The Danube Delta provides a large part of the country's fish production, and its reeds are used to manufacture cellulose. The region also serves as a nature preserve for rare species of plant and animal life including migratory birds.

Hydrography

After entering the country in the southwest at Bazias, the Danube travels some 1,075 kilometers (almost 40% of its entire length) through or along Romanian territory, forming the southern frontier with Serbia and Bulgaria. Virtually all of the country's rivers are tributaries of the Danube, either directly or indirectly, and by the time the Danube's course ends in the Black Sea, they account for nearly 40 percent of the total discharge. The most important of these rivers are the Mureş River, the Olt River, the Prut, the Siret River, the Ialomiţa River, the Someş River, and the Argeş River. Romania's rivers primarily flow east, west, and south from the central crown of the Carpathians. They are fed by rainfall and melting snow, which causes considerable fluctuation in discharge and occasionally catastrophic flooding. In the east, river waters are collected by the Siret and the Prut. In the south, the rivers flow directly into the Danube, and in the west, waters are collected by the Tisza on Hungarian territory.

The Danube is by far Romania's most important river, not only for transportation, but also for the production of hydroelectric power. One of Europe's largest hydroelectric stations is located at the Iron Gates, where the Danube surges through the Carpathian gorges. The Danube is an important water route for domestic shipping, as well as international trade. It is navigable for river vessels along its entire Romanian course and for seagoing ships as far as the port of Brăila. An obvious problem with the use of the Danube for inland transportation is its remoteness from most of the major industrial centers. Moreover, marshy banks and perennial flooding impede navigation in some areas.

Climate of Romania

Because of its position on the southeastern portion of the European continent, Romania has a climate that is transitional between temperate and continental. Climatic conditions are somewhat modified by the country's varied relief. The Carpathians serve as a barrier to Atlantic air masses, restricting their oceanic influences to the west and center of the country, where they make for milder winters and heavier rainfall. The mountains also block the continental influences of the vast plain to the north in the Ukraine, which bring frosty winters and less rain to the south and southeast. In the extreme southeast, Mediterranean influences offer a milder, maritime climate. The average annual temperature is 11 °C (51.8 °F) in the south and 8 °C (46.4 °F) in the north. In Bucharest, the temperature ranges from −29 °C (−20.2 °F) in January to 29 °C (84.2 °F) in July, with average temperatures of −3 °C (26.6 °F) in January and 23 °C (73.4 °F) in July. Rainfall, although adequate throughout the country, decreases from west to east and from mountains to plains. Some mountainous areas receive more than 1,010 mm (39.8 in) of precipitation each year. Annual precipitation averages about 635 mm (25 in) in central Transylvania, 521 mm (20.5 in) at Iaşi in Moldavia, and only 381 mm (15 in) at Constanţa on the Black Sea.

Temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms. Winters generally are from November to March. The springs are short, occasionally turning right into summer. Summer lasts from May to August. They have a prolonged Autumn, from September to November. The average January temperature is 34 °F (1.1 °C) and the average July temperature is 69 °F (20.6 °C). Facts: Record High Temperature: 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) - August 10, 1951 South-Eastern Romania; Record Low Temperature: −38.5 °C (−37.3 °F) - January 24, 1942 (Central Romania)
Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea and Danube, with the Carpathian mountains in its center. Controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine

Geographic coordinates: 46°00′N 25°00′E / 46°N 25°E / 46; 25

Extreme points of Romania:

* Northernmost point: Horodiştea, a village in Botoşani County, on the border with Ukraine, 48°15′N 26°42′E / 48.25°N 26.7°E / 48.25; 26.7 (Horodiştea (North))
* Southernmost point: Zimnicea, a town in Teleorman County, on the border with Bulgaria, 43°37′N 25°23′E / 43.617°N 25.383°E / 43.617; 25.383 (Zimnicea (South))
* Westernmost point: Beba Veche, a village in Timiş County, on the border with Hungary and Serbia, 46°07′N 20°15′E / 46.117°N 20.25°E / 46.117; 20.25 (Beba Veche (West))
* Easternmost point: Sulina, a town in Tulcea County, on the Danube Delta, 45°09′N 29°41′E / 45.15°N 29.683°E / 45.15; 29.683 (Sulina (East))

Area

* total: 238,391 km²
o land: 231,231 km²
o water: 7,160 km²

Area - comparative: slightly larger than Minnesota.
Land boundaries

* total: 3,149.9 km
* border countries: Bulgaria 631 km, Hungary 448 km, Moldova 681 km, Serbia 546 km, Ukraine (north and east) 649 km.

Coastline

193.5 km

* Maritime claims: Snake Island
* contiguous zone: 24 nmi (44.4 km; 27.6 mi)
* continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
* exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
* territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Terrain

Central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Wallachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Elevation extremes:

* lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
* highest point: Moldoveanu Peak 2,544 m

Natural resources

* petroleum (reserves steady to declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydro power

Land use:

* arable land: 41%
* permanent crops: 3%
* permanent pastures: 21%
* forests and woodland: 29%
* other: 6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

* 31,020 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment

Environment - current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands

Environment - international agreements:

* party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
* signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Bucharest - Romania Palace of the Parliament

2010-01-01T15:27:00.004+00:00

The Palace of the Parliament (Romanian: Palatul Parlamentului) in Bucharest, Romania is a multi-purpose building containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Palace is the world's largest civilian administrative building, most expensive administrative building, and heaviest building.

The Palace was designed and nearly completed by the Ceauşescu regime as the seat of political and administrative power. Nicolae Ceauşescu named it the House of the Republic (Casa Republicii), but many Romanians call it the People's House (Casa Poporului).

The Palace measures 270 m by 240 m, 86 m high, and 92 m under ground. It has 1,100 rooms, 2 underground parking garages and is 12 stories tall, with four additional underground levels currently available and in use, and another four in different stages of completion.

The structure combines elements and motifs from multiple sources, in an eclectic neoclassical architectural style. The building is constructed almost entirely of materials of Romanian origin. Estimates of the materials used include one million cubic meters of marble from Transylvania, most from Ruşchiţa; 3,500 tonnes of crystal — 480 chandeliers, 1,409 ceiling lights and mirrors were manufactured; 700,000 tonnes of steel and bronze for monumental doors and windows, chandeliers and capitals; 900,000 m³ of wood (over 95% domestic) for parquet and wainscotting, including walnut, oak, sweet cherry, elm, sycamore maple; 200,000 m² of woollen carpets of various dimensions (machines had to be moved inside the building to weave some of the larger carpets); velvet and brocade curtains adorned with embroideries and passementeries in silver and gold.

Built on the site of a hill variously known as Spirii Hill, Uranus Hill, or Arsenal Hill, which was largely razed for this megaproject, the building anchors the west end of Unirii Boulevard and Centrul Civic. Constructing the Palace and Centrul Civic required demolishing much of Bucharest's historic district, including 19 Orthodox Christian churches, six Jewish synagogues, three Protestant churches (plus eight relocated churches), and 30,000 residences.

Construction began in 1983; the cornerstone was laid on 25 June 1984. While the building was intended to house all four major state institutions (in a similar manner to the Houses of Parliament), Ceausescu intended the palace to be his personal residence and the government was to operate in it (as if a combining the Kremlin into one building). It was intended to house these institutions:

* The Presidency of the Republic (Preşedinţia Republicii) - today's Presidency (Preşedinţia);
* The Great National Assembly (Marea Adunare Naţionalǎ) - today's Parliament (Parlamentul);
* Consiliul de Miniştri - today's The Government (Guvernul);
* Supreme Court (Tribunalul Suprem) - today's The High Court of Cassation and Justice (Înalta Curte de Casaţie şi Justiţie).

This explains the building's rectangular shape.

At the time of Nicolae Ceauşescu's 1989 overthrow and execution, the building structure and design were complete. Subsequently, many of the furnishings were never installed (mostly evident because of the many large, empty spaces throughout the palace), while the last three basement levels and a large clock tower (that would display the official Romanian time) were never finished. During the regime change, the new leaders of Romania referred to the building as the House of Ceauşescu, to highlight the excessive luxury in which Ceauşescu would have lived, in stark contrast to the squalor and poverty endured by many people living in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Parts of the building (some of the west wing, some of the east wing, parts of the second floor, basement 3 and everything below) are yet to be completed. Currently, a new underground car-park is being built inside a former stadium, currently used as a warehouse, which was covered during the construction of the palace. Tunnels linking 13 Septembrie Avenue with the basement of the building will be built.
History since 1989

Since 1997, the building has housed Romania's Chamber of Deputies, which had previously been housed in the Palace of the Patriarchy; the Romanian Senate joined them there in 2005, having previously been housed in the former Communist Party Central Committee building. The Palace also contains a massive array of miscellaneous conference halls, salons, etc. used for a wide variety of other purposes.

In 2003-2004 a glass annex was built[citation needed], alongside external elevators. This was done to facilitate access to the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) opened in 2004 inside the west wing of the Palace of the Parliament, and to the Museum and Park of Totalitarianism and Socialist Realism, also opened in 2004.

The cafeteria for use of the legislators has been refurbished. Also in the building is the headquarters of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI), an organization focused on regional cooperation among governments against cross-border crime.

There are public tours organized in a number of languages.

In 2008, the Palace hosted the 20th NATO summit.

Tulcea City

2009-12-18T10:00:00.003+00:00

Tulcea (Romanian pronunciation: [tultcea]; Bulgarian, Russian and Ukrainian: Тулча, Tulcha; Greek: Aegyssus, Turkish: Hora-Tepé or Tolçu) is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 91,875 as of 2002. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.

History

Tulcea was founded in the 7th century BC[citation needed] under the name of Aegyssus, mentioned in the documents of Diodorus of Sicily (3rd century BC). Ovid referred to it in Ex Ponto, saying that its name would have originated with that of its founder, a Dacian named Carpyus Aegyssus.

After the fights from 12-15 B.C., the Romans conquered the town. They rebuilt it after their plans, their technique and architectural vision, reorganizing it. The existing ruined walls and defending towers serve as a testimony of this. Also an inscription found at the Tulcea Museum of Archaeology mentions the name Aegyssus for the town. The Aegyssus fortified town is mentioned also by other documents until the 10th century: Notitia Episcopatum in political geography "De Thematicus".
Tulcea at the end of the 19th century

It was then ruled by the Byzantine Empire (5th - 7th century), the Bulgarian Empire (681-c.1000; 1185-14th century) [2] [3] [4] [5], the Genoese (10th - 13th century), it was part of the local Dobrujan polities of Balik/Balica, Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici, and, for a brief while after 1390, ruled by the Wallachian Prince Mircea cel Bătrân.

In 1416 it was conquered and ruled for 460 years by the Ottoman Empire.

In the 17th century Tulcea was mentioned by the Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi as a settlement with 600 houses, inhabited by Vlachs.

Around 1848, it was still a small shipyard city, being awarded city status in 1860, when it became a province capital. It became a sanjak centre in Silistre Eyaleti in 1860 and Tuna Vilayeti in 1864.

In 1878 Tulcea was eventually awarded to Romania, together with the Northern Dobruja (see Congress of Berlin). Tulcea was occupied by Bulgaria between 1916-1918 during World War I.

Today, Tulcea is the site of the Concursul George Georgescu, a music competition created by teachers at the Tulcea Arts High School and held annually since 1992. Named in honor of conductor George Georgescu (1887-1964), an important figure in the development of Romanian classical music who was born in the surrounding county, it was at first open only to Romanian music school and high school students but began admitting international students in 1995. Organizers include the Romanian Ministry of Education and Youth, the School Inspectorate of Tulcea County, the Tulcea County Council, the Tulcea Mayoralty, and surviving members of Georgescu's family.

According to the 2002 census, Tulcea has a population of 91,875 inhabitants, 91.3% of which are ethnic Romanian. Significant minority groups include Lippovan Russians (making up 2.78% of the total population), and Turks (1.4%). Most of the indigenous Bulgarians left the town in 1941 in accordance with the Treaty of Craiova.

Southern Bucovina

2009-12-18T09:56:00.000+00:00

Southern Bucovina rivals Maramureş as a rural paradise, with the added perk of its plentiful Unesco-recognised painted churches, considered among the greatest artistic monuments of Europe. Wondrous religious art and fantastic churches notwithstanding, Southern Bucovina is bursting with folklore, picturesque villages and endless bucolic scenery.

Southern Bucovina embraces the northwestern region of present-day Moldavia; Northern Bucovina is in Ukraine. In 1775 the region was annexed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire and remained in Habsburg hands until 1918, when Bucovina was returned to Romania. Northern Bucovina was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and incorporated into Ukraine, splitting families apart.

While coordinating transport between the remote villages can be challenging, there are plenty of alternatives to allow you to get the most out of your visit, including hitchhiking, biking, car hire or arranging a private tour.

Wallachia

2009-12-18T09:42:00.002+00:00

With competition like the rural idyll of Maramureş, the elegant Habsburgs cities of Crişana and Banat and the deluge of tempting offerings just north in Transylvania, Wallachia (Ţara Românească) is shamefully underrated, thus ignored by most travellers. All the better for you.

This geographically flat southern swipe of Romania has a culturally mountainous landscape that offers increasing rewards the further one ventures from Bucharest. Snuggled into the seams of the Carpathians are Horezu, Cozia and Turnul, some of Romania’s most beautiful and peaceful monasteries. Off-the-beaten-track attractions such as Câmpina’s spooky Haşdeu Castle or Târgu Jiu’s open-air museum of sculptor Brâncuşi’s work, are refreshingly free of tour buses. The heart of the Roma community can be found here, tearing through villages on horse-drawn carts and tending to their unusual houses. During summer months, fearless drivers will want to navigate the heart-stopping Transfăgărăşan road – said to be one of the highest roads in Europe – cutting across the Făgăraş Mountains and passing the real ‘Dracula’s castle’.

The Danube River flows along the southern edge of Wallachia and is best seen between Moldova Veche and Drobeta-Turnu Severin in the west where it breaks through the Carpathians at the legendary Iron Gates (Porţile de Fier), a gorge on the Romanian–Yugoslav border. Equally scenic is the drive east along the Danube from Ostrov into northern Dobrogea.

Wallachia has charming treasures and enough elbow room to make it special. Sidle down here for a few days, but don’t tell the others where you’ll be!

Traditional Villages

2009-12-06T15:45:00.002+00:00

The golden glow of the sun against the soft pastel houses; residents going about their business, tending the chickens, their vegetable gardens or sitting on the front porch can make an unforgettable scene. In villages and in the countryside, on lands dominated by ancestral castles, old fortresses and peaceful monasteries, life moves a little slower and follows ancient rhythms of tradition and culture.

It’s not unusual to see a farmer bringing his fruits to the marketplace in a horse drawn wagon or to encounter a village festival where the locals perform ancient rites of planting and harvest dressed in colorful traditional costumes. Cold, pure well water beckons the thirsty traveler from the roadside. Men kiss women’s hands in a courtly greeting unchanged for hundreds of years. Lush vineyards, first planted by Dacians – ancient inhabitants of Romania, yield fine wines.

In Transylvania, you will find villages clustered around ancient Saxon citadels, edifices that often enclose exquisite churches built by German settlers from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

A lovely half-hour drive south of the medieval city of Sibiu takes you into the pastoral landscapes of Marginimea Sibiului, one of Transylvania’s best-preserved ethnographic areas. Located at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, Marginimea Sibiului (meaning Boundaries of Sibiu) encompasses a string of 18 traditional Romanian villages *, rich in architecture, history and heritage. Age-old traditions, customs and celebrations, as well as the traditional occupation of sheepherding, have been carefully passed down from generation to generation in the villages of this area. Rasinari, dating to 1204, is the oldest, followed by Talmaciu (1318), Orlat (1322) and Saliste (1354). Saliste claims the oldest church, housing beautiful interior frescoes (1674), while Poiana Sibiului’s wooden church was built in 1771. Painting on glass has been a tradition for 200 years in these villages. The Museum of Painted Glass Icons in Sibiel exhibits the largest collection of painted glass icons in Europe - more than 700, as well as furniture and ceramics.

* The 18 villages are: Boita, Sadu, Raul Sadului, Talmaciu, Talmacel. Rasinari, Poplaca, Gura Raului, Orlat, Fantanele, Sibiel, Vale, Saliste, Gales, Tilisca, Rod, Poiana Sibiului and Jina.

Villages in the Apuseni Mountains are even more remote and lost in time. If you wish to discover local life and preserved traditions, one of the main points of interest is the Aries Valley, where the beautiful villages of Albac, Garda, and Arieseni are located. Skilled artisans, the Motzi people, carve musical instruments, hope chests and houses from the local wood, the spruce. In Patrahaitesti, a little mountain village, you may hear the famous Bucium ("Alps horns"), which are used for generations in the Apuseni Mountains.

The road from Bistrita to the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina runs east through the Bargau Valley and across the Tihuta Pass which peaks at 3,840 feet. The Bargau Valley encompasses some of the most beautiful unspoiled mountain scenery in the Carpathians with picturesque traditional villages located in valleys and on hillsides, ideal bases for hiking, riding or discovering their vivid tapestry of old customs, handicrafts and folklore. Explore the traditional villages in the Bargau Valley: Livazele (5 miles northeast of Bistrita) with its small folk museum called the Saxon House (Casa Saseasca) displaying Saxon ceramics, woodcarvings and folk dresses; Josenii Bargaului (10 miles northeast of Bistrita), a traditional center for black and colored pottery, and Prundu Bargaului (15 miles northeast of Bistrita), the site of the first paper mill in Romania, opened here in 1768.

Some of Romania’s most beautiful countryside is found in Bucovina, whose rolling green hills nestle villages and monasteries in their valleys. Horses, decked with red-tasseled bridles, travel country lanes, as villagers crows churchyards in traditional folk dress on Sundays and holidays. Bucovina remains the heart of craft mastery in Moldova. A felt mill in Vama serves the villages women, who bring their homespun wool cloth to be thickened for heavy coats against the harsh winters.
The village of Marginea, located just 7 miles northeast of Sucevita Monastery, is renowned for the black clay pottery crafted here, said to preserve a centuries-old Gaeto-Dacian technique, passed on from generation to generation. Winter festivals abound, with caroling bands of merrymakers dressed in handmade masks and costumes celebrating the New Year.

Maramures is an area of the country known for its timeless tranquility. In late afternoon, old women sit outside their gates coaxing coarse wool onto spindles. Many still favor traditional dress, meaning white frounced blouses, striped woven panels covering full black skirts, headscarves and opinci, a sort of leather ballet slipper from which heavy yarn criss-crosses over thick socks. On Sunday, such dress is practically “de rigueur”, even for little girls.

Baia Mare is usually the starting point for visiting a number of famous valleys with traditional villages: Iza, Viseu, Mara and Cosau. The villages of this remote Northern region are known for masterpieces of elaborately carved wooden roadside gates leading to family homes. The knots and sun designs of these traditional gates come from ancient pagan motifs. Popular motifs include grapevines, acorns, twisted rope, sun symbols, crosses and forest animals. The villages of Barsana and Oncesti have, perhaps, the greatest number of impressive gates, while Ciocanesti, whose houses covered with painted flowers and geometrics, makes perhaps one of Romania’s prettiest villages.

Behind the traditional carved wooden gates of Maramures, old orchards groaning with ripe plums become homemade tuica, the intoxicatingly strong brandy given to guests in thimbleful glasses as a traditional welcome.

Also unique to this region are the local village churches, made of wood and dominated by magnificent Gothic spires. Hardly a village lacks its own small wooden church dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. These are exquisite, high-steepled jewels with multiple gabled roofs, all of a pattern yet each distinctly unique. Seeing at least a few interiors is a must as many frescoes remain in good condition. If time is limited, the interiors at Ieud, Bogdan VodaPoenile Izei are recommended. The latter depicts some highly original torments for such sins as sleeping in church. Although churches are usually locked, ask any passerby for the key-keeper by pointing at the door and saying cheia (pronounced kay-ya), meaning the key. and

The spiritual philosophy of the people of Maramures is perhaps nowhere more apparent than in Sapanta – a 20-minute drive from Sighet. The town folks’ ancestors considered death as a beginning, not the end, and this faith is reflected in the carvings in the town’s unique Merry Cemetery. Blue wooden crosses feature a carved scene and humorous verses that endeavor to capture essential elements - both the good and the imperfections - of the deceased’s life. Even without benefit of translation, visitors can appreciate the handiwork of sculptor Stan Ion Patras, who began carving these epitaphs in 1935, and his successors. Patras’ house in the village is now a fascinating museum. Sapanta is also home to several wooden gates and one of the region’s tallest wooden churches.

Village experiences are made even more authentic by staying in a private home, a monastery or a guesthouse. Most accommodations in Romanian villages offer comfortable rooms, running cold and hot water and western-style toilets. They are often also remarkably low in cost.

If journeying out to rural Romania is not on your itinerary, you can also get a taste of this vibrant and exotic culture by visiting one of Romania’s museums dedicated to rural life: the Village Museum and the Museum of the Romanian Peasant in Bucharest and the ASTRA Museum of Rural Civilization in Sibiu. Real landmarks of rural architecture –homes, churches, schools—are set in tranquil parklands just beyond the city center.

Traditional Villages in Maramures
by Joyce Dalton

This section is courtesy of Travel Lady Magazine

From the province of Moldavia, head westward along a good, but mountainous, road to Romania's most traditional region, Maramures. The drive takes about five hours with no stops, but this is virtually an impossibility, especially for photographers. Picturesque villages (notably Ciocanesti, whose houses covered with painted flowers and geometrics make it arguably Romania' s prettiest village), spectacular mountain scenery and a unique museum smack in the middle of nowhere The Museum of the Tree Roots (Muzeul Radacinilor) with a bizarre exhibit of figures sculpted from tree roots all beg inspection. Gawking becomes even more demanding once Maramures is reached. At Mosei, turn left toward Bistrita, then right after a few miles toward Sacel and Sighetu Marmatiei, the principal town. (Sighetu also can be reached by continuing straight at Mosei, but the lower road passes through the region' s most traditional villages.) From Sacel on, each village offers its share, and more, of wooden houses, many with sculpted designs on balconies and around entrances. Then, there are the towering carved wooden gates, attached to fences half their size, rising before even modest dwellings. Popular motifs include grapevines, acorns, twisted rope, sun symbols, crosses and forest animals. The villages of Barsana and Oncesti have, perhaps, the greatest number of impressive gates.

Maramures is Brigadoon land where the way of life has changed little over the centuries. In late afternoon, old women sit outside their gates coaxing coarse wool onto spindles. Many still favor traditional dress, meaning white frounced blouses, striped woven panels covering full black skirts, headscarves and ³opinci,² a sort of leather ballet slipper from which heavy yarn criss-crosses over thick socks. On Sunday, such dress is practically de rigueur, even for little girls.

Hardly a village lacks its own small wooden church dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. These are exquisite, high-steepled jewels with multiple gabled roofs, all of a pattern yet each distinctly unique. Seeing at least a few interiors is a must as many frescoes remain in good condition. If time is limited, the interiors at Ieud, Bogdan Voda and Poenile Izei are recommended. The latter depicts some highly original torments for such sins as sleeping in church. Although churches are usually locked, ask any passerby for the key-keeper by pointing at the door and saying ³cheia² (pronounced kay-ya), meaning the key. Romanians are extremely kind and friendly and will be sure to help. While the main tourist activities in Maramures are gate-, church- and people-viewing, the town of Sighetu Marmatiei has a few attractions worth visiting. The outdoor village museum, on the road into town, boasts dozens of homes and farm buildings assembled from around Maramures county. Even Oncesti s wooden church has been relocated here.

For a look at Romania s more recent past, an hour spent at Sighetu' s Museum of Arrested Thought is instructive. Though only a block or two off the main street, it is not easy to find. Ask for the ³Muzeul Inchisorii² (pronounced moo zow ool un kee swah ree), meaning prison museum. Although built in the days of Austrian-Hungarian rule, the Communist regime utilized the prison for opposition leaders and intellectuals. Three tiers of cells and various exhibits may be viewed; an English-speaking guide is available. An old synagogue (currently under restoration) and the childhood home of author Elie Wiesel (not open to the public) also are in Sighetul Marmatiei (Sighet for short).

No trip to Maramures is complete without a look at the Merry Cemetery of Sapanta, a 20-minute drive from Sighet. Here, colorful folk art pictures and witty words carved into wooden headstones immortalize the deceased's foibles, occupations or family problems. No translations, but the pictures tell much of the story. An old woman bakes round loaves of bread, a young person bends in scholarly fashion over his books, one man is shot by soldiers while another tends his flock of sheep.

Beauty assumes many forms. For most travelers, the enduring traditions of Maramures and the magnificence of Bucovina's painted monasteries will define two of them.

Source: Romaniatourism

King Carol I Bridge

2009-11-21T18:23:00.004+00:00

The King Carol I Bridge (later renamed Anghel Saligny Bridge) was built between 1890 and 1895 in Romania over the Danube and Borcea and when it was completed it then became the longest bridge in Europe and the third longest in the world.

The bridge has a length of 4,037 metres of which 1662 m over the Danube and 920 m over Borcea and was designed by Romanian engineer Anghel Saligny. It is 30 metres above the water, allowing tall ships to pass under it. The bridge has four spans of 140 metres and one of 190 metres.

The two cities on the banks of the river which was built were Feteşti on the left side and Cernavodă on the right side. The bridge was used for almost a century, until it was replaced in 1987 with the new bridge built next to it. The bridge was inaugurated on 26 September 1895 and as a test on the opening, a convoy of 15 locomotives sped at 85 km/h.

Carol I of Romania, original name Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern (20 April 1839 - 27 September 1914 (O.S.) / 10 October 1914 (N.S.), German prince, was elected Domnitor (Prince) of Romania on 20 April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexander John Cuza by a palace coup; following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War he was proclaimed King of Romania on 26 March 1881. He was the first ruler of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty, which ruled the country until the proclamation of a republic in 1947.

During his reign, he personally led Romanian troops during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78 and assumed command of the Russo/Romanian army during the siege of Pleven. The country achieved full independence from the Ottoman Empire (Treaty of Berlin, 1878) and acquired the southern part of the Dobruja from Bulgaria in 1913. Domestic political life, still dominated by the country's wealthy landowning families organised around the rival Liberal and Conservative parties, was punctuated by two widespread peasant uprisings, in Walachia (the southern half of the country) in April 1888 and in Moldavia (the northern half) in March 1907.

He married Elisabeth of Wied in Neuwied on 15 November 1869. They only had one daughter, Maria, who died aged three.
Carol's childlessness left his elder brother Leopold next in line to the throne. In October 1880 Leopold renounced his right of succession in favour of his son William, who in turn surrendered his claim eight years later in favour of his younger brother, the future king Ferdinand.
Carol I
Domnitor of Romania (1866 - 1881)
King of the Romanians (1881 - 1914)
King Carol I of Romania
Reign 10 May 1866 (O.S.) / 22 May 1866 (N.S.) - 27 September 1914 (O.S.) / 10 October 1914 (N.S.)
Coronation 10 May 1881 (O.S.) / 22 May 1881 (N.S.)
Predecessor Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Domnitor)
Successor Ferdinand I
Spouse Elisabeth of Wied
Princess Maria of Romania
Full name : Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Father Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Mother Princess Josephine of Baden
Born 20 April 1839
Sigmaringen, Germany
Died 27 September 1914 (O.S.) / 10 Octomber 1914 (N.S.)
Sinaia, Romania
Burial Curtea de Argeş, Romania
1. Early life

Carol was born in Sigmaringen as Prince Karl von Hohenzollern Sigmaringen. He was the second son of Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and his wife, Princess Josephine of Baden. After finishing his elementary studies, Karl entered the Cadet School in Münster. In 1857 he was attending the courses of the Artillery School in Berlin. Up to 1866 (when he accepted the crown of Romania) he was a German officer. He took part in the Second Schleswig War, particularly at the assault of the Fredericia citadel and Dybbøl, experience which would be very useful to him later on in the Russian-Turkish war.

Although he was quite frail and not very tall, prince Karl was reported to be the perfect soldier, healthy, disciplined, and also a very good politician with liberal ideas. He was familiar with several European languages. His family being closely related to the Bonaparte family (one of his grandmothers was a Beauharnais, Joséphine's niece-in-law, and the other a Murat, Joachim's niece Marie Antoinette Murat), they enjoyed very good relations with Napoleon III of France. Romania was, at the time, under the influence of French culture and Napoleon's recommendation of Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen weighed heavy in the eyes of Romanian politicians of the time, as did his blood relation to the ruling Prussian family. Ion Brătianu was the Romanian politician sent to negotiate with Karl and his family the possibility of installing Karl on the Romanian throne.

Sighisoara Town and Medieval Festival

2009-11-21T17:49:00.006+00:00

Sighisoara (Hungarian: Segesvár, German: Schäßburg, Latin: Castrum Sex) is a city and municipality on the Târnava river in Transylvania, Romania. It is in Mures County.
Central Sighisoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city; it has been listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Each year, a Medieval Festival takes place in the old citadel in July.
For 15 years, on summer there is organized the three days Medieval Art Festival. It is difficult to present in a few words the multitude of tourist attraction points of this town: towers, bastions, churches and houses. However, the most important are considered to be Turnul cu Ceas (the Clock Tower) – the entrance gate in the citadel – which is also a symbol of Sighisoara, Turnul Cositorarilor (the Tin Coaters Tower), Turnul Macelarilor (the Butcher’s Tower), Turnul Cizmarilor (the Shoemaker’s Tower), Turnul Croitorilor (the Taylor’s Tower), Turnul Cojocarilor (the Furrier’s Tower), Turnul Fierarilor (the Blacksmith’s Tower), Turnul Franghierilor (the Rope Makers’ Tower), Turnul Tabacarilor (the Tanner’s Tower), Biserica Manastirii (the Church of the Monastery), Biserica din Deal (the Church on the Hill), Casa Venetiana (the Venetian House), Casa cu Cerb (the House with Antlers), Casa de pe Stanca (the Cliff House), Casa cu Sindrila (the House with Shingle), Casa Vlad Dracul (the house attributed to Vlad Tepes) and so on.

Biserica din Deal (The Church on the Hill) is the only old crypt Evangelic church in Transylvania, and its walls contain 60 tombstones. Inside the church there is also a collection of altars, brought from Germany, and a collection of bottom drawers. On the walls of the church there is also a fresco dating from 1380 which presents the Holy Trinity as a person with three faces. In the Church of the Monastery there is also a collection of oriental carpets, and an organ concert takes place here every week as well.

Casa Vlad Dracul (Vlad Dracula’s House)

Is one of the oldest buildings, and it is placed on the left side of the little square in front of the Turnul cu Ceas (Clock Tower). The building was the official residence, belonging to the mayor or to the royal county lord of the citadel.Vlad Dracul, the son of Mircea cel Batran, lived here between 1431 and 1435, as well. Nowadays, the building shelters a restaurant.

The central square is limited by 18th century houses, inhabited by the noble families of the town. The main fairs or the criminal trials took place in this square, the execution post (pillar of infamy) being placed here as well.

The Bastion Street, on which can be found Casa cu Sindrila (the House with Shingle), a specific handicraftsman’s house, continues the Square. The house shelters the residence of the Interethnic Centre for the Youth, as part of the German Forum of Sighisoara, where they carry on a great number of educational courses for the youth, and it also shelters an Internet-Café.

A World Without Romania

2009-11-15T06:40:00.006+00:00

Can you imagine that? A World Without Romania ?I don't think so. The world will not be the world without Romania. The Europe will not be the Europe without The Beautiful Romania.
If you don't believe that, take a look here :

If can you find that beautiful in another country, please let me know.

The Town Spa of Baile Herculane

2009-11-15T05:56:00.006+00:00

Băile Herculane (Latin: Aqua Herculis, German: Herkulesbad, Hungarian: Herkulesfürdő) is a town in Romanian Banat, in Caraş-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinţi Mountains to the east and the Cerna Mountains to the west, elevation 168 meters.The spa town of Băile Herculane has a long history of human habitation. Numerous archaeological discoveries show that the area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. The Peştera Hoţilor (Cave of the Thieves), contains multiple levels, including one from the Mousterian period, one from the Mesolithic period (late Epigravettian), and several from the later Neolithic periods.

Legend has it that the weary Hercules stopped in the valley to bathe and rest. During the 165 years of Roman domination of Dacia, the Herculaneum Spa was known all over the Empire. Unearthed stone carvings show that visiting Roman aristocrats turned the town into a Roman leisure center. Six statues of Hercules from the time have been discovered. A bronze replica of one of them, molded in 1874, stands as a landmark in the town center.

The modern spa

In modern times, the spa town has been visited for its natural healing properties: hot springs with sulfur, chlorine, sodium, calcium, magnesium and other minerals, as well as negatively ionized air. Before World War II, when the first modern hotel was built (i.e. H Cerna, 1930) it remained a popular destination with Western Europeans, who lent the town a refined elegance. During the Communist rule, mass tourism facilities were built, such as the 8-12 levels tall concrete hotels Roman, Hercules A, Hercules B, Afrodita, Minerva, Diana, UGSR, etc. which dominate the skyline. It was visited by all publics, but especially popular with employees and retirees, who would spend their state-allotted vacation vouchers there, hoping to improve their health. Today, they share the town with a younger crowd, attracted by its beautiful mountain setting. An incredible array of new private-owned pensions and hotels appeared after 1989, along the Cerna/Tiena river banks, spread from the beautiful romantic train station to the end of the hydroelectrical dam. Although very beautiful also, some of the Austro-Hungarian era buildings are derelict for the time being, including many of the baths, because of post-communism property related issues.

Sibiu - Medieval Town

2009-11-14T13:01:00.009+00:00

SIBIU - City Highlights Sibiu - Aerial View Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels* built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons. The riches amassed by its guilds paid for the construction of both impressive buildings and the fortifications required to protect them. Sibiu’s Old Town retains the grandeur of its earlier days when rich and powerful guilds dominated regional trade. Like Sighisoara and Brasov, it has a distinctly Germanic feeling. Sections of the medieval wall still guard the historic area, where narrow streets pass steep-roofed 17th century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into vast, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square. In 1797, Samuel von Hahnemann opened in Sibiu the world's first homeopathic laboratory Sibiu is home to the first hospital in Romania (1292), the first pharmacy (1494) and the oldest museum in Romania, the Brukenthal Museum, opened in 1817 The first book in the Romanian language was printed in Sibiu in 1544 Sibiu is a pedestrian-friendly city with two easily accessible levels: the Upper town, home to most of Sibiu's historic sights, and the Lower town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin. Traditionally, the Upper town was the wealthier part and commercial outlet, while the Lower town served as the manufacturing area. The historical centre includes the Great Square, Huet Square, the beautiful Passage of Steps connecting the upper town to the lower town, the well-known Bridge of Lies, Goldsmiths’ Square and the Small Square. * The seven walled citadels populated by the Saxons of Transylvania were known in German as the Siebenburgen. The other Siebenburgen citadels are located in the towns of: Bistrita (Bistritz), Brasov (Kronstadt), Cluj (Klausenburg), Medias (Mediasch), Sebes(Mühlbach) , Sighisoara (Schässburg) information City Landmarks Sibiu’s Towers (Turnurile Sibiului) Sibiu - Towers - Carpenters’ Tower - Turnul Dulgherilor For hundreds of years, this walled town in the heart of Transylvania was one of the most powerful and prosperous strongholds in Europe. Surrounded by imposing walls, Sibiu’s original fortifications included 39 defensive towers, five bulwarks, four gates and five artillery batteries. Although the entire network is remarkably well-preserved, the best-maintained section is the southeastern side which has been reinforced several times throughout the centuries since attacks most often came from that direction. Three 15th century towers have withstood the test of time: Harquebusiers’ Tower (Turnul Archebuzierilor), Carpenters’ Tower (Turnul Dulgherilor) and Potters’ Tower (Turnul Olarilor). The 16-th century Great Tower (Turnul Gros) was the site of Sibiu’s first theatrical performance, staged in 1778. The Upper Town (Orasul de Sus) At the centre of the upper town are three beautiful squares. The Great Square is the site of the Roman-Catholic church and the Brukenthal Palace, where you will find one of Romania's most important art collections. The square is linked to the Little Square by a passage beneath the Council Tower, which is worth visiting for the excellent views over the town. The third square, Huet Square, is dominated by the Evangelical Cathedral. The Great Square (Piata Mare) First mentioned in 1411 as a grain market, the Great Square – the largest square in the city, has been throughout the centuries a quiet witness to the town’s lively merchant activity, assemblies and even public executions. Located in the heart of the old walled city, the square was designated an architectural monument by UNESCO and features some of the most impressive buildings in Sibiu. Roman-Catholic Church (Biserica Romano-Catolica) Address: Piata Mare The north side of the Great Square is dominated by the Roman-Catholic Church (Biserica Romano-Catolica). This beautiful baroque structure with classical decorations was built between 1726 and 1738. The tower was attached to the nave in 1738 and one year later, a cross was seated on the top. The completely renovated interior is magnificent with gold-laced walls and colorful ceiling frescoes. Intricate stone carvings cover much of the nave while the side altars and colonnades glisten with pink marble. The fresco behind the altar was painted in 1777 by Anton Steinwald. Inside the church is the stone grave of Otto Ferdinand de Abensberg, commander of Transylvania between 1744-1747. Organ recitals are usually held once a week. information Sibiu - Coucil Tower - (Turnul Sfatului) Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului) Address: Piata Mare At the corner with Avram Iancu Street stand the old mayor’s residence and the imposing Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului). Built in the 13-th century, this tower was used as entrance gate to the second row of fortified walls built around Sibiu. Throughout the centuries, the Council Tower served as a grain storehouse, a fire watchtower, a temporary prison and even as a museum of botany. The roof, originally built in pyramid form, has undergone various changes, culminating in the addition of four corner turrets in 1826. On the top floor, an observation deck allows a bird’s-eye view of the historic town and the Fagaras Mountains beyond. Brukenthal Palace (Palatul Brukental) Address: Piata Mare Facing west of the square is the stunning Brukenthal Palace (Palatul Brukental), built between 1778-1785 by a Viennese architect in a refined late-baroque style.

It is now the home of the Brukenthal Museum (Muzeul Brukenthal), the oldest and one of the finest art museums in the country. The palace was built by Baron Samuel von Brukenthal to serve as his official residence and house his collections of Romanian and Western art, 16th – 18th century religious sculptures and icons, stamps and coins, as well as an impressive library. Over the years, the collections have been enriched through acquisitions and donations. (See museum details) Even though the museum officially opened in 1817, its art galleries welcomed visitors 27 years earlier (1790), three years prior to the opening of the Louvre Completing the picture is the fairy-tale Blue House, an 18-th century baroque house bearing the old coat of arms of Sibiu on its facade. The Little Square (Piata Mica) From the Great Square, walk through one of two tunnels under the arches of the Council Tower to arrive at the Little Square. This second fortified square was home to the town’s most prestigious master craftsmen, who lived in rows of arcaded houses along the north and east sides. Today, small shops, cafes and businesses line the square. Huet Square (Piata Huet) Sibiu - Evangelical Cathedral - Biserica Evanghelica Huet Square is home to a mix of gothic buildings dominated by the Evangelical Cathedral (Biserica Evangelica). This impressive structure, featuring five pointed towers, was built in 1520 on the site of an old Roman basilica. The simple, stark interior is in total contrast to that of the Catholic Church. A gigantic fresco, painted by Johannes of Rosenau in 1445, covers much of the chancel's north wall. The mural shows the Crucifixion and marks a transition in painting from late-gothic style to renaissance style. On the south side, the choir loft boasts a beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling, home to a baroque organ designed by a German master in 1671. Six thousand pipes were installed in 1914, making it the largest organ in Romania. Here, you can also find the city's only fully German school, the Samuel von Brukenthal Gymnasium, which exemplifies the city's proud German heritage. information The Lower Town (Orasul de Jos) The Lower Town comprises the area between the river and the hill, and it developed around the earliest fortifications. The streets are long and quite wide for medieval city standards, with small city squares at places. The architecture is rather rustic: typically two-storey houses with tall roofs and gates opening passages to inner courts. Legend has it that the name derived from the merchants’ fiery disputes which flared up around it and the passionate but transitory vows of young lovers who often met here. The Bridge of Lies (Podul Minciunilor) Several steep streets and stairways lead from the upper to the lower town. One of them passes beneath the iron Bridge of Lies. Built in 1859 by Fredericus Hutte, this was the first wrought iron bridge in Romania. Sibiu - The Stairs Passage (Pasajul Scarilor) The Stairs Passage (Pasajul Scarilor) The 13th century Passage of Steps, an architectural masterpiece with twin staircases and archways, connects the Upper Town to the Lower Town. Built in the 13th century, it is one of the most picturesque places in Sibiu. At one end of the passage stands the city’s oldest building which now hosts the oldest restaurant in Romania, The Golden Barrel (Butoiul de Aur). Goldsmiths’ Square (Piata Aurarilor) The Goldsmiths’ Square, a peaceful and intimate square, is surrounded by charming old houses with medieval windows, doorways and turrets. For many years, it was the main point of passage between the Little Square and the Lower Town, the two connected by a 15th century stairway. Haller Bastion Address: Str. Spitalelor Located at the north end of Onofreiu Square (Piata Onofreiu), the bastion is named after Sibiu’s 16-th century mayor, Petrus Haller, who had the red-brick tower built in 1551. information Historic Churches Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedrala Ortodoxa Mitropolitana Sf. Treime) Address: Str. Mitropoliei 35 Constructed between 1902–1906 on the site of a former Greek church, it shares a similar style with Saint Sofia Cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey. The interior is dominated by a massive gold chandelier and features neo-Byzantine decorations. This is the second largest Orthodox cathedral in Romania (the biggest one is located in Iasi). Ursuline Monastery (Manastirea Ursulinelor) Address: Str. General Gh. Magheru 38 Built in 1474, the site was home to a Dominican Monastery until 1543 when the Lutherans took over. Known under the German name of Klosterkirche, it became a Ursuline Monastery in 1755. The Ursulines changed the gothic interior to baroque style. Outside, the building still features many of its former gothic details, including the portal and the piles. Inside, the church has three altars and beautiful paintings representing various saints and protectors of the church. Biserica din Groapa Address: Str. Justitiei 5 This Orthodox Church, whose name translates Church on the Gorge, was built between 1788 - 1789 and renovated between 1802-1803. The interior of this small church with a tower in three levels was beautifully painted by Nicolae Brana in 1960. Jewish Sibiu Although documents attest the existence of Jews in Sibiu since the 12th century, the Jewish community of Sibiu was never among the biggest in Romania. In 1940 the town had some 1,300 Jews, three synagogues, three rabbis, two cemeteries and two ritual baths managed by the Sephardic and Orthodox communities. Today, the handful of Jews who remain in Sibiu hold weekly and holiday services at the Great Synagogue. The Great Synagogue Address: Str. Constitutiei 19 Built by architect Szalay Ferenc in 1899, with funds collected by Sibiu’s small Jewish community, this synagogue boasts a neo-gothic façade. Inside, it has a basilica aspect with three naves mounted by lofts. information Museums Sibiu - Bruckenthal Museum Brukenthal Museum (Muzeul Brukenthal) Address: Piata Mare 4-5 Open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 5:00pm; Closed Mon. Admission charge Sibiu is home to Transylvania’s finest art museum, the Bruckenthal Museum. Founded in 1790 by Samuel Brukenthal, the governor of the province, the museum opened to the public in 1817. It is the oldest museum in Romania and one of the first museums in Europe. The art collection includes paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck and Teniers, as well as works of German, Austrian and Romanian masters. Additionally, it features a 16th century silverware collection, painted glass icons and 350 rare books, many dating to the days of the first printing press. ASTRA Open Air Museum (Muzeul in aer liber ASTRA -Dumbrava Sibiului) Address: Calea Rasinarilor 14 (2miles south of Sibiu) Open: Tue. – Sun. 9:00am - 6:00pm (wintertime 10am – 5pm); Closed Mon. Admission charge How to get here: From Piata Unirii take bus #1 or the tram (which goes all the way to Rasinari). At peak times (7am – 9am and 1pm – 3pm), the tram runs every 30 mins and every hour the rest of the day. ASTRA is the second largest open-air museum in the world (250 acres) Located in the middle of a dense forest and surrounded by a beautiful lake, ASTRA features more than 300 buildings as well as watermills and windmills, gigantic presses for wine, fruit and oil, hydraulic forges and structures representing village architectural styles from many parts of Romania. The museum illustrates the technological legacy of the Romanian people. There is a wonderful collection of wooden farmhouses, a cherhana (a traditional collecting and storage point for fish) and sheepfolds, as well as a wooden church and two traditional inns. Guided tours are available. Another option is a visit by horse-drawn carriages (ladies, the driver will kiss your hand in greeting, an old Romanian custom). The History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie) Address: Str. Mitropoliei 2 Open: Tue. – Sun. 9:00am – 5:00pm (wintertime 10am – 6pm); Closed Mon. Admission charge This museum is housed in the Old City Hall (Primaria Veche), which dates to 1470 and boasts typical Transylvanian gothic civil architecture. Here, you can learn the history of the city and the region from Neolithic and Roman times to the present. In addition to rich collections from the Middle Ages and the baroque era, there is a fine silverware exhibit. information Natural History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie Naturala) Address: Str. Cetatii 1 Open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 6:00pm; Closed Mon. Admission charge One of the oldest and richest of its kind in Romania, this museum was founded by the Transylvanian Association of Natural Science (Siebenburgischer Verein für Naturwiessenschaften in German) in 1849. An astronomic observation centre also is located here. Sibiu - Emil Sigerus Emil Sigerus Saxon Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnographie si Arta Populara Saseasca Emil Sigerus) Address: Piata Mica 12 Open: Tue. – Sun. 9:00am - 6:00pm (wintertime 10:00am – 5:00pm); Closed Mon. Admission Charge Collections of painted furniture, costumes-textiles-embroideries and pottery, initiated by Emil Sigerus, the most important collector of Transylvanian Saxon Folk Art at the end of the 19th century. The museum also includes the original collections of the Carpathians Transylvanian Museum or MSVK opened in 1895 by the Siebenbugishen Karpathenverein Association. Museum of Hunting Weapons and Trophies (Muzeul de Arme si Trofee de Vanatoare) Address: Str. Scoala de Inot 4 Open: Tue. – Sun. 9:00am – 5:00pm (wintertime 9am – 4pm); Closed Mon. Admission charge Founded in 1966, the museum features a collection of weapons, medals and stuffed animals. Some of the exhibits are over 100 years old, such as the hunting trophies brought after a long safari in Africa by Colonel Spiess, who was a Master of Hunting of the Royal House of Romania. Franz Binder World Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie Universala Franz Binder) Address: Piata Mica 11 Open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 6:00pm; Closed Mon. The Franz Binder collections, housed in the “Hermes House” (initially called “The House of the Small Handicraftsmen's Association”) built between 1865 and 1867, were established in the 19th century through donations and acquisitions from travelers and collectors. The permanent exhibition, “From the art and culture of the world – the people of the world,” displays objects from various parts of the world, including northern Africa and the springs of the Nile, China, Japan, Oceania, Asia Minor, Brazil, Lapland and Australia. Pharmacy Museum (Muzeul de Istorie a Farmaciei) Address: Piata Mica 26 Open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 6:00pm; closed Mon. Admission charge Housed in a 16-th century building where the oldest pharmacy in Romania, La Ursul Negru (The Black Bear), operated for over 150 years, this museum showcases some 6,000 pieces of medical equipment from the 16th to the 19th centuries, coming from chemist’s shops, medical institutions and individuals. It should be noted that Sibiu had more chemists than any other town in Transylvania. The collections of the museum cover the whole range of medical instruments, from surgical pouches, microscopes, different bowls made of wood, china, glass, bronze mortars, stands with balances and weights in the Viennese style to the oldest piece of the collection, a 1597 bronze mortar used for preparing medicines. At the front, a reconstructed shop is decked out with wooden Viennese counters and stacks of glass jars creating the atmosphere of an 18-th century “apoteka” (German for “pharmacy”). The Steam Engine Museum (Muzeul de Locomotive cu Aburi) Address: Str. Dorobantilor 22 Admission charge Opened in 1994, this museum displays 23 standard gauge steam engines, 10 narrow gauge steam engines, three snowplows and two steam cranes. The steam engines were built between 1885 and 1959 in Romania (the Resita Factory and the Malaxa Factory in Bucharest), Germany (Henschel, Borsig, Schwartzkopff) and USA (Baldwin). The museum is located opposite the main railway station. information Nearby Attractions Sibiu makes an ideal base for the exploration of the nearby countryside and villages which display an interesting mixture of Saxon and Romanian traditions. Marginimea Sibiului Marginimea Sibiului - Talmaciu How to get here: Local trains from Sibiu to Sebes stop at Sibiel (25 minutes), Saliste (35 minutes) and Miercurea Sibiului (1 1/4 hours). Located at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, a half-hour drive from Sibiu, this region is considered one of Transylvania’s best-preserved ethnographic areas. Marginimea Sibiului, meaning Borders of Sibiu, encompasses a string of 18 villages*, rich in architecture, history and heritage. Age-old traditions, customs and celebrations, as well as the traditional occupation of sheepherding, have been carefully passed down from generation to generation in the villages of this area. One scene among the Saliste church’s frescoes remains covered at all times. It depicts the devil surrounded by naked human bodies, a subject the villagers consider too obscene to be displayed. Tourists, however, can take a look upon request. * The 18 villages are: Boita, Sadu, Raul Sadului, Talmaciu, Talmacel. Rasinari, Poplaca, Gura Raului, Orlat, Fantanele, Sibiel, Vale, Saliste, Gales, Tilisca, Rod, Poiana Sibiului and Jina. Rasinari, dating to 1204, is the oldest, followed by Talmaciu (1318), Orlat (1322) and Saliste (1354). Saliste claims the oldest church, housing beautiful interior frescoes (1674), while Poiana Sibiului’s wooden church was built in 1771. Rasinari How to get here: Rasinari is connected to Sibiu by a roughly 4-mile tramline through the Dumbrava Forest. The tram runs every 30 mins. at peak times (7:00am – 9:00am and 1:00pm – 3:00pm) and every hour for the rest of the day. One of the wealthiest villages in the region, Rasinari is famed for its local carpentry and sheep farming. The village has an Ethnographic Museum (open Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 5:00pm) and a painted Orthodox church built in 1752. The annual Pastoral Album Folklore Festival takes place on the third Sunday of April. Sibiel - The Museum of Painted Glass Icons (Muzeul de Icoane pe Sticla) How to get here: Local trains from Sibiu to Sebes stop at Sibiel (25-minute ride) Painting on glass has been a tradition for 200 years in these villages. In 1968, the founder of the museum, priest Zosim Oancea, started to collect 18-th and 19-th century icons richly painted on glass. Today, the museum exhibits the largest collection of painted glass icons in Europe - more than 700, as well as furniture and ceramics. information The Fortified Church in Cristian Where: 5 miles west of Sibiu Cisnadie Cisnadie (German: Heltau) Where: 6 miles south of Sibiu How to get here: Daily bus service from Sibiu Cisnadie was mentioned for the first time in a document from the year 1204 under the name "Rivetel." In the 12th century Saxon colonists settled here and in 1323, the German name Heltau is mentioned. During the centuries, the town flourished, particularly the guilds of sicklesmiths and wool weavers. Weaving remained the traditional occupation of the townspeople until the 20th century, when large textile factories were built. The Textile Museum (Expozitia Muzeala "Istoricul Industriei Textile") has a comprehensive coverage of this local industry. The museum, located at Str. Apararii 2 is open Mon. – Sat. 8:00am to 4:00pm. The most important architectural site is the Cisnadie Fortified Church located in the town centre. A climb to the belfry offers a super view of Cisnadie’s red rooftops and courtyards, while in the distance, nestled at the foot of the Cindrel Mountains, you can catch a glimpse of Cisnadiaora. Cisnadioara (German: Michelsberg) Where: 2 miles from Cisnadie and 8 miles from Sibiu Cisnadioara has a Romanesque church dating from 1223 and a citadel on top of a high hill above the village which frequently withstood Tatar attacks. The villagers often took cover in the citadel, which they defended by hurtling down rocks which had been carried into the citadel by aspiring husbands. It was believed that no young man was marriage-worthy until he had carried a heavy rock from the riverbed up the steep track. In the centre of Cisnadioara stands an old baroque church. The local village museum contains an attractive collection of artifacts and tools from Saxon households. Built by the Transylvanian Carpathian Society (S.K.V.) in 1894, Paltinis (German: Hohe Rinne) is the highest (4,724 ft.; 1,440 m altitude) and oldest tourist resort in Romania. A favorite for ski enthusiasts, Paltinis, with its beautiful location, fresh air, and numerous hiking opportunities, is also an attraction for summer hikers. Marked trails make it easy to reach the main points on the surrounding mountains. Most of the trails are suitable for mountain biking, as well. Some other attractions in this area: - The Energy Museum “Sigmund Dachler” in Sadu where in 1896, the first hydropower plant in Romania and the third in Europe was opened - The Short Fortress in Orlat (1317) - The Saliste Culture Museum in Saliste - The Dacian Fortress near Tilisca - The Fortified Church in Cristian (1495) - The Fortified Church Dobarca (13th century) Traveling through the twisting and turning gorges of the Olt River to Curtea de Arges, you can make a stop at the beautiful Cozia Monastery. Once you get to Curtea de Arges, visit the 14-th century Princely Court and the Princely Church with its lovely interior frescoes. According to tradition, Curtea de Arges was founded in early 14th century by Prince Radu Negru, succeeding Campulung as capital of Walachia, hence its name Curtea (The Court). Another stunning architectural gem in town is the 16-th century Curtea de Arges Monastery (Manastirea Curtea de Arges), topped with two towers spiraling in opposite directions. Behold the sad legend of Manole* as you take in its beauty. Romania’s first two kings and queens are buried here. * The legend says that Manole, the master builder, had to sacrifice his wife by locking her into the wall to stop the monastery from falling apart. Fifty miles west of Curtea de Arges, you can visit Horezu Monastery, the largest monastic settlement in Walachia, founded in 1690 by Prince Constantine Brancoveanu. A masterpiece of the “Brancovenesti” style and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Horezu is renowned for the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religious compositions and its painted decorative works. The monastery houses precious collections of frescoes and icons dating from the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. The nearby village of Horezu is home to one of the largest pottery centres in Romania. Nearly a century ago, local nuns taught the villagers how to make and paint pottery and ever since, people have come from far and wide to get their hands on Horezu’s ceramics.

The Beautiful Romania

2009-11-06T23:15:00.003+00:00

I will attach here few images and video withe our beautiful Romania. I was in many country in Europe, but Romania is the very very beautiful country from Europe.

Romania - Wonderful Places

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