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Medieval Towns, Castles and Fortresses of Transylvania Tour
Tour ID:
1032
Tour Theme:
Historic and Cultural Tours
Regions:
Transylvania
Duration:
7 Days / 6 Nights |
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Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST
- Your English-speaking driver/guide will pick you up from your location in
Bucharest (Hotel, Airport, etc...)
- Upon arrival check in hotel
- First night at your leisure
- Overnight in Bucharest
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A:
Crystal Palace ****
Option B:
Venezia Hotel***
Day 2:
ROUTING:
BUCHAREST - COZIA - SIBIU
- Breakfast
- In the morning a panoramic city tour of Bucharest with the main points of
interest: Government Palace, House of Free Press, Royal Palace, Revolution
Square, Parliament House, a.s.o. (only visits of the exterior)
- Then we start the route to Sibiu. On the way a stop for a visit at Cozia
Monastery, erected by Mircea cel Bătrân in 1388 and boasting his tomb, one
of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art and architecture in
Romania. Wall facets' decorations with original stone rosettes and frames
display early Byzantine influence. Of great value is the hospital church, 'bolniţa'
(1543), with original well-preserved indoor frescoes like the votive portrait of
ruler Mircea cel Bătrân and his sons. Cozia was painted between 1390 and 1931.
Some of the original frescoes (1390) are still well preserved. The monastery
features a museum of exhibiting old art: icons, old manuscripts and prints,
embroideries and objects of worship.
- The route to Sibiu cross the Carpathians Mountains through Olt River Valley.
From the road the traveller can admire the beautiful show of the mountains.
- In the afternoon/evening arrival to Sibiu and city tour. Sibiu was the
European Capital of Culture in 2007. The Big Square, the Small Square, the
Ursuline Church, The Franciscan Church, The staircase Tower, the Tanners Tower,
the Lier’s Bridge , the House of the Butcher’s Guild and Bruckenthal Museum are
the most important sights.
- Overnight in Sibiu
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A:
Hotel Ramada Sibiu ****
Option B:
Zorba Pension ****
B
Day 3:
ROUTING: SIBIU - SEBES - DEVA - HUNEDOARA
- Breakfast
- In the morning depart enroute to Hunedoara.
- Stop on the way to visit Calnic Castle (Unesco site). The castle, first
mentioned in 1269, is very well preserved. Built as a noble's residence, it was
bought in 1430 by local peasants and fortified.
- Arriving at Hunedoara and visit the Hunyad’s Castle. The most
representative castle in this part of Transylvania, built in 14th century and
became famous as a property of Iancu of Hunedoara, the great ruler and fighter
against the Ottoman Empire at that time. Built in the 14th century, on the place
of an old fortification, on a rock below which flows the small river Zlasti, the
castle is a large building, with tall and diversely colored roofs, towers,
windows and balconies adorned with carvings in stone. In February 2007, Hunyad
Castle played host to the British paranormal television program Most Haunted for
a three-night live investigation into the spirits purported to be haunting the
castle.
- Overnight in
Alba Iulia
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A & B: Rusca Hotel ***
B
Day 4:
ROUTING: HUNEDOARA - ALBA IULIA - MEDIAS - BIERTAN - SIGHISOARA
- Breakfast
- Depart from Hunedoara and continue to Alba Iulia. The modern city is
located near the site of the important Dacian political, economic and social
centre named Apulon (believed by many archaeologists to be the Dacian
fortifications on top of Piatra Craivii). In the roman period the city was known
as Apullum. In 1918, tens of thousands of Romanians gathered in Alba Iulia on
December 1, now commemorated as the National Day of Romania, to hear the
proclamation of the union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania. In 1922,
Ferdinand of Romania was symbolically crowned King of Romania in Alba Iulia in
an act which mirrored the achievement of Michael the Brave.
- Visit the old citadel, The Reunion Cathedral, The Reunion Hall and Museum, The
Catholic Cathedral (host to the grave of Iancu de Hunedoara – the famous ruler
of Transylvania)
- Continue our route to Medias and visit the beautiful Margareta church
from XIV century and the main tower with 47m high slant. This tower was included
in top 10 the most slanted towers in the world.
- Then visit Biertan fortified church (included in the Unesco Heritage List), a
fortified medieval church, one of the biggest from Transylvania with three
defensive inner walls.
- In the evening arriving at Sighisoara
- Overnight in
Sighisoara
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A:
Hotel Sighisoara ***
Option B: Casa Saseasca***
B
Day 5:
ROUTING: SIGHISOARA – PREJMER - BRASOV
- Breakfast
- Visit the citadel of Sighisoara, one of the most preserved medieval
city from Europe. Situated in Mures County, on the valley of the Tarnava Mare
river, Sighisoara (former Dacian settlement and also called "the pearl of
Transylvania") was founded by the German immigrants in the second half of the
12th century and it was turned into a city in 1407. Its medieval aspect may be
found both in the centre of the city and inside the Fortress of Sighisoara. In
this area, houses are built very close to one another, giving a sense of
"crowdedness" (in order to occupy the least space possible).
- Then we cross a region with important Saxon influence. You can admire the
architecture of Saxon's villages, the fortresses from Rupea, Saschiz and Rotbav.
- The next stop will be at Prejmer. Visit Prejmer Fortified Church, one
of the best preserved of its kind in Eastern Europe. The church is modeled after
churches of Jerusalem, built in the style of Late Gothic churches from the
Rhineland.
- End the day in Brasov with a visit in the Old City Center. Main
attractions are: Black Church.- a major symbol of Braşov, and a museum open to
visitors of the city center, Weaver’s Bastion, Black and White Towers,
Ecaterina’s Gate, Concil Square.
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A:
Casa Wagner***
Option B:
Flamingo Guesthouse***
B
Day 6:
ROUTING: BRASOV - SINAIA - BRAN - RASNOV - BRASOV
- Breakfast
- Depart to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle, former summer residence of
the kings of Romania, the Peles Castle is 44 kilometres far from Brasov, in
Sinaia, a well-known mountain resort. Nowadays the Castle is one of the most
important museums in Transylvania where one can admire furniture and ornamental
objects, carpets, tapestry, sculptures, paintings, collections of weapons from
the 15th up to the19th centuries.
- Continue our visit at Bran and it’s famous Bran castle. Also called
Dracula's Castle, it is situated not far from Brasov (25 kilometers) at the
entrance in the Bran - Rucar passage. The castle got its fame from Dracula's
legend written in 1897 by Bram Stoker and later on made into a film by Francis
Ford Coppola. The first documents about the Bran Castle appeared in 1377. Along
the history, the Castle had a strategic mission being the border between
Transylvania and Wallachia. First it was under the rule of the King of Hungary
Sigismund of Luxemburg, of the Romanian voievodes Mircea cel Batran and Vlad
Tepes and later on it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Brasov
- Next stop at Rasnov and visit the old citadel. Built in 1331, the
Fortress had a defense role and it was a shelter for the inhabitants of Rasnov
in case of enemy attacks.
- In the middle of the courtyard there is a well 146 metres deep and the ruins
of an 11th - 12th century - Orthodox church were discovered here.
- Nowadays the Fortress houses an interesting museum
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A:
Casa Wagner***
Option B:
Flamingo Guesthouse***
B
Day 7:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - AIRPORT or GIURGIU* (*Romania/Bulgaria border crossing)
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Bucharest Airport and final good-bye from your Romanian Specialist
Tour Guide (about 2h.30min driving) or continue this tour to Bulgaria with our
partners, for more details
click here
End of tour services
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