About Romania
Romania is a country located in southeastern Europe that is known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and stunning natural beauty. From the Carpathian Mountains and Danube Delta to the castles, churches, and historical landmarks, there is so much to see and explore in this beautiful country. Romania is also home to a variety of cultural festivals and events, making it a great destination for anyone interested in experiencing the local culture. Whether you’re interested in exploring the outdoors or immersing yourself in the local culture, Romania has something for everyone to enjoy.
The Danube Delta
- The Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and is the best preserved on the continent. The greater part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania (Tulcea County).
- The Danube branches into three main distributaries into the delta, Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântul Gheorghe (Saint George).
- The Danube Delta falls within the Pannonian steppe ecosystem of eastern Europe, with Mediterranean influences.
- This environment includes the lakes, and various ponds, streamlets and channels.
The Black Sea Riviera
- The Romanian Black Sea Riviera stretches along the Black Sea coast from the Danube Delta at the northern end down to the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast in the south, along 275 kilometers of coastline.
- The most important resort is Mamaia, situated north of the city of Constanța on a narrow land slice that separates the Black Sea and Lake Siutghiol. Mamaia is a popular destination in the summer for Romanians and foreign tourists alike as a result of major investments in tourist infrastructure.
- The main cities in the region are Constanța (Romania’s largest port), Mangalia, Năvodari and Sulina.In Tulcea County the largest resort is Gura Portiței.
Transfagarasan
- The Transfăgărășan or DN7C is a paved mountain road crossing the southern section of the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. It’s ranked as a national road and is the second-highest paved road in the country after the Transalpina.
- The Transfăgărășan was constructed between 1970 and 1974 during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s rule as a response to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union.
- The Transfăgărășan was featured in a segment of the British TV show Top Gear
- The road has also been dubbed “Ceaușescu’s Folly”
Târgu-Jiu and the creations of Constantin Brancusi
- Constantin Brâncuși was a Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th-century and a pioneer of modernism, Brâncuși is called the patriarch of modern sculpture.
- Brâncuși grew up in the village of Hobița, Gorj, near Târgu Jiu and, as a child, he displayed an aptitude for carving wooden farm tools.
- The most important sculptures made by him are: “The Silence Table”, “The Gate of the Kiss”, “The Column of Infinity”, “The Gold Bird”, “Miss Pogany”.
Peleș Castle
- Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle situated in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, on a medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914. Its inauguration was held in 1883. It was built for King Carol I.
- The castle is northwest of the town of Sinaia, which is 48 kilometres from Brașov and 124 kilometres from Bucharest. The complex is composed of three monuments: Peleș Castle, Pelișor Castle, and the Foișor Hunting Lodge.
- Considering its form and function, Peleș is a palace, but it is mistakenly called a castle. Its architectural style is a romantically inspired blend of Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival styles, similar to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades, which have allegorical hand-painted murals and ornate fachwerk similar to that seen in northern European alpine architecture. Interior decoration is mostly Baroque influenced, with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics.
Dracula’s Castle
- Bran Castle is a castle in Bran, 25 kilometres southwest of Brașov. It is a national monument and landmark in Transylvania. The fortress is on the Transylvanian side of the historical border with Wallachia, on road DN73.
- Commonly known outside of Transylvania as Dracula’s Castle, it is marketed as the home of the main character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. There is no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracul, voivode of Wallachia, who has name similar to Dracula. Stoker’s description of Dracula’s fictional castle also bears no resemblance to Bran Castle.
