Miorita Landscape Travel

ROMANIA TRAVEL CIRCUITS

CIRCUIT V - Download as PDF

Circuit in northern Moldavia 7 days

Day I

Bucharest – Focsani – Piatra Neamt – Varatec / Agapia (430 Km)

Departure from Bucharest to northern Moldavia. We first stop at the Heroes Mausoleum in Marasesti, raised in the memory of the soldiers in WWI, a war that in Romania is also known as ‘The Great War for the Homeland’s Unification’.

The journey continues with the surrounding areas of Targu Neamt, an area with a deep religious background and several monasteries that renowned for the architecture, paintings and the art and religious items that are displayed in their museums.

In this first day, we can, at the very most, vist Varatec Monastery and/or Agapia Monastery.

Accommodation and dinner at a pension in Varatec or Agapia.

Day II

Varatec/Agapia – Neamtu Monastery – Targu Neamt – Vatra Moldovitei (150 km)

In the first part of this day we will visit Neamtu Monastery, Neamt Buffalo Reservation, Ion Creanga’s Memorial House in Humulesti and Neamtu Citadel.

Afterwards, we will firstly visit Moldovita village in order to attend an egg paining demonstration after which we will travel to Vatra Moldovitei for dinner and accommodation at a pension near Moldovita Monastery.

Day III

Vatra Moldovitei – Sucevita/Horodnic – Vatra Moldovitei (70/120 km)

The day begins with the visit of Moldovita Monastery where we will discover, among others, one of the most special religious and historical frescos: the Siege of Constantinople.

Then, we will visit Sucevita Monastery, the best preserved and largest of the painted monasteries in the area.

In the second part of the day, we can optionally organize a horse ride to Horotnic or we could roam the nearby hills.

We return to Vatra Moldovitei for accommodation and dinner.

Day IV

Vatra Moldovitei – Voronet – Humor Monastery – Dragomirna – Vatra Moldovitei (200 km)

On this day we begin with the visit of Voronet Monastery, known worldwide for its unique blue colour that changes the hue depending on the light, but mostly for the fresco that depicts God’s Last Judgement.

Following up, we will visit Humor Monastery, built by ataman Toader Bubuioc in 1530 and Dragomirna Monastery which was raised by Prelate Anastasie Crimca in the beginning of the 17th century. Dragomirna Monastery strikes through its stone embroidery that adorns the steeple and through the symbols that Anastasie Crimca placed in the church.

We then return to Vatra Moldovitei for dinner and accommodation.

Day V

Vatra Moldovitei – Ruginoasa – Cucuteni – Cotnari – Iasi (250 km)

On this day, we will visit Alexandru Ioan Cuza’s Palace from Ruginoasa, Cucuteni Cultural Museum, from the same town and the Cotnari vineyards.

Accommodation and dinner in Iasi.

Day VI

City tour in Iasi, with the visit of all its monuments, of which we name: Metropolitan Cathedral - with the relics of Saint Pareskeva, Three Hierarchs Church, Cetatuia Monastery, Culture Palace, Ancient Romanian Literature Museum, Unification Museum, Ion Creanga’s Hovel and Copou Park – with Mihai Eminescu’s Linden Tree.

Accommodation in Iasi and dinner in a medieval-like restaurant.

Day VII

Iasi – Bucharest (420 km)

We return to Bucharest.

CIRCUIT VI - Download as PDF

Circuit in Romania 5 days

Day 1

Bucharest - Curtea de Arges (170 km)

Transfer for the airport to Curtea de Arges.

Here we will visit Curtea de Arges Monastery.

Accommodation and dinner in Curtea de Arges.

Curtea de Arges Monastery, built in the 16th century by voivode Neagoe Basarab in place of the old, 14th century Christian Mitropoly of Tara Romaneasca, is considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Europe. During the reign of the first Romanian king, Carol I, the monastery was transformed into a royal necropolis. The legend of the beautiful monastery speaks over time about the spirit of the Romanian people.

Day II

Curtea de Arges – Sibiu (250 Km)

Departure to Sibiu where we will visit the city.

Sibiu is one of the oldest cities in Romania and an important European cultural centre, in 2007 being named the European Cultural Capital..

We will visit the two squares: the Large Square and the Small Square, places surrounded by old buildings that are representative for the local history, the Catholic Church, built in the 18th century, inspired by the early Viennese baroque spirit, the Evangelic Cathedral, known for its impressive baroque styled organ, the Bridge of Lies, Brukenthal Palace, hosting the oldest museum in Romania and the Christian Cathedral, which has the characteristics of a byzantine church, currently the cathedral of the Sibiu Archbishopric and Ardeal Mitropoly.

We will visit ASTRA Museum of Folkloric Traditional Civilization.

Dinner with folk program at a pension in Sibiel, 20 km away from Sibiu.

Accommodation in a hotel in Sibiu or at a pension in Sibiel.

Day III

Sibiu-Sighisoara – Viscri – Brasov (250 Km)

We will visit Sighisoara and Viscri

We depart in the morning to Sighisoara, famous for its inhabited medieval citadel, considered to be one of the most beautiful in eastern Europe. We will visit some of the towers that composed the stronghold's defensive system, the most significant being the Clock Tower (the city's symbol, built to defend the main gate, unique in Romania because of the figurines clock). We will also visit the Monastery's Church, the house where Vlad Tepes (the Impaler) was presumably born and the Church from the Hill, one of the most important monuments in the city, representative for the gothic style in Romania.

Viscri – the village where you can breathe the past.

Viscri is a settlement founded by the Saxones that were called in Transylvania by the king of Hungary 800 years ago to defend the kingdom's borders. The king gave them land here and over 500 villages were founded at Transylvania's borders to stand in the way of the Turks. Nowadays, this village is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It is an establishment that has its own rules, inherited from the Saxones and that are hundreds of years old. Because of its secluded location, here we can find the best preserved 18th-19th century archaic costume.

Captivated by the beauty and the story of these fairytale-like places, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles of Great Britain bought a house that is His home every time He visits Romania. 'Charles's Village', how it's now known, is visited annually by thousands of tourists that are impressed by its authenticity and beauty.

Departure to Brasov where we will visit the old town centre.

Accommodation and dinner in Brasov.

Day IV

Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest (220 Km)

We will visit Brasov, Bran Castle, Medieval Customs Museum - displaying the original furniture that used to be in the castle until 2009.

In Brasov, we will visit the following:

Saint Nicholas Church located in the old neighbourhood, Scheii Brasovului. The church was built in the 13th century in the place of another wooden church that used to be there ever since the first millennium of the Christian era. St. Nicholas Church is special in terms of architecture, being built in gothic style on the outside and in byzantine style indoors.

The First Romanian School Museum in Scheii Brasovului conceals a true treasure consisting of manuscripts and old books, some of which are unique in Romania and the world.

We then visit Bran Castle, one of the most famous European castles. It is located 30 km away from Brasov, between Bucegi Mountains and Piatra Craiului, in a beautiful landscape rounded by the legend of the vampire count that seems the dominate the castle's history. The Germanic populace from Brasov began the construction in 1377 after Ludovic I of Hungary confirms their right to build a stone citadel. The castle was raised in place of an old wooden stronghold belonging to the Teutonic knights (13th century), located on top of a peak. Initially, the castle had a military role but gradually it became an important commerce centre.

Bran castle in known worldwide as Dracula's Castle, because of the numerous stories that spread mostly following the popularity of Bram Stoker's novel: 'Dracula'. The Irish writer seems to have gotten inspired from the medieval legends in Brasov about the Wallach ruler, Vlad Tepes (the Impaler), who was indeed cruel.

Departure to Sinaia where we will visit Peles Castle.

Peles Castle was raised at the end of the 19th century as residence for the first king in Romania: Carol I. Peles Castle is impressive mostly because of its German neo-renaissance architecture on the outside, while every room on the inside is adorned differently.

Departure to Bucharest.

Accommodation and dinner in Bucharest.

Day V

Bucharest city tour and transfer to the airport.

We will visit Bucharest's monuments, like: the Arch of Triumph, the Romanian Athenaeum, the Royal Palace (became the National Art Museum), the Romanian History Museum, People’s Palace and the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral.

We then visit Cotroceni Palace, built at the end of the 19th century as a secondary residence of the royal family.

The Patriarchal Cathedral was raised in the 17th century in a Romanian style.

In order to visit Bucharest, the plane must depart after lunch.

In order to visit all of the objectives, the circuit must begin on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday.