Traveling through Transylvania on your own. Transylvania Leisure Information (Romania)

We did not really think over our trip to Transylvania. My husband does not like clear plans and schedules. A small glitch in the program can ruin the whole trip. Yes, there must be intrigue! A convenient starting point for us was the city of Chernivtsi. From the bus station every hour there are buses to Romania, mainly to Suceava (a city with an interesting history and a lot of crooks).

It was decided to overcome the road from Suceava to Brasov by rail. It takes more than five hours, so it will not be superfluous to have a snack on the track. When buying tickets, try to insist on the "high" class of the carriage, otherwise you may find yourself surrounded by a very colorful company. Landscapes in Romania are very picturesque and you can enjoy beautiful views right from the train window.

Those arriving in Brasov are greeted right on the platform by hospitable hostesses of not expensive apartments. We were somehow quickly chosen by just Maria, and our feeble attempts to get rid of her played the role of trade. We decided to see the apartment and were satisfied. A room in such an apartment costs about 5 euros.

We rested and rushed to the center. Brasov is not a big city and almost everywhere you can walk to the center on foot. The central part of Brasov is a layering of different eras and styles: there is a medieval citadel and a cathedral, many buildings in the Baroque and Rococo styles, and so on up to the most modern ones. In general, a traditional European city, but with its own character and flavor.

Morning caught us on the road. We are heading to Sinai. A trip to this city from Brasov takes an hour and a half, but the most beautiful landscapes easily compensate for this inconvenience. First-time visitors to Sinai should remember that Romania has the highest concentration of luxurious mansions per square kilometer in Romania. At first, all this makes my eyes run ...

The most interesting object in Sinai is the dacha of the first King of Romania, Carol I. A small passage in the direction of the dacha is brightened up by wonderful mansions, monasteries and a shady alley, with a great variety of really valuable souvenirs.

And shock again! At first, through the forest thicket, the contours of wonderful palaces begin to be guessed, and the panorama that opens up is simply mesmerizing. The whole day we wandered around this wonderful palace and by the evening, barely dragging our feet, we headed to the hotel.

Continue on foot along a convenient well-marked trail. The direction was already chosen at the top, in general, they decided to go to the city of Bran, covered with gloomy legends. I do not advise repeating this part of the route if you do not have good mountain experience and equipment. The entire route was strewn with crosses and this cannot but be alarming. The routes are well marked along the ridges, there are mountain shelters; it seemed that it could happen, probably, all the same Vampires.

Everything went well with us. We managed to traverse a chic very steep slope, rather even a wall, successfully get lost, go down the wall into such a bear wilderness that the local shepherds did not call their wolfhounds for a long time, not believing that we were people.

By nightfall we went to Bran. We were hospitably placed in their house by very nice descendants of Count Dracula. Rest and a hot shower quickly restored our strength, and fed us deliciously and to satiety.

An excursion to the nest of the great bloodsucker is quite amusing. The brand promoted in Hollywood hardly works here. Such a terrible and bloody vampire turned out to be not a vampire, but a real person from the historical past, the ruler of Wallachia, Vlad III, who was also called Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula (a hobbler, an impaler, a devil).

Bedroom "Dracula"

The very cozy castle of the "famous vampire" was restored at the end of the 19th century by King Carol I and was used as a summer residence before the construction of the palace in Sinai. The castle was operated with such love that even today warm feelings emanate from it. They say there are four more very ruined castles scattered around Bran, and that's where the spirit of the count may be hovering.

Romania is a very friendly and cozy country and I do not believe that some evil spirit can huddle in its mountains.

A tourist's report about a trip by own car to the colorful region of Romania - Transylvania. Useful travel tips, sights visited and photos.

Foreword

Fall holidays are approaching. Children quietly hinted that it would be nice to spend their free time away from home, but they were resolutely refused. However, water wears away the stone. When there was already quite a bit left before the weekend, I remembered an old idea to go to Romania. Fortunately, it is within easy reach of Odessa from Odessa. Past experience of traveling through this territory was not very pleasant. I remember only depressing surroundings. This time our attention was drawn to a magical place - Transylvania. Until now, on our trips, we have crossed Romania through and through. Now they wanted to stay in the heart of its most mysterious area - in the city of Brasov. Having studied the reviews about the area and the map, we decided that it would be convenient to live in one place and travel around the neighborhood from there.

Odessa (Ukraine) - Brasov (Romania)

This is our shortest of all major routes. As usual, we tried to hit the native off-road to a minimum and quickly call in Moldova. The roads are much better there. In Romania, after subsidies from the European Union, the tracks were repaired to last.

When entering Moldova, we buy a vignette - this paper confirms that you have paid the toll. We take a minimum period of seven days. The cost is about 280 rubles. You can purchase a vignette in advance on this website. If you buy at the border checkpoint, carefully check the spelling of the last name and car number. Mistakes are made quite often. In Romania, this piece of paper is sold at large gas stations, such as Rompetrol or OMV. For seven days it costs 220 rubles. The vignette can also be purchased online in advance.

Historically, Transylvania has always had more German, Austrian and Hungarian influence than the neighboring regions of Romania. The topology of the area greatly contributed to this - the Alps and the Carpathians limit the territory, almost capturing it in a ring. For a long time Transylvania was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

And now, when you enter the territory of Zalesye (this is how the name can be translated from Latin), it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that this is not Romania. In simple words, everything around becomes much better. Instead of a rather dull landscape, colorful forests appear, and the air is filled with the smell of pine needles and wet foliage.

Transylvania road

Forest along the road

Perhaps this is a subjective impression, but it seemed to me that even the people I met looked more friendly. Instead of crumbling dwellings along the road, neat houses begin to come across.

Even the plant on the horizon does not stand out from the overall picture

These giants can decorate any landscape.

At the entrance to Brasov, we came across a convenient pocket on the road, from where the whole city is visible at a glance

We arrived in the city. We settled in an interesting apartment - Residence Ambient. The reception is located on one street, and the housing itself is on the next one. The parking lot is closed, located near the reception area. First I had to check in, then bring things in, then return, park and after that go back to the hotel. They have such a cunning algorithm of work. Despite this, we really liked the apartments. For us, rooms were allocated at the end of the corridor with a kitchen and a dining room, where everything was at our complete disposal.

Number

Staircase to the dining room

Kitchen

Dining room

By the end of our stay, we guessed that this was the kitchen for the entire floor. Either there were few vacationers there, or our children scared everyone away, but, apart from us, we did not meet anyone who wanted to cook something. There is even a small balcony in the dining room.

View from the balcony

Second day.

Today is a rare day for us. We rest and walk around Brasov on foot. We're not going anywhere, we're not in a hurry. We just walk around, not even thinking about what we see. Brasov is very conducive to such a pastime. The city is literally saturated with tranquility. It is surrounded by wooded hills on all sides. One of them even has a "Hollywood" inscription.

city ​​hall

Strada Sforii - the narrowest street in Europe

black church

The Black Church is the symbol of Brasov and the largest Gothic cathedral in Southeast Europe. It was originally St. Mary's Church. She was called black after the fire.

Walls of Old Brasov with an observation tower

Brasov is one of the seven oldest walled cities in Romania. old plan

Brasov - Sighisoara

Today our path lies in one of the oldest cities in Transylvania - Sighisoara. It was founded by the Saxons in the 13th century. The old city and the fortress are perfectly preserved. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Each house in the city resembles a small fortress - such was the vital necessity at the time of construction. The old streets are paved with stone.

We climb the hill where the citadel of Sighisoara is located. People still live in the houses of the fortress. There are shops and restaurants here.

Life here is as leisurely as it was 500 years ago.

According to legend, Vlad the Impaler, later known as Count Dracula, was born in this yellow house. The building now houses a restaurant.

Clock tower

The clock tower now houses a historical museum. On the roof there is a spire with a golden globe and a weather vane in the form of a rooster. There is a window next to the two-meter dial. 12 wooden dolls appear in succession in it every hour. At 18:00, for example, an angel with a candle pops up, announcing the end of the working day.

big dome- This is the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

There is a wonderful observation deck here. Houses with red tiled roofs, the Tirnava Mare river and the bridge across it, narrow winding streets. All this, located under the gentle autumn sun and blue sky, creates a feeling of comfort, tranquility and confidence in the future.

One of the first fortifications of the city is the Shoemaker's Tower. Now there is a local radio station

Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Joseph

We walk along Shkolnaya Street towards School Hill and reach the old covered wooden staircase "Skara Shkolalor", consisting of 175 steps. It was built back in the 17th century, and still every morning students walk along it to get to school. A very interesting feeling arises when you go up in a closed tunnel, and inside, through the cracks in the boards, the sun's rays penetrate, filling the entire space.

Stairs "Skara Shkolalor"

We get to the top of the hill - this is the highest point in the city. You can, by the way, not climb the stairs, but climb the pretty path. It's even easier to walk on it. Here is an outstanding architectural monument of Sighisoara - a mountain church and an old school on a hill.

mountain church

The place is very cozy. Behind the church is an old German cemetery. It is so creepy and at the same time picturesque that the imagination is played out in earnest. Another ancient defensive structure of Sighisoara is the rope tower. Now the family of the caretaker of the church and the cemetery lives here.

Rope tower

Being in Transylvania, you simply must visit Sighisoara. This is a city with a special spirit, you can feel the breath of eternity in it. We really liked it here.

Brasov - Sinai. Bran Castle

Today we are going to Sinai to get acquainted with its famous castles. First on the list is Peles. This is a real castle from a fairy tale. This is exactly how I imagined the place where the princess lives as a child. Peles Castle was built by the King of Romania, Carol I. By the way, he ruled the country for 48 years.

Karol I was of German origin. Yearning for his homeland, the ruler decided to build something in Romania that would remind him of the German Empire. He bought the land that is now called the Royal Domain of Sinai and built himself a sort of dacha. There you could relax and hunt. Contemporaries wrote that representatives of more than 10 nationalities were involved in the construction. The result is a fabulous place of mixed style - Peles Castle. The river that flows nearby gave it its name.

There is a beautiful park around the castle.

Stairs and terraces are richly decorated with fountains, statues, stucco and other details.

I don’t have photos of the interior decoration, probably, the lighting did not allow me to capture the beauty. However, the palace is just as magnificent on the inside as it is on the outside. This is the first castle in Europe equipped with electricity. The heating system laid at that time still functions today. The castle houses an amazing collection of furniture, art and stained glass. There are many halls, one more beautiful than the other. I am by no means a fan of castles, but this one won me over. Both outside and inside it looks like a king.

Karol and his wife Elizabeth did not have an heir - their only daughter died very young. The successor was appointed nephew Ferdinand. For him, a small, elegant castle, Peleshor, or "little Pelesh", was erected in Sinai.

In 1947, the communists confiscated all royal property, including these castles. For half a century, the palaces were not mentioned in any guidebook and were closed to the public. They say that the museum curators deceived Ceausescu, saying that a very dangerous fungus for humans lives in the walls of the Peles castle. So they tried to protect the building from the barbaric alterations that would have been inevitable if a new owner had settled here. However, in 2006, Pelesh and Peleshor were returned to the now living grandson of Ferdinand, Mihai. The state bought the buildings from him for 30 million euros. Now it is the national property of Romania, open to the public. All the necessary information before visiting can be obtained.

Next we move to Bran Castle. In the 14th century, it was built by local residents on their own hard-earned money. In gratitude, builders and donors were exempted from paying taxes to the treasury for several centuries to come. Initially, the castle belonged to the grandfather of Count Dracula - in fact, this is all that connects this place with the famous Prince Vlad Tepes.

Honestly, this place is artificially promoted. There are a lot of tourists and souvenir shops here. This is a real masterpiece of falsification. This castle has nothing to do with the national hero of Romania, Vlad Tepes. It is even difficult to trace who and when first connected these two words - Bran and Dracula. Probably, someone, after reading the novel by Bram Stoker, was haunted by the thought that you need to find the original refuge of the mysterious vampire. And Bran Castle seemed to fit the role very well.

Staircase in the castle

The idea was quickly picked up by the people and instantly became popular. In fact, one can only be glad for the enterprising locals. A whole region of Romania lives on funds received from tourists who want to see what is not there. Moreover, they leave here absolutely satisfied.

The current owner quickly saw the prospects for his project. In the castle, several rooms have been refurbished to resemble the home of a cruel vampire. On the website of the castle you can get information about the cost of entry and time to visit. Tickets are not cheap - 600 rubles for an adult.

torture chamber

Souvenir coins from Bran Castle

Way home. Rasnov city

Today we are going home. Since the path is close enough, at the same time we visit one more place. Not far from Brasov, 15 kilometers away, is the small town of Ryshnov. The city-forming object in his case was a fortress on a mountain, erected by the knights of the Teutonic Order for the needs of the civilian population, so that they could hide during the next attack of the Tatars.

There are two ways to get to the fortress - on foot or in a trailer pulled by a tractor. We chose the second option for the ascent and the first for the descent. The cost of a trip on a trailer is approximately 180 rubles. The height of the walls of the fortress is about five meters. There are about 30 buildings behind the fortifications. There were pens for livestock and warehouses for food.

Tractor with trailer

Walls and watchtower

Gate to the fortress

Buildings inside the fortress

In the center is a well, which is the deepest in all of Transylvania. One of the watchtowers has an excellent observation deck. It offers a wonderful view of Ryshnov and its surroundings. Autumn in Transylvania is very picturesque.

View of the city from the fortress

Road to the fortress

In summer you can visit the fortress from 09:00 to 19:00, in winter - until 17:00. In the warm season, festivals are held here. More information can be found. By the way, in order to enter the fortress at the top, you need to have cash with you, since they don’t accept cards there, and there is no ATM nearby.

I must say that this place impressed me much more than Dracula's famous castle. We move home. Even from the trip back we get a lot of aesthetic pleasure.

Beautiful autumn Transylvania

The results of the trip

GPL gas in Romania costs 30 rubles per liter, and in Ukraine - 26 rubles. During the entire trip, we dashed off about 1,700 kilometers, that is, we spent about 8,000 rubles on fuel.

I want to give some advice to tourists:

1. In Romania during the day you need to drive with the headlights on.
2. The reviews we read about Romanian drivers before the trip were confirmed. They are completely unpredictable. May swerve or stop unexpectedly. Be extremely careful on the road.
3. As for food, Romania is an inexpensive country. We usually cooked ourselves, bought in the nearest shop. Prices are about the same as at home.
4. It is better to change money in large banks. For example, at Transylvania Bank. For the operation, you will need a license or a passport.

Transylvania is a great place for a leisurely vacation, and autumn is the best time for such a trip.

Tourists who are tired of trivial travel and want to experience a real sense of fear should visit the most mysterious and mysterious place in Europe, the birthplace of Count Dracula - Transylvania, located in northwestern Romania. Everything here is permeated with legends and the Middle Ages. The ancient castles of Targovishte, Sighisoara, Bran, Peles are real gems not only in Romania, but also in Europe.

In Targovishte, the ruins of a castle that belonged to the famous vampire Vlad Dracula have been preserved. In the courtyard of the castle there were many stakes on which the unfortunate people sentenced to death were tortured. Many other tragic historical events took place here.

The medieval city - the fortress of Sighisoara, built of unhewn boulders and stones, has not changed much since Dracula's childhood, as if time had stopped and froze. In the old house where he was born, there is a restaurant with a specific menu for those who want to try "Dracula" cuisine.

The ancient Bran Castle is located on a high rock, in the gorge of the Carpathian Mountains. This is one of the most terrifying places on the planet. In the courtyard of the castle there is a well, which is supposed to be the entrance to the dungeon. In 1920, Queen Mary refurbished the castle, setting up her summer residence here.

Peles Palace, built in the 19th century, impresses with its beauty, sophistication and luxury of the decoration of the rooms. It is beautiful both inside and outside. The castle and the adjacent courtyard are decorated with many statues, and a fountain beats in the center of the courtyard. Previously, here was the residence of the Romanian kings. During its construction, various architectural styles were combined.

On the way to Transylvania, you can stop by the nearby capital of Romania - Bucharest and have an interesting tour of historical sites. Visit the Royal Palace, the village museum and see the majestic building - the Palace of Parliament, built with the money of the whole nation. 40 km from Bucharest, on an island surrounded by water on all sides, stands the Snagov Monastery, built by Count Dracula himself, in whose tomb, as he hoped, his body would find eternal rest. But under the tombstone in the center of the monastery rests only the head of a vampire. The grave is marked with a small portrait, there are always fresh flowers in a vase.

You can combine an introductory trip to the legendary historical centers with a holiday in the mountains. Transylvania has many resorts, ski slopes with lifts, the sea and beaches. The trip will be unforgettable and leave a lot of vivid impressions.

Transylvania is the largest and perhaps the most famous region in Romania. Once in Transylvania, you find yourself in a world with a peculiar nature and mentality. This region is a region of contrasts and its different parts are absolutely different from each other.

Transylvania has a rich history and is a place where very different cultures are intertwined. Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons and Gypsies living together on the same territory are the main feature of this place.

Transylvania is a mysterious land full of mysterious monuments of the Middle Ages: in the region there are about a hundred castles and fortresses and about seventy fortified churches, which are rightfully considered the most famous in all of Romania and today have best preserved their original appearance. More inquisitive and sophisticated travelers, in turn, will find many small villages with old houses and fortified churches interesting.

Since Transylvania is surrounded by the Carpathians, its territory has a huge amount of mountain forests. Therefore, tourists have excellent opportunities for hiking or rock climbing in any of the many national parks located here.

In the center of Transylvania, the landscape is represented by green hills and rivers. Most of the local large cities are very similar in their planning and architecture to Western European ones. The urban infrastructure is at a fairly high level, which ensures a constant influx of tourists.

Regions

Southeast (Sibiu, Brasov)

The southeast, which includes the counties of Sibiu and, in comparison with the rest of the country, has more pronounced Saxon features. This region is especially popular among tourists due to the large number of fortresses located on its territory (Risnov, Bran), old towns, fortified churches in picturesque villages (Bjertan, Valea Vilor, Vale, Prejmer) and mountain forests (Piatra Craiului). In addition, here are some of the most famous ski resorts (Poiana Brasov). You can compare prices for hotels in Transylvania from different booking services, and book in advance - on the well-known website. Some prefer to stay in private apartments - you can see such offers.

East

In the eastern region with the cities of Sfyntu-Gheorghe, Miercurea-Cuk and the influence of the culture of neighboring Hungary is very strongly felt. The counties of Hagrita (Miercurea-Cuk) and Covasna (Sfintu-Gheorghe) are also known as the Szekely region. Here you can buy fresh bread, as well as a local sweet called kürteskalach, or enjoy the views of Lake Sfynta Ana.

Southwest

The villages of Deva and Alba Iulia, located in the counties of Hunedoara and Alba, are important historical monuments in Romania. The city of Alba Iulia used to be the capital of the Principality of Transylvania, uniting all Romanian regions. Here you can see the famous Corvinesti castle, lakes, caves and other picturesque natural monuments. The region is also home to the Retezat National Park.

Northwest

As for the counties of Cluj and Bistrica-Nasaud, it is difficult to say whose culture is predominant here. is a university city and research center. There are also famous historical and cultural monuments here. In the vicinity of the city there are picturesque villages (Romanian, Hungarian and German). Being in this region, you can also visit the gorge of the same name located near the city of Turda. Bistrica-Nasaud is known for its lakes, caves, resorts and historical monuments. The city of Giurteleku-Shimleului is also located in the northwestern region.

County of Transylvania

A county in Romania is a first-level administrative-territorial unit. The following counties are distinguished in Transylvania:

• Bistrita-Nasaud
• Brasov
• Covasna
• hagrita
• Huneodara
• Mures
• Sibiu

Story

Thanks to the famous novel "Dracula" by the writer Bram Stoker, many people associate Transylvania with stories about bloodthirsty vampires (this is where the novel takes place). However, vampires are not the only thing this region is famous for. Transylvania is also one of the most beautiful natural areas in Europe, with many picturesque villages, medieval walled cities and monasteries. The bustling cities of Transylvania, with their stunning baroque architecture, offer travelers a wide range of tourist opportunities, and the price here is much lower than, say, in France or Germany. Transylvania is home not only to some of the most developed modern cities, but also to old villages, where people live today in exactly the same way as they did a hundred years ago. Transylvania is surrounded by the foggy Carpathians and is also home to some rare flora (orchids and other plants) and fauna (bears, wolves).

Transylvania is a region known for its multi-ethnic culture and history. At one time it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary (950-1526), ​​after which it became an independent principality (1526-1690) until it was included in the Habsburg Empire. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, according to the Treaty of Trianon, which marked the end of the "Great War" between Hungary and the Allies, a state was formed by uniting Transylvania with Moldavia and Wallachia.

Such a complex historical fate of Transylvania explains the diverse cultural differences between this region and the rest of Romania. For a long time, the Romanians, who made up the majority of the population here, had practically no rights and were under the control of the small Hungarians and Saxons. Other national minorities included Gypsies, Jews and Armenians.

After World War I, Transylvania became an integral part of Greater Romania. As for the era of communism, it became a difficult period for representatives of national minorities in the region, especially for those who, before the advent of the totalitarian regime, were considered the owners of a small business (Hungarians, Jews).

After the revolution of 1989, most of the Saxons who settled in Transylvania in the 13th century, when the region was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, moved to Germany.

At different times, a certain tension was observed in relations between the main population and national minorities, but it never came to a serious conflict. Therefore, today Transylvania is a vivid example of a multinational region where relative peace and harmony reign among all peoples. However, if we talk about Europe as a whole, then the Romanian gypsies, as before, are subjected to serious discrimination in it, and their culture does not find understanding on the part of most peoples.

Today, Transylvania is the most developed region in Romania, on the one hand because of tourism, on the other hand, because of the strong capitalist structure that developed before the Second World War. And the presence of Germans and Hungarians in the region became a catalyst for the strong influence of the West, which began in 1989.

It is very interesting to observe the multiple differences that exist in this small Romanian region: Saxon culture prevails in the south and southeast of Transylvania, Hungarian culture is leading in the east and northeast, Slavic traditions are stronger in the north, and finally, the southwest is not looks like absolutely no one.

Once in Transylvania, try to visit several old villages - the people in them are distinguished by special kindness and hospitality.

Cities

• Alba Julia
• Sibiu
• Sfintu Gheorghe

Language

Today, almost everyone in Transylvania speaks Romanian, although for some ethnic Hungarians (about 20% of the population) in some areas, Hungarian is their mother tongue. There are still a small number of German speakers in the region. In any major city, you can easily find a person with an average knowledge of English, French or German.

Transylvania is not the stereotypical Romania you expect. Here are mountains, castles and fortresses, perfectly preserved architecture of the Habsburg times, clean, the locals have impeccable English. It is worth getting to this region to check out the largest fortress in the country, a tower, as in the Disney screensaver, a cave 30 floors deep, inside which you can ride a Ferris wheel or a boat - on an underground lake. Not Dracula alone!

The cities from the guide are relatively close to each other, buses in Transylvania run perfectly, even locals use hitchhiking, and therefore we advise you to consistently include all the cities from the selection in your itinerary.

Cluj-Napoca

European Student City

The capital of Transylvania, a well-groomed and lively city at the same distance from the Hungarian and Ukrainian borders, sinks into the heart at first sight. The main square with the imposing Gothic Cathedral of St. Michael, where Erasmus students constantly make appointments, the baroque Banfi Palace, which you want to put in your pocket and take home, and in it - the Art Museum, where you can look at Romanian painting for hours - and finally figure it out why Romanians consider themselves descendants of the Holy Roman Empire. Be sure to look at the city from above - from Cetatuia. If it seems that the peeling imperial architecture was enough for you, storm the minibus to the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania (an open exhibition in Romulus Vuia Park). Here you will definitely breathe out “I told you so”, because the authentic houses that make up the exposition are exactly what we imagine with the word “Romania”.

But please be back in town by evening - there's always something interesting going on here. About official events, but about less official, it is better to ask at the reception in the hostel. Try to break into a production at the National Theater - everything, of course, is in Romanian, but the troupe is considered the leading one in the country. For the wildest parties, go to the club Janis, but before that, put a piece of paper with the address in your pocket - the nights there usually end unpredictably.

How to get there? There are many options (sorry, there is nothing direct from our region). Vilnius-Barcelona-Cluj or Vilnius-Milan-Cluj by Wizzair, Kyiv-Budapest by Wizz Air + 7 hours by train from Budapest (from €24). From the first Romanian city on the border with Ukraine (Valea Viseului) there is a train - 5 hours, € 6. And of course a plane, bus or train from Bucharest - sorry, you still need to get to it.

Turda

Own underground world

Turda itself is not particularly remarkable - several streets, a couple of Gothic churches, a dozen home restaurants. People come here to walk not around the city, but under it - Salina Turda - one of the oldest salt caves in Europe (the development stopped here back in the 1930s), turned into a cool recreational center. The whole cave is divided into two parts: closed medical and open tourist. Anyone can get into the second one: ride a boat under an underground lake, sit in an open cabin of a Ferris wheel, which is installed directly underground, play mini-golf or table tennis - the height of the "ceilings" in the main hall is 80 meters (32 floors). You can take the elevator down, but it’s better to go down on foot - so as not to miss the long Franz Joseph gallery, the echo room (repeats everything you said 10 times, no less), the old equipment that was used to drill the rock, and even the chapel inside the mountain. The temperature in the mine is usually +12 degrees, dress according to the weather. You can't eat in Salina Turda, but on the other hand, excellent Internet is definitely better than in your hotel. Locals come here for the whole day - the air in the cave has a great effect on the lungs, and there are enough opportunities to have fun here.

After you rise to the surface, be sure to look for coffee in
La Papion (Piata 1 December 1918 no. 1) and for lunch go to Restaurant Rusalca (Republicii No:37)- prices even in the most expensive establishments of the city make tourists smile with a happy smile.

How to get there? In Cluj-Napoca take the minibus (company Alis, stop at the intersection of Piata Mihai Viteazu and Strada Ion Popescu Voitesti) - ride 35 minutes, € 1.5. The minibus will not take you to the entrance itself - you will walk for 10 minutes following the signs. Pay attention, the location has two entrances - you need a new one.

Alba Julia

The largest citadel in Romania

One of the most ancient Transylvanian cities - ancient military brawls in its area are mentioned by Ptolemy. In the Middle Ages, the Slavs ruled the city, and therefore it was called Belgrade, then - the Catholic center, the southernmost possession of the Habsburgs, and when Transylvania was ceded to Romania in 1918, the place where the first king Ferdinand was married. When you get to the local museum dedicated to the unification of Romania, the abundance of historical facts will make your head spin.

Sighisoara

Dracula's homeland and maximum flowers

Map of cities in Transylvania worth visiting