You will be amazed how many sites in Romania are listed on the patrimonies of UNESCO as recognition of their value and contribution to the development of world civilization. The painted monasteries in the North of Moldavia is one of them.
This tour will take you across all three provinces that formed the modern Romania in the 19th century - Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia. The religion is the continuity factor in the tumultuous history of Romanians.
The Dacians, the ancestors of Romanians, were worshippers of Zamolxis, a pagan god, and believed in the immortality of soul. During the last century of Roman rule the Romanians became Christians (the 3rd century). All over Romania there are churches and monasteries, of various religions, as proof of the cultural diversity and tolerance of Romanians.
Highlights
The tour will begin with the Patriarchal Church in Bucharest.Going up North you will be able to admire the Neamt Monastery, with its biggest religious library in Romania. Passing into Moldavia the tour will continue with the painted monasteries of the Southern Bucovina, Moldovita, Sucevita, Humor and Voronet, with their medieval frescoes of redemption and damnation that blaze in polychromatic splendor. The tour will include also the Bran Castle, known as Dracula Castle because Vald Tepes had been imprisoned there for a short period of time and the Peles Castle in Sinaia.
Itinerary
DAY 1 - BUCHAREST - PIATRA NEAMT (350 KM)
Departure from your hotel in Bucharest in the morning (around 9:30 a.m.). Sightseeing tour of Bucharest, including The Patriarchal Church (build in 1655-11668, with a later Brancoveanu campanile and some older stone crosses with Slavonic inscriptions. Departure for Piatra Neamt, through Focsani. Accommodation.
DAY 2 - PIATRA NEAMT -VORONET or GURA HUMORULUI (BUCOVINA)
After breakfast continue with the visit of Neamt monastery, the oldest in Moldova and the largest men's monastery in Romania. On to Bucovina - the land of the painted monasteries. Visit of Voronet. It superb frescoes have led to Voronet being named the "Oriental Sistine Chapel" and put the "Voronet blue" into the lexicon of art. The colour is most intense on a rainy day, just before sunset. Continue with Humor monastery. Accommodation.
DAY 3 - BUCOVINA -Bicaz GORGES - LACU ROSU (the Red Lake)
Breakfast. Visit of Moldovita and Sucevita monasteries. - MOLDOVITA - its fortifications offer an impressive view, even if its frescos are worn out by time - SUCEVITA - one of the finest monasteries in Bucovina, famous for its frescoes depicting the 30 steps from Hell to Paradise and the Orthodox calendar (in the second chamber of the church). Departure to Lacul Rosu passing through the breath-taking Bicaz Gorges. Accommodation in Lacu Rosu 3*.
DAY 4 LACU ROSU-SIGHISOARA - MEDIAS
After breakfast departure to Sighisoara, with a short stop in Tirgu Mures (the city of the roses). Arrival in Sighisoara It is the birthplace of Vlad Tepes " The Impaler". The medieval citadel dominates the town. Above all rises the mighty Clock Tower. Raised in the 13th and 14th centuries Sighisoara is one of the last medieval towns in Europe still inhabited. Visit of the medieval fortress and of the birth home of Vlad Tepes. Accommodatio in Medias 3*.
DAY 5 MEDIAS - BRAN - BRASOV
Breakfast. Departure to Bran. Visit of the "Dracula's Castle ". It has been built between 1377 and 1382, on a 60m high rock to safeguard the vital route between Valachia and Transilvania and it is known nowadays as "Dracula Castle" because of its associations with Vlad Tepes (the Impaler). The walls are made of stone blocks, the rooms and narrow corridors constitute a mysterious labyrinth of secret chambers, and the well in the inner courtyard is connected to an underground network. Queen Maria of Romania, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, was perhaps the castle's most famous resident- it is even said that her heart, kept in a silver box, was discovered in a niche of the building. On to Brasov - visit of the medieval centre. One of the main attractions is The Black Church, so called for its blackened walls as a result of a great fire, lit by an Austrian army, that swept Brasov in 1689. Accommodation in Brasov 3*.
DAY 6 -BRASOV - SINAIA - BUCAREST(200km)
Breakfast. On to Sinaia- known as "the Pearl of the Carpathians" for its magnificent mountain scenery and architecture. The most important attractions are The Peles Castle and the Monastery. Visit of the monastery and of the Peles castle. The Castle was designed as summer Royal residence and build up between 1875 and 1883. It combines various architectural styles, notably elements of the German and gothic Renaissance. The castle has 160 rooms, opulently decorated with leather, ebony, and walnut and contains invaluable collections of art and furniture. Return to Bucharest. End of the tour.
Departure dates
The tour starts from Bucharest each Saturday, from March till November.
Included services
5 B.B acc. in 3 & 4 stars hotels; guide English/ Spanish/ French
deluxe coach on the tour
panoramic s/s tour of Bucharest, walk on the medieval centre of Brasov, panoramic tour of the Sighisoara
entrances to the Patriarchal church in Bucharest, the Neamt, Voronet, Humor, Sucevita, Moldovita and Sinaia monasteries, Bran and Peles castels
Price
Price valid for minimum 2 persons: pax in double - 1100 €/pax
Price valid for minimum 2 persons: pax in double - 720 €/pax
sgl supl - 125 €