Radio România Internațional

Tag: travel

  • Timisoara

    Timisoara

    Today we’re heading west to visit Romania’s third largest city, Timisoara. It is a miniature Europe, if you will, where Romanians, Germans, Serbs, Hungarians, Croats, Slovaks and Bulgarians are living together. Diversity, culture and history are the traits that have turned Timisoara into an ideal destination for those who are into cultural tourism. History is impressive and every step of the way. As you’re strolling through the city, you’re sure to run into traces of past times. Or at least that’s what the coordinator of Timisoara City Hall’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center, Lucia Solomon, told us.



    Lucia Solomon: “Timisoara’s ancient archeological evidence is more than 7,000 years old, but what a tourist can see today dates from the 16th and 17th centuries, when Timisoara was under Ottoman occupation. You can also find in Timisoara the foundation of a mosque and the trestle of a minaret, which is evidence of those times. However, Timisoara’s transformation into a modern city occurred in the 18th century. It was then that modern Timisoara took shape. The time when it was conquered by the Habsburgs, after 1716, meant the advent of a new stage in its development. The old fortress dating from the Ottoman times was brought down and a new fortress emerged, known as the largest bastion-type fortification to have been preserved on Romania’s present-day territory. It is a Vauban-type fortress, quite similar to the one in Alba-Iulia, which sheltered the city’s administration between its walls. Of that time, only the Teresia bastion has been preserved, along with the city’s old city center, which is impressive. During the Baroque period many Baroque edifices were built, culminating with the Catholic Dome, the Serbian Church and the Baroque Palace. How many of the cities of today boast a baroque palace at the heart of the city? The palace can be visited by any tourist. The Art Museum is also located on the premises.”



    After the Baroque age, Timisoara was incorporated into the Hungarian Kingdom, as part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Lucia Solomon told us: “The city’s main functions were predominantly economic. Timisoara’s progress back then was significant. From that time date a great many of the city’s premieres. The first horse-drawn streetcar was operational in Timisoara in 1869 and it was Europe’s first city with electric lighting, in 1884. At that time, many of the city’s parks were built, which have remained iconic for the city to this day, Timisoara also being known as the City of Flowers. Today we boast the Park of the Roses, the Park of Justice, which is full of tulips these days. We are also proud of the city center, which always has a green carpet in Victory Square, with beautiful flower arrangements, to be found there in any season.”



    Timisoara boasts Romania’s largest number of historical buildings. Of the total number of the buildings across the city, over 14,000 have been listed as historical monuments.



    With details on that, here is the coordinator of the Timisoara City Hall’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center, Lucia Solomon: ”Timisoara’s most relevant trait is the wide range of Art Nouveau buildings, erected in the late 19th and early into the 20th century. These are beautiful palaces, lining the Victory Square. Any tourist is impressed by the city’s architecture. The palaces can be found also in the historical neighborhoods. Timisoara has many common points with Budapest and Vienna. Albeit on a smaller scale, this architectural style can be detected there, which can be found all around Europe. And that’s what tourists find most impressive.”



    Timisoara is the only place in Romania where the habit of giving concerts in caves has by now become a tradition, which is free of charge for the public. Every year, shuttle coaches arrive, packed with tourists from Israel, the USA, Canada, Hungary and Austria. And the fact that the concert venue is not necessarily the concert hall proper is something very familiar to anyone who paid a visit to Timisoara. However, there are multiple possibilities.



    Lucia Solomon is back at the microphone: “Tourists can have lots of moments to remember on the streets of the city center, where lots of beer gardens have been placed. In the cellars of the old buildings, bars, restaurants and clubs have been set up. Visitors can spend fine moments in parks or on the alleys along the Bega river banks, arranged for walks but also for cycling. You can have a boat ride on the Bega river, with a boat crossing the entire city as a means of public transport. It’s quite a pleasure to be able to cross all the districts in one of those boats. You can also have a trip with the tourist streetcar on Sundays, visit many museums and go to stage performances and festivals.”



    For those who can spend a little more time in the area, the Timisoara City Hall’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center can recommend trips in the nearby areas. Here is Lucia Solomon again: ”From Timisoara, tourists can travel to other destinations around the city, such as Recaș or Buziaș, where they can taste Banat wine sorts. Herneacova is also a place worth travelling to, it is a leisure area nearby Timisoara, close to Recaș, or can go to Surduc Lake, where they can spend some leisure moments. Of course, tourists can also travel to Arad or even farther, to Oradea, Baile Herculane or Banat Mountains. Many tourists also opt for visiting the Corvins’ Castle in Hunedoara. They heard about the castle and have been asking us how they can get there. We’re expecting tourists to visit Timisoara and see its best, thanks to the city’s culture, its parks, thanks to Bega river or the numerous architectural styles which give character and charm to the city. We’re waiting for them wholeheartedly and hope they will have a great time here.”



    In less than two years, in 2021, Timisoara will take center stage in Europe as the continent’s new Capital of Culture, under the slogan “Shine your lightlight up your city!”

  • Easter in Romania

    Easter in Romania

    Bukovina and Maramures are among the first destinations that come to mind when we speak about old-time Romanian traditions and customs. And this is particularly important around the main religious holidays. The two regions are heavily promoted in the relevant national and international travel fairs, and on Easter they are packed with tourists, as Catalina Velniciuc, coordinator of the Suceava Tourist Information Centre tells us.



    Catalina Velniciuc: “On Easter, just like every year, local authorities organize events that showcase the importance of the Easter traditions and customs in Bukovina. Guest houses are welcoming tourists with traditional dishes, egg painting demonstrations, and trips to monasteries. It is a truly spectacular time of the year, both in terms of cultural and gastronomic events.”



    Laura Dan, head of the public relations and tourist promotion service with the Maramures County Council, says that Maramures takes pride in its famed craftsmen: “In Maramures, Easter means, first of all, traditional cuisine. There are lots of tourist offers during this period. Accommodation units in Maramures have already been booked up to 80-90%. All the traditions, the rituals of our forefathers are presented to the tourists who come to visit us. We have a lot of craftsmen, potters and weavers in particular. We usually bring some of these craftsmen with us in trade fairs, and they demonstrate to tourists various ancient crafts.”



    This Easter you are also invited to the castle. More specifically, a medieval citadel built in the 14th Century, which is in perfect condition. Bran Castle, erected on a cliff, at around 40 m above ground, has 4 levels, 4 towers, and a complete lack of symmetry. In 2009, the Bran Estate was transferred from public to private administration, after the property was returned to the heirs of Queen Marie and the Royal House of Romania.



    Here is Bogdana Balmus, PR manager for the Bran Castle: “On each holiday, we transform the Bran Castle completely. This time, the Easter holiday will bring here theme exhibitions, egg painting workshops, traditional music and dance performances, and traditional cuisine at the Bran Castle’s restaurant. Guided by traditional craftsmen, children will have an opportunity to paint wood eggs and take them home as souvenirs. Also for children, on Easter Sunday, the Easter bunny will be waiting for them in the Castle’s music hall and offer them chocolate eggs. The official opening of an exhibition has just concluded. It is an exhibition called “The Easter holiday among the shepherds of Săcele”, and it was organized with support from the Traditional Culture Service of the Reduta Cultural Centre in Brasov. The items on display belong to the traditional craftsman Fane Lupu, who is also a member of the Zestrea Seceleană ensemble, which will give a shepherd music and dance performance in the Castle garden. And on May 4, another ensemble, Junii Săceleni, will also perform traditional songs and dances.”



    The foreign tourists are impressed and always glad to discover the wealth of Romanian tradition and culture, says Bogdana Balmus: “They gladly take part in workshops. Sometimes when traditional music dances are staged in the interior courtyard of the castle, they join the round dances or take part in ancient rituals re-enacted for the occasion. They are also eager to sample the local food and drink. The area is very beautiful and Bran castle has become a full-day trip destination since 2009. Tourists will not regret spending their holidays in Bran and if they stay on for Labour Day, on May 1, they are in for a first: a cooking demonstration held in the royal gardens. The star of the whole event will be cheese, both salty and fresh, which will be prepared in different ways. The brass band of the nearby town of Codlea will also give a performance, so this will be special day.”



    Stefan Necula, the director of a travel agency, says the Romanian Black Sea coast is also an exciting destination: “More than 80 hotels on the Black Sea coast are open for Easter and Labour Day. We expect a 100% occupancy rate in the resorts of Mamaia and Vama Veche. At this point, we have a 25% increase in the number of visitors compared with last year for the Labour Day period. We hope the weather will be good. Accommodation and entertainment opportunities provided by the hotels on the Romanian coast have improved from one year to the next. The infrastructure in resorts is also being taken care of. We believe Romanian hospitality and the special Easter meals can add something to a holiday.”



    Most holiday packages for this period are sold out in April, but bookings began in January. The cost of a stay in this period can go up to 126 Euros per day in Mamaia, but average prices in this resort do not exceed 38 Euros a day: “Prices have begun to stabilise on the Romanian coast. We can find decent accommodation at decent prices. Of course, there are also some very expensive places, which provide excellent accommodation. In the resort of Eforie Sud, the price of a double room in this period starts from 14 Euros. I think that’s a very good price for the Romanian coast.”

  • Easter in Romania

    Easter in Romania

    Bukovina and Maramures are among the first destinations that come to mind when we speak about old-time Romanian traditions and customs. And this is particularly important around the main religious holidays. The two regions are heavily promoted in the relevant national and international travel fairs, and on Easter they are packed with tourists, as Catalina Velniciuc, coordinator of the Suceava Tourist Information Centre tells us.



    Catalina Velniciuc: “On Easter, just like every year, local authorities organize events that showcase the importance of the Easter traditions and customs in Bukovina. Guest houses are welcoming tourists with traditional dishes, egg painting demonstrations, and trips to monasteries. It is a truly spectacular time of the year, both in terms of cultural and gastronomic events.”



    Laura Dan, head of the public relations and tourist promotion service with the Maramures County Council, says that Maramures takes pride in its famed craftsmen: “In Maramures, Easter means, first of all, traditional cuisine. There are lots of tourist offers during this period. Accommodation units in Maramures have already been booked up to 80-90%. All the traditions, the rituals of our forefathers are presented to the tourists who come to visit us. We have a lot of craftsmen, potters and weavers in particular. We usually bring some of these craftsmen with us in trade fairs, and they demonstrate to tourists various ancient crafts.”



    This Easter you are also invited to the castle. More specifically, a medieval citadel built in the 14th Century, which is in perfect condition. Bran Castle, erected on a cliff, at around 40 m above ground, has 4 levels, 4 towers, and a complete lack of symmetry. In 2009, the Bran Estate was transferred from public to private administration, after the property was returned to the heirs of Queen Marie and the Royal House of Romania.



    Here is Bogdana Balmus, PR manager for the Bran Castle: “On each holiday, we transform the Bran Castle completely. This time, the Easter holiday will bring here theme exhibitions, egg painting workshops, traditional music and dance performances, and traditional cuisine at the Bran Castle’s restaurant. Guided by traditional craftsmen, children will have an opportunity to paint wood eggs and take them home as souvenirs. Also for children, on Easter Sunday, the Easter bunny will be waiting for them in the Castle’s music hall and offer them chocolate eggs. The official opening of an exhibition has just concluded. It is an exhibition called “The Easter holiday among the shepherds of Săcele”, and it was organized with support from the Traditional Culture Service of the Reduta Cultural Centre in Brasov. The items on display belong to the traditional craftsman Fane Lupu, who is also a member of the Zestrea Seceleană ensemble, which will give a shepherd music and dance performance in the Castle garden. And on May 4, another ensemble, Junii Săceleni, will also perform traditional songs and dances.”



    The foreign tourists are impressed and always glad to discover the wealth of Romanian tradition and culture, says Bogdana Balmus: “They gladly take part in workshops. Sometimes when traditional music dances are staged in the interior courtyard of the castle, they join the round dances or take part in ancient rituals re-enacted for the occasion. They are also eager to sample the local food and drink. The area is very beautiful and Bran castle has become a full-day trip destination since 2009. Tourists will not regret spending their holidays in Bran and if they stay on for Labour Day, on May 1, they are in for a first: a cooking demonstration held in the royal gardens. The star of the whole event will be cheese, both salty and fresh, which will be prepared in different ways. The brass band of the nearby town of Codlea will also give a performance, so this will be special day.”



    Stefan Necula, the director of a travel agency, says the Romanian Black Sea coast is also an exciting destination: “More than 80 hotels on the Black Sea coast are open for Easter and Labour Day. We expect a 100% occupancy rate in the resorts of Mamaia and Vama Veche. At this point, we have a 25% increase in the number of visitors compared with last year for the Labour Day period. We hope the weather will be good. Accommodation and entertainment opportunities provided by the hotels on the Romanian coast have improved from one year to the next. The infrastructure in resorts is also being taken care of. We believe Romanian hospitality and the special Easter meals can add something to a holiday.”



    Most holiday packages for this period are sold out in April, but bookings began in January. The cost of a stay in this period can go up to 126 Euros per day in Mamaia, but average prices in this resort do not exceed 38 Euros a day: “Prices have begun to stabilise on the Romanian coast. We can find decent accommodation at decent prices. Of course, there are also some very expensive places, which provide excellent accommodation. In the resort of Eforie Sud, the price of a double room in this period starts from 14 Euros. I think that’s a very good price for the Romanian coast.”

  • February 24, 2019 UPDATE

    February 24, 2019 UPDATE

    SUMMIT – Cooperation between the EU and the League of Arab States is vital in the fight against terrorism, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said at the first EU-The League of Arab States Summit, underway in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Iohannis underlined that Romania is firmly opposed to all forms of terrorism and violent extremism. The Romanian president also said the evolutions in the region over the past few years included a series of crises which continue to impact everyones security, in spite of the efforts that are being made by local actors and by the international community. Klaus Iohannis said that economy is the engine to positive transformation and he added that trade exchanges and investments contribute to sustainable development, containing poverty and creating new jobs. The President of Romania has also reiterated that migration continues to be a major challenge. “We should approach the root causes of this scourge and closely cooperate with the origin and transit countries, Klaus Iohannis has also said.



    MAGISTRATES– The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila has invited representatives of the magistrates associations and of the Superior Council of Magistracy to talks on Monday, on the recent changes to the justice laws. In a communiqué, the prime minister has expressed her cabinets availability to support all judicial institutions to perform a correct act of justice, towards ensuring full respect for the citizens rights. The announcement is made shortly after Fridays protests by the magistrates across the country, against the provisions of an emergency decree issued on Tuesday by the government. According to prosecutors and judges the new changes may lead to an institutional deadlock and impact the independence of the judiciary. We recall that several prosecutors offices in Bucharest and several other cities have decided to suspend their activity, for a week, as from Monday, in token of protest against the new changes to the justice laws



    VENEZUELA – The EU on Sunday condemned the acts of violence by troops loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro which blocked convoys of humanitarian aid from crossing into Venezuela. Violence broke out on Saturday when four trucks attempted to cross the border from Columbia into Venezuela, backed by the crowd which demanded free access for the humanitarian convoy sent mainly by the US. According to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, the main causes of the current crisis are political and institutional, and consequently the solution could only be political. She called for restoring democracy to Venezuela by holding free, transparent and credible presidential elections. Several European states have recently announced they recognize the opposition leader in Venezuela, Juan Guaido, as interim president. In exchange, China and Russia recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of the country.



    DIASPORA – Experts on Diaspora-related problems from 9 countries, including Greece, Italy, France and the UK, attended a debate in Craiova, southern Romania, between February 22 and 24. The event was organised by the Ministry for the Romanians Abroad, now that Romania is holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. The participants presented examples of reinsertion and reintegration of citizens, after their return to their countries of origin, as well as awareness raising campaigns on human trafficking.



    FLU – The National Public Health Institute on Sunday announced a new death caused by the flu virus, thus taking to 149 the total number of people who succumbed to the flu in Romania since the start of the season. The last person to die of flu is a man, 39, without pre-existing conditions, who hasnt gotten a flu shot. The latest data released by the National Public Health Institute show over 1.3 million people have been vaccinated against the flu so far.



    TRAVEL – The Tourism Fair which started in Bucharest on Thursday came to a close on Sunday. Over 330 companies from 15 countries have presented their travel offers to visitors. A Romanian-Moldovan joint project titled “The Route of Ruler Stephen the Great, was also launched during the fair, in an effort to boost cooperation between the two countries and to contribute to developing the areas along this route, in terms of tourism. The new project is destined for Moldovan and Romanian citizens, as well as for foreigners who want to embark on an interesting cultural and historical itinerary. The route includes 24 historical and cultural attractions on Romanias territory and 10 others located in the Republic of Moldova. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • February 24, 2019

    February 24, 2019

    SUMMIT — The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, is currently attending The EU-The League of Arab States Summit, held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, which brings together for the first time heads of state or government from both sides. The major objective of the summit is to set up a cooperation platform between the European Union and the Arab world as an important strategic partner in the southern neighbourhood. The Sharm el-Sheikh Summit also offers an opportunity to both sides to boost their relations and join forces to cope with common challenges. In this context, the European and Arab states leaders will approach a series of regional and global issues, such as migration, fighting terrorism, the sustainable resolution of regional crises and climate change. On Saturday, President Klaus Iohannis held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The Romanian president underlined the very good and solid relationship between the two countries, saying Egypt is one of Romania’s traditional friends in the region and a key factor in ensuring regional stability and security. The two heads of state have expressed their determination and interest in boosting bilateral relations, particularly their economic dimension.



    PROTEST — Magistrates in Bucharest and several other cities across Romania have decided to suspend their activity, for a week, as from Monday, after on Friday they protested in front of courts against the new changes to the justice laws. Prosecutors and judges say the provisions of Ordinance 7, adopted by the government early this week, can lead to an institutional deadlock and impact the independence of the judiciary. Some of the changes to the justice laws which has stirred the magistrates’ discontent refers to the appointment of top level prosecutors, as these positions can also be occupied by judges who have earlier been prosecutors, the seniority condition being thus eliminated. The Ordinance has been criticised both in Brussels, by the European Commission, and in Romania, by the magistrates’ associations, the Superior Council of Magistracy, through its department for prosecutors and the right-of-centre opposition.



    REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA — Some three million voters in the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population are called to the polls today to elect their new MPs. The Moldovan authorities have opened 2,141 polling stations. 123 stations have been opened abroad. 12 such polling stations have been opened in Romania, 2 of which in Bucharest. The ballot is monitored by some 4,200 national and international observers. Opinion polls indicate as favourite in the election the Socialists’ pro-Russian party, which prompt pundits to say Moldova will slow down on its European path after the elections. For the first time ever, the elections are held based on the mixed voting system, with 50 MPs being elected directly on party lists, whereas 51 others will by elected in uninominal electoral constituencies, in only one round. A referendum on downsizing the number of MPs from 101 to 61, in the future, and introducing the possibility of replacing them by the citizens is held concurrently with the elections.



    DIASPORA — Experts on Diaspora-related problems from 9 countries are attending a debate in Craiova, southern Romania, for the first time during a rotating presidency. The talks focus on issues related to the Diaspora in the EU, laying emphasis on socio-professional reintegration of people in their countries of origin, cracking down on human trafficking and eradicating the scourge of modern slavery. The participants are presenting examples of reinsertion and reintegration of citizens, after their return to their countries of origin, as well as awareness raising campaigns on human trafficking. On Saturday, the spokesperson for the Ministry for the Romanians Abroad, Adriana Dănilă, said these meetings are aimed at drafting measures and establishing practical instruments to support the Romanians living abroad.



    YELLOW VESTS — Yellow vests protests have been reported in France for the 15th Saturday in a row. Enjoying a much larger participation than last week, the rally ended in new violent actions. The French Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner, has condemned the damages produced in several towns across France and has hailed the intervention of the riot police. Some 30 people have been arrested in Paris and scores others have been taken into custody across France.



    FLU — The National Public Health Institute on Sunday announced a new death caused by the flu virus, thus taking to 149 the total number of people who succumbed to the flu in Romania since the start of the season. The last person to die of flu is a man, 39, without pre-existing conditions, who hasn’t gotten a flu shot. The latest data released by the National Public Health Institute show over 1.3 million people have been vaccinated against the flu so far.



    TRAVEL — The Tourism Fair which started in Bucharest on Thursday will close its doors today. Participating have been 330 companies from 15 countries. A project titled “The Route of Ruler Stephen the Great”, destined for Moldovan and Romanian citizens, as well as for foreigners who want to embark on an interesting cultural and historical itinerary has been launched during the fair. The route includes 24 historical and cultural attractions on Romania’s territory and 10 others located in the Republic of Moldova. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • Iasi

    Iasi

    Today we are going to the northeast of the country, in a city filled with history, with an intense cultural life, Iasi. The first time visitor will find out that they are surrounded by history with every step, related to many eras, be it the history of the prehistoric culture of Cucuteni, the era of the great medieval noble families, the historic election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as ruler of the united Romanian Principalities, or many manifestations of the arts and sciences.



    Today’s trip to Iasi is occasioned by an important celebration. 160 years ago, on January 5, the Elective Assembly in Iasi voted into office as ruler of Moldavia Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The corresponding assembly in Bucharest elected him ruler of Wallachia on January 24, 1859, effectively uniting the two entities into a single state, called the Romanian Principalities, a first important step in the creation of the modern Romanian state. We spoke to Anca Zota, coordinator of the Iasi Tourism Information Center.



    “On January 24, we always have activities dedicated to this event, which is the most important of the year for us here in Iasi. We have lots of festivities that end with the Round Dance of the Union. We also have traditional music concerts, and every museum and tourist site that has the slightest connection with this celebration organizes some event to observe the day.



    Anca Zota recommends Iasi for its pleasant atmosphere and the welcoming air: “There are plenty of opportunities for cultural tourism, we have great offers for active tourism, too. There is the famous pilgrimage on St. Paraskeva day, along with a rich offer in terms of religious tourism. Lately, another type of tourism that emerged is business tourism, as well as medical tourism. However, in order to truly grasp the essence of the city of Iasi, I would recommend starting your visits with the Palace of Culture, which includes four very interesting museums. The History Museum will provide you with an idea of how the city developed. The Ethnography Museum shows us the way in which our ancestors made their daily living. The Art Museum has a great Romanian painting collection. One other great collection is that of the Museum of Mechanical Music. The curators of this museum organize a festival every two years. Another interesting collection is that of the Metropolitan Museum, in the basement of the Metropolitan Bishopric of Iasi. Visitors can see the old foundations of the building, in addition to the exhibits. One other emblematic museum for the city is the University Museum, showcasing the Cucuteni stone age civilization, and about the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, the oldest one in the country. I want to make a point of telling tourists that they should not miss the opportunity to visit famous writer Ion Creanga’s memorial house. All Romanians know all about this writer, but foreign visitors may enjoy it too, because it is a very well preserved traditional Romanian home, in a beautiful neighborhood. One other beautiful objective is the Botanical Garden, especially for tourists who enjoy the outdoors.



    It is a great idea to visit Iasi during your summer vacation. You will find there a relaxing atmosphere, great Romanian cuisine restaurants, and restaurants catering for international tastes as well. There are plenty of clubs and cafes with live music. Local bands and bands traveling from all over the country and abroad play jazz, rock and blues late into the night. You can also plan a vacation depending on the schedule of events. You will definitely find something to enjoy here.



    Here is Anca Zota once again: “We have some events that have gained tradition, and are scheduled at specific times. In late February we have the Azalea and Camellia Exhibition at the Botanical Garden. In the first week of March we have the March Fair. One week before Easter we have a fair dedicated to the event, and in May we have a month dedicated to music. On May 11 and 12 we have the Folk Festival of Iasi, between May 16 and 19 we have a rock music festival, and between May 24 and 26 we have the Hangariada Festival at the Air Club in Iasi, which is a festival including art, music, and flying airplanes. The music shows are accompanied by air shows and parachute jumps. In the last weekend of June we have a traditional festival dedicated to the Cucuteni stone age culture, featuring the famous Cucuteni ceramics. In October we have two interesting festivals: the International Literature and Translation Festival, and the International Youth Theater Festival. If you want to attend you should buy your tickets a few months in advance, because these festivals sell out very quickly. The people who come to Iasi may want to book their trip for the month of October, where we have the city celebration on the 14th.



    Anca Zota told us that tourist traffic has been on the rise in the last few years: “So far, since our grand opening in 2006, the greatest numbers of tourists have come from France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Lately we have had greater and greater numbers of tourists from Israel. They are delighted with the fact that this is a special city, full of welcoming and smiling people, with plenty of things to see and do. We have a map of the city in English, and lots of promotional materials in English, French and German, which we provide to tourists.



    Iasi is a great venue for outdoor activities: “The city is surrounded by forests, where you can take long walks. The forests are very safe. We have marked trails for walking, as well as for cycling. You can pick among trails for experienced trekkers, and less experienced ones. You can take walks as long as 20 km in the forests. There are bicycle rental centers, and our office keeps in touch with them, and we highly recommend them.



    Iasi, therefore, is a highly recommended tourist destination for any time of the year.

  • Best holiday destinations in 2018

    Best holiday destinations in 2018

    The destinations we invited you to discover were the most varied in order to cater to a large area of tastes. Our shows took you to various mountain resorts but we also roamed the cobbled streets of the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, in central Romania. We invited you to some of Romania’s best spas but didn’t leave aside the huge potential of the Danube Delta in southern Romania. In 2018 we also showed you some of Romania’s best-known nature parks and reserves as well as its regions renowned for ancient traditions and customs. And because 2018 was a special year for the Romanians all over the world, who celebrated 100 years since the formation of the modern Romanian state, we invited our listeners to participate in a quiz whose big prize was a one-week stay in Alba Iulia, central Romania, the city, which a century ago, saw the Union of the regions inhabited by Romanians. Jonas Sell of Germany, who eventually won the contest and visited us in September said, quote: “Breathtaking views, historical sites, exquisite cuisine…all these are promises of a holiday you are going to recall with pleasure long after it has ended.”



    Early 2018 was also devoted to a different kind of trips, that we designed to be incursions into the country’s history, tradition, culture and cuisine. The first destinations included Bucharest, Mures County and Alba Iulia. Then we introduced to you a couple of Romania’s most famous ski resorts and you found out that the country boasts no less than 44 ski resorts, most of the ski slopes, 23, being located in Harghita County. According to data released by the National Tourism Authority, Prahova, Brasov, Hunedoara and Maramures Counties add on the list of the regions with the best ski slopes in Romania.



    Later we took you to the Prahova Valley, Romania’s most developed mountainous region, which boasts a wide range of ski slopes with pistes for beginners and advanced skiers alike. Then we spoke about the Danube Delta, Hunedoara County, Sovata, the Romanian Black Sea resorts, all holiday destinations on offer at Romania’s Travel Fair in February. Then we tackled rural tourism as this branch of tourism has developed considerably in Romania in recent years and our listeners were offered the chance of getting acquainted with a fascinating world with breathtaking views and millennia-old traditions.



    The Vanatori Neamt nature park was founded 19 years ago and although it has registered the largest number of tourists in summer or during the winter holidays, it makes a perfect all-season holiday destination.



    At the foot of the mountains, in the north of Neamt County, tourists can see wild animals which are on the verge of extinction in other places. That is why we took you to the Aurochs County in 2018. Later in the year we celebrated Easter. We chose to take a tour of well known tourist attractions in Maramures and Bukovina in the north, and we also made a stopover in Bistrita Nasaud, in the Sovata spa. Delighted with the much appreciated traditional Eastern dishes we headed for Dobrogea, in the south. There, we visited archaeological sites which boast a fascinating and rich history, breathtakingly beautiful gorges, centuries old monasteries and the Danube Delta.



    In the summer of 2018, we took you up Transylvania’s hills and opened the doors of old fortified churches. We also extended you the invitation to purchase the “Transilvania Card”, a powerful tourist instrument, which offers discounts and may give you ideas to follow interesting itineraries. What’s more, if you purchase this card you support the restoration of old monuments. Then, we headed for the sea and visited one of the best known resorts on the Black Sea Coast, Mamaia. We stopped there, because it hosts some of the biggest festivals and where you can meet the best DJs and party until morning in the most luxurious clubs on the coast.



    Boasting breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, historical monuments of national interest and picturesque villages with rich traditions, Suceava County impresses all visitors with its simplicity and originality. So, we visited Suceava together, the Suceava Citadel, the Bukovina Village Museum, the Ethnography Museum as well as the Vatra Dornei resort. In November we also took you to the second edition of Romania’s Tourism Fair. We also visited Reghin, dubbed the town of violins, the city of Bacau and Valcea County.


    Did you know that there is a Confectionary Museum in Romania? We’ve spoken about it, just like about the Electric Tram Museum and the Wine Route, mansions and fairy tale-like castles, the landmarks of Mures County. We ended the year 2018 at the Christmas Fair in Sibiu, as well as in Maramures, ideal destinations in the winter holiday season. In the end, we mentioned some of the most successful New Year street parties, which attracted lots of revellers.



    That much about our travel destinations in 2018, join us again this year, to discover together the most interesting travel destinations in Romania.

  • Tourist Attractions in Sibiu

    Tourist Attractions in Sibiu

    Lying at the centre of Transylvania, Sibiu is one of the wellsprings of culture and civilization in Romania. However, it is a fun place too. It is the place where you find one of the best Christmas fairs in the country, between 16 November and January 3rd. Anca Nitoi is an archaeologist with the National Bruckenthal Museum, specialising in the Middle Ages and in medieval weaponry. Here she is talking to us about the history of the city:



    Anca Nitoi: “Sibiu is first documented in the 12th century, in 1191, when Pope Celestine II grants to the city of Sibiu the title to the surrounding lands, recognising its ecclesiastical authority over the region. The Saxon settlement started by the Hungarian king Geza II in the 12th century, had several waves, and covered the whole of southern Transylvania. Two major cities thus emerged, Sibiu and Brasov. Sibiu, which developed faster, had greater administrative importance in the medieval period. Sibiu was an ecclesiastic centre, but it was also there that we find the most important guilds. And in the 15th century, the Saxon University was founded there, which made it a nexus of culture to this day. Proof in this respect is the fact that in 2007 Sibiu was European capital of culture, in recognition of its cultural importance.



    In Sibiu you will also find the first art museum in the country, which opened its gates in 1817. It is a Baroque style building, erected between 1778 and 1788, and was built as the residence of Baron Samuel von Bruckenthal. He was the only member of the Saxon community in Transylvania to be granted a major administrative role in the Austrian state reigned over by Empress Maria Theresa.



    It is when he was staying in Vienna that he built his impressive art collection, mentioned in 1773 in the Almanach de Vienne as one of the most valuable collection of paintings to be admired in the Viennese cultural circles of the time. Alexandru Sonoc, Ph.D., is the head of the Bruckenthal Art Museum and our guide today:



    Alexandru Sonoc: “Right now, the museum is managed by a council. Half of its members represent the authorities, the other half are appointed by the Sibiu Evangelical Church community. This is an experiment that is unique in Romania. The collections that belonged to the church will be given back, but will be exhibited and administrated by the museum, being made available to the public in line with the baron’s will, who put them up for everyone to enjoy. Within his Enlightenment context, the baron realised that his paintings could contribute to the development of science, culture, and the arts in Transylvania, and wanted them to be made available to the public on certain days of the week. To this end, he set up a foundation, and pressed the church and its scions to make them accessible to the public.



    The coat of arms of the city of Sibiu can be seen all over the town, on buildings, on stained glass windows, and on bridges. In the Small Square, all the buildings used to belong to guilds. Remarkable are the skylights, which look like eyes, the so-called ‘eyes of the city’, which, legend has it, watch over the town at night. Here is Anca Nitoi, archaeologist with the National Bruckenthal Museum, telling us about the cultural agenda of the city:



    Anca Nitoi: “Sibiu is the capital of theatre in Eastern Europe. The International Theatre Festival, now in its 25th edition, is the second biggest of its kind in Europe after the one in Edinburgh. It brings to Sibiu hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, because it is an innovative festival, with modern experiments. If you want to get to know the traditions of the Romanian people, you can come to the Mountain Song Festival. We also have the Astra Museum, where foreigners can get to know the history and traditions of Romanians. Every weekend we have one event or another. The Christmas Fair is held in winter, and I may be partial here, but I think it is the most beautiful in Romania. It can be compared with the fairs in Vienna or in Prague.



    Andrei Dragan Radulet, the manager of the event, told us how the fair attracts tourists:



    Andrei Dragan Radulet: “Many such events throughout the country rely on large scale concerts, but we took a risk and did away with most of those. We have a festive inauguration, where we invite a famous artist, but after that we focus on the fair itself.



    This does not mean that Santa will be missing from the event:



    Andrei Dragan Radulet: “Santa comes on 23 December and gives gifts to the kids. He has a small stage next to the Christmas tree. We have another fun event for kids, Santa’s Workshop. The people of Sibiu are familiar with it, but for others it can be a novelty. It is a large house that hosts weekly workshops, which are atypical. The best known is the candle making workshop, where kids make candles from scratch. They get a wick which they dip repeatedly into the wax, in different colours and combinations. We also have a gingerbread painting workshop, and another one for making cookies. In the latter, the kids get the batter, which they model and bake there, then they take the cookies home.



    If you have any spare time left, you should visit the region of Marginimea Sibiului, well known for its many B&Bs, its fine cheeses, its traditions and crafts preserved to this day. The region also boasts a fine nature heritage. Most of the region is part of the Natura 2000 network, set up to protect valuable natural areas.


    (translated by: Calin Cotoiu)

  • Measures to boost tourism

    Measures to boost tourism

    The left-of-centre Government in Bucharest has passed an emergency ordinance, under which the VAT applied in tourism is reduced from 9% to 5% as of November 1st.



    Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has stated that the measure is aimed at boosting the sector: “This is an important decision for the tourism sector. We have decided to cut the VAT down to 5% for hospitality services, but also for the use of sporting and entertainment facilities. Thus, Romania will have the lowest VAT in the whole of the European Union in the field of tourism, and past experiences have shown that reducing this tax will reflect positively on the economy.”



    The ordinance drafted by the Finance Ministry stipulates the drop in the VAT for accommodation in the hospitality sector or similar sectors, including renting of camping lots, restaurant and catering services, except for alcoholic beverages, other than beer. The VAT will also be cut for the use of sporting facilities and access to amusement parks. According to the Romanian Finance Ministry, the decision to cut the VAT is aimed at curbing tax evasion, increasing domestic consumption and boosting the economy.



    In another move, also as of November 1st, royalties for geothermal waters and natural mineral waters used by the population will be eliminated. This measure was taken in support of spa tourism and also to diminish thermal energy production costs for those systems that use geothermal water. The Government’s decision regarding the reduction of the VAT is complementary to the one regarding holiday vouchers, worth approx. 300 Euros, which can only be used across Romania.



    In fact, as early as last month the prime minister had announced that employees in the public sector would benefit from vouchers in 2019 as well. As regards the impact on the international tourism market, several specialists, quoted by AGERPRES, claim that the 2018 summer season brought revenues 25% higher than before. Still, they also believe that the Romanian Black Sea Coast was not ready to receive by 30% more tourists, because of insufficient accommodation capacity and shortage of skilled staff, especially given that Romania has been massively exporting staff to tourist facilities abroad. Also with regard to holiday vouchers, specialists estimate a growth in the number of tourists also in the cold season, especially during the winter holidays.

  • Tourist attractions in Suceava County

    Tourist attractions in Suceava County

    With its picturesque landscapes, historical monuments and outstanding traditions, the county of Suceava comes as a surprise to tourists both through its simplicity and originality. Any trip here should start from the county seat bearing the same name, where the Princely Court fortress, the Bukovinan Village Museum and the Ethnographic Museum are not to miss. Suceava is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the mountainous area around the Vatra Dornei resort as well as for the famous painted monasteries, which are also among the regions worth visiting hotspots. Our guide today is Catalina Velniciuc, advisor with the Tourist Information and Promotion Centre of Suceava:



    Catalina Velniciuc: “A tourist who has never been to Suceava will certainly be impressed by the Princely Court fortess here, which is quite unique in Romania. This is also one of Romanias first citadels, whose ruins are housing a permanent exhibition. As visitors enter the fortress, they will find themselves in a genuine medieval atmosphere and captivated by the stories narrated by the virtual guides. At night, the citadel walls serve as a huge screen for a special show of light and sound depicting battle scenes from the past. Wed like to mention that the biggest travel site, Trip Advisor, has this year granted the Suceava Princely Court the Certificate of Excellence, a certification that weve got thanks to the very good reviews from the tourists that have visited us.



    Another spot worth visiting here in Suceava is the recently refurbished History Museum. According to Catalina Velniciuc, this museum is unique at national level in terms of presentation and interactivity. The most interesting items on display are explained against their historical background, in a modern and attractive manner.



    Catalina Velniciuc: Close to the Princely Court Fortress there lies the Bukovinan Village Museum, which is the youngest outdoor museum in Romania. By visiting this museum, which displays genuine monuments of traditional architecture including households, traditional workshops, schools, churches and so on, visitors can get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the former inhabitants of Bukovina. The museum also offers a good representation of the peasants spiritual life, various rituals of birth, burial and wedding.



    The most important place to visit in Suceava is the St. George church, part of the St. John Monastery.



    Catalina Velniciuc: “This is the greatest religious and historical edifice of Suceava, and a UNESCO monument. This was the metropolitan cathedral of Moldavia until the late 17th century. The main attraction for tourists is the reliquary with the remains of St. John the New, the saint after whom the church is named. Each year, on June 24th, thousands of pilgrims come to pay tribute to the saint. Other important sites are the Natural Science Museum, the Ethnography Museum, the Royal Inn, and the Astronomy Observatory.



    In the mountainous area of Suceava County you can find Vatra Dornei, a famous spa which has developed a lot in the last few years. Here is Catalina Velniciuc, adviser with the Tourism Information and Promotion Centre:



    Catalina Velniciuc: “If you are a fan of active tourism, who loves going to the mountains, Vatra Dornei is a great place to spend time, with a variety of activities, such as trekking, fishing on Bistrita River, paragliding in Suhard, river rafting or kayaking, via ferrata, zip lining, horse riding or mountain biking. And, since the cold season is getting near, in Vatra Dornei we have 3 medium-difficulty ski slopes. One is 3,000 meters long, another is 800 meters, and the third is 1,500 meters. We have snow cannons, night lighting, with a ski lift, and a baby ski track. The attraction would be the Vatra Dornei ski lift, which can be used at all times of the year, not just during the winter. You can have a great trip, going up to 1,200 meters. The climb is about 25 minutes long.



    At the Suceava Tourism Information Center you can find lots of promotional material, and also detailed maps of the area. A county map is captioned in Romanian, English, German, and French. You can also find materials in Polish, Spanish, Italian, and Ukrainian. Catalina Velniciuc, adviser with the Tourism Information and Promotion Centre, told us that most tourists ask first about the painted monasteries of Bukovina, most of them part of the UNESCO world heritage fund:



    Catalina Velniciuc: “The UNESCO world heritage fund sites are the monasteries of Arbore, Pătrăuți, Clopota, Voroneț, Mănăstirea Humorului, Sucevița, and Moldovița. They are all beautiful. They were mostly built in the second half of the 15th century and the early 16th century. They stand out due to their mural painting, indoor and outdoor, in vegetal dies, delighting the visitors with Biblical themes. I can still remember the reaction of a tourist from Japan. He was traveling alone, and came to see the monasteries. He was profoundly touched. He said that he doesn’t understand much of our faith and religion, but he was impressed by the paintings, and said he would gladly come back, and would recommend the paintings to anyone. His expression and the way he described his experience made us understand once again how valuable these monasteries are.



    According to the latest statistics, the greatest number of tourists to the area came from EU countries, mostly from Spain, followed by Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands, and the UK.


    (translated by: Daniel Bilt, Calin Cotoiu)

  • A retrospective look at the best travel destinations of the year 2017

    A retrospective look at the best travel destinations of the year 2017

    At the start of the year 2017 we extended to you the invitation to visit the Oas County, one of the most attractive travel destinations in Romania. We discovered together, back then, what makes that region in northern Romania so much appreciated: folk costumes, music and dance. The county capital and the largest city in Oas County is Negresti Oas — one of the most picturesque areas in Transylvania, which leaves a strong impression on visitors with its tradition, culture and landscapes. Tourists to the area always make a stopover at the Oas County Museum, set up in 1966, boasting over 200 year old houses, farming installations and traditional workshops that are still functional.



    In another edition of Traveller’s Guide last year, we made a stopover in Brasov, central Romania, and then we headed for Gorj County in the southwest.



    Apart from adventure tourism in the mountains, monasteries, historical monuments and real architectural gems are elements that make Gorj county an attractive tourist destination. Many tourists choose to start their travel to the area in the city of Târgu Jiu, where they can admire the works of Constantin Brâncuşi, the Romanian sculptor who revolutionised modern art in the first half of the 20th Century. In 2017, we also presented to you protected areas in Romania. We mentioned, back then, one of the most valuable eco-systems in Europe, which stretches no less than 1.6 million hectares: scientific reserves, natural reserves, national parks, monuments of nature, to which we add the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. We came to the conclusion that Romania might be one of the richest European countries in terms of biodiversity.



    In Romania, there are still approximately one thousand country residences of the local elites, dating back to the 16th to the first half of the 20th Century. Some of them have been restored, others have fallen into decay and others make the objects of litigation between heirs. There are castles in towns, too, some of them hosting museums or various events. In 2017, we took a tour of the most representative such buildings. We also recommended to lovers of citadels, strongholds and castles to visit Hunedoara. The Hunyadi Castle is the best-preserved monument of gothic, civil and military architecture in Central and South-Eastern Europe. We didn’t forget about the monasteries, cave settlements and historical objectives in Buzau County, Eastern Romania. We recommended to our listeners in 2017 to make a visit to the Amber Museum based in Colti, where they could see no less than 300 beautiful amber stones, whose colour varies from translucent yellow to opaque black.



    Moreover, the museum possesses the world’s second largest piece of amber, weighing a little less than 2 kg. The largest such piece, weighing 3.4 kg, is exhibited at the County Museum in Buzau. Spring also brought the first early discounts on summer packages. Bucharest held the 37th edition of the Romanian Travel Fair.



    Buzias is the only national interest resort in western Romania. Its facilities provide treatment for heart diseases using natural factors. Situated between the Cernei Mountains and the Mehedinti Mountains, the resort of Baile Herculane dates back 2,000 years ago. Visitors can receive here treatment for acute and chronic diseases and disorders of the digestive system. We also travelled to many rural areas, given that rural tourism has developed considerably in Romania in the last ten years. Many guesthouses have been built across the country imitating traditional architecture, and the local crafts and customs are being promoted at more and more festivals and events. Our summer programmes looked at Romania’s around 245 km of coastline, from Sulina to Vama Veche, near the border with Bulgaria, including the country’s nine resorts of national interest from a tourist point of view.



    In 2017, we also spoke about traditional and alternative tourism in Transylvania and the special packages for food lovers. We included in our programmes recipes dating back to the pre-industrial era, before World War One. Also, given that Romania is one of the world’s biggest wine makers, ranking 13th in the world in this respect and 6th in the European Union, we also presented the Romanian wine making industry and the tourist industry related to it. In autumn, we looked at the offers of a new travel fair held in Bucharest. Also, our station ran a competition entitled Maramures — Culture and Traditions at the Heart of Europe, about one of the most beautiful and popular counties in Romania, located in the north of the country. We ended with a trip to Curtea de Arges, the burial place of Romania’s kings, and with an overview of New Year’s packages.

  • Summer holiday in Sibiu County

    Summer holiday in Sibiu County

    “Welcome to Transylvania. Have a pleasant stay in Sibiu, reads the sign welcoming holiday-makers to the Tourist Information Centre in Sibiu. The centre provides all kinds of information about the many activities available to tourists, from visits to museums, to international cultural events, new bicycle tracks linking the countys mediaeval villages, arts and crafts demonstrations and the local cuisine.



    Speaking of cuisine, the city of Sibiu has more restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants than Amsterdam and Istanbul. With a population of 150,000, Sibiu, which is located in southern Transylvania, has around 200 restaurants. This figure reflects the citys incredible development as a tourist destination in the last 10 years, after it held the title of European Capital of Culture in 2007, something that made the city more visible abroad. More information about what the city has to offer is available at sibiu-turism.ro, which also has a page in English, says Simina Manea from the County Tourist Association:



    Simina Manea: “This website promotes the countys natural and cultural diversity. From the Sibiu area visitors have access to the highest mountain ranges in Romania via two fairy-tale like mountain roads, the Transfagarasan and Transalpina. The county is also the home of fortified churches. Transylvania is well-known for these religious structures that used to play a defensive role. There are 77 fortified churches in Sibiu, two of which are on the UNESCO world heritage list. The countys ethnographic regions are unique from a historical and cultural perspective. One such area is Marginimea Sibiului, a pastoral region that preserves many of its ancient traditions. Other such regions include Tara Oltului, in the Fagaras area, at the foot of the Carpathians, and Tara Secaselor, around Ocna Sibiului. The latter used to be a mine salt dating back to the Romans. Natural lakes have formed today in place of these mines. Their water is so salty that it will keep you afloat even if you dont know how to swim, not to mention that they are extremely good for your health.



    The travel packages available in the Sibiu area cater to all tastes. Simina Manea, from the County Tourist Association, tells us more:



    Simina Manea: “One of our projects aims to develop thematic cultural itineraries to promote every region and its characteristics. In Marginimea Sibiului, for example, we have a programme called the Road of the Cheese. A transhumance package is also available, thanks to an international cooperation project. The latter may be done on foot or by bicycle. Entire sections of this itinerary can also be travelled by car. In the mountainous region of the Fagaras Mountains we have developed a programme called Sport in the Fagaras Mountains, addressed to people who are in good physical condition. The area is truly spectacular. It takes visitors up the Transfagarasan and to the ice lakes on top, followed by a walk along the crest of the Fagaras Mountains. An incredible view opens up of both Wallachia and Transylvania. Its spectacular. Its an area in the Carpathians I recommend strongly to foreign visitors to Romania.



    The Hartibaci Valley is another fairy-tale like area in Sibiu County. It stretches between Olt River and the road linking Sibiu to the mediaeval town of Sighisoara. Traditional farming is still practised here, Simina Manea explains:



    Simina Manea: “It is an area where traditional farming allowed for the preservation of a varied landscape, with a diverse flora and fauna, particularly birds, because the locals pay special attention to the environment. There we have created a tourist route known as the Road of Nature, and we try to promote the local certified eco-tourist guesthouses. It is a region that we want to develop with the support of the local community, but also with the help we get from our guests, given that many foreigners have settled here. A major advantage is the impressive Saxon heritage, with very well-preserved houses, which have been bought by young people from abroad, such as Swiss, Germans, or Italians, who have settled here.



    The cyclist community in Sibiu is getting bigger and stronger, and cycling has been intensely promoted here, as a leisure opportunity but also as an alternative means of traveling. In the city of Sibiu, tourists can use cycle paths totaling 65 kilometers, starting from the outskirts and leading all the way up the center. Bikes can also be used by tourists to pedal out of Sibiu. With details on that, here is the sports program coordinator with the Sibiu County Tourism Association, Nicolae Ivan.



    Nicolae Ivan: “One route starts from the spectacular Sub Arimi park, near the centre of the city and ends up in the mountains, with slight interruptions. Then the route can be continued along a roughly 11-kilometer long path built by the County Council in 2011, cutting through the Dumbrava Forest. The five main routes built by the Tura in Natura association total almost 300 kilometers, covering important areas in Sibiu, geographically speaking. Those areas are important in terms of the flora and fauna that cycling tourists can meet, but also of the cultural or historical sites in the region. For instance, there is the Saxons Road, going to Magura Cisnadiei, a 45-kilometer long route. One of the first routes in the region, Emil Cioran, towards the village of Rasinari where the writer Emil Cioran was born, is 43-kilometer long. The Salt Road is marked in the Secas Land. It links localities of the traditional road used by salt merchants. In Olt Land there is the Brukenthal route, which takes us close to Baron von Brukenthals summer residence in Avrig.“


    (translated by: Cristina Mateescu)

  • Consul Hill, included in tourist circuits

    Consul Hill, included in tourist circuits

    The area is known to host Pontic-Caspian steppe, boasting rare forms of vegetation. One of the main reasons the National Park was set up was the high number of protected species of plant life, currently facing extinction, and which are specific of Dobrogea. The Consul Hill lies close to the Macin Mountains and Izvoarele village. It is a volcanic rock mound which the authorities intend to introduce into tourist circuits as of this year. A total of four new tourist circuits will be created, including archaeological sites, religious objectives and several panoramic viewpoints. Consul Hill is 333 meters high and was declared a protected site together with the King Ferdinand I Glades in Niculitel, back in 1927.



    Viorel Rosca, the director of the Macin Mountains National Park says: “Consul Hill is the starting point of the first circuit, passing through Alba and Teilor Valley. It is one of the two nature reserves declared by Queen Maria in 1927. The decision was taken after the year before, in 1926, King Ferdinand together with his wife, Queen Maria, and their daughters passed through the area with a royal pageant. They embarked on a ship in Oltenita and reached Dobrogea via Macin branch. They were enchanted with these fairytale realm, as they called it, boasting lush vegetation. Near Consul Hill Queen Maria found a wonderful spot to indulge her passion for painting. There is communion between steppeland and wetland plants, also due to the proximity of Taita River, which flows into the Black Sea, giving the whole area a special appeal, both in terms of its beautiful landscapes and its potential for scientific research. Queen Maria was accompanied by a pharmacist, whom she would ask about these plants and wonderful scenery. The man told her the plants are very rare, and many can be found only in Dobrogea. Thus we are honoured to include this hill into a tourist circuit that is bound to appeal to nature lovers”.



    Macin Mountains can be visited on foot, on horseback or by bike. Bike tours are of medium difficulty and connect the park’s bordering villages. The mountain ridge is dotted with ancient citadels and monasteries, making for important eco-tourism and religious tourism sites.



    Viorel Rosca: “The area around Macin Mountains is generally a unique tourist alternative boasting millennia-old ventifacts. The area’s geological diversity, which holds an immense scientific value, goes hand in hand with unique elements of vegetation. The area is home to Romanian blood-red peony or the steppe peony, the dittany, the white carnation, several species of orchids and irises. So we try to promote these areas for the public at large, for those who love beauty, recreation and tranquility, mainly because the Hercynian Mountains have been better known to the scientific world, to MA and PhD students, than to the public at large. Students and experts alike find new territories to explore here, as the places haven’t revealed all their scientific secrets yet. The area is also home to a species of Achillea Desert Eve, which is 15-centimeters tall. Only by simply touching it, you’ll notice that the plant gives off a strong, musk-like scent. Another plant that can be found in the region is the Nyman, a species known as Motherwort, which is a rarity, as it usually grows in Anatolia-Turkey and Iran. Equally interestinging is the Oriental Hornbeam, unfolding its globular crown over other plants, like an umbrella, on torrid days. Its roots are stretching on a radial area of 25 meters, fixing the vegetation and the soil on the Consul Hill. The golden grass is another plant specific to the Dobrogea steppe bioregion.“



    The wide variety of ground, forest and rocky ecosystems in the Macin Mountains, alongside the aquatic ecosystems close by, provide favorable conditions for many bird species. The Macin Mountains are also an important point on the map of migration routes, along the Prut and Siret Rivers. A great number of migratory birds transit that corridor. Here we can also find Dobrogea’s most important nesting place for birds of prey. For instance, the saker falcon, one of the most endangered species in Romania, nests in the crevices of the Macin Mountains, just like the long-legged buzzard.



    Viorel Rosca: ”The Macin Mountains are a priceless corridor for migration, especially for birds of prey. From the Consul Hill, we can watch very rare bird species like the lesser spotted eagle, the buzzard, the lesser eagle, the common pern or the short-toed snake eagle. All these birds can be watched with binoculars, which can be provided by the Park Administration. Two caves can also be visited in the area. They are home to two species of bats, of which one is very rare. These are only some of the reasons why responsible tourism should be practiced in the area.”



    The Macin Mountain Park Administration hopes that at least 15 thousand people will visit this protected area this year. Seven camping sites have already been laid out on the premises, while in 2017 the first 80 accommodation places will be made available in the localities of Isaccea, Cetatuia and Traian. (Translated by V. Palcu and E. Nasta)

  • Tourist attractions in Buzau County

    Tourist attractions in Buzau County

    Buzau County is home to beautiful monasteries, historic monuments, caves and various natural sites. Cristina Partal, the head of the Buzau branch of the National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism, ANTREC, says the tourist sites of Buzau are part of the world heritage: “Tourists can visit the so-called Buzau Geopark, a large area consisting of 18 villages. Those who are familiar with the concept at European level, given that there are over 60 geo-parks all over the world, will be excited to find one in Buzau. It is made of tourist objectives of world renown, such as the Muddy Volcanoes in Scortoasa and Berca, the Amber Museum in Colti and the cave settlements in Alunis, Bozioru and Valea Slanicului. Everything can be potentially discovered here. Children will be happy to discover 30-million-old secrets of the Earth in a 30-km area on Slanic Valley. Other sites worth mentioning are the Meledic Plateau, the Living Fires of Lopatari and Terca, the Salt Mount, the Manzalesti Coarse, which is in fact a tuff, namely the ash of a prehistoric volcano.



    A visit to the Amber Museum in Colti is a must. The museum displays some 300 amber stones of various colors, from translucent yellow to dense black. Moreover, the museum plays host to the worlds second largest amber stone, weighing a little less than 2 kilos, the biggest one being on show at the Buzau County Museum. Located close to Colti is also a famous spa resort.



    Cristina Partal: “The Sarata Monteoru spa is attested in documents as early as 1895 by Grigore Constantin Monteoru, an industrialist of Greek origin. At the time, the spa was compared to Karlovy Vary and Baden Baden. It was also dubbed the ‘cane spa, as people came there leaning on a cane and left walking. A larger number of tourists come to spend some time in the spa, the more so as more pools filled with salty water have been opened to the public. So, the spa is no longer boasting one only pool, but also swimming pools filled with salty water coming from the same source, Dealul Muratoarea. They have a high standard of comfort and provide high quality services. That is why we invite tourists to come back to Sarata Monteoru any time they want and enjoy the curative properties of this extraordinary salty water.



    In the town of Berca, in Buzau Valley, there is a traffic sign to the so-called Muddy Volcanoes. At the end of a 12 km track, you reach one of the most interesting geological reserves in Romania, at Paclele Mici. Tourists can see a strange, Moon-like landscape, created by numerous small volcanoes, whose craters emanate natural gas. When working its way to the surface, the gas also pushes up water and higher soil strata, which look like white-grayish or brown grayish viscous mud. The colour depends on the substances brought to the surface: oil, chalk or calcareous earth. This lava is permanently shaping the landscape, on a 25-hectare area, where no plant is growing.



    There are also educational programs unfolding in the region, not only in the Muddy Volcanoes area, as the president of the Buzau branch of ANTREC, Cristina Partal, says: “When visiting Buzau, tourists can read about and think of various things related to the history of the Earth. They can actually touch ash on the prehistoric volcano there. In Naeni, in the Dealu Mare area, one can find chalk and prehistoric shells. We also carry out educational programs for children, under which we encourage them to touch a shell, dating back to pre-dinosaur times. Furthermore, volcanoes offer an incredibly beautiful show and the legends behind them fuel ones imagination, telling about dragons coming from the centre of the Earth and which got killed by the brave men living on those realms.



    In Naeni, Buzau County, the tradition of stone carving has been preserved unaltered, to this day. Elena Stanciu, a local tourist guide in Naeni, has more on that: “Naeni is the newest and least-known tourist area in Buzau. Here, almost everything is related to stone. The old tradition of stone-carving is preserved almost unaltered to this day in Naeni, a place where limestone is at home. The craft of stone masonry has been handed down from generation to generation since times immemorial, until it became art. In the region you can visit the sculpture camp, actually a cluster of sculptures made in limestone, polished by children from Naeni, Slobozia and Chisinau. It is located in an area that offers stunning birds eye views. To the north, you can admire the ridges of the Carpathians, while to the south you can have a clear view of the Baragan Plainfield. Another tourist attraction is a church carved into the mountain rock, looking like an old fortresses. It is a unique asset in Europe. The interior, the exterior, the interior decorations, the iconostasis, everything is made of limestone. “



    The Ciolanu Monastery, 40 kilometres north-west of Buzau is also worth visiting. In Ciolanu you can also visit a museum, which boasts a collection of 200 year old icons and other religious artefacts.


    All around the county, tourists can find accommodation in many guest-houses where they can also taste local wines which are famous across Romania.

  • Caves in the Western Carpathian Mountains

    Caves in the Western Carpathian Mountains

    Many of the caves in this region can be visited by tourists, others are accessible only to speleologists. However, if you want to visit the latter caves, you can apply to specialized guides and speleology clubs. The lowest area where caves are accessible is the Padurea Craiului Mountains area, which you can reach coming from Oradea and Cluj Napoca, with cave entrances in Beius and Alesd.



    Speleologist Viorel Lascu enlarges on those caves: “The Vadu Crisului cave is accessible along the Cluj-Oradea highway. A river flows in the cave forming a 6 m tall waterfall, 40 m away from the entrance. Apart from the cave, you can visit the spectacular karstic gorges in Vadu Crisului; the pottery in the area is famous, people making white earthenware, unique in Europe. If you go up the Fast Cris river valley, you reach Suncuius commune, where there is the Unguru Mare cave. It is a cave with an impressive portal and close to the cave, there is an over 200-year old wooden house. You can get to the cave walking on a suspension bridge over the Cris river, a bridge which is below the cave portal. In the past, the cave housed the most important treasure of bronze weapons in Romania. Farther down, there is the 50 km long Wind Cave, which you can visit with guides from the Speleology Club or from the Department of Protected Areas and the Sustainable Development Centre. The latter plan to implement a tourist development project on about 300 m in that cave.



    In Rosia commune with traditional houses dotted about it, there is the Crystal Cave, which was discovered after 1987 by the miners, who extended their working face of bauxite mining. The cave is a real natural gem, its walls being coated by crystals or stalactites. The cave has been electrified and laid out so as to measure up to European standards.



    Viorel Lascu: “There is a centre here whose specialized guides can take visitors right to the Mining Museum, introducing them to various types of gear and equipment used in mining operations in the past. Going further we have the spectacular Crystal Cave, one of the worlds unique places. Here visitors are standing right under translucent calcite crystals, some of them measuring up to 80 centimetres, spectacular crystal clusters, which we are not allowed to touch, a rule which is mandatory for visitors, too. From the Crystal Cave we go to Remetea commune, which boasts another unique cave, called Meziad. Its uniqueness resides in the huge portal at its entrance. This is the first cave prepared and laid out to receive visitors, back in 1903. Now it has a new lighting system with LEDs stretching over a route of 1.5 kilometres, a distance which visitors may cover in about 40 minutes. Its spectacular vaults with huge arches create the impression of a Gothic cathedral. The caves impressive acoustics has inspired administrators to build here a concert hall. The cave is also unique because it is home to 8 different species of bats, and in some periods of the year, there are over 40 thousand bats here.



    From Meziad cave, one can go straight to Stana de Vale, a beautiful mountain resort located at an altitude of 1,000 meters and surrounded by the Vladeasa and Padurea Craiului Mountains. Stana de Vale is one of Romanias most sought after resorts, considered a Jewel among Crisanas mountain resorts. The resorts ski slopes are fitted with cable transport facilities being also the choice destination for many winter sports lovers.



    North of the Bihor Mountains, tourists can see one of the most impressive karstic formation in Romania, Cetatile Ponorului. This area of unmatchable beauty, dimensions and complexity has taken its name from the surface formations whose huge stones and pillars give the impression of fortified walls. The place boasts the highest portal in Romania. As it is 5 km long, it is more suitable for experienced tourists. Those who are not that experienced better set out to visit the area with a specialized guide.



    Speleologist Viorel Lascu has more on the caves in the Apuseni Mountains: “The famous Scarisoara Cave, housing the worlds largest underground glacier, is open to visitors all the year around. To enter it one should go down a spectacular shaft, measuring 40 meters in diameter, to reach a beautifully lit hall where ice and light create a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Under this less-known glacier, there lies a cave called Pojarul Politei, a scientific reserve with huge crystal formations. Also around the Garda commune there is the very accessible Poarta Lui Ionele Cave, where tourists can admire the spectacular calcareous formation called Cheile Ordancusii, which is a wild area, close to the motorway. Down the road linking Campeni to Alba Iulia we can visit the Huda lui Papara cave, which is a spectacular place crossed by a river, which forms an impressive eleven-meter waterfall.



    Huda lui Papara is the longest and bumpiest cave in the Trascau Mountains and it home to Europes largest colony of bats. The cave is dangerous though, because flash floods can fill it with water.