Radio România Internațional

Category: Traveller’s Guide

  • Spa, Monastic and Mountain Tourism

    Spa, Monastic and Mountain Tourism

    Well go back in the Govora spa to get to know the special tourist attractions of the area. Today well talk about three of its most important forms of tourism that make the area attractive for all age categories: spa, monastic and mountain tourism. These can blend perfectly, according to Mihai Mateescu, mayor of the town of Baile Govora: “We have introduced the concept of medical tourism, which brings in foreign tourists to get better here with us. We have already found two town halls in Italy and Switzerland. I want things to come to fruition quickly, because the visit of the 45 ambassadors to Govora spa and so many consuls have assured people that Govora spa is special. It is a place not only for treatment, but also for entertainment. When we go somewhere, we are determined to rest, to get treatment and get to know a bit of the history of the place, visit the places worth visiting. We have an extraordinary museum in town, the Spa Museum, Palace Hotel, the pride of the resort, which is a model of architecture and has been recently restored. We will also start restoration for the movie theater, which was designed by the first European woman architect, Virginia Haret Andreescu in 1929. We are extending an invitation to everyone to come here and enjoy this microclimate, unique in Europe, whether you are healthy or want to get treatment. Add to that the benefits of treatment, the spa circuits, the alleys, the strolls, the monasteries. All these create an extraordinary atmosphere, and tourists have to come here and see Govora spa. Come on over!



    Andreea Sarbu, travel consultant and manager of a Bucharest hotel, has recently come back from Govora spa. She recalls happily this trip to the place where shes been going since childhood with her great-grandparents.



    Now she looked at it with the eye of an expert: “That park I remembered, full of deer and squirrels, is still there, and I was very much impressed by this hotel they renovated, Palace Hotel. It is a historic monument renovated with European funds, and its awaiting tourists as we speak. The building impressed me most, it is superb, and the inside arrangement now is a dream. I invite everyone to visit it, even if you dont stay in the resort and just go visit the surroundings. We have there the Ocnele Mari salt mine, the town of Ramnicu Valcea, which is fairly big. At the Palace we can really talk about quality of service, people are very hospitable. Even though I didnt go in season, everyone was delighted to give us explanations. I didnt get to see the treatment complex, but I am told it offers the best cardio treatment, services for respiratory problems, for both children and adults. Therefore, whether you go there on vacation, to see the surroundings, or go there for treatment, Palace Hotel is a wise choice.



    The Ocnele Mari salt mine, only 17 km away from Govora spa, is the ideal destination if you want to spend time out of the scorching sun of summer, as well as for treatment of respiratory conditions. It is 170 meters deep, and tourists flock here from all over Europe and even America. They have plenty of reasons. In addition to having healthy air, you can find here a souvenir shop, a movie theater, areas for relaxation, and even a church. But that is not all.



    The list goes on, according to Anca Maria Pert, the tourist guide of the salt mine: “The movie theater has 40 seats. You can watch movies and cartoons. Usually you find there mostly children. The relaxation area is set up especially for this purpose. You can watch a movie, have some hot tea, and of course breathe in the healthy air, which is recommended for the treatment of many respiratory conditions. This is a great place, where you can see the alternating layers of salt, reflecting the climate conditions when the salt bed formed. It is a unique sight for Romania. The Ocnele Mari is a great place to spend time, it has a souvenir shop, a restaurant, a movie theater, a relaxation area, and a place of worship – the largest underground church in our country, we also have an entertainment area that has venues for practicing all sorts of sports, as well as a fitness club. In the middle of the restaurant, which serves Romanian cuisine, we have a beautiful fountain built out of salt. You can also spend time here purely for treatment. Speleotherapy, as this is known, is scientifically proven, and relies on measured physical effort, stimulating the respiratory apparatus. There is also a calming anti-inflammatory effect, dilation of the bronchia, caused by the ions in the air, which are great for treating things like chronic coughs.



    Close to Baile Govora spa you can find Horezu, famous for its pottery masters who make black ceramic marvels. However, Horezu is also famous among mountain tourism lovers. Several famous, marked trails originate there.



    Racheru Stefan, a tourism consultant, told us that no matter which direction you go, leaving Horezu, youll hit any number of great tourism sites: “No more than 5 or 6 km away you have superb monasteries like Arnota, built by prince Matei Basarab, who was laid to rest there. 5 km downstream you find another monastery, Bistrita, in Gothic style. In Romania, Bistrita is one of the very few whose murals were done by the great Romanian painter Gheorghe Tatarescu. In the Horezu area, behind Bistrita monastery, you can find the narrowest gorge carved by running water. It is 4.6 meters wide. The Trovanti Museum features these unique growing stones. Horezu ceramics is the most beautiful in Europe. The mastery of this craft has been handed down for many generations in the area. I call artists the people who shape and decorate clay here. You will marvel at the precision of decorations made with cow horn and goose quill.



    Here you have plenty of reasons to seek out a trip to Baile Govora spa. In addition to the treatment that you can get in the resort, you have loads of tourist spots all around the area.

  • Holiday on the Black Sea Coast

    Holiday on the Black Sea Coast

    It’s the right place to lie on the beach,
    but there are also many other facilities such as playgrounds for children,
    amusement parks and spas. Also, those who take a holiday on the Black Sea coast
    can also include in their program a visit to the dolphinarium, to a museum or
    the stud farm, or even a trip to the Danube Delta. For young people, fun means
    going to the clubs open all night long, especially in the resort of Mamaia, and
    also water sports. In fact, in February this year, the Black Sea Coast – Danube
    Delta Association participated for the first time in the Tourism Fair in Tel
    Aviv, where it promoted the resort of Mamaia. Thanks to all these actions, the
    number of Israeli tourists who will spend their holidays on the Romanian Black
    Sea Coast has doubled. This summer, two charters will land at the Mihail
    Kogalniceanu airport in Constanta, bringing 5,000 tourists from Israel. Here is
    Corina Martin, president of the Black Sea Coast – Danube Delta Association.


    These
    are good consumers of hotel services, as they have chosen full board and all
    inclusive services. Also, they are very good consumers of leisure activities,
    such as trips, local tours, tourist attractions. They have all asked for trips
    to Bucharest and one day trips to the Danube Delta. They are also interested in
    circus shows, casinos, shopping in Constanta, wine tasting, sea cruises, aqua
    parks and also the adventure park in the south of the Black Sea coast.


    The newest point of attraction is
    the adventure park in the southern Black Sea Resort of Neptun, called ‘Paradise
    Land’. Aurelian Marin, the general manager of the park has the details:


    We can
    say that we have finally brought adventure on the Black Sea Coast. The park is
    for children, teenagers and adults. This is an adventure park hosted by a
    forest. There are 14 routes of various levels of difficulty, starting with those
    for small children, and ending with those for professional athletes or
    climbers. Tourists have to cross bridges, go zip lining, pass by obstacles, and
    hang on ropes and cables. Some routes have their own themes. At this moment,
    the park is the biggest in the country, because it has 14 routes and some 200
    games. It is an extraordinary park, stretching over two hectares of forest. I
    am sure that tourists who come to the seaside and learn about this park will be
    extremely happy to visit it.


    The Romanian Black Sea Coast can
    accommodate all kinds of tourists, says Mariana Gobanescu, the chief secretary
    of the Danube Delta Association:

    Spa
    tourism is a very good choice for those who come to the Black Sea coast. There
    are many places where tourists come especially for treatment and relaxation.
    Also, there are now many hotels that have understood that families with
    children are very important, so they have tried to create the necessary
    facilities for children. In the resort of Mamaia, which is the closest to
    Constanta, hotels providing such facilities open every year. For fun, there are
    many clubs, which have also understood that they need to promote themselves,
    that the Black Sea Coast is a major segment for Romanian and foreign tourism.
    Therefore, they have been making efforts to come up with attractive programs.


    One of the places that tourists
    coming to the Black Sea Coast also reach is the Danube Delta, which was
    included on UNESCO’s heritage list in 1991, as the only delta in the world that
    is entirely a biosphere reserve. The main attraction is obviously created by
    the very diverse flora and fauna there. But Danube Delta’s offer is much wider,
    and includes bird watching, boat riding, fishing or hunting. Doru Vladescu is
    the manager of a tourism company, a tour operator in the Delta. The company has
    a 4-star floating hotel called Arca, a cruise tracker, speedboats and fishing
    boats. But what is a floating boat? Doru Vladescu explains:


    It’s a
    smaller cruise boat, with only 9 rooms, but each room has its own bathroom and
    air conditioning. We provide all-inclusive services such as meals and open bar.
    On the last floor we have a Jacuzzi, a beach bar, long chairs. The tourists
    accommodated here can chose boat rides, can go fishing and can benefit from the
    information offered by an ornithologist, who speaks English, French or German.
    Also, there are social games we can organize; we have a library full of
    specialized books, DVDs, feature films and cartoons. The program depends on the
    time, as it can be a longer weekend, three nights and four days, from Thursday
    to Sunday, or just one week. The longer the time, the larger the area we can
    cover.


    The advantage of this floating hotel
    is that it’s permanently on the move, says Doru Vladescu. You don’t have to
    just sit in one place, and the route is established from the very beginning, so
    as to reach as many points as possible.


    For
    instance, taking the Sulina Channel we can reach the Black Sea, where there is
    a beautiful beach, with very fine sand. Letea Forest is also an extremely
    beautiful place to visit. We’ve had tourists from France, Italy, Germany,
    Austria, England, the US, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. They
    particularly enjoyed the food and the nature. They’ve also said accommodation
    was excellent. Romanian hospitality is well-known, especially in this area,
    inhabited mostly by ethnic Lipovan Russians.


    With so many attractions on offer,
    the Romanian Black Sea coast is ready to receive as many guests as possible.



  • Brasov

    Brasov

    Today we’ll be taking
    you on an imaginary journey to     Brasov, in central Romania, a
    city renowned for its medieval architecture and the multitude of cultural
    events unfolding here all over the year.     Spending a week in Brasov could
    cater for the taste of any fastidious tourist as the region offers a lot of
    opportunities to anyone interested in culture, shopping, adventure tourism or
    mountain sports irrespective of the season while others can simply enjoy
    outdoor activities.




    Back in the medieval time,
    Brasov used to be a thriving citadel, upon which it became a city that
    connected the Western world with the Balkans, a major trade hub. Its historical
    monuments are a delight to tourists visiting the city, standing proof of
    flourishing olden times. Its surroundings are fraught with fortified churches
    lying amid quiet secluded villages. In the following minutes Cristian
    Macedonschi, a representative of Brasov city hall, will be introducing some of
    the most important tourist attractions in the area.






    Cristian Macedonschi: The Teutonic citadel of Marienburg or Feldioara is worth
    visiting as there we also have the Michael Weiss monument of fallen soldiers.
    We have fortified cities, UNESCO monuments, such as that in Prejmer or Viscri.
    Viscri, for instance, has achieved world acclaim after the visits paid here by
    Prince Charles. Then there is the Black Church, which is the Romanian monument
    with the largest number of photos taken. The Bran castle lying in the region
    boasts the largest number of visitors in Romania, over 550 thousand. Then there
    is the fortified city of Rasnov and Brasov’s historic center flanked by the
    White and Black Towers, the Weavers Bastion, The Museum of Urban Civilization.






    The Museum of urban
    civilization is located on the premises of the old city of Brasov housed by a
    building dating back to 13th and 14th centuries. The
    museum has three floors, where visitors can admire restored photo studios,
    fashion design salons as well as rooms that are representatives for the life of
    the bourgeoisie in mid-19th century. However, the most
    representative lay monument in Brasov is the Town Hall called Casa Sfatului,
    which dates back to 1420. Around this you’ll be seeing many other
    representative buildings. Here is now Stelian Cosulet telling us more about the
    County History Museum in Brasov.






    Bogdan Cosulet: Not far from the Casa Sfatului, there is the largest building of
    Brasov, St. Bartholomew’s Church dating back 1160. Historians are still takings
    sides about the time the church was built. Close to it there lies the famous
    Black Church, a gothic cathedral representative for the architecture in
    South-Eastern Transylvania. This remains the biggest religious monument in
    Romania measuring 92 meters in length. The initial project included two towers
    but out of economic reasons only one tower was built. The Black Church is
    presently housing major art collections that date back before Luther’s Reform,
    such as a portrait of the Madonna, from the time of Matei Corvin, around
    1480-1490.


    Stephan
    Markus Schlandt is a pipe organist at the Black Church in Brasov, where he
    gives concerts on a Buchholtz mechanical pipe organ, the largest in Romania
    with 3993 pipes.






    Bogdan Cosulet: The Black Church was initially called St. Mary and was a Catholic
    church. But Iohannes Honterus, a humanist from Transylvania of Saxon origin
    changed the religious faith of the Saxons, at the same time changing the
    education system; he drew a map of Transylvania, brought a printing press to
    Brasov and started printing religious books in Romanian, German and Latin. The
    region knew its first flourishing period around the 16th century,
    through the crafts that developed here, a fact that boosted its relations with
    the Ottoman Empire. For this reason we are proud to have the largest collection
    of Turkish carpets outside Turkey. The city was burnt to the ground by a
    powerful blaze in 1689. The buildings we see now were built after that blaze,
    which affected also the Black Church, that’s why we call it black. There followed
    one century of restoration. The first to be restored was the dome then the pews
    and the interior decoration as well as the pipe organ.


    Here is priest
    Vasile Oltean with the Muzeum ‘First Romanian School’ in the oldest Brasov
    district called the Schei talking about one of the oldest traditions in
    the region called the Junii Festival.




    Vasile Oltean: Junii of Brasov were a group of people who used to come in
    their traditional folk costumes carrying battle flags and brandishing maces.
    They preserved many traditions some of them dating back to the ancient kingdom
    of Dacia. According to historical documents, the church in the region was built
    along the years by no less than 32 rulers and boyars from Wallachia and
    Moldavia and because of that, we know a fact that was also confirmed by 80
    princely documents that a genuine Romanian cultural centre had emerged to have
    later materialized in the first Romanian school. The first legitimate question
    anyone may ask is, when did Romanians have their first school? History told us
    their first school was founded in the 16th century but the church’s
    chronicles read clearly, ‘the holy church was built around 1495 along with the
    school’.




    Brasov remains a destination for sports and
    adventure lovers too. One of the most important and renowned ski resorts nearby
    is Poiana Brasov, where one can find the best ski schools in winter, while in
    summer one make take delight in some of the most beautiful trekking routes
    where you’ll enjoy the flora and fauna of the Carpathians. Package trips to the
    region can be purchased from various travel operators based in Brasov or on
    line.











  • Ocna Sibiului

    Ocna Sibiului

    In today’s programme we will
    be visiting the spa town of Ocna Sibiului to find more about the treatments
    provided here and travel to an old fortified church, whose mural paintings date
    back to the 16th century.




    Mariana Nicoleta Varodi is a
    physician specialising in physical therapy who works at the Ocna Sibiului spa
    complex, 17 km away from Sibiu. There are three lakes here, Horia, Closca and
    Crisan, known locally and internationally since 1846. They are top locations in
    Europe, in addition to Sovata and Ocnele Mari, in terms of heliothermal waters,
    lakes heated by the sun at up to 22 or 24 degrees Celsius at the surface, and
    to 40 to 45 degrees at depths of over two meters, according to Dr. Varodi:




    This is where you find the
    most concentrated sodium chloride waters, and mud with strong mineral content,
    as well as a quiet climate, protected by the forest and hills all around. We have
    natural factors here conducive to recovering body and psyche. The complex has a
    treatment facility where patients come from all over the world: Germany, Italy,
    Spain, and even Egypt. All year round, patients can get the benefits of
    treatment and recovery for a wide array of conditions of the locomotion
    apparatus, such as arthritis, fractures and sprained joints. We are also
    treating peripheral neurological conditions, such as nerve paralysis, skin
    conditions like psoriasis and allergies, as well as respiratory conditions,
    such as bronchitis and asthma, but also gynaecological conditions. Concentrated
    salt waters are used in kinetotherapy procedures, waters that get heated up to
    32 or 34 degrees Celsius in the indoor pool. We also use special mud rich in vitamins
    and biostimulants. We use the water in Horia spring in the form of aerosols.
    All these are associated with electrotherapy, massage, dry sauna, wet sauna and
    Jacuzzi, for best results. Our patients come back every year, and say the
    waters and the medicinal mud in Ocna Sibiului are truly miraculous.




    Treatment is available all
    year round, but the summer is best if
    you want to take advantage of the sun, the lake and cold mud applications. Most
    tourists prefer that time of the year, according to Dr. Varodi, who told us
    about the impression left on the guests by the facilities:




    We always ask them about
    their impressions when they leave, and they say they are very pleased, no
    matter what they have available in their own countries. They come back to Ocna
    Sibiului precisely because they have a great time here, and because they know
    that the waters and mud here are unique, with beneficial effects. In the
    summer, considering the high demand, you should book in advance. I do believe
    that Ocna Sibiului is the ideal place, where benefits meet entertainment, no
    matter what age you are or what time of the year you arrive.




    In Ocna Sibiului, one place
    that you should not miss is the fortified church. Csiki-Makszem Lorand, the
    parish priest, told us about the rich history of the place:




    The Reformed church in Ocna
    Sibiului is a fortified church, with three naves, in the Roman style. It began
    being built in 1240, but the construction was interrupted by the Tatar invasion
    in Transylvania, which is why it was finished as late as 1280. The city wall
    was built later, in the early 1300, to defend the church from the second wave
    of Tatar invaders. The oldest and most precious element of the church is the
    bas-relief above the south entrance, dating back to the early 1200s. A few
    frescoes were uncovered in 1910. The most important is the fresco above the
    central nave made by a painter from Sibiu called Vincentius in 1522, portraying
    the last days in the life of Jesus. It was initially a Roman Catholic church,
    and became a Reformation church in 1596, when the Hungarian community
    converted. For hundreds of years, the church was used by Evangelical Saxons.




    The south wing of the church
    houses a small museum, as Father Lorand told us:




    The oldest exhibit here is
    the archbishop’s chair built in 1515. We also have chalices, platters and fonts
    used from the 17th to the 18th centuries, but also clay
    pots made by salt mine workers between the 18th and 20th
    centuries. You can visit the church at any time. We have guided tours in several
    languages. We also have fliers telling you about the church in Hungarian,
    English and German. The church is visited annually by people from all corners
    of Europe, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, England and France. In my opinion, if
    you visit Sibiu, Ocna Sibiului is a must, not just for the treatment, but also
    for the history, which comes alive between these walls. Which is why we welcome
    you here with open heart.

  • The Comana Natural Park

    The Comana Natural Park

    Romanias most important area in terms of biodiversity, second only to the Danube Delta, the Comana Natural Park lies only 39 kilometers from Bucharest. The park has a very rich offer: tourist routes through the dense woods, where you can see century-old trees, nature monuments, lake arrangements as well as a monastery reminding everyone of the legendary ruling prince Vlad the Impaler. There is also an adventure park close by, tailored for families. You can find out more about all these in todays edition of Traveler s Guide.



    The Comana Natural Park is a park with a rather small surface area, says the park administration director Valentin Grigore, who will now be giving an outline of our destination today.



    It has a surface area of almost 25,000 hectares. For a usual size in Romania, it could be a medium-sized park. On the premises, we have an altitude difference ranging from 25 to 45 meters above sea level. The highest point is a string of hills, as what we have is a typical plains. In the park, there are roughly 8 thousand hectares of forest, two thousand hectares of wetland, swamps and waters. What we have here is Romanias second Delta. It is the Comana Swamp, which is something unique countrywide. It has a surface area of 1,200 hectares. A great biodiversity is clustered in the region. We have 212 species of water birds, the flora is also very rich. The park boasts 1,250 plant species. “



    Dont expect typical mountain tourism if you get there, consisting of hikes or camping trips of one-two weeks. The area is known for a different kind of tourism: weekend tourism. From the park administration director Valentin Grigore, we found out that although it is mostly Romanians who visit the Comana Natural Park, foreign tourists are a regular presence as well.



    Last week we had a group of tourists from Great Britain, also for short, one-day trips. They usually turn up in the morning and leave in the evening. Those who opt for setting up camp or those who book a room in the guesthouses in the region are very few. We had Czechs, Slovaks. When they get to visit Bucharest, they do a bit of research and thats how they learn about this marvelous region, lying so very close and come here for a day. All in all, weve had positive, favorable feedback. There really is something worth seeing for them in the region. Last year we accompanied a group of Austrian tourists in the Comana Swamp. They were impressed with our little delta. We are thus trying to promote it. We edited leaflets in English, we have maps we give out to tourists. They are not translated at the moment, but were working on a translation right now. We have also maintained our connection with partners from all around Europe, for the promotion to be included in transnational programs. We have thus been trying to promote ourselves locally and increasingly, outside the country. “



    The forest is teeming with butterflies, and if you happen to take a stroll through the woods, you can see the does. There is also a Celtic village, with old, thatched-roofed fishermens huts you can only reach if you manage the cut a path through the turtles. But the Comana Natural Park is a must–visit destination for all bird lovers. Right now, there are six ornithological observation points, says park administration manager Valentin Grigore.



    There are four destinations for specialized, research tourism. There are ornithologists who come over. A rather high-ranking official from the Embassy of Japan used to come here regularly for bird watching. We also have a wooden trestle bridge, over 100 meters long, to get access to the middle of the swamp. From there sightseeing is much better. There is also a video monitoring system for areas around here. You can go horse-riding, you can try archery, abseiling routes, kayak and rowboat rides. We also have our own kayak, rowboat or bike rental center. We have routes especially designed for tourists. The Comana Natural Park Administration makes available a couple of types if services for tourists. The car parking daily fee is 3.5 Euros. The camping fee stays the same for each tent. You can rent gazebos if you want to have outdoor parties for all sorts of events. A 30-seat gazebo can be rented for 90 Euros per day. A one-hour motorboat ride costs 30 Euros. The boat ride includes the boatman, who also acts as a guide, as well as four seats for tourists. Kayak rentals cost 15 euro per hour. Non-commercial filming is allowed for free, while commercial shooting is being charged.



    One of the most sought-after tourist assets is the Comana Monastery. It was founded by Ruling Price Vlad the Impaler and it was first mentioned on September 27, 1461, in a document issued by the Ruling princes chancellery. The Comana Monastery is the only fortified monastery in the area, with walls and defense towers. The history of the monastery was troubled, while the monastery itself used to be a defense fortress for the country, also acting as a defense element for the faith, says father Mihail Muscariu, who is the prior of Comana Monastery.



    “From the chronicles of that time, weve learned that he [the ruling prince] was murdered on the trade route linking Bucharest to Giurgiu, late in 1476. The collective memory of the locals has to this day preserved the spot where he was allegedly murdered, near the monastery. There a fountain sprang, known to this day as the Fountain with the Walnut Tree, or the Spring with the Walnut Tree. It appears that his closest soldiers or a few monks took the ruling princes body. Vlad the Impaler was beheaded. His head was taken to the High Porte in Constantinople, so that the Sultan could have the proof he was killed. What is even more interesting is that centuries later, in the 1970s, a team of Romanian archeologists made excavations close to the present day belfry, and to the right of the narthex, the remains of a beheaded man were unearthed, with no inscription, but the coins around the body dated from Vlad the Impalers time. Of course, since there was no inscription, history took only one hypothesis into account. A Romanian professor, the historian Constantin Rezachevici, who is still living, also wrote a book where he writes that Comana is most likely the burial place of ruling prince Vlad the Impaler.



  • Winners of the “Holiday on the Black Sea” Contest

    Winners of the “Holiday on the Black Sea” Contest

    Dear RRI listeners, we have invited you to take part in the contest that ended on 30 April, 2015, mailing date, called ‘“Holiday on the Black Sea”. Focusing on the southern part of the Romanian Black Sea coast, the competition introduced you to some of Romania’s most attractive destinations for foreign visitors, with emphasis on the town of Mangalia, the ancient Callatis, and the resorts of Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Neptun, Olimp and Cap Aurora.



    The contest was received enthusiastically by our listeners, and we got 234 correct and complete answers. We would like to thank you all and encourage you to keep writing for our next contests.



    The Grand Prizes are two trips for two, eight days and seven nights, double room full accommodation, one between 12 and 19 June and a second between 6 and 13 September 2015, both at Hotel Delta in Jupiter, Constanta County. As usual, you provide for air travel and the possible visa expenses to and from Romania.



    The contest was sponsored by Hotel Delta — SC Delta Aurora SA and was organized with Mangalia City Hall, the Constanta Museum of Art, the Callatis Archeology Museum of Mangalia, the Archbishopric of Tomis, UAP Constanta, the Romanian Navy Museum of Constanta, the Mufti of the Muslim Faith in Romania, the Romanian Naval Forces, and other local partners.



    The answers were available in our broadcasts, but also on our profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn.



    The contest ended on 30 April, mailing date. Before announcing the winners, let’s take another look at the questions:



    What is the ancient name of Mangalia? Correct answer: Callatis


    What is the name of the unique cave located close to Mangalia? Correct answer: Movile Cave


    What are the names of the resorts in the southern part of the Romanian Black Sea coast? Correct answer: Mangalia, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Neptun, Oplimp, Cap Aurora.


    Name five tourist attractions in Mangalia and the surrounding area. The correct answers could be picked from among the following: Esmahan Sultan Mosque, the Callatis Archeology Museum of Mangalia (housing the only papyrus in Romania), the Monument of Heroes, the Navy Museum, the Mangalia Horse Tracks, the Hagieni Nature Reserve, the tourist port, the Movile Cave (a scientific wonder because of its ecosystem, which is completely isolated from the exterior environment; not open to visitors), the Comorova Forest, the Documaci Hillock, the Byzantine building, the Mangalia Lake, the Callatis citadel and the Limanu Cave.



    And now here is the list with our winners:



    Our 50 honorable mentions went to:



    Idriss Bou Oudina and El-Ihsani Bouchaib, both from Marocco, Li Hua, Wang Li, Long Dingzhong, Chu Changrong, Zhang Xiaohua and Xian Honglin, all 6 from China, Zhai Yizhuang, of the US, who wrote to the Chinese Service, Antonio Múñoz, of Argentina, Claudio Gerlach, of Brazil, Carmen Fuentes, of Cuba, Salvador Paxi, Spain, Miguel Ángel Bartos, of Chile, Antonella Zappalà, Giorgio Borsier, Stefano Citterio and our co-national Natalia Călinescu, all 4 of Italy, Natalia Popenko and Natalia Zabolotna, both of Ukraine, Viktoria Hovard, Bulgaria, who wrote to the Ukrainian Service, Adervall Lima Gomez, Brazil, alongside Mofizur Rahman, Bangladesh, Inger Holmberg, Sweden, Sabiha Mubeen, Oman, Brian Kendall, UK, Henk Poortvliet, the Netherlands, John and Roberta Selesky, as well as John Rutledge, USA, Catherine Agboola, Nigeria, Hafizur Rahman (Rainbow Listeners Club) Bangladesh, Umesh Kumar Yadav, Priyanka Paul (Metali Listeners Club SB Sharma – SBS World Listener Club), Naved Raiyan (International DX Radio Listeners Club), all of India, Obaid Alamm; Shah Listeners Club; Jinnah DX Club, all of Pakistan, Surendra Kumar, India, Georg Pleschberger, Austria, Svetlana Shpakovskaya, of Belarus, Narendra Jangir, Chinmoy Mahato and Chitturi Venkataramana, India, Didarul Islam, Bangladesh, Michael Whing and Grant Skinner, both from UK, Shenaz Aziz, Pakistan, Constantin Criţchi of from the Republic of Modova (who wrote to the Russian Service), Eugeniusz Krzemienczucki, Polonia (who also wrote to the Russian Service), Alexei Gatsura, Belarus.



    The 20 3rd prizes went to: our co-national Andreea Deea, of Romania, Raïf Chaaban, of Lebanon, who both wrote to the French Service, Ali Alaoui, of Tunis, Abdel Kader Hasan, of Egypt, Liu Fajian and Zhi Yanjiao, both from China, Julio José Bravos, of Costa Rica, Juan Antonio Brea, Spain, Lucia Sandiano, Cristina Risso and Francesca Bernardino, all from Italy, Ihor Gurovoi, Ukraine, Jose Rivera, USA, Stu McLeod, New Zealand, Shivendu Paul, Abhera Jaswal, Radhakrishna Pillai, all 3 from India, Massoud Benaissa, Algeria, who wrote to the English section, Erik Oeffinger of Germany, Nikolai Veselkov of Russia.



    The 20 2nd prizes went to: Angela Olaru, of the Republic of Moldova, Nouari Naghmouchi, of Algeria, who wrote to the French Service, Abdel-Karim Ahmad Ali Al-Mabrouk, of Libya, Gong Lei and Yu Baoguo, both of China, Pablo Ramírez, of Peru, Franco Rodríguez, Colombia, Agide Melloni, Giovanna Bertocco, Roberto Carrus and Antonella Monti, all 4 from Italy, Danny Flowers, USA, Mohammad Shamim and Najim Uddin, both of India, Ayeni Jeremiah Adedayo, Nigeria, who listens to our English broadcasts, Shahzad Shabbir and Nasir Aziz, both of Pakistan, Jehn Nooijen of the Netherlands, who wrote to the German Service, Vera Kuznetsova and Nikoai Matveev, both from Russia.



    The 10 1st prizes were won by the following listeners, on air or on-line: Emilian Teodorescu, a Romanian residing in the Czech Republic, Amady Faye, Senegal, Ana-Maria Avram, of Romania, a Chinese language student, Hugo Longhi, Argentina, Bogdan Timkiv, Ukraine, Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Bangladesh, Mitul Kinsal, India, Mogire Machucki, Kenya, who listens to the English broadcast, Maxim Zabâtov, of Rusia, and Fritz Andorf, of Germany.



    10 special prizes went to the following listeners, on-air or on-line: Gilbert Dupont, France, Ben Amer Laid, Algeria, Guo Yanxin, China, Antonio-Ángel Morilla, Spain, Anna Mahjar Barducci and Giovanni Sergi, both from Italia, our old friend Hans Verner Lollike of Denmark, Hamad Kiani, of Pakistan, Kamlesh Gautam of India, Victor Varzin of Russia.



    We would like to extend our thanks to the questions, and to your messages telling us why you took part. And now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the winners of a trip for two, eight days, seven nights double room full accommodation at Hotel Delta in Jupiter, Constanta County are Jaroslaw Jedrzejckzak of Poland (between June 12 and 19), and Olexandr Getz of Ukraine (between September 6 and 13). Congratulations, we cannot wait to welcome you both to Romania!



    The prizes will be mailed to you, and we would love it if you sent us a confirmation by letter, e-mail or fax. Also, please check the contents and let us know. Thank you once again for taking part in our Black Sea resort contest, and of course we’re looking forward to reading your answers for future contests right here, on RRI.


  • A Holiday in Govora

    A Holiday in Govora

    Before we announce the winners of the RRI prize-winning contest entitled “Govora Spa, a healing oasis we will bring you some of the landmarks of this famous spa in Valcea county, southern Romania. The spa is well known for its salt waters rich in iodine and its sapropelic mud, recommended for treating various ailments. According to physician Cristina Petrescu, the resort is a perfect destination for families with children. The treatment offered at the Govora Spa can be both preventive and curative, and addresses mainly patients with respiratory problems. There are also children among the patients. Cristina Petrescu:



    “The youngest of the patients Ive seen in the past few years was 5 months old. But we offer more than treatment for respiratory diseases. Patients can also find treatment for their osteoarticular, cardiac, circulatory and digestive diseases. In terms of rheumatic illnesses, the spa offers therapeutic procedures for the arthrosis of the large, medium and small joints, and the acute rheumatic diseases. Gastrointestinal conditions undergo treatment with mineral waters from the three springs in the resort. They are also recommended for digestive, colon, and kidney problems.



    Patients from abroad have also been treated at the Govora Spa. Balneologist Cristina Petrescu tells us more about it:


    “We have had patients from New Zealand, Australia and Asia, from almost all European countries, as well as Canada and the US. There were many children among our patients, especially from the Nordic countries. I had around 1,000 such patients myself who received aerosol treatment in our resort, with very good results.



    Aurelian Cebanu, a cardiologist with the Govora Spa, is always ready to teach his patients how to adopt a healthy way of living, which is crucial after a stroke. The doctor first assesses the patients medical history and then decides on a plan of treatment:


    “As heart specialists, we first assess new patients in cardiologic terms, so we perform electrocardiograms, blood pressure and ultrasound tests. We then put them in a physio-kinetotherapy program. Theyre doing respiratory gymnastics. We also have a program coordinated by a nutritionist. Patients are tought what to eat, how much to eat and, more importantly, when to eat.



    The exploitation of mineral water springs with therapeutic properties started in 1879. General Nicolae Popescu Zorileanu, who was also a physician, brought here, after the War of Independence, a group of soldiers who needed treatment for the diseases they developed during the war. He knew about the mineral springs in Govora, which had been discovered by a local who used to sell it at the fairs in the area. The treatment was empirical. The iodised waters were taken to the Govora Monastery and warmed up with hot stones.



    The soldiers would use the warm water for baths, in order to treat the pain in their arms and legs. The findings of Nicolae Popescu Zorileanu convinced the then prime minister, I.C. Bratianu, to have the French geology engineer, Bochet, test the mineral waters in Govora. Bochet was the first to give a scientific opinion on these waters. Govora Spa is the only Romanian resort where you find three different types of mineral waters coexist within only 6 square kilometres, namely iodised, sulphurous and bicarbonated waters. The symbol of Govora Spa continues to be the Palace Hotel, an inspired combination of eclectic, Art Nouveau and neo-Romanian architectural styles. It designed as a luxury hotel, according to his manager, Mihai Handolescu:



    “Its construction took four years, between 1910 and 1914. It was the first hotel in Romania provided with a spa centre. It successfully used mineral waters for the treatment of respiratory, digestive and kidney conditions. The hotel survived two world wars. During WW2 the Polish Government, exiled from Poland, picked the resort as the place to host some of the officials and part of the treasury. Little was invested in Govora during the communist period, and most restoration works were only superficial. Romanias joining the EU, on the other hand, meant access to non-refundable money. Since its reopening, in 2013, about 7,000 tourists from all over the world came to visit the place. Our goal, at present, is to attract tourists from the Middle East. With the help of tourist agencies, we will try to enter markets in the Arab Emirates.



    Govora Spa is a modern resort that has preserved its historical buildings. The towns mayor, Mihai Mateescu, who is currently serving his 4th term, is very proud of the towns spa park with very long alleys and a lit waterfall. The street furniture was replaced to include streetlamps and benches, and an open-air amphitheatre was set up, after the model of the Roman arenas. Mihai Mateescu:



    “The alleys are 1.5-km long, after the German Baden model. There is a wonderful balneal route through the forest. Each street is in fact a mini tourist route. There are old buildings that need restoration to preserve their original architecture. The towns architectural plan includes only restoration works and no demolition or architectural changes. All these are aimed at highlighting the tourist routes towards the monasteries, the airport and an area that has become increasingly known, Transalpina.



    If accommodation for one day in a 4-star hotel, breakfast included, costs 332 lei (the equivalent of around 75 euros), a day in a 3-star guesthouse costs up to 150 lei (thats around 33 euros). Weekend discounts and discounts for stays longer than 4 days as well as early bookings are also available.

  • Summer Season Opens on Romanian Black Sea Coast

    Summer Season Opens on Romanian Black Sea Coast

    The opening of the summer season for the Romanian Black Sea coast resorts is getting near fast. Official estimates say that over 60,000 tourists are expected at the seaside for the May 1st mini-vacation, by 15% more than last year. The most popular resorts, going by the number of reservations, will be Mamaia and Vama Veche, and for the fist time in the last few years, several thousand foreign tourists are expected, mostly from the UK, France and Germany. Let’s look today at some offers for vacationing at the Black Sea in Romania.



    According to the Litoral Delta Dunarii Association general secretary, Mariana Gorbanescu, the seaside is for everyone:


    “You can do balneal tourism on the Romanian Black Sea coast. We have plenty of places for treatment and relaxation. In terms of vacationing with children, we have many hotels, from Mamaia to Mangalia, which have tried to create special amenities for children. In Mamaia, the closest resort to the city of Constanta, we have hotels opening every year with facilities for children. Families take their kids to the seaside on vacation, and we have a lot to offer them. We also have plenty of clubs that understand they have to promote themselves, because they know the seaside is a major destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. They also make efforts to make themselves known.”



    245 km long, with fine sand and 140 sunny days a year, the Romanian Black Sea coast with the tourist attractions around it, is the perfect holiday destination, even this early in the season. On May the 1st, the weather is always fine, and it will be so this year as well. Here is Mariana Gorbanescu:


    “Usually people come to swim in the sea on May the 1st. After this date there’s plenty of accommodation, but the new wave of tourists come in on June 1st. All over the Black Sea coast there are companies who specialize in water sports and entertainment. Others organize trips to the surrounding areas. There are lots of historical vestiges. You can visit the ancient ruins of Histria, the Roman monument called Adamclisi, or you can go on a cruise in the Danube Delta. It is a full day trip, which includes lunch on the boat or at a waterside restaurant. It’s a great idea for people here on holiday. Then you have the Aqua Parks, one in Mamaia, and a new one in Eforie Nord. We also have a famous restaurant that organizes periodically a traditional music and dance show, and introduces tourists to the customs of traditional weddings, with traditional food. At the Murfatlar Winery you can taste the local wines. It’s a great trip. Foreign tourists in particular enjoy these last two places.”



    Marius Usturoiu, general manager of a tourist agency, spoke especially about families with children:


    “We opened the first Family Club in Romania on the Black Sea coast, a very successful project. If they stay with us, parents can set aside all worries about the kids. A seven-day vacation starts at 299 Euros per person, three star accommodation and four-star services. The package is all-inclusive, and the price is valid for the beginning and end of season. In full season, the price reaches 400 Euros per person, and includes theater shows, movies, games and beach games, sports competitions, swimming classes and various other activities.”



    Cristina Basarab, brand manager for another agency, says that the Romanian seaside is for every category of tourists, with prices for all pockets:


    “If tourists want a cheaper offer, just accommodation, without meals included, they can go to Jupiter, at a two star hotel, where they could pay even as low as 45 Euros for seven nights accommodation. The most sought after resort is still Mamaia, where a room in a four star hotel starts at 150 Euros, meal included.”



    Once you get to the Black Sea, there is plenty of assistance you can get, says Mariana Gorbanescu:


    “Foreign tourists come to us quite frequently for promotional materials, such as maps and information, because they want to take in as much as they can. If the tourist comes early in the season, when a dip in the sea is not the best idea, they hope to travel around as much as they can. We guide them, and put them in touch with the tourist agencies that can help. Most tourists getting to the seaside want to go to the Delta for at least one day. Last year we had visitors from Brazil, the United States, the UK, and a lot from France, Italy and Spain. I want to extend an invitation to everyone to come here and see for themselves the Romanian beaches and the Danube Delta. I guarantee that they will make a great impression of them, and will make them return.”



    The invitation is in place. Make sure you book ahead, and don’t forget your camera. Until next time, with our next destination, we wish you good travels and good weather!

  • Traveler’s Guide

    Traveler’s Guide

    In addition to the presentation of travel offers and attractions in Romania, the Travel Fair also hosted folk shows, demonstrations at craft workshops and virtual visit tours. Holiday offers with a 30% discount were in greatest demand. Loredana Nistor is the manager of a tourist complex including nine three star villas in the Gradistea Gorges, only 7 km far from Bran Castle and 30 km from the city of Brasov.



    “Prices start from 28 euro for a double room per night, breakfast included. We have dry and wet saunas, a jacuzzi, a spa facility, tennis, volleyball and handball grounds. Tourists can ride horses and bikes. There are various tourist routes in the area. The complex stands on a plateau between the Bucegi Mountains and the Piatra Craiului Mountains, in a very nice area. We have foreign tourists coming from all over the world. This very weekend we’ll receive a group from China.”



    Offers for families were among the most appealing offers for the Romanian Black Sea coast.



    Marius Usturoiu is the general manager of a travel agency established in 1998, actually one of the main travel agencies in Romania. He gave us more details.



    “The prices of a seven-day, all inclusive stay in a three star hotel with four star services at the beginning and the end of the season start from 299 Euros per person. In full summer season, the prices range from 350 to 400 Euros per person. The price includes theatre performances, films, beach games and contests, sports competitions, swimming courses.”



    Florina Stefan is a PR expert at the History Museum in Sighisoara, central Romania, a public institution subordinated to the local city hall. The Sighisoara citadel has been promoted at the travel fair for at least 15 years now. As every year, the travel operators present the town, its monuments and other cultural and tourist attractions.



    Any Romanian or foreign tourist visiting Transylvania must see Sighisoara because it is a gem, Florina Stefan says.



    “The best known monument in Sighisoara is the Clock Tower, a 64 m tall monument, which has been housing the History Museum of the town since 1899. We have a rich agenda of cultural events. The Blues Festival is kicking off on March 28th, an event rallying artists from all over the world. Earth Day is also marked on March 28th. On the morning of March 28th, hundreds of volunteers will call for environmental protection and in the evening, shows will take place on the fortress premises. For one hour, lights will be put out and we’ll march through the town carrying lit candles. Museums’ Night has been organized on May 14th for 8 years now. The Craft Fair is held in June and July. The famous Medieval Art Festival, now at its 23rd edition, will be held in the last weekend of July. Then we have the Academic Music festival with musicians from all over the world taking part in it. In late August the Proetnica festival kicks off. All ethnic groups from Romania exhibit their cultural customs, dances, traditional apparel and cuisine. The Halloween is not a traditional festivity, but with so many foreign tourists traveling to Sighisoara, on that day the whole city celebrates. And wrapping up the year is the Customs and Traditions Festival.”



    Geanina Fedeles, advisor to the mayor of Targu Neamt, has extended an invitation for us to travel to north-eastern Romania.



    ”The area boasts a great variety of tourist assets. I should like to begin with the Neamt Fortress and I will continue with the monasteries, of which the best known are the Neamt Monastery, the Agapia Monastery, which was painted by Nicolae Grigorescu himself, then there are also the Secu, Sihla and Sihastria monasteries. The beauty of these sites is literally breathtaking. I saw that foreign tourists take a great interest in nature and in the area’s eco-tourist side. Reason enough for us to join the Vanatori Natural Park in a competition of Romania’s eco-tourist destinations. The park administration has structured its activity in three: the captive aurochs in the Dragos Voda Zoo, the semi-captive aurochs which tourists can admire from a wooden bridge, built at an appreciable height. And, last but not least, I believe it is the only natural park with the aurochs completely at large, though monitored. A great many foreign tourists visit our stand and we are honored by their kind words.”



    Gabriel Bucsa is the representative of Rasnov’s Dino Park, to be opened this summer. It is also Romania’s first such park tailored for those who love adventure and who are also interested in learning about prehistoric life. The dinosaurs that will be on display in Rasnov were manufactured by a firm from Germany, are real-size replicas, strictly observing paleontologists’ advice. With details on that, here is Gabriel Bucsa himself.



    ”Lots of activities for children are being staged within the park, and not only for them. We have built tree-houses, playgrounds, a route including the dinosaurs’ history — 45 all told. The park lies right at the entrance to the Rasnov Fortress. All dinosaurs are placed in the forest. It has a surface area of 1.4 hectares. Guided tours will be organized, with specialized personnel explaining the history of dinosaurs. Guided tours in foreign languages are also on offer. The park will be open from morning until the evening, and the admission ticket includes everything, except for laser shooting. It is an activity tailored for children. They will enter a room where various nature sounds are simulated, and will hunt dinosaurs.”



    Easter holiday packages in Maramures or Bukovina were also included in the offer. For instance, the fee for a four-night and three-day package in both areas starts from 290 Euro per person, for double rooms. The fee includes traditional food, drinks and kids’ access to the playground.
















  • Spa treatment in the south of the Romanian Black Sea Coast

    Spa treatment in the south of the Romanian Black Sea Coast

    Mangalia is the right place for spending your holiday and also for visiting various archaeological sites and enjoying the richness of the area’s natural factors. Tourists can have spa treatments with sulphurous mineral waters and therapeutic mud in almost any of the Black Sea resorts, yet in Mangalia they will benefit from special spa services at the resort’s spa centre and sanatorium, where they will be welcomed by well-trained medical staff. Prices are not at all high despite the modern, state-of-the-art equipment of the spa centre.



    Located 50 kms away from the large beach of Mangalia resort, the Mangalia spa centre and sanatorium can accommodate 200 people. These treatment facilities are more than 50 years old. At the spa centre tourists can buy complete packages including full board and various treatment procedures. Such as hydro-ozone-therapy, ambient relaxation therapy, volcanic stones massage, mud wraps, acupuncture or relaxation massage with aromatherapy oils.



    Florentina Stoica is the head nurse of the Mangalia spa centre and she will tell us next how patients choose their treatment packages: ”If they have a health problem, tourists will first of all benefit from a medical check-up following which they will be given a certain treatment including specific medical procedures. If in the afternoon tourists want to use our SPA-wellness area, they can do so following the doctors’ recommendation. For gynaecological problems we can offer treatments that can solve the problem almost completely. If women want to stay slim, in the afternoon they can benefit from our programs: they will be given competent advice for a healthy living, they will have massages, sauna and everything related to the afternoon sauna. Fees are the same for Romanian and foreign guests. The spa centre and sanatorium is open all year round. There is no specific time of the year suitable for taking the treatment. It’s true that most of the tourists, given that Mangalia is located on the Black Sea Coast, want to come in the summer, but the sea is beautiful in winter and the spring as well. Not to mention that off-season we’re not that crowded and it is easier to find accommodation.”



    According to the price scheme valid as of February 16, 2015, tourists will have to pay 1,010 lei, that is 220 Euro for a 10-day treatment package. The price includes four daily procedures, one of them being hydrokinetotherapy. The price does not include accommodation, that will be paid separately, and which can reach 25 Euros per person per day, in a double room.



    Mud wraps are among the most sought-after procedures. The sapropelic mud in the Techirghiol Lake is rated as one of the most efficient therapy factors on the Romanian Black Sea Coast. This type of mud is rich in organic matter resulting from the decomposition of algae and crustaceans and is used in various medical treatments. The mud found in the southern part of the Romanian Black Sea coast is thought to be particularly efficient in relieving joint and muscle pain and rheumatic neuralgia. Due to its content and ability to transfer heat, mud relaxes the body, stimulates blood flow and helps hydrate the skin. According to some research, 2 or 3 weeks of mud treatment will result in a rebalancing of the entire body.



    Mud wraps at a temperature of 39-41 degrees Celsius are not recommended for patients with high blood pressure and heart problems, because they can worsen initial pain, says Lacramioara Moroianu, the manager of a 4-star spa and accommodation facility in the resort of Neptun. A few days after treatment, however, in most cases pain will be gone for at least a few months. The spa in Neptun is also known for the use of salt extracted from Bazna, which has high magnesium content and is used for muscle pain relief and in recovery treatment.



    Lacramioara Moroianu tells us more about the facility she runs: “The spa unit has three floors. The ground floor hosts our medical spa facility, which provides all the treatments covered by this type of spa, including balneo and rheumatic therapy, anti-stress therapy, detoxification and weight loss treatment. All these types of treatment are carried out under the supervision of doctors and therapists. The latter are all qualified staff. The first floor houses the reception area. Here, patients can make appointments and ask information about treatments, massage, packages and appointments. As far as our balneo-therapeutic services are concerned, we are proud of the quality of the sapropelic mud found in Techirgiol. We prepare the mud every day to make sure it is warm in the morning and can be used for baths, body wraps and massage. We also provide water massage and plant baths, which are recommended for people with blood flow and rheumatic problems.”



    Lacramioara Moroianu explains that mud is extracted from the middle of Techirghiol Lake with the help of special bowl-like instruments. The lake is divided into squares, resembling a chess table. Mud is extracted from one square at a time to allow the area to regenerate, according to a well-established schedule. 8 tonnes of mud are extracted with each drill.



    Neptun is also home to a treatment and relaxation centre called 2D Resort and Spa, which is located in a very beautiful and peaceful area. Its manager, Hristian Sapera, told us more: “The centre can house 321 people, has a restaurant for 350 seats and a spa facility providing the whole range of spa and wellness services. There are also two swimming pools, one indoor and another outdoor. The indoor pool has warm water. The centre also has a conference room seating 150. The entire complex has been restored since we took it over in 2002. We have constantly invested in it ever since, every year. Today, the entire accommodation area is modern, at 3 and 4 star standards.”



    We can safely conclude therefore that visitors to the southern part of the Romanian Black Sea coast can choose from a wide range of treatment and relaxation packages at very attractive prices, especially if they book in advance.


  • Culture and religion in Valcea County

    Culture and religion in Valcea County

    Valcea County in southern Romania is a region famous for its large number of monasteries, some of which have been included on the world heritage list. “Jewels of the Romanian culture and history”, this is how Emilian Lovisteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Ramnic called them. First, we shall be visiting the Single Wood Monastery and then we shall open the gates of the Hurezu monastery, included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list ever since 1995.



    Assistant Bishop Emilian Lovisteanul says that a visit to some of the numerous monasteries in Valcea County means not only getting acquainted with Romania’s cultural and religious values, but also having the opportunity to leaf through a couple of history pages. The destiny of these worships sites is linked to the destiny of some of Wallachia’s rulers.



    Emilian Lovisteanul: ”This eparchy is very old in the region of Oltenia. It is more than 500 years old. It used to include all Oltenia’ s counties. The priests here tended to all believers in the region. In the Ramnic archbishopric we have 34 monasteries and 320 parishes. Many of the monastery churches here and even the parish churches are century-old historical monuments, with interior and exterior paintings that speak about the beautiful tradition of the place and also about how skilled Romanians are in terms of church construction. Many of the monasteries here are a mixture of western and eastern styles. In the Ramnic Archbishopric we have monasteries founded by prince Mircea the Elder, such as the Cozia Monastery, which is the oldest monastery in Wallachia. “



    The list of religious monuments includes the Ostrov monastery, founded by Saint Neagoe Basarab, prince of Wallachia between 1512 and 1521, in the early 16th century, the monasteries founded by prince Matei Basarab, who ruled Wallachia between 1632 and 1654, such as the Govora and the Single Wood Monastery and last but not least, the monasteries founded by Saint Constantin Brancoveanu, ruler of Wallachia between 1688 and 1714. Brancoveanu had the Hurez Monastery built, which is Wallachia’ most beautiful monastery. It was also Brancoveanu who adorned the monasteries of his ancestors: Govora, Cozia, the Single Wood Monastery. The Wallachian prince also knew how to preserve the cultural heritage of his forefathers, and to enrich it.



    The Single Wood Monastery was founded at the same time with the Single Wood Little Church in the early 16th century. Back then, the only thing one could find there was a forest of century-old oak trees that was home to a hermit. Our guide, Sister Tecla, tells us more about it:



    Sister Tecla: “He is the one who discovered the miracle working icon of the Virgin Mary, hidden in a hole in one of the centuries-old oak trees. Tradition has it that it was one of the biggest old oaks of that time. It would barely be girdled by six or seven people holding hands, arms outstretched. In honour of the miracle working icon, the hermit and the local peasants cut down that huge oak, and, from its wood alone, built a small church, and that is the reason it is called the ‘Single Wood Monastery’, made of one piece of wood. That tree alone provided all the wood for the church. The altar table was built straight out of the trunk of the oak.”



    Even though it is built like a classical Orthodox church, one notable feature is the lack of steeples. There was not enough wood for that. However, the centrepiece of the entire church is definitely the miracle working icon. It is painted on cypress wood, on both sides. One has the Virgin Mary holding the infant and the other the Last Judgement. The artist is unknown, according to Sister Tecla:



    Sister Tecla: “Some people place it as early as the 4th century, a copy of the St. Luke the Evangelist original, brought to the Theotokos monastery in Greece. Others believe it dates back to the 13th or 14th centuries, brought over from Constantinople, and some experts believe it goes back to the 16th century, brought over from Macedonia. There is no agreed upon conclusion; for us, what’s important is that the Holy Mother has ordained for a place of worship for her to be built here. The icon must have been brought over to these places by some monks on pilgrimage, who came either from Greece or from Constantinople, and hidden in the tree trunk for protection. The icon is impressive in size: 1.6 meters high and 1.2 meters wide, unique in the entire country in size and importance.”



    Let’s now go over to Hurez Monastery, built by Constantin Brancoveanu, where we found our guide in Sister Ecaterina.


    Sister Ecaterina: “As that was the ruler’s first dedication, he wanted to make it special. He started here a school of painting, sculpture, architecture, and, by building this monastery, he created the style that bears his name, the Brancovenesc style. It is as close to the Renaissance as Romanians got. Brancoveanu was very wealthy; he was called the Golden Prince. He built a lot, and not just places of worship, but schools, hospitals and palaces as well. Of the many buildings made by the ruler, this one is the only one entirely preserving the original. In addition, it is the largest complex of the Brancovenesc style art, in the sense that outside the surrounding walls, in the direction of each point of the compass, within one km, there is a small skete. The sketes were built around 1700, also in the Brancovenesc style. It is modelled after the Holy Mountain monasteries. The buildings on the premises were restored after 1960, but the architecture was preserved. The columns are now spanned by arches, and the ceiling is a continuous dome.”



    As a UNESCO heritage monument, it has plenty of foreign visitors, Sister Ecaterina continues. Its gates have welcomed visitors for 300 years now, and they can attend mass there three times a day.



  • Snow festivals in Romania

    Snow festivals in Romania

    Our trip starts in Maramures, northern Romania and the resort of Borsa, a perfect holiday spot in winter. Tourists will find here a whole range of hotels, boarding houses, restaurants and tourist information centres to help visitors find the most interesting places to see. At this time of the year, however, skiing is the biggest attraction. In Borsa, preparations are being made for the weekend, when the resort plays host to a special event. We found out more about this from Anca Aurelia Sava, the head of the Culture Service with the Borsa Town Hall:



    “This weekend Borsa is hosting the 12th Snow Festival organised by the Borsa Town Hall. The Festival will take place near the ski run, and will include a variety of events, including pop and traditional music, special guests, an outdoor dance rink and ski competitions for children and adults. At night, skiers will also go down the slopes carrying lit torches, and there will be fireworks as well. The employees and volunteers with the mountain rescue service, with which we work every year for the Snow Festival, ski down to the base of the ski run with lit torches. This year there will be around 80 people doing that. A chair lift will take skiers up the 2 km long run and there they can take another ski lift up another piste, which is 900 m long.”



    The town of Borsa is located between two nature parks: the Rodnei Mountains National Park and the Maramures Mountains Nature Park, Anca Aurelia Sava also told us. The Pietrosul Rodnei nature reserve is right near the town. The 2,303 m Pietrosul Rodnei peak is the highest in the Eastern Carpathians, and in 1979 the entire area was declared a biosphere reserve, protected by UNESCO:



    “The landscape is outstanding, and there are plenty of tourist sites. Maramures is known as the country of wood. We have many wooden churches, and a lot of tourists appreciate traditional architecture. During the winter, most of the people come here for winter sports, while in the summer they enjoy hiking. We have glacial lakes and a waterfall called the Horses Waterfall, which is 90 m high. Another interesting site is the Museum of Roots. A forest ranger collected, over the years, various tree roots. He gave each one a name and is now displaying them in a small cottage, alongside war items that he has found in these forests over the years.”



    Visits to the Museum of Roots are free of charge. Tourists from around the world come to see its founder, the 69-year old Stefan Grec. Apart from hundreds of roots and military items, he also collected old banknotes, gemstones, as well as tens of Easter painted eggs from Maramures and Bukovina.



    Another popular resort in winter is Vatra Dornei, lying only 89 km from Borsa, in Bukovina. Vatra Dornei plays host to a snow festival held this weekend and the next. Petru Ariciuc, the head of the mountain rescue service, tells us more:



    ”This year, the Snow Festival is held over two weekends. This season, the resort has been very busy, also because the weather has been very good. Vatra Dornei has three ski trails for intermediate skiers. The 3,000 m long Dealu Negru ski slope can be accessed by chairlift, the Parc Slope is 1,500 meters long and is serviced by two ski lifts, including one for children, while the brand new Veverita slope is 800 meters long and is fitted with a ski lift, floodlighting and snow cannons. We are holding the snow festival so late into the season in order to prolong the season and attract as many tourists as possible to the resort. Music shows will be staged over the two weekends, featuring ethno, pop rock and traditional music bands. We’re trying to cater for all taste. Friday is dedicated to pop and rock music, while Saturday will mostly feature traditional music. We have held ski competitions on the Veverita slope almost every weekend recently, getting both adults and children involved. Last week, for example, we had 102 participants aged between 5 and 70.”



    People who don’t have their own skiing equipment can rent it from one of the many sport equipment rental centres located at the foot of the ski slope. Fees range from 8-10 lei per hour to 40 lei per day. Skiing lessons cost between 65 and 80 lei per hour. Apart from skiing, Vatra Dornei provides other types of activities as well. Petru Ariciuc explains”



    ”We have three treatment facilities in Vatra Dornei. There’s also a four-star spa centre in one of the new hotels and tourists can come here to relax after skiing. Horseback riding is also available as an alternative to skiing. Tourists don’t have to venture into the difficult alpine terrain on horseback, but can have a relaxing ride around the resort. Horse-drawn sleigh rides in the area of the Calimani national park are also an option.”



    In February, many mountain resorts also host night-time parties on the ski slope, an attraction for young crowds in particular.

  • Relaxation and treatment in Govora Spa

    Relaxation and treatment in Govora Spa

    Cristina Petrescu, a balneologist in Govora Spa, says that children suffering from respiratory diseases are the main beneficiaries of the treatment in the centre where she works:



    “I’d mention such diseases as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, rhinitis, otitis, bronchial asthma, ailments which quite a large number of children suffer from at the moment. In recent years, I’ve noted that such children are increasingly younger. The youngest patient I’ve seen in the last few years was five months old. However, the treatments we use are not only for respiratory diseases, but also for osteoarticular disorders, cardiovascular, circulatory or digestive diseases. In terms of rheumatic diseases, we have treatment for arthrosis at the level of big, medium and small joints and for acute rheumatic ailments. We offer crenotherapy using the three mineral springs for gastrointestinal disorders. People suffering from digestion disorders, colonic and kidney diseases can also benefit from our treatments.”



    Cristina Petrescu has been working in Govora Spa for nearly 30 years now. She has had patients from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, from almost all European countries and North America. Children from Nordic countries in particular come to Govora Spa. Balneologist Cristina Petrescu:



    “I’ve had 1000 patients myself. They have benefitted from aerosol therapy in our spa and their health condition is very good. There is a very big distance between New Zealand and Govora Spa; there are differences in terms of climate, hemisphere and culture. Some patients were wearing an oxygen mask when they came here and after two years, they went home without needing any medicine. The children’s evolution was surprising both for the parents and for the medical staff in the countries of origin. A recent case I’ve monitored in the last five years is that of an American oxygen-dependent little boy, who was hard to transport by plane. After the first two years of treatment, he gave up the portable oxygen tube he was carrying around like a backpack and this year, he has also given up the inhalation therapy, which is no longer necessary.”



    Therapy is not invasive, it is not painful or stressing for children. The little ones are not given injections. Moreover, they can play during the treatment. Exercise is encouraged. In addition to the inhalation therapy, balneologist Cristina Petrescu recommends that people should exercise more. Aurelian Cebanu is a cardiologist at the CardioMetabolica Clinic in Govora Spa. The clinic is located in the Palace Hotel, a historical monument built over 1911-1914. Many patients have undergone heart surgery in that clinic and now they carry prostheses and have had stents implanted in their blood vessels. After being subject to a thorough cardiovascular investigation, they start a programme of physio-kinetotherapy.


    “We help patients know what movements to make and when to make them. They do respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics. We also have a programme coordinated by a nutritionist. Patients are taught what to eat, what quantity to eat and especially when to eat. We try to educate patients, to inform them on the daily calories they need; we tell them to avoid fat in their diet and hypercaloric foods, to avoid having too much caffeine or too many sweets. Then we inform patients about risks related to the cardiovascular diseases. The microclimate in Govora Spa boasts a one to one ratio as regards cations and ions, which benefits the body’s health. We also have iodine and bromine anion inhalation procedures. We’ve had patients from Israel, Ukraine and Russia. We should know that prevention is easier than treatment. Excessive food consumption must be avoided and we encourage a 30-minute daily physical activity as key to a long and healthy life.”



    Mihai Handolescu, manager of the Palace Hotel in Govora Spa told us about the rich history of that historical monument. The hotel was erected in the middle of the park of the spa, laid out by the French landscape architect Emile Pinard.



    “It is a happy mix of three architectural styles: eclectic, Art Nouveau and neo-Romanian. It was conceived as a luxury hotel. It was built in four years, over 1911-1914. It was the first hotel with a treatment facility in Romania, successfully using mineral waters, with a special effect in the treatment of respiratory diseases, rheumatic, digestive and renal diseases. It had a troubled history. It survived two wars. During World War II, the spa was chosen by the exiled Polish government to accommodate some of the officials and the Polish treasury. Few investments were made during the communist regime and just to superficially overhaul the hotel. But after Romania’s EU accession, we could access non-reimbursable funds. After the hotel had been redecorated, it was called the Palace-Govora Spa Hotel. Since 2013, when it was reopened, to date, some 7,000 tourists from all over the world have been accommodated here. We further aim to attract tourists from the Middle East. In collaboration with the travel agencies, we’ll try to be present on the markets in the United Arab Emirates.”



    Just 22 km from Govora Spa or a 30 minutes’ drive, there is the capital of Valcea County, the town of Ramnicu Valcea, where you can visit monasteries that have been declared historical monuments, such as the Govora Monastery raised in the 15th century, the Surpatele Monastery or the One Wood Monastery. But we’ll talk about religious tourism in another edition of Traveller’s Guide.


  • Vacation in Bihor

    Vacation in Bihor

    As you set off from Oradea, a city with a rich history and 77 buildings with monument status, you should take as your destination Baile Felix, one of the most famous in the country, then head for the mountain resorts. This north-western area of the country is a great destination all year long.



    We spoke with Adrian Dubere, head of the Bihor National Tourist Information and Promotion Center. He told us that in Oradea, the seat of Bihor County, you can admire one of the biggest Roman Catholic cathedrals in Eastern Europe, which is at the same time the largest Baroque ensemble in Romania. Construction there started in 1752. No less famous is the organ of the church, a gift bestowed by Empress of Austria Maria Theresa, also installed in the 1780s.



    Adrian Dubere: “We have a great many tourist venues in Oradea: the fortifications, which are undergoing restoration as we speak, historic buildings with art nouveau architecture, and so on. Close to the city we have Baile Felix, a very attractive spa. The fortifications in Oradea are pentagonal, and are around 800 years old. You can see the fortification’s church and the old horse paddocks. It is being renovated, and you can only visit one of the inner courtyards.”



    As the fortification was being restored, workers uncovered a medieval kitchen in almost perfect state. They found the ovens, the brick constructions that supported the tables, a 400 year-old sink, and the pantry. It will soon be included in the tourist circuit. Bogdan Pater, a Bihor county councilman, recommends Oradea across the board:



    Bogdan Pater: “Oradea is a multicultural city. All religions are represented. It is a great destination for lovers of culture and history tourism, with its fortification, the monuments in the city or around it. It is also a great place for nightlife. We restored the entire area around the Black Eagle passageway, with loads of clubs and pubs. Early in autumn we have the Oradea Autumn Festival and the International Short Theater Festival of Oradea. Then, on 12 October, we celebrate the Days of the City.”



    Baile Felix spa, one of the best known in the country, is hard to turn down, according to Adrian Iohas, who owns a travel agency. It can accommodate nearly 6,000 tourists in modern facilities, outdoor and indoor pools fueled by hot springs, with themperatures ranging between 43 and 49 degrees Celsius. Here is Adrian Iohas with more details on the region:



    Adrian Iohas: “Bihor is great for all kinds of tourism. We have loads of historical monuments in Oradea and in every town. At Vadul Crisului we have the tradition of white pottery, which is very old. In the Beius area we have ancient folklore traditions. In Rosia we have a watermill unique in Europe. The karst area is extraordinary, with 300 caves in Vadul Crisului alone, of which only three are open to the regular public, the rest are only accessible with special gear.”



    If what you wish is to spend a vacation in an isolated mountain area, in a century-old house, but one with all the modern comforts, Bihor is the place for you. Viorel Lascu, a speleologist, is now a business owner in the Padurea Craiului mountains, partnering with his son. He runs an original tourism project. Tourists who stay at his place don’t have Internet access, and have to cut their own firewood. Don’t count on mobile coverage either. It costs about 10 Euro to stay there for the night.



    Viorel Lascu: “This is a project aimed directly at the rebirth of the Romanian village, and stems from a passion I shared with my investors: speleology. In the 1980s I was exploring the Padurea Craiului Mountains, the Rosia area, a few of the large caves, some famous for their Stone Age relics. That is where we found the oldest traces of human habitation in Romania. Aside from the incredible scenery, we were impressed by the thatched roof houses with adobe hearths one or two centuries old. We started renovating them as they were in the olden days, beginning with one particular house, 200 years old, flanked by two cherry trees older than the house itself. We restored the houses just as in the old days, with the respective furnishings, but adapted to modern needs, with zero impact on their aspect. We have running water, we have heating, cooking utensils. As my training is in speleology, I set up a school with a few friends. We have expert guides who speak English, French, Hungarian, even Norwegian. They can teach someone who’s never even seen a real cave to navigate the wild places in the area, at any level of difficulty.”



    Among the activities you can find there are also horse riding and archery. Or you can visit the workshop of a craftsman. Bihor is also famous for the Stroviola, or Romanian horn violin, which is only used in this area, and for the design of its dowry chests. You may want to pick up a souvenir, because you’ll regret leaving this great place, Bihor.

  • Winter holidays in Suceava

    Winter holidays in Suceava

    This year, Suceava will celebrate 627 years since it was first documented. The city can be a perfect destination for this time of the year. High on the city’s cultural agenda: concerts, exhibitions, thematic parties, and folklore evenings.



    You can get to know the rich history of the area visiting the city’s monuments and museums. Claudiu Bradatan, manager of the Tourist Information Centre says you can go on one-day trips to see the sights around the city:



    Claudiu Bradatan: “At this time of the year, after the winter celebrations, there is plenty of accommodation, but more importantly, Suceava boasts a few sights of national importance such as the Princely Fortress, St. John Church of St. John Monastery and the Ethnographic Museum. The Bukovina Village Museum is the third largest in the country. Young people will surely be fascinated by the Natural Sciences Museum. There are enough attractions for a few days’ sojourn of a family with children. The Dragomirna Monastery, close to Suceava, could also be of interest to tourists. It has a special architectural design and the landscape around it is lovely.”



    The Bukovina Village Museum in Suceava is one of the recently established museums in Romania. It was opened in 1980. Entering the museum, you can walk along narrow alleys lined by households and their annexes. In the center there are the church and steeple of Vama village, going back to 1783. You can admire traditional furniture, ovens, various textiles and decorative objects, as well as folk costumes inside the houses. The Bukovina Village Museum in Suceava gives you an insight into important moments in the life of its residents: baptism, the wedding or the funeral. The admission fee is 1.5 Euro, the photography fee is 7 Euro and the filming fee is 12 Euro.



    Catalin Nechifor, president of the Suceava County Council says you shouldn’t miss a visit to that museum: “The Village Museum in Suceava boasts an impressive heritage. There you can see the mill, the traditional house and the church and become familiar with the customs in the area related to the funeral, the wedding and baptism. They are showcased by dummies, not by humans. But in the future, we’ll consider using humans too and equally bring to life the Princely Fortress of ruler Stephen the Great, lying next to the Village Museum.”



    A lot of cultural events will take place in Suceava this autumn. But that is not the only reason why Claudiu Bradatan, manager of the Tourist Information Centre recommends that you should visit the area this autumn: “I recommend autumn not only because of the variety of cultural events held at this time of the year, but also because of the lovely autumn landscape. Worth mentioning among the cultural events this autumn is the Medieval Festival in the Suceava fortress. The fortress, which was first documented in 1388, is undergoing overhaul; the project, which is to be completed in March, will throw a new light on the Princely Fortress of Suceava. In addition, all kinds of harvesting feasts take place in nearly all communes in Suceava County in autumn.”



    Medieval music concerts, historical playlets, tournaments, the knights’ torch parade, interactive shows are just some of the events taking place as part of the Medieval Festival in the Suceava Princely Fortress. For three days, you can also be initiated into the secrets of pottery or learn archery in the very fortress of the city.



    But if you get to Suceava in wintertime, Claudiu Bradatan recommends that you visit the city’s surroundings: “ We recommend you should head for the mountains. First, stop in the town of Gura Humorului. You can even ski there; there are two ski tracks: one of them is 1.3 km long and the other one, for beginners, is 500 m long. There is also a covered Olympic swimming pool in the Arinis park in Humor, where you can swim in winter too. Close to Gura Humorului there are two of the famous monasteries with outside frescoes: the Humor Monastery and the Voronet Monastery. Gura Humorului also boasts a special ethnographic museum. Leaving Gura Humorului and heading for the mountains, you can make a stop over at Pojorata, which is a new tourist destination. From Pojorata you can climb Mount Rarau to reach the Lady’s Rocks, a symbol of Bukovina. In the Pojorata area you can also ski on four tracks and skate on the skating rink. All trekking and mountain biking routes meet on Mount Rarau. Foremost Romanian and foreign climbers get together on Mount Rarau, where there are some 40 climbing walls.”



    Claudiu Bradatan says that most of the foreign tourists who came to the Tourist Information Centre in Suceava had already heard about Bukovina due to the very rich offer of active tourism. But whatever the time of the year, the city of Suceava and its surroundings will surely enthrall you.