Category: Traveller’s Guide

Today in Travelers Guide we take a look back at some of the tourist attractions in Romania that we presented for you along the year 2022. It was a year rich in offers, the first that saw a relaxation in the restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Right from the start, we stopped over in southwestern Romania, in the spa of Baile Herculane. We discovered there a place where the therapeutic properties of mineral waters have been known and taken advantage of for 2,000 years, since Roman times. It is also an area heavy with history and legend. Then we headed to the highest mountain peaks in Romania, in the Fagaras Mountains, where we enjoyed the beauty of one of the highest altitude roadways in Romania, the Transfagarasan. We stayed in the mountains, discovering, one by one, the nature and national parks in Romania. We talked about mountain trails, about experiences in nature, watching flora and fauna, and about the traditional craftsmen who are awaiting tourists to showcase their skills in crafting beautiful objects.

Early in spring we visited Romania’s Tourism Fair, spring edition. Here we found some attractive offers for those passionate of cultural, rural, or business tourism. We talked about escaping to the outdoors, about major historical monuments, as well as the most attractive Easter vacation packages. We then headed north, opening the gates of a museum which reflects in life size ancient and traditional Bukovina. We walked into what is effectively a whole village with complete households, community buildings, or technical installations illustrating some of the crafts in the area and the locals’ way of life. Also in northern Romania we visited the fortification of Suceava, the ruling seat of Moldavian princes for almost 200 years. We found out that this national historical monument hosts many events throughout the year, and that it offers a unique light and sound show. From there we headed to the south of the country, in Gorj County. From Tg. Jiu, the place that showcases the masterpieces made by Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, then we headed to the Orthodox monasteries of Tismana, Polovragi, and Lainici, as well as to the mountain side of the county. Here we found glacier lakes, caves, some of them nature monuments, as well as narrow gorges delved by fast mountain streams. Then we discovered the first geopark in Eastern Europe, which got its international status in 2005. We stepped onto a scientific fairy tale land in the Hateg Country Dinosaur Geopark, a UNESCO site managed by the University of Bucharest. We kept to the register of legends, discovering the land of Maramures during Easter, a true showcase of tradition.

The Danube Delta saddles the border between the eastern province of Dobrogea and Ukraine, the second in size and best conserved of European deltas. It was included into the UNESCO world patrimony in 1991, being classified a biosphere reservation at the national level. This was our destination in the last month of spring. We left the Delta on a city break. European Best Destinations, a major platform promoting tourism, included Oradea on their top list of cities that are perfect for a city break, calling the city a European Art Nouveau concentrated center. We discovered there major buildings, some dating back to the 16th century.

With the coming of summer, we though we would test our limits on the crests of the Carpathians, following its swift flowing waters. In addition to rafting and climbing, we discovered a most fashionable offer for 2022: flying an ultralight aircraft double command. We then stopped in one of the biggest cities in the west of the country, Timisoara. The first German language newspaper in CEE was published here in 1771. Also here they had the first public library with a reading room in the Hapsburg Empire. Right now the city has three state theaters in three different languages. Timisoara was designated 2023 European Capital of Culture. This program has the slogan Shineyourlight – Lightupyourcity!. In autumn, we discovered four certified tourist routes, aimed at promoting cultural and historical objectives. These are in Alba County, and are promoted nationally by the Romanian Ministry of Tourism. We then stopped over in the center of the country, in Sibiu County. After a stroll in the historic center, the medieval city, we departed for the area of Marginimea Sibiului, with 18 traditional villages, at the foot of the mountains, but also towards hill country, to the Saxon villages.

Romania covers a third of Europe’s spa potential. Spa treatments have a very long tradition, as the country was one of the first countries in the world to create a scientific society for balneology and climatology. At the same time, most resorts are in very picturesque areas. We talked about these in a dedicated edition, and we also discovered them among the offers of Romania’s Tourism Fair, autumn edition.

Of course, at the end of the year we had to bring up the offers for skiing, but also for the holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. This was a rich year, and this year will come with more novel offers and attractions, so that you can have unforgettable travels. Stay tuned, and enjoy the new year! Happy New Year!

Fortified churches, UNESCO sites, traditional Saxon houses, that have been refurbished and turned into guesthouses, 600 kilometers of marked tourist routes for hiking and cycling, in a natural landscape that people have preserved for hundreds of years. These are some of the attractions of the Transylvanian Highlands, a new ecotourism destination which has recently received certification from the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism. The area covers part of the territory of Brașov, Mureș and Sibiu counties and is geographically delimited by the rivers Târnave, Hârtibaciu and Olt. The new certification means acknowledgement of the fact that ecotourism is the main form of tourism that ensures the sustainability of the communities here, says Cristina-Ana Iliescu, a destination manager: “Its a recognition that the Ministry of Tourism has offered several years ago. We enjoy this status alongside another three other destinations. The process itself takes time, is based on quite complex evaluation criteria and looks at the destination in terms of tourism but also in terms of sustainability and care for the environment. “

The Transylvanian Highlands is also known as the area of ​​Saxon fortified churches. Some important tourist spots here are Sighișoara, Sibiu, Făgăraș. It is an area where we still have natural landscapes that have existed for centuries in a balance with human communities. People have built their lives around nature and in tune with nature. The landscape that you can see when you reach the Transylvanian Highlands is a mosaic.”

This landscape includes, in addition to villages with a typical southern Transylvanian architecture, with fortified churches, Saxon houses and Romanian houses and churches, a multicultural landscape, in a hilly, fairytale area. The area boasts pastures, centuries-old trees and plant species that can no longer be found elsewhere in Europe. Cristina-Ana Iliescu: “Biologists who come here are absolutely delighted that there is still such a great diversity of plant and bird species. If we talk about routes, the first one that comes to mind is Via Transilvanica, whose Tera Saxonum section crosses the north of the Transylvanian Highlands destination. I think of those who are passionate about biking. We have over 600 kilometers of trails that can also be covered by bicycle. There are routes for all tastes and for all levels. Those who are perhaps not as used to cycling should not be discouraged, because there are routes that use the old roads connecting the villages, which are partially asphalted or even dirt roads, so they are not necessarily extremely heavy. But there are sections specially dedicated to those who are a little more passionate about adventure and mountain biking – the cycling path that starts from Viscri and reaches Sighisoara, gradually descending into the villages along the route. We also have equestrian trails. We have a number of equestrian tour operators and riding centers at high standards. Water sports such as canoeing and kayaking can be practiced on the Olt River. Birds can be observed at a biodiversity center at Angofa, where visitors can get a glimpse of the work of a biologist in inventorying birds, butterflies and flora in the area.”

Tourists return to the Transylvanian Highlands for active holidays in the middle of nature, but also for local culture and traditions. They also appreciate the local cuisine. Over the past five years, the number of those coming to the area several times a year has increased, and the length of visits longer than three nights has doubled. Thus, local tourist operators who promote high standards are encouraged to continue, and communities recognize the value of nature and the customs they preserve, says Cristina-Ana Iliescu: “Visits to local craftsmen must be scheduled in advance, because a value of ecotourism, which we try to promote, is the fact that tourism is a component of a small universe. If a craftsman were available exclusively for tourists, then we would turn the area into a museum, something we do not want, because the Transylvanian Highlands is a living area. The tourist component somehow comes to complete this universe, and that is why visits to artisans must always be booked in advanced, ideally with the help of a local guide. Ecotourism aims to support the community as a whole. We want, through ecotourism, to avoid the idea of ​​mass tourism, we want people to spend time, discover, feel and live experiences in peace, as we like to say.”

The winter holidays are around the corner. Can we think of the Transylvanian Highlands as a winter destination? Cristina-Ana Iliescu: “”Hiking can be done on foot even in winter. We cannot say that we have been lucky enough to have a lot of snowin recent years, but even without snow, the landscape remains an exceptional one. The view above the village of Biertan, the village of Şeica Mare, take your breath away and are worth a walk, to see a bit of the beauty of the colder season. The meadows, the forests are extremely beautiful even in the cold season and even without snow. And if there is snow, even more so. Some of the tour operators have prepared offers for the holidays. Also, customs such Fuga Lolelor in Agnita, held during the last weekend of January, deserves to be discovered by more tourists than before.” (EE)

Today we travel to the only place in Europe where the bison can be spotted in the wilderness, in semi-wilderness and also in captivity. The area is located in north-eastern Romania and is a tourist destination appreciated by everybody. Visitors can spend a day at a barn and wonder at the diversity of plant and animal species found within the Vânători Neamț Natural Park, in northeastern Romania. Viorela Chiper, manager of the Zimbrul Association, told us more about it: Bison Land is the most famous eco-tourist destination of Neamț County. It is a beautiful micro-region, which covers a relatively small area, mostly on the territory of the Vânători-Neamț Nature Park. There are no less than 17 hermitages and monasteries, four memorial houses, protected areas, the Neamț Citadel, historical monuments as well as 21 cycling and hiking trails. You can also go in search of the bison with the rangers from the Vânători-Neamț Nature Park. The acclimatization enclosure near the Visitor Centre of the Vânători-Neamț Nature Park has 180 hectares, and your encounter with bison will be a unique experience. Anyone who wants to have an adventure, to see bison in life size without any barriers, can live this experience. It requires an appointment at least two to three days in advance and is a truly special experience that is worth living.

The visit can start from the Visitor Center. The indoor and outdoor spaces are generous and you will also find suspended walkways which have an educational role. From these walkways, the bison can be spotted in the forest, while feeding. Also, near the visitor center, there is a mini-climbing trail and a zip line. Viorela Chiper: In general, hiking and cycling trails link several cultural, natural, spiritual and historical objectives. In the monastic villages around Agapia Monastery and Văratec Monastery, which are unique in Europe, you can admire the traditional houses, beautifully preserved by those over 800 nuns. Neamț Citadel, a medieval monument, is another point of interest, from where you can admire the beautiful Ozana Valley. On the other hand, the Codrii de Aramă and Padurea de Argint nature reserves have a special charm in any season. This was probably the reason why they appear in various Romanian writings and literary works. Most of those who arrive at the destination enjoy the tranquility here and the fact that the traditions are still alive. Traditional craftsmen are still active, and they organize spinning, braiding, weaving, sculpting or clay modeling workshops. Most of the accommodation places we have in the area are local guesthouses. They are near the forest or have generous courtyards, where you can spend time in nature. And during the Christmas and New Year period, people still go caroling. On the other hand, on January 2, in Târgu Neamț, the New Year’s traditions and customs festival is organized.

Bison Land is also a land of experiences. There are many sheep flocks in the area, so tourists have the chance to take part in various activities alongside shepherds. Viorela Chiper tells us more about plans in the region: “We want to focus more on developing the infrastructure and ease peoples access to the area. An event we stage here in the warm months of the year is Ecobrunch in Bison Land. It is an event that brings to light traditions, culture and local community and also local cuisine.“

A food festival is held several times a year in the towns and communes included in Bison Land. The delicious food is sometimes cooked in front of visitors. (EE)

Tourist
Attractions in Banat

Today
we are going to the historic region of Banat. We discover the most
isolated locality in Romania, a tiny village in the Cerna Mountains,
whose only connection to the outside world is a wooden ladder, 100 m
long, fixed to the side of a mountain. We can also reach the
watermills in Rudaria, unique in Eastern Europe. We are also going to
talk about the Jazz Festival in Garana, an international event that
is also about traditions and authentic folklore.

Banat
and the whole of Romania want to activate tourism in various forms,
according to Dan Mirea, the manager of the Center for Creation and
Promotion for Traditional Culture in Caras Severin:

If
we refer to authentic tourism, or brand tourism, which we already
have, I think I would make a direct referral to the Bigar Waterfalls
in Almaj Valley. It is very well known. It is one of the seven most
beautiful waterfalls of the world. We have another area with a lot of
foreign tourists. These are the watermills of Rudaria, which are
built in the 18th century. What is different about them is
that locals in the area are still milling their wheat and corn to
this day, because they remain functional. Many television crews from
around the world go there to report on the windmills. We also have
another special are. We have a village in Caras, in the mountain part
of Banat, which can only be reached by some very steep steps. It is
called Inelet. As a poet put it beautifully, it is the village in
Romania that is closest to God. There is no other access to this
locality. People use these stairs, which are used even to take kids
to school or to the doctor, in what we call saddlebags. And when
people pass away, their journey to being laid to rest takes seven
hours, because they don’t have a cemetery there.

This
most isolated of villages in Romania, Inelet, has around one hundred
houses, spread out, one on each small hill. Of these, only 33 are
still inhabited. The first sign that tourists have reached this place
is the village church, built on a hill in the year 1973 by the
locals. Another great area is that of the village of Garana, which
was inhabited starting in the 19th century by Saxons, says
Dan Mirea:

Right
now they have there one of the most important jazz festivals in the
world, and a lot of foreign tourists come here along an entire week,
at the end of August. The tickets get sold out two years ahead of
time. This year, as opposed to previous years, after this period of
time that has put the brakes on all art manifestations, tickets were
sold out within 14 hours. Another great element would be the mountain
of Semenic, which is now undergoing perpetual change. A lot is
getting invested in logistics and infrastructure. Two European level
ski slopes are being built, one of them rivaling the one in the
famous resort of Innsbruck, in Austria. In fact, it is precisely an
Austrian company that is working there. By the end of 2023, when they
will be opened to the public, these slopes will definitely bring in a
very large number of tourists. We also have on the Bistra Valley, in
the heart of Banat, many artistic activities, and not only in this
area. Banat is represented by loads of artistic activities. One
example would be the International Festival Hercules, in Baile
Herculane. This is a town that did honor not only to Caras-Severin
County and Banat, it did honor to Romania during the time when it
became an emblem of spa tourism all over Europe.

As
for the Baile Herculane spa itself, certainly one of its main
attractions is its historic center. We find here legacy buildings,
such as the Casino, the Austrian Imperial Baths, and the villa that
was hosting the Empress of Austria-Hungary, Elisabeth, or Sissi, who
fell in love with Baile Herculane and the surrounding area. Here is
Dan Mirea:

The
old center has just been completely restored, and the famous Hercules
statue, which became the national and international brand image for
Baile Herculane, regained the shine it had in the 19th
century. In Herculane there is an international festival, over 30
years old, the International Hercules Festival. Every year, over 40
countries come here to present their traditions and folklore. We have
in Banat a large number of regions that represent some form of
folklore. There are three big areas: Caras Valley, Bistra Valley, and
Almaj Valley, the mountainous area of Banat. These regions have the
most appreciated singing, dancing, and traditional costumes. People
value traditional garb more than anything else. It is said in Banat
that old people would sell even their funeral plots, but they would
not part with the traditional costumes from their forebears. As
manager of the Center for Creation and Promotion for Traditional
Culture in Caras Severin, I have a few projects for next year. We are
trying to gravitate towards and join Timisoara, which will be 2023
European Cultural Capital. One of my projects for next year is an
exhibition with over 1,000 costumes from all the representative areas
of Banat.

In
addition to the spa of Baile Herculane, there is a small area that
started becoming a pole of attraction for tourists, called Muntele
Mic, the Small Mountain. The spa here is at an altitude of about
1,550 m, and is a destination for lovers of winter sports. At the
same time, at the foot of the mountain you will find traditional
craftsmen and their stories, as Dan Mirea told us:

We
also have right by the city of Resita a village that has become
representative not just for Banat, but for the whole of Romania. It
is the village of Binis, where a master potter, who passed forward
the tradition of his forebears, represented Romania at the greatest
international fairs of the world. As a fun fact about this place,
four presidents of the US have decorated this master potter. The
unique thing is that he never upgraded his potter’s wheel. It has
been used for over 200 years, and it has a special charm. Anyone
sitting down at this wheel and spinning it has no chance of spilling
the clay off of it. Last but not least, we have a wood carving camp,
which this year expanded. It was started a few years ago in Barana.
Right now, any other places have adopted this carving camp. Artists
from all over the world, from 35 countries, come every year to
Caransebes. For a month, they pick a tree stump from the surrounding
forests in the Banat mountains, after a ritual of befriending this
stump.

This
is a destination where natural attractions blend harmoniously with
the cultural heritage, all this complete with cultural events
throughout the year.

The Arges County Council has launched the tourist program called Arges Tourist Card, which can be purchased online, allowing tourists to visit tourist objectives at discount prices. Today we will be talking to Adrian Dumitru Bughiu, vice-president of Arges County Council, about the tourist attractions in this south-central part of Romania, and he started with the seat of the county, Pitesti:

“The city itself, the city of Pitesti, is under continual development, both horizontally and vertically, and, from this point of view, edifices dedicated to athletics and culture are also expanding. The municipality of Pitesti boasts several museums, one theater, several entertainment centers, several swimming pools, and one zoo. All these, I think, can be an encouragement for citizens who visit, both from Romania and from abroad. The fact that Arges County does not have an airport is not necessarily an impediment, considering that Pitesti lies between two large cities with airports, Bucharest and Craiova.”

Tourists who reach Pitesti have several days to head towards the mountainous part of the county, says Adrian Dumitru Bughiu:

“Of course, generally the people who get to Pitesti head to the northern part of the county, because Arges is famous, and has probably the most beautiful mountain road in Europe, the Transfagarasan. However, before crossing the hilly part of the county, then the mountains, we have an interesting way to go. We can stop over at Curtea de Arges, where we have the royal necropolis, that is where Romanias rulers are buried. It is a monastery with great historical impact, but also tourist impact. So it is no surprise that we, at the County Council, have been promoting this year several tourist circuits, all starting from the city of Pitesti. We designed circuits to promote the wooden churches in Arges, but also a circuit for traditional Romanian cuisine. The details for these circuits can be found on the County Council website, which we have developed, and which we update each month.”

The Transfagarasan is the most spectacular road in Romania, and is on the top list of amazing rods in the world. It crosses the Fagaras Mountains for a length of 90 km, and has 27 bridges and viaducts, as well as the longest mountain tunnel in Romania, 887 meters. In addition, in the Balea Lake area, at an altitude of 2,034 m, since 2005, they are building each year the only ice hotel in Romania, or even in this part of Europe. At the same time, the Curtea de Arges Monastery, which lies on our way to the Transfagarasan, was built between 1512 and 1517. Here tourists can get acquainted with the beautiful and haunting legend of Master Mason Manole, about human sacrifice.

A vacation to Arges will soon be easier to plan, as we were told by Adrian Bughiu, vice-president of the County Council;

“We are able to announce that, starting early next year, we are starting, in partnership with some private parties, a media portal dedicated entirely to tourism in Arges, called Arges Ghid. All those interested will be able to find not just punctual information on specific events, but also information on traffic, the weather, and so on. We are trying to professionalize our tourism promotion, we are trying to support those who want to come to our county, and we hope that there will be more of them every year. We have a few internationally renown objectives. We have mountain area that is very attractive for winter sports lovers, and we have under development a project to make a ski slope in the Movilisu area. Winter holidays can be spent in a wonderful environment offered by the inhabitants of Arges, especially in the north, where traditions are at their best.”

The county council are running right now several projects dedicated to tourism. Here is vice-president Adrian Bughiu:

“We also have several projects based on European funds in the area of infrastructure to support tourism in general, and tourists specifically. Right now I could mention the restoration of the Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpana Art Gallery. It is a project dear to us, which is at an advanced stage. It is a gallery in the immediate vicinity of Pitesti Municipal City Hall, which will host very important works, and which will surely be a major point of attraction for tourists that cross our threshold. Also, in parallel, we have a European financed project for restoring from the ground up the Arges County Museum. In fact, we are talking about conservation, protection, and capitalizing on our cultural patrimony. Things are very good, the works are finished about 55%. Also, we are working for the conservation and consolidation of the Arges Poenary fortification. It is the door to the Transfagarasan. It is a major historic point, and has high tourist potential. Next year we hope to reopen the gates of the citadel, which along the years has been a veritable tourist magnet.”

The Poenari fortification is a historic monument from the 14th century, built on a mountain top, at a 400 m elevation from the valley. In order to get there, tourists have to climb a concrete staircase with 1,480 steps. With the current project, there is a plan to install a cable car.

Romania is a country that holds a third of spa treatment assets in Europe. Spa treatment has a very long tradition in the country, as one of the first places that created a national science organization dedicated to this type of treatment. Our guide today is Nicu Radulescu, head of the Employers Organization for Spa Tourism in Romania, who will guide us through a few of the resorts. This is by far the segment of the tourist industry with the best development over the last few years.

“On the one hand there is rising awareness that we have mineral resources and underground resources of an extraordinary variety, because, after all, spa tourism means spa treatments, meaning using natural cures. This means mineral and thermal waters, it means medicinal muds, including sapropelic, as well as marine air. This form of tourism has grown very much of late, and, as a result of this awareness, and because investors realize they are investing in the future, they invest in these resources that ensure their success. The last few years showed very clearly that investing in healthcare is the most important form. Lately there has also been a change in the profile of tourists. 15 or 20 years ago, the predominant customers, over 70% of them, were over 65. Right now we have 50% of our customers be around 40 years of age. It means that people are more aware of the preventive role of spa tourism.”

In early November we had the Spa and Wellness Tourism Congress of Romania, the first after the year 2019. It took place in Sovata. This is one of the resorts recommended by Nicu Radulescu, head of the Employers Organization for Spa Tourism in Romania:

“Sovata is an exceptional resort, in the mountains, in the Mures area, and is a resort that has extraordinary performance in terms of the problems that people face, mainly cardio-vasculary, but its specificity is treating infertility, and has provided excellent result. Sovata is very popular with foreign tourists. Of course, over the last two years, as a result of the pandemic, the entire spa sector shut down, and had no significant tourist presence. However, Sovata is a special resort in Romania and the rest of Europe. In addition, we have more extraordinary resorts. We have Baile Felix, for instance, which is just as important as Sovata. Next would be Caciulata, with its thermal and sulfur waters, great for curing GI conditions.”

Next on the list is Baile Herculane, a resort that goes back over 2,000 years. What is remarkable here are the recent investments in four-star hotels, with a faithful tourist base. Other excellent choices are the mountain resorts of Covasna and Tusnad for heart and circulatory conditions. What is unique about them in Europe is the mofettas. These are emanations of gases rich in CO2, very good for people with poor peripheral circulation. This type of treatment can only be found in South America, in Colombia, and in Tokyo, Japan. Last, but not least, the resorts on the Romanian Black Sea coast have made a real comeback. In the 70s they were really popular, then there was a steep decline, but over the last two or three years there have been major investments in the resorts of Mangalia, Techirghiol, Eforie Nord, and Eforie Sud. Here is Nicu Radulescu once again:

“I could say with great confidence that Techirghiol has become a center of excellence for Romanian healthcare. They have there a team of physicians with extraordinary results, especially at the health center, but also at the one in Mangalia. The European spa association has a great deal of respect for Romania, because, in addition to the natural riches we have, physicians have a very serious concern for the care of people who show up for treatment, and this makes them very much appreciated. Romanian doctors, especially the ones expert in physical therapy, are seen with very good eyes by Europeans. All the resorts we have have unique microclimates. No one resort resembles another. They may have similar curative factors, but each of them has a specific microclimate.”

Most spas are situated in picturesque areas. Considering that most tourists are looking for an exciting experience, we could combine spa tourism with many other kinds. There is Nicu Radulescu:

“Most Romanian spas are in nature reserves, such as Baile Herculane, in the Domogled Valea Cernei park, or close to them. All of them have different programs. There are post-COVID recovery programs, long or short term, with exceptional results. Two years ago, when we had pandemic restrictions, the idea was circulating that spa resorts were unsafe, but since then we found out that spa resorts are actually war camps to fight COVID. With the treatment facilities we have there, we can increase patient immunity. It was clearly shown that, of all the areas of Romania, spa resorts were least affected by the infection. The level of infection was always under 1%, considering that in the worst areas the level was 20%.”

Considering where Romanias spa resorts are placed, people who come here for prevention treatments can access active tourism facilities, such as rafting, paragliding, or mountain climbing. At the same time, walking outdoors or visiting villages can round up a successful trip for treatment.