Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is a very leafy city with lots of parks which are well-treed. The city shows signs of the Communist era, particularly in the housing. There are also many new buildings.
After a 7.9Read more
Outside Bucharest

Once we leave Bucharest, we are travelling through agricultural land. The houses are bigger and most are single dwellings with well-cared for gardens.
The Plioesti area is the hub of Romania’s oilRead more
Comarnic

We head through Comarnic which is the gateway to the Carpathian Mountains that mark the boundary of Transylvania. The river valleys are very narrow and the steep mountain sides cause flash flooding toRead more
Pele’s Castle, Sinaia

The former summer home of King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, the castle was built between 1873-1914. The royal family came here to the Carpathian Mountains to escape the oppressive Bucharest summerRead more
Interior - Peleş Castle

Interiors are more pared back but still ornate. Some obviously ostentatious pieces. Woodwork is intricately carved. Stained glass windows in the music room depict Roman Fairytales. So many people hereRead more
Public Rooms - Peleş Castle

The public reception rooms are a little larger but still not vast.
The grounds at Peleş Castle

The grounds are beautifully maintained and offer many quiet areas to contemplate the beautiful environment surrounding the castle.
Through the Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains encircle Transylvania. They are the 3rd longest European mountain range. The rugged grey cliffs of the southern Carpathian’s form the backdrop for a winding mountain roadRead more
Brașov Council Square - the Old Town

Brasov is the capital of Transylvania. Founded in 1211, Brasov was located at the intersection of the trading routes between the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe. The Black Church is the largestRead more
Rural Transylvania

Not far out of Bucharest, we are into wide open spaces where farming is the major industry. It’s the season to harvest potatoes and cut the wheat. On many farms there is a quite primitive workRead more
Bran Castle from the outside

Bran Castle is a fortress built along a key trading route. It is commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, from the Bram Stoker novel. There is no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle.Read more
Bran Castle - the Courtyard

Louis I of Anjou, King of Hungary, ordered the building of the fortress in the 14th Century. It was to be a customs collection point and quarantine station at a strategic transit point between theRead more
A State Museum

The state museum that is now Bran Castle, is set up in tribute to Princess Maria, who later became the Queen of Romania.
Bran Castle - the Rooms

Bran Castle - the Doors and Windows

Each door has a tale to tell.
Accessing Bran Castle

Bran Castle - up high

Bran Castle - the Things You Find!

Traffic in Bucharest

With more than 3 million people, and 2 million private cars…..the parking spots in Bucharest are less than 1 million. So cars park wherever they can. Traffic is nuts and very congested at 9am. TakesRead more
Mogosoaia Palace

Mogosoaia Palace is just about 10 Kms from Bucharest. It was built between 1698-1702. The palace was built for a wealthy family but was devastated by the Ottomans 1768-1774. It was later granted toRead more
Snagov Monastery

Snagov Monastery stands on a tiny island in a lake just outside Bucharest. Local tradition states it is the burial place of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It wasRead more
City sights in Bucharest

9am - the traffic again. Some sights as we travel through the city.
The Village Museum

The Village Museum is a large park where buildings from all around Romania have been gathered and reconstructed to show how people lived throughout the centuries in this country. They are working onRead more
The Village Museum 2

The Village Museum 3
