Bran Castle
Location: Transylvania – Central Romania
Nearby large town: Brasov (16 miles northeast)
Nearest train station: Brasov
Address: Str. Traian Mosoiu 24, Bran
Telephone: (268) 237.700 or 237.701
Email: office@bran-castle.com
Web: www.Bran-Castle.com
Open:
May 1 - Sept. 30: Monday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm; Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Oct. 1 - April 30: Monday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm; Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Admission charge: www.Bran-Castle.com/en/Information/Pretul_Biletului
Nearby large town: Brasov (16 miles northeast)
Nearest train station: Brasov
Address: Str. Traian Mosoiu 24, Bran
Telephone: (268) 237.700 or 237.701
Email: office@bran-castle.com
Web: www.Bran-Castle.com
Open:
May 1 - Sept. 30: Monday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm; Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Oct. 1 - April 30: Monday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm; Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Admission charge: www.Bran-Castle.com/en/Information/Pretul_Biletului
Wrapped up in an aura of mystery, intrigue and legends, this castle is netled up a 200 foot tall rock. With it's famous intimidating towers and turrets, Castle Bran owes it's myth to the most famous book ever wrote, "Dracula". The castle was built on a stronghold belonging to the Teutonic Knights, which dates back to 1212. Winding narrow stairways lead to an array of 60+ timbered rooms, all providing a majestic and breathtaking view of the Carpathian Mountians. The castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, and the castle also showcases a vast collection of furniture, weaponry and armor dating back to 14th and 19th centuries.
Peles Castle
Location: Sinaia – Southern Romania
Nearby large towns: Brasov (40 miles north) and Bucuresti (80 miles south)
Nearest train station: Sinaia
Address: Str. Pelesului 2
Telephone: (244) 310.918
Email: peles.ro@gmail.com
Web: www.peles.ro
Open: ( September to May) Wed. 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.;
Thu. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
(May to September) Tue. – Sun. 9:00am – 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Note: Peles Castle is closed during the entire month of November
Nearby large towns: Brasov (40 miles north) and Bucuresti (80 miles south)
Nearest train station: Sinaia
Address: Str. Pelesului 2
Telephone: (244) 310.918
Email: peles.ro@gmail.com
Web: www.peles.ro
Open: ( September to May) Wed. 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.;
Thu. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
(May to September) Tue. – Sun. 9:00am – 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Note: Peles Castle is closed during the entire month of November
"Nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe."
This castle was commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and was finally completed in 1883. It served as a summer residence for the royal family until the year 1947, it boasts 160+ rooms that are decorated with the finest European art, stained glass windows from Germany, Murano crystal chandeliers, and leather covered walls from Cordoba.
Voronet Monastery
Location: Bucovina – Northeastern Romania
Nearby large town: Suceava (20 miles east)
Access: car, bus (from Gura Humorului), 3 ½-mile walk from Gura Humorului
Nearest train stations: Gura Humorului
Voronet Monastery
Location: Bucovina – Northeastern Romania
Nearby large town: Suceava (20 miles east)
Access: car, bus (from Gura Humorului), 3 ½-mile walk from Gura Humorului
Nearest train stations: Gura Humorului
"Perhaps the most famous and stunning of the painted monasteries is Voronet (Vo ro nets), founded in 1487 by Stephen the Great to celebrate a victory over the Turks. Widely known throughout Europe as "the Sistine Chapel of the East" due to its interior and exterior wall paintings, this monastery offers an abundance of frescoes featuring an intense shade of blue commonly known as ‘Voronet blue.’ The composition of the paint continues to remain a mystery even now, more than 500 years after the church was built"
Calimani National Park
This 64,000 acre park is located on the northern side of the eastern Carpathian Mountains, near Mures county. This park is best known for its volcanic plateau which is dominated by the Calimani Caldera. "Massive eruptive rocks and craters of old volcanoes in the Calimani National Park (Parcul National Calimani) are spawned over breathtaking landscapes, matched by the presence of large areas of natural ecosystems and the abundance of Swiss stone pine and juniper trees. " The Calamani Mountains boast the highest massif in the volcanic chain. The Pietrosu Peak stands at an impressive 6,896 feet. Natural erosion that has occured in this area has lead to the formation of the peculiar shaped "12 Apostles", "red Stones" & "Nefertit" geological preserves. Activites include hiking, mountain biking, skiing and cross country skiing, bird watching and horseback riding as well as wildlife observation.
Calimani National Park Administration
Telephone: (230) 374.197 or 371.104
Email: office@calimani.ro www.calimani.ro
Telephone: (230) 374.197 or 371.104
Email: office@calimani.ro www.calimani.ro
Brasov, Romania
Brasov is a quaint town that is resplendant with gothic, rennaissance and baroque architecture. Brasov has a wealth of historical attractions such as Council Square, St. Nicholas Church and Black Church- the larges scale gothic church east of Vienna, named so because of its survival of a fire in 1689 that left all the walls an almost black color. Brasov is located just 3 hours north of Bucharest.
It’s not unusual to see a farmer bringing his fruits to the marketplace in a horse drawn wagon or to encounter a village festival where the locals perform ancient rites of planting and harvest dressed in colorful traditional costumes. Cold, pure well water beckons the thirsty traveler from the roadside. Men kiss women’s hands in a courtly greeting unchanged for hundreds of years. Lush vineyards, first planted by Dacians – ancient inhabitants of Romania, yield fine wines."
"Maramures is an area of the country known for its timeless tranquility. In late afternoon, old women sit outside their gates coaxing coarse wool onto spindles. Many still favor traditional dress, meaning white frounced blouses, striped woven panels covering full black skirts, headscarves and opinci, a sort of leather ballet slipper from which heavy yarn criss-crosses over thick socks. On Sunday, such dress is practically “de rigueur”, even for little girls."
"The narrow-gauge railway and the steam powered locomotives (Mocanita) in Viseu de Sus are one of the most remarkable railway heritage attractions in Romania and in Eastern Europe. It is the only remaining, working narrow gauge forestry railway of many that were constructed -in 1932 - to transport timber from the vast, remote forests of the Carpathian Mountains and their foothills.
Starting from Viseu de Sus - a small logging town in Maramures - the railway climbs the beautiful roadless Vaser valley for 31 miles, deep into the forests of the Maramures mountains to the tiny hamlet of Coman. Today, four steam-powered locomotives (the oldest one was built in 1910) are transporting logs, down, and lumberjacks and visitors up and down the valley.
The train is the only access to settlements up the valley, other than on foot. During the relaxing journey, travelers can enjoy the views of woodland and rushing rivers. After a picnic and / or a walk in the forest while the train is loaded at the terminus travelers will return to Viseu de Sus. On the trip back in the afternoon, the engine driver whistles for brakemen to stop the train - sometimes for passengers, or even to pick mushrooms.
The local people are friendly with fascinating stories to tell. In short, this is a remarkable survival from an earlier age, well worth a visit, and one that will benefit from more tourist traffic in its efforts to survive in this fast modern age (not that speed and modernity have penetrated far into the Maramures region). "
The train operates:
May 3rd - June 24th & September 20th - October 28th, 2012
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Viseu de Sus - Departure: 9:00 a.m.
- Paltin Station (Km. 21.6) - aprox. arrival: 11:00 a.m.
- Viseu de Sus - Returns at: approximately 2:30 p.m.
Price for roundtrip ticket:
- Adults - 42 Lei ($13)
- Children (6 to 16 years old) - 29 Lei ($9)
- Students - 36 Lei ($11)
- Disabled - 36 Lei ($11)
June 28th - September 16th, 2012
Daily, including Sundays
- Viseu de Sus - Departure: 09:00 am
- Paltin (km 21,6) approx. 11:00 am
- Viseu de Sus Arrival approx. 03:30 pm
Price for roundtrip ticket: - Adults - 45 Lei ($13.5)
- Children (6 to 16 years old) - 32 Lei ($9)
- Special price for children on Mondays - 29 Lei ($9.5)
- Students - 39 Lei ($11.5)
- Disabled - 39 Lei ($11.5)
Tickets can be purchased at Mocanita - Steam Train Station in the Viseu de Sus.
Ticket booth opens at 7:00 am.
Note: Large groups need to reserve tickets in advance (due to limited seating) or book a Charter train (www.cffviseu.ro/en/forestry_railway_charter.html)
Valea Vaserului Area Map - Mocanita route map stating from Viseu de Sus
More information:
Web: www.cffviseu.ro/en/index.html
Email: info@cffviseu.com
Telephone: (011 4) 0262 353.381 or (011 40) 744 686.716
(helloromania.com)
Traditional Villages
"The golden glow of the sun against the soft pastel houses; residents going about their business, tending the chickens, their vegetable gardens or sitting on the front porch can make an unforgettable scene. In villages and in the countryside, on lands dominated by ancestral castles, old fortresses and peaceful monasteries, life moves a little slower and follows ancient rhythms of tradition and culture.It’s not unusual to see a farmer bringing his fruits to the marketplace in a horse drawn wagon or to encounter a village festival where the locals perform ancient rites of planting and harvest dressed in colorful traditional costumes. Cold, pure well water beckons the thirsty traveler from the roadside. Men kiss women’s hands in a courtly greeting unchanged for hundreds of years. Lush vineyards, first planted by Dacians – ancient inhabitants of Romania, yield fine wines."
"Maramures is an area of the country known for its timeless tranquility. In late afternoon, old women sit outside their gates coaxing coarse wool onto spindles. Many still favor traditional dress, meaning white frounced blouses, striped woven panels covering full black skirts, headscarves and opinci, a sort of leather ballet slipper from which heavy yarn criss-crosses over thick socks. On Sunday, such dress is practically “de rigueur”, even for little girls."
Narrow Gauge Train Trips in Maramures - Romania
"The narrow-gauge railway and the steam powered locomotives (Mocanita) in Viseu de Sus are one of the most remarkable railway heritage attractions in Romania and in Eastern Europe. It is the only remaining, working narrow gauge forestry railway of many that were constructed -in 1932 - to transport timber from the vast, remote forests of the Carpathian Mountains and their foothills.
Starting from Viseu de Sus - a small logging town in Maramures - the railway climbs the beautiful roadless Vaser valley for 31 miles, deep into the forests of the Maramures mountains to the tiny hamlet of Coman. Today, four steam-powered locomotives (the oldest one was built in 1910) are transporting logs, down, and lumberjacks and visitors up and down the valley.
The train is the only access to settlements up the valley, other than on foot. During the relaxing journey, travelers can enjoy the views of woodland and rushing rivers. After a picnic and / or a walk in the forest while the train is loaded at the terminus travelers will return to Viseu de Sus. On the trip back in the afternoon, the engine driver whistles for brakemen to stop the train - sometimes for passengers, or even to pick mushrooms.
The local people are friendly with fascinating stories to tell. In short, this is a remarkable survival from an earlier age, well worth a visit, and one that will benefit from more tourist traffic in its efforts to survive in this fast modern age (not that speed and modernity have penetrated far into the Maramures region). "
The train operates:
May 3rd - June 24th & September 20th - October 28th, 2012
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Viseu de Sus - Departure: 9:00 a.m.
- Paltin Station (Km. 21.6) - aprox. arrival: 11:00 a.m.
- Viseu de Sus - Returns at: approximately 2:30 p.m.
Price for roundtrip ticket:
- Adults - 42 Lei ($13)
- Children (6 to 16 years old) - 29 Lei ($9)
- Students - 36 Lei ($11)
- Disabled - 36 Lei ($11)
June 28th - September 16th, 2012
Daily, including Sundays
- Viseu de Sus - Departure: 09:00 am
- Paltin (km 21,6) approx. 11:00 am
- Viseu de Sus Arrival approx. 03:30 pm
Price for roundtrip ticket: - Adults - 45 Lei ($13.5)
- Children (6 to 16 years old) - 32 Lei ($9)
- Special price for children on Mondays - 29 Lei ($9.5)
- Students - 39 Lei ($11.5)
- Disabled - 39 Lei ($11.5)
Tickets can be purchased at Mocanita - Steam Train Station in the Viseu de Sus.
Ticket booth opens at 7:00 am.
Note: Large groups need to reserve tickets in advance (due to limited seating) or book a Charter train (www.cffviseu.ro/en/forestry_railway_charter.html)
Valea Vaserului Area Map - Mocanita route map stating from Viseu de Sus
More information:
Web: www.cffviseu.ro/en/index.html
Email: info@cffviseu.com
Telephone: (011 4) 0262 353.381 or (011 40) 744 686.716
(helloromania.com)
