6-day Small Group Tour: Bucharest to Cozia, Sibiu, Biertan, Sighisoara, Brasov, Bran, Targoviste, Snagov, and back to Bucharest
Welcome to Romania, a dynamic country rich in history, arts and scenic beauty. Romania offers countless unique travel experiences for you to discover. This journey will take you from the capital Bucharest to Medieval towns, to perfectly preserved hilltop citadel of Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site to beautiful Brasov, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 and to Sibiu’s like Sighisoara and Brasov, who has a distinctly Germanic look, built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons.
Explore Romania’s many architectural treasures and experience its vibrant and flourishing arts scene. Discover Bucharest, Romania’s capital city, also known as the “Little Paris of the East” founded in the year 1459 on the banks of the Dambovita River by ruler Vlad the Impaler. Though Dracula is a purely fictional creation, Stoker named his infamous character after a real person who happened to have a taste for blood: Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia or, as he is better known, Vlad the Impaler.
Day 1 – Bucharest
Arrival at the International Airport Otopeni where you will be greeted by your English-speaking guide. Further private transfer to Bucharest hotel. Start the private tour with the Victoria Square where the Romanian government has its seat, down the Victoria Boulevard with its Belle Epoque buildings an continue to the Revolution Square where Nicolae Ceausescu was toppled during the 1989 Romanian Revolution. During the tour you will also see the University Square, the Romanian Opera House, the Unirii Square built during Ceausescu’s rule and the Constitution Square with the Parliament Palace which is the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon. Evening you will have a stroll through the oldest district of Bucharest, known as Lipscani, which now houses lots of popular cafes and restaurants and listen about the founding of this city by Vlad Dracul. Overnight.
Day 2 – Bucharest – Cozia – Sibiu
After breakfast we will drive along the Wallachian plains towards the historical region of Transylvania and on the way stop in Curtea de Arges which was the first capital of Wallachia, certified since 1330. The Princely Court was built at the middle of the 13th century and restored in 1340. The Episcopal Church, one of the most famous monuments of architecture from Walachia, better known under the name of the Arges Court Monastery, was built between 1512-1517. Continue to the Cozia Monastery, one of the earliest Medieval edifices of great importance in Wallachian History. Some original frescoes are still very well preserved and inside the church you find the tomb of the ruler who built the monastery in the year 1388, Mircea cel Batran who was the grandfather of Vlad the Impaler. Cross the Carpathian Mountains North along the scenic Olt Valley into Transylvania and continue to the village of Sibiel, founded during Medieval Times by Wallachian shepherds, where you will serve dinner at a local farmhouse with traditional dishes. After enjoying the hospitality of the local you will drive to today’s final destination, the city of Sibiu, which was European capital of Culture In the year 2007. (B,D)
Day 3: Sibiu – Biertan – Sighisoara – Brasov
Sibiu built in the 12th century and was protected by walls and brick towers, the buildings were joined by tunnels and narrow passageways, with heavily grated windows to cover the stairways and corners where intruders might be ambushed. Everywhere you look, there is evidence of Sibiu’s historical past. Enjoy a walking tour during which you will see the baroque style Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Evangelical Cathedral, the Liar’s bridge and the Old Squares.Continue your journey to Biertan to visit the local fortified church which is one of Romania’s most important historical and architectural monuments, being included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. It was built in the place of an old basilica at the end of the 15th century with architectural elements from the late-Gothic and Renaissance style while from 1572 to 1867 was the seat of the Lutheran Evangelical Bishop. Next you will stop in Sighisoara, an inhabited medieval city which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. In the architectonic fortress, situated on a hill, there are 14 towers out of which the most impressive and famous is the 64 m high “Clock-Tower”. You will see the Church on the Hill, the Covered Stairs, the Venetian House and the “House with the Deer”, “Casa Vlad Dracul” where the famous Prince Vlad Tepes was presumably born. Continue to Brasov, city founded in the year 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. Overnight. (B)
Day 4: Brasov – Bran – Rasnov – Brasov
Morning walking tour in the old center seeing among others the Council Square with the former city hall, the city’s defenses, the St. Nicholas Church with the First Romanian School and the Black Church which is the largest Gothic style edifice in Eastern Europe. Continue to Bran to visit the castle made famous by Bram Stoker’s novel as the residence of the vampire count Dracula. In fact, this castle has been erected on a hill to guard the trade route between Transylvania and Wallachia. On the way back to Brasov you will stop in Rasnov where you can view the largest rural fortress in the country being built on a rocky hill around 1215 by the Teutonic Knights. It was meant to be a place of refuge for the commoners from sieges over long periods of time and thus it also had a school, a chapel and almost 30 houses. Remainder of the day free time in Brasov and overnight. (B)
Day 5: Brasov – Targoviste – Snagov – Bucharest
Cross the Carpathians back South into Wallachia and transfer to Targoviste which was the former Wallachian capital city. Here we will visit in the museum complex “the Princely Court” the Chindia tower which has been built by Vlad the Impaler during his second reign for military purposes. The defensive tower is 27 meters high and has a diameter of 9 meters. Late evening, we will reach Romania’s Capital city of Bucharest, formerly known as the “Little Paris of the East”, which was founded in the year 1459 on the banks of the Dambovita River by ruler Vlad the Impaler. Next head to the Snagov Monastery, a rustic cloister from 1364, on a small isolated island in the middle of Snagov Lake, is the reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula, who, it is claimed, lies beneath the floor of the church. Don’t let yourself be taken in by the imposing forest and the nice lake surrounding the island or by the generous architecture of the monastery. The secrets are there and when the strong winds rummage the deep waters the frightful sound of ringing bells of the old sunk church (built here by Vlad the Impaler’s grandfather, Mircea Cel Batran) reveal them to a cautioned ear. The island and the monastery witnessed throughout the centuries lots of crimes and dramas. Transfer to Bucharest and free time at leisure. (B)
Day 6: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel, time at leisure after which you will be transferred to the International Airport Bucharest for the departure flight. (B)
For prices, please contact Kompas Holidays International by phone: +1-800-233-6422 or send email request to contact@kompas.net
