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Romania, Latin soul in the heart of the Balkans
2 stops
4 nights
122 miles
Romania is full of surprises. Starting with Bucharest, the ‘Paris of the Balkans,' a long-isolated capital that secretes Art Nouveau and Belle époque architectural treasures between Ceausescu-era constructions and modern skyscrapers. As soon as you leave the metropolis, you will discover a country rooted in tradition, where carts drawn by donkeys share the roads with cars. How can you not be seduced by this country of traditions and legends that includes Castle Bran and the shadow of Count Dracula?
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Departure
Recommended duration : 1 night
Bucharest
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Bucharest's most beautiful churches
To walk around Bucharest is to discover a multitude of colorful religious buildings. The collection houses unexpected frescoes and showcases myriad forms of art and architecture, from the Saint-Nicolas church, a 14th-century masterpiece constructed to a mix of Byzantine, Gothic and Baroque influences, to the 18th-century Kretzulescu and Stavropoleos churches, containing remarkable paintings and decorations, and the 16th-century Radu Voda monastery, where arguably the most beautiful Orthodox church in the capital is hidden away.
During your stay
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Brancusi at the National Museum of Art
A major Romanian sculptor–who became naturalized French–Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) is today celebrated in his country of origin. Standing in contrast to his monumental pieces exhibited in the city of Târgu Jiu, fourteen of his early works are presented in the National Museum of Art in Bucharest. Among them, <em fontscheme='2'>Head of a Child (1906), <em fontscheme='2'>Torture (1907) and <em fontscheme='2'>Danaid (1908), constructed in plaster, bronze and stone, respectively. Even more astonishing, one of his first classical-style pieces, <em fontscheme='2'>The Flayed Man (1902), can be seen in the main hall of the Bucharest University of Art.
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122 milesCar
Recommended duration : 3 nights
Bran
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Bran Castle or the ghost of Dracula
Legends are sometimes more powerful than reality. The most-visited monument in the country, Bran Castle is known globally as Dracula's castle. Built between 1377 and 1388, this remarkably well-preserved medieval fortress between Transylvania and Wallachia became, thanks to the imagination of Irish writer Bram Stoker, the residence of what has since become the world's most famous vampire–a character inspired by Vlad, a local king known for his love of torture…
During your stay
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Peles Castle, a Romanian legacy
Built from 1873 on the orders of Carol I, the first king of Romania, this splendid castle–constructed in the German neo-Renaissance style–continues to fascinate visitors. Dive into the history of this former royal residence, now a national museum. Only some of its 160 rooms are accessible, but the visit is no less compelling, not least with the tour of the music room, theater and superb library, where you'll encounter unique collections of furniture, oriental tapestries, pottery, paintings by Old Masters and ancient armor.
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