TRANSYLVANIA AND THE MOLDAVIAN MONASTERIES

Arrival at Bucharest- Otopeni Airport in the afternoon . Continue approx. 90 km to Sinaia , the city where the summer residence of the former royal family of Hohenzollern is located.

 

In the morning visit to the Peles Castle , which was built by Karl I in Bavarian style as a reminder of his homeland. Drive to Bran and visit the castle, which is also known as Dracula's castle. In the afternoon sightseeing in Brasov. The city was founded in the 13th century by the knights of the Teutonic Order and for centuries was an economic and intellectual center of the Transylvanian Saxons. The most important sights are: the Black Church with its Buchholz organ and the largest collection of oriental carpets, the medieval city wall around the historic old town with stylish late medieval town houses, the town hall square , the unique Rope Street , Catherine’s Gate and the small hidden Orthodox church from the center . In the late afternoon we arrive in Miercurea Ciuc, the center of the Szekler in Romania.

 

In the morning drive through the eastern part of Transylvania, where mainly a Hungarian population, called Szekler, live. The Eastern Carpathians are crossed by the Bicaz Gorge and  the Red Lake to reach Moldova . Visit of the two largest nunneries in Europe (each with over 1000 nuns), Agapia and Varatec . Continue towards the Voronet Monastery , which is also called the "Sistine chapel" of Romanian churches.

 

In the morning visit to the ceramic center in Marginea where black ceramics are still produced using the age-old technique. Then visit the Sucevita Monastery , known for its exterior wall painting. Drive to the Moldovita Monastery over Obcina Mountain . Here one of the nuns will explain in detail all the details of the Orthodox monasteries. In the afternoon we continue through Tihuta pass back to Transylvania up to Bistrita . Here you can visit the Protestant church.

 

Bistrita is located in the northern part of Transylvania. From here the whole province is crossed to Sibiu. On the way you can see the fortified churches that were built by the Transylvanian Saxons more than seven centuries ago. We pass Reghin and Targu Mures and we arrive in Sighisoara  at lunchtime. The most important sights are:  Church on the Hill , the house where Dracula was born , as well as the church of the former St. Mary’s monastery and the Clock Tower . Continue to Biertan and visit the largest fortified church in Transylvania, which was the seat of the evangelical bishops of Transylvania for centuries. Continue through the Kokel Valley to Medias and visit the Sf.Margaret Church , which has the highest clock tower in Romania. In the afternoon drive through numerous Saxon villages, the most important of which are Axente-Sever  and Slimnic ((visit of the fortified churches) to Sibiu. Before dinner at home with the mountain farmers in Sibiel, the Glass Icon museum is visited. 

 

Morning sightseeing in Sibiu . Most of Romania's German-speaking minority still lives here. The sights in Sibiu are the Catholic Church , which was built by Maria Theresa, the Evangelical Parish Church , the seat of the bishops of Romania, and the Brukenthal Palace , where the most valuable art collection in Romania is exhibited. In the afternoon drive over the Red Tower Pass into Wallachia to Pitesti . On the way visit to the Cozia Monastery , one of the oldest in Romania.

 

After an hour's drive on the Pitesti- Bucharest motorway , a city tour of the Romanian capital is on the program. The Patriarchal Church (the seat of the head of the Orthodox Church from Romania), the Village Museum , as well as the Palace of the Parliament , the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, will be visited. Flight back home from Bucharest-Otopeni airport in the first hours of the afternoon.

 

At least people	15 pax	20 pax	25 pax	30 pax
Price per person (DR / HB)	430 €	415 €	400 €	385 €
Single room surcharge	105 €	105 €	105 €	105 €

• 6 nights in 3 * and 2 * hotels