Romania Things to Do Tips by Romanian_Bat

NICE CITIES - Sibiu

Sibiu (German Hermannstadt) is the biggest and nicest medieval city in Romania. It was first stated in historic deeds in 1192-1196, being located on the same site where a previous community had existed. Developed by the Saxons, the city itself has preserved a harmonious bunch of buildings that are very picturesque and interesting. The fact that the fortress wall was made of red bricks resulted in the nickname the city bears: “The Red City”. The main attractions are:
-The Brukenthal Museum, built in baroque style (1780-1785), whose art collections have been gathered together ever since the 18th century; there are exhibited paintings from all the art schools in Europe, various traditional objects, old books and so on.
-The whole city developed around the main square and the Great Stairs. In the middle of this square there is an Evangelic Church, in gothic style (14th century; if you talk nicely to the lady in charge, maybe she will allow you to go up in the tower for a breathtaking view over the city).
-The Small Square, also situated in the middle of the old city, hosts the City Council Tower.
-The Stairs Passage, going up to the fortress among some houses bordered by high brick fences
-The Liars' Bridge (1850), built across one of the streets leading up the hill and having an interesting legend linked to it, which says that once someone cross the bridge and tells a lie, it will immediately collapse
-The History Museum, set in one of the oldest Gothic buildings in Romania
-The Orthodox Cathedral, a replica after Aya Sofia in Istanbul (1902-1906) and bearing mosaics painted in Munich and a huge golden altar
-The Folk Technology Museum, nicely set on a lake and depicting traditional houses from the area, as well as traditional utensils, wind mills, water mills, floating water mills (however no coffee mills), churches; pony and boat rides in the park can make it a day long exploring trip
The city benefits from the fact that is served by a domestic airport; there also is a major crossroads, a busy railway station.

Address: S Transylvania

NICE CITIES - Timisoara

Timiºoara is located in a plains area, being inhabited ever since the Neolithic Age. The Romans have also stepped here. The city was destroyed with the Turkish invasion in the 13th century, it was rebuilt the next century, and in the 15th century it became the royal residence for a short period of time (under the rule of Iancu Hunyadi). Among the tourist attractions, we can list:
-Banat Museum, located in Iancu Hunyadi’s former castle, with many archeological or artistic exhibits
-The former City Hall, a baroque style building from 1731-1734
-The Roman-Catholic cathedral, a monumental building from 1736-1773
-The Serbian Cathedral, built in 1734 and completed in 1791
-The Franciscan Monastery, built in 1733-1736
- The Orthodox Cathedral, started in 1936, completed in 1940
-The Mizericordiens’ Hospital and Church (18th century), with the old fortress walls
Close to the city there is an international airport; the access on major international railway and roads is quite easy. In the city there are 1-3* hotels. The service quality is pretty good.

Address: SWW Romania

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA -...

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA - Putna
Further northwards we find Putna Monastery, which was erected between 1466 and 1469, in a period of glory by Stephen the Great, who was also buried there. Having white and simple walls, the monastery has traversed many fires, earthquakes and devastations. Nowadays only a tower has been preserved from the original building, the rest being rebuilt afterwards.
Here it is still preserved a piece of the Holy Daniil Sihastru relics, a monk which helped Stephen the Great with taking decisions. Here are, too, the shrines of Stephen the Great and his wives Maria de Mangop and Maria Voichita. On the Eastern side there are the cave and 'bisericuta rupestra' (the small ancient church) where Daniil Sihastru lived.

In the same area with Putna, other places of interest can be Dragomirna (1602), Radauþi (1365), Zamca, Probota, Dolhasca and Slatina Monasteries.

Address: N Moldavia

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA -...

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA - Arbore
Arbore Monastery, built in 1503, was decorated in 1541 with lovely frescoes. A fresh, light green with many shades prevails in most frescoes.

'Provided Father's will, Holy Son's help and the accomplishment of the Holy Ghost, Luca Arbore and I, Stephen the Great, king of Moldavia, erected this church in proper will and devoted heart and with the
blessing of the All Mighty our Lord. This church will bear the hram of John the Baptizer and its building has started in year of the Lord 7011 (1503 AD), month of April the 2nd; it ended the same year, August 29th'

Address: N Moldavia

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA -...

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA - Sucevita
Suceviþa Monastery is picturesquely located between some partially wooden hills. It looks more like a fortress than like a monastery. In sunny days, its walls shine, making it look more like a fortress. The green color prevails in most frescos: The Last Judgement, Jesus’ Genealogy, and The Philosophers’ Procession. The monastery is only accessible by car or local bus.

Address: N Moldavia

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA -...

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA - Moldovita
Moldoviþa Monastery is the biggest of the painted monasteries and its frescos rank among the best preserved ones. Built back in 1532 and painted in 1537, it has certain outstanding frescos, among which we can list The Siege of Constantinople and The Last Judgement. It is easily accessible by local train, from Vama station (Vama lies on the major Suceava - Cluj railway)

Address: N Moldavia

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA -...

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA - Humor
Humor Monastery, dating from 1530, also has a certain number of very interesting frescos of a high artistic value, among which the most representative might be Virgin Mary’s Life. Together with Voronet, it is easily accessible, as it conveniently lies close to Gura Humorului town (national asphalted road, railway station) where accommodation can be set up in a couple of small hotels. The tourist services quality is good but the quantity of such services is still low.

Address: N Moldavia

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA -...

MONASTERIES IN N MOLDAVIA - Voronet
Northern Moldavia (or Bukovina) is the land of the painted monasteries, jewels of the Moldavian people civilization between the 15th and the 17th century. Built some 500 years ago under the rule of Stephen the Great and of his successors, these architectural monuments are rather small, with stonewalls and wooden roofs, being surrounded by cells meant for the monks and defensive walls. Voroneþ Monastery, nicknamed “The Sixtine Chapel of the Orient”, was built by Stephen the Great in 1488. The interior frescos are unbelievable, the best example being The Last Judgement. The frescos are particularly outstanding through their blue paint, whose chemical contents have remained a mystery.

Address: N Moldavia

WOODEN CHURCHES - Maramures...

WOODEN CHURCHES - Maramures Area
An area of particular interest is Maramures. Besides the distinctive traditions and habits or the richness of the scenery, the wooden churches in this area attract many tourists. Unique in the whole world through their forms and decorations specific for this region, such churches can be found in many villages in Northern Romania. Some of the best such examples can be found in villages like: Bogdan Voda (18th century church with painted interior), Surdesti (1724 church with the highest steeple in the area, 54 m. high), Moisei (1699), Barsana (1780 church), Budesti (17th century), Calinesti (1663), Rozavlea (1700), Botiza (1796), Ieud.
The access is this area is eased by the existence of the Bucharest – Brasov – Deda – Sighetu Marmatiei railway, as well as by the many asphalted roads (like Baia Mare – Sighetu Marmatiei – Borsa – Suceava). The quantity, as well as the quality of the tourist services is quite low. Accommodation can be set up in all Maramures in rural traditional guesthouses and in a few good value hotels (1-3*) in the bigger cities and towns (Baia Mare, Sighetu Marmatiei, Negresti Oas a.o.), respectively in some lovely mountain resorts like Vatra Dornei and Borsa.

Address: N Romania

MEDIEVAL CHURCHES - Densus and...

MEDIEVAL CHURCHES - Densus and Strei Churches
An area with a distinctive architectural style regarding the religious buildings is the one around Orastie and Hunedoara. Two of the churches here, built with fragments and sculptured took from Roman fortresses, Strei and Densus, especially draw our attention. Densus Church was built in several stages, along many centuries: between 13th and 15th centuries; it is a very interesting romanic style building.
Strei Church, one of the oldest Romanian architecture religious buildings in Transylvania, dates from the 13th century. Its tower and roof are made up of stone in Roman style. Fragments of sculptures coming from Sarmizegetusa Fortress were used on the building site.
The access is not eased by the fact that the roads leading to the two churches are not properly maintained, but the railway and roads knot in Simeria, respectively Deva, ease things up. Accommodation can be set in Deva or Hunedoara, and the tourist services quality is good.

Address: SW Transylvania