A beautifully preserved Habsburgan style city and other Romania Off The Beaten Path Tips

The Black Vulture Palace

Most people travel through Oradea by car or train without stopping here for a day or so. And that is a pity. Though the city isn't rich, the city center has some beautiful facades. And those have been restored or are about to. Another attraction is the moon church, one of the 2 moon clocks in the world. And this one still works. The museum on Bihor county that is in Oradea is in the old Bishop's palace. And just for the palace alone it is worth going there. But the collection is nice too. Just a few of the things to see here.

And Oradea is an excellent base for visiting the Bear cave and the ice cave. I've only so far visited the bear cave and every time we tried to visit the ice cave we got side tracked somehow. But the bear cave is very impressive.

For more info visit my Oradea and Judetul Bihor pages

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: Time to really relax

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Mar 22, 2008

One of the old spa-hotels

Baile Herculane is for relaxing my favorite place. I mean the old part, the new part looks like so many resorts. I was only where for a little while since i was anxious to get on with my travels, i had just started. But i hope i'll find some time to go back again for a little more relaxing. The old part is truly astonishing. It is exactly like the spa's from the late 19th century. even the hotels except for the communist monstrosity of hotel Roman. An you don't even have to go to the baths, there is a hot spring next to the river just after hotel Roman. Here you can soak your feet (or more) in nice hot water or in very hot water. Depending on what you like. With the river and the mountains as view it was a perfect spot.

For more see my Baile Herculane page

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: Drobeta-Turnu Severin

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on May 1, 2005

The romanian ruin of the traian

bridge

This town doesn't appear in many guide books but it has a few gems that make it nice to visit for a day. For one thing, there is an interesting museum with a park where you can see many roman remains including one of the 2 remaining pillars of the Traian bridge over the Danube. There are also castle ruins from medieval times to be found here. And a still functioning medieval water-tower. Unfortunately they will not let you get in and climb this tower...

For a bit more on Drobeta Drobeta

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: A nice climb to the citadel

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Mar 22, 2008

Deva seen from the citadel

I went to Deva because i liked the name and it was close to Hunedoara where i wanted to visit the castle. But Deva has a citadel of its own on a hill. So i had to check it out first. I ignored a few signs saying i couldn't take the path because they were working on it but since i saw no work being done anywhere i just continued. And easily made it up the hill. I didn't go inside the citadel though apparently you can go inside. But the 'stairs' leading up to the 'entrance' didn't look very good (read: the steps were hardly recognizable as steps). It isn't a place that invites a lot of people in. The place is in ruins and so are the stairs. But for the brave at heart with steady feet it might be a challenge.

Deva itself was nice to walk through but wasn't very inspiring.

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: The red rock of Sebes

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Jan 23, 2005

Like an open wound

Sebes is about half an hour by bus from Alba Iulia and i went here to check out the place when i stayed in AI. It is a small town but it has some interesting things to see. For one thing in the centre is a very old and interesting looking church. Unfortunately i found the gates closed. Which was a pity, it looked like the church has just appeared out of some mistery book or something.
There is also a medieval wall. It doesn't surround much anymore nowadays but it is imbedded in people's gardens and even their houses. So following the wall can become a bit of a quest in itself.
The last thing to see here is the red rock. I've forgotten the romanian name unfortunately. It is about 4 km outside of Sebes. A very strange sight to see the green hills and then this large part of exposed rock in all kinds of pink-reddish colours.

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: The citadel of Prejmer

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Jan 23, 2005

The church surrounded by the wall

Prejmer is on the Unesco world heritage list. And for good reason. Although not so much visited, i met only 2 people just before i left, i liked it very very much. The church is from the 13th century surrounded by a 15th century wall. It was build by the people of Prejmer to defend themselves from invaders. In the 4,5 meter thick walls are 727 cells in which the families could take shelter in times of siege. And the whole structure of ladders, steps and gangplanks makes it a true labyrint. Great to watch and luckily one is allowed to climb on it as well. Some of the cell doors are open so you can have a peek inside.

It is close to Brasov. Take a personal train to a little station called Ilieni which is one stop before Prejmer. When you get off here, walk to the village. If in doubt, it means cross the rails and follow the dirth road to the curve and beyond. At the end of the road, turn right. Then it should be the 1st of 2nd street on the left. At the end walk a little to the left and then turn right. From there you can see the citadel. If you can't find it ask people for ' Cetate' they'll direct you to it.
Take a one-way ticket to Ilieni because when you get out of the citadel you can walk to the square from where a minibus leaves every half hour for Brasov. It'll also allow you to get off at Harman. I haven't found where one can get on the minibus in Brasov. The one i came back with dropped us off at an obscure backstreet just a short distance from a main street and turned and drove off immediately .

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: The citadel of Harman

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Jan 23, 2005

Harman Citadel

This is a definite off the beaten path. When i got here in october i needed to ring for the gatekeeper to let me in. But again it was worth it. The church is from the 15th century and still in use by the people of Harman today. Also this citadel was build by the people to protect themselves. The warden told me that it was build by the Saxon people and that only they could get refuge here in time of need. The romanians and the hungarians in the region had to take care of themselves. They were not allowed inside.

Harman doesn't take very long to visit. Together with Prejmer it makes for an excellent (half) day trip.

Minibuses leave from the square in front of the citadel every half hour back to Brasov.

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: The fortified church of Aiud

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on May 1, 2005

Aiud's fortified church

Aiud is about half an hour from Alba Iulia and it makes an excellent side trip. There is a small but interesting fortified church here. Unlike the ones at Harman and Prejmer this church has very limited places for the locals to take shelter. But the walls and watch towers should 've provided enough shelter from hostile forces if those occasions arose.

On the day i visited in october there was also a festival of some sorts. Unfortunately it started to rain so heavily that watching and listening to the performances wasn't an option for me. I just made a bee-line for a bar to dry up a bit..

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: The Brancusi's sculptures

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Mar 22, 2008

The Endless Column

There is no reason to visit Targu Jiu except to see the impressive artwork of Constantin Brancusi. In Targu Jiu one can see the Endless Column, the Kissing Gate and the Table of Silence. Unfortunately i got there when the Table of Silence was under renovation. And the park around the Endless Column was redone. But since both tasks should have been ready when i was there, they might be ready now. Even though i was a bit disappointed that i couldn't see his work at its most advantageous, i loved the fact that i could see them up close and personal

Leave a Comment

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Off The Beaten Path: The Praid saltmine

Tip Rating:

Updated by Mique

on Mar 23, 2008

Garden gates