"Welcome to Deva Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Ro" Connaughtranger's Profile

Hallo Virtual Tourists,

my name is Kevin, originaly born in Nottingham, England and raised in Castlebar, County Mayo in the west of Ireland, in 1997 I retired from the Irish Defence Forces after over 21 years service including time with the United Nations in South Lebanon as a Peace-keeper.

I am married to a Romanian lady and live here in Deva, which has a population 80,000+ since 2003.

Deva is located on the main road from the Hungarian border via Arad, and Timisoara.

Main Inter-Europe rail connections from Europe pass through here as well.

Also located nearby the river Mures for fishing.

Makes a great centre from which to explore the surrounding regions, Hunedoara, with its Castle.

Simeria with its botanical park.

Brad with its gold museum.

Orastia, the old town area and its charm.

Geoagiu Bai, with its Roman Mineral Water springs.

Cugir and the enterance into the National Park and mountains at Rindunica, Prislop, Hateg, fine mountain and hill-walking country.

Hunedoara's Corvin Castle.

Hunedoara Castle, located 14 kms from Deva, in the town of Hunedoara, very easy access by Maxi-Taxi Minibus and regular buses, they go every half hour.

Get out of the bus in the bus station located next to the train station "LA GARA", standing in front of the bus station keep to the right side and walk down past the Fire station keep walking until you come to the intersection and its sign for the Castle, take a right, walk on over the small bridge for 100 meters, a sharp left will bring you to the gates of the castle, walk in and then swing left on up to the car park and the wodden bridge over the moat into the castle gates.

IF your feeling lazy or with children, grab a taxi at the train staion.

The Castle is in a very good restored condition and its a cheap enterence fee, there is a small "tax" imposed on the use of cameras inside the castle, (extra, with the enterence fee.)

The castle was used in the Gerard Depadu movie "Rois maudits, Les" 2005
Lousy movie but great shots of the Castle, :-P

Best time to visit is in the Summer time, when more small shops selling antiquties, paintings, etc are open. The castle is continualy being worked on with renovation projects, but does not detract from the visit.

Mountain Pension at Prislop

This area is very beautiful, it looks a lot like the West of Ireland, but has lots more forest with vast oak trees, (probably what Ireland looked like over 250 years ago before deforrestation), very popular with the locals for mountain hiking all year round.

Care must be taken as the weather can change very quick, always bring appropriate clothing, fleece, goretex and boots etc.

The trails are well marked and Maps are available from outdoor shops in Deva etc..etc..

Wayside shrine next to a spring well.

A pleasent walk from Prislop Pension to Bosul Lupse, travel time 90 minutes, easy gowing through the forest then into the open hills, you pass this wayside shrine next to a fresh water spring, the trail rises from 1100 1487 meters, a nice easy climb, with many pleasent views.

This area is virtualy unexplored by ramblers from Western Europe, and there are many more longer trails to be explored in this Nature Park Reserve.

The Park is patroled by Rangers and the lighting of cooking fires with wood strictly forbiden, in certain areas fires of any kind are totaly forbiden, the removal of native flowers and plants is also forbiden as is the hunting or trapping of any of the birds and animals in the park.

Bears and the occassional wolf have been encountered deep in the mountains and forests.

Remember if you bring any item such as plastic bags or food wrappings, tin-cans etc, please take them home and dont dump then in the Park.

Sweet Liqued Gold.

In most towns you will find a Piatsa or Market here everyday you will find fresh vegatables, fruits, and honey for sale all at far cheaper prices than in the supermarkets.

Romanians just love fresh food, small shops in the market sell cheese and meat, others include fish as well.

Next to the markets usually can be found a clothes market selling imports from Turky and China, they are cheap and so can be the quality of the items :-(

Utilise all the space in the car

Always keep your camera handy to catch that super holiday snap!!