Top 20 amazing places in Romania that you should definitely visit

Bran Castle

Near the small town of Brasov, on the territory of Transylvania, there is a unique architectural monument — the medieval Bran Castle, which, according to legend, is considered to be the residence of Vlad Tepes himself — Count Dracula, popularly known as the leader of vampires.

It is still unknown whether Count Dracula actually existed and, consequently, whether these properties belonged to him. However, Bran Castle, a Gothic-style castle with hundreds of mystical legends, is definitely worth a visit

Palace of Parliament, Bucharest

Do you know what the biggest building in the world is after the Pentagon? It's the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest. Today it is one of the main attractions of Romania. In the past, it was a hated symbol of despotism and suppression for the inhabitants of the country. Nowadays, it hosts the meetings of the Romanian government.

The height of the palace is 86 meters, but the amazing thing is that it is 92 meters deep. About 1 million m² of marble and 350 tons of crystal were used to build the castle. The interior of the palace is still unfinished.

King Mihai I Park, Bucharest

King Mihai I Park is a large park in the north of Bucharest, located around the lake of the same name, founded in 1936.

Attractions of the park include the royal residence "Elizabeth Palace" and the Romanian Village Museum. A part of the park is occupied by a recreational area designed for the recreation of city residents and tourists. This part of the park has paths and benches.

Historical center of Sibiu

Sibiu is often called the most beautiful city in Romania, and for good reason. Here majestic cathedrals and neat streets with colored houses border the picturesque Transylvanian landscapes, and the local Christmas fair is considered the most beautiful in the country.

In the Upper Town are concentrated architectural monuments, where the wealthy strata of the population lived. The Lower Town will show tourists the life of craftsmen and artisans.

Lipscani Street, Bucharest

The street is called the heart of the old city. In ancient times, Lipscani Street was the business center of Bucharest (from the Middle Ages to the 19th century), and now it is a reminder of what the city looked like before the Second World War. The names of some streets are related to the guilds that were once housed here.

This neighborhood is one of the few in Bucharest that was rebuilt after World War II, making it a trendy pedestrian street with boutiques, restaurants and bars housed in restored buildings.

Botanical Garden in Cluj-Napoca

Nature lovers will definitely be delighted by the Botanical Garden in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoyment of this heavenly place is guaranteed. The garden was founded in 1920 by a botanist, academician of the Romanian Academy, Prof. Alexandru Borzoi.

Now the 14 hectares of the garden are home to more than 10,000 plants brought from all over the world. Some zones are decorated with thematic landscapes. A pagoda has been built in the "Japanese Garden" and ancient Roman artifacts have been installed in the "Roman Garden".

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Corvin Castle, Hunedoara

Romania is called "the country of a thousand castles". So it is probably worth telling about the most unique ones.

An ancient castle of the Hunyadi family, built in the XV century on the site of a small fort with a single defensive tower. During its existence the castle has changed more than 20 owners, each of whom rebuilt and completed it according to his taste. As a result, the architecture represents different styles from Renaissance to Neo-Gothic. The castle now houses a museum.

Peles Castle, Sinaia

Peleš Castle is located near the town of Sinaia in the Carpathian Mountains, on the medieval route connecting Transylvania and Wallachia. The construction of the castle was started in 1873 by the Romanian monarch Carol I, and it was finished only in 1914.

This ancient castle in the Carpathian region is an architectural monument. The luxury of its interiors is astonishing. Decorations are wall paintings, stained glass windows, carvings. In the park around the palace there is a garden with many sculptures. Currently, the castle houses the Historical Museum. In it you can see a collection of weapons and armor of the Middle Ages, works of art.

Black Church, Brasov

Lutheran ancient church, built in the XIV century, is located in Transylvania. The height of this Gothic structure is 65 meters. The Black Church, considered one of the largest buildings in Romania, is made in the Gothic style. The length of the building is 89 meters, the height without the bell tower is 65 meters and the width is 38 meters.

Previously, this Romanian monument was named as the Church of St. Mary and the inhabitants did not pay much attention to it. That all changed after a devastating fire, which was followed by a hundred years of restoration work. As a result, a new generation of residents took a keen interest in the building, as it got a new look and a new name — the Black Church.

Stavropol Church, Bucharest

A holy place for many pilgrims. Believers from all over Europe come to the church to see unique religious artifacts. For example, parts of the relics of the apostles Peter and Andrew. Travelers are also fascinated by the design of the church.

The church is hidden in one of the alleys of the old town, and when you suddenly get to the small square in front of it, it is impossible to contain the feeling of admiration. The church is built in the British style, characteristic only for Romania. It is very small, dressed up like a toy, it reeks of fairy tales and ancient Byzantium.

Romanian Ateneum, Bucharest

The Ateneum is a symbol of Romanian culture. Built in the heart of Bucharest 120 years ago, between 1886 and 1888, it has become an architectural and spiritual monument not only for the city, the capital, but also for the whole country.

Here the greatest Romanian figures and scientists gave lectures, famous artists held their concerts, real musical masterpieces were launched, great exhibitions were held, kings, queens, politicians and foreign guests took part in important national and international events.

National Museum of Art of Romania, Bucharest

This museum is located in the center of Bucharest and is housed in the former royal palace. The exhibitions of the museum present exhibits of different subjects — weapons, coins, books, old clothes and furniture. Special attention is paid to art objects. The works of local masters are united in the Gallery of Contemporary Romanian Art and there is a separate exposition of works by masters of painting and foreign sculpture.

Palace of Culture, Iasi

Four museums of the national complex of Moldova and the Center for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage are united under the roof of the Palace of Culture. The Palace has 298 rooms for their needs. The central hall is decorated with mosaics on the floor with images of animals of the Bestiary. The entrance to the cultural palace is through the Clock Tower. This building has survived 14 fires and several large-scale reconstructions.

ASTRA, Sibiu

Located in the center of Romania, in the city of Sibiu, the ASTRA National Museum Complex is one of Romania's leading ethnographic museums and above all, it is about the experience. It won't be an ordinary visit to a museum where you will simply be presented with a synthesis of the Romanian countryside. This trip will be a real opportunity to insert yourself into a world whose event someone already considers a long-established endeavor.

Among the exhibits are such structures as farmhouses, schools, religious buildings. The everyday life is vividly shown — many men and women dressed in national costumes show how household work is done.

Cheerful cemetery

This is a cemetery quite unusual for most European countries, located in the village of Sepinza. A unique feature is the attitude to death of the locals, they do not treat passing away as a gloomy and tragic event. The tombstones of the graves in the Vesely cemetery are bright and colorful, with original drawings and poems. They often depict the life of the deceased person, his most vivid episodes. The cemetery is open to visitors at any time, thousands of tourists come here every year.

Salt mine in the town of Turda

Salt springs in this area have been known for a long time. The first mention of them dates back to 1075. In 1992, tourists began to be allowed inside the mine, and the object quickly gained popularity among travelers. In addition to visiting the salt "palace" — as the cave is often called, a health center was founded in it. There are gyms and treatment halls. Excursions to the underground lake, on which you can float by boat, are popular.

Mud volcanoes in Buzeu

The most mud volcanoes in all of Europe are located in Romania on the territory of a nature reserve. They appeared as a result of an earthquake in 1977. The 4 craters spew out streams of mud containing many chemical elements almost every day. The mud flows, drying up, form unusual landscapes with deep cracks, similar to the surface of the moon. For tourists there are several hotels and a campground on the territory of the reserve.

Retezat National Park

Retezat National Park is located in the mountain range of the same name in the southern Carpathians, in the southwestern part of Romania. This area is famous for its numerous glacial lakes and high mountain peaks. You will find here places where nature has not been affected by human intervention.

Among the rich alpine flora there are many large predators - wolf, brown bear, lynx. Among birds there are 120 species, including golden eagles, owls and vultures. Reptiles are represented by poisonous vipers.

Sarmizegetusa

This place was the seat of the kings of Dacia, an ancient state. It also combined the functions of a military and religious center and was one of the defensive fortresses of King Decebal. The entire fortress complex is a UNESCO heritage site. The fortress is located in the mountains of Transylvania at an altitude of 1200 meters. An important part of Sarmizegetuz are the sanctuaries.

Transfegeras highway

The "Road to the Sky" is sometimes called the Transfagarasi highway, a winding snake through the mountains and gorges in the heart of Romania. This road is not only the shortest connection between Transylvania and Wallachia, but also a road famous for both its amazing views and its status as one of the most difficult and dangerous in the world.

In season, thousands of travelers from all over the world come here to enjoy the mind-boggling scenery and tickle their nerves.