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Built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu,
the colossal Palace of Parliament is the second largest building in
the world after the Pentagon. It is an immense structure that took
20,000 workers and 700 architects to build, and cost billions. It
has 12 storeys, 1,100 rooms, a 328 ft-long (100m) lobby, and four
underground levels including an enormous nuclear bunker. Started in
1984, the dictator intended it to be the headquarters of his
Communist Government, but it was still unfinished when he was
executed in 1989. Today it houses the seat of Romania's Parliament
and is an international conference centre. Widely viewed as a
personification of his obsession with grandiose things and actions,
the construction entailed the demolition of a quarter of
Bucharest's historic centre, including 26 churches, and the
relocation of 40,000 inhabitants from their 19th century homes to
new developments on the outskirts. Built and furnished exclusively
from Romanian materials, the building reflects the work of the
country's best artisans. A guided tour takes visitors through a
small section of dazzling rooms, huge halls and quarters used by
the Senate (when not in session). The interior is a luxurious
display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak panelling and marble,
gold leaf and stained glass windows, and the floors are covered in
rich carpets. The largest room has a sliding roof wide enough for a
helicopter to enter. Tour guides delight in recounting tales of the
vast amounts of money that went to waste in decorating and
re-decorating its rooms. see full details
Palace of Parliament
Built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu,
the colossal Palace of Parliament is the second largest building in
the world after the Pentagon. It is an immense structure that took
20,000 workers and 700 architects to build, and cost billions. It
has 12 storeys, 1,100 rooms, a 328 ft-long (100m) lobby, and four
underground levels including an enormous nuclear bunker. Started in
1984, the dictator intended it to be the headquarters of his
Communist Government, but it was still unfinished when he was
executed in 1989. Today it houses the seat of Romania's Parliament
and is an international conference centre. Widely viewed as a
personification of his obsession with grandiose things and actions,
the construction entailed the demolition of a quarter of
Bucharest's historic centre, including 26 churches, and the
relocation of 40,000 inhabitants from their 19th century homes to
new developments on the outskirts. Built and furnished exclusively
from Romanian materials, the building reflects the work of the
country's best artisans. A guided tour takes visitors through a
small section of dazzling rooms, huge halls and quarters used by
the Senate (when not in session). The interior is a luxurious
display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak panelling and marble,
gold leaf and stained glass windows, and the floors are covered in
rich carpets. The largest room has a sliding roof wide enough for a
helicopter to enter. Tour guides delight in recounting tales of the
vast amounts of money that went to waste in decorating and
re-decorating its rooms. see full details
Top
One of Bucharest's finest sights is the Village
Museum, situated within the Herastrau Park alongside a lake. It is
a fascinating outdoor museum with a collection that spans more than
300 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's
rural architecture including peasant homes, barns, wooden churches
and Transylvanian houses from all regions of the country to
recreate a village setting. Traditionally dressed peasant workers
portray life during the 16th and 17th centuries along with everyday
tools and accessories. Traditional crafts are also for sale around
the site. see full details
The Village Museum
One of Bucharest's finest sights is the Village
Museum, situated within the Herastrau Park alongside a lake. It is
a fascinating outdoor museum with a collection that spans more than
300 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's
rural architecture including peasant homes, barns, wooden churches
and Transylvanian houses from all regions of the country to
recreate a village setting. Traditionally dressed peasant workers
portray life during the 16th and 17th centuries along with everyday
tools and accessories. Traditional crafts are also for sale around
the site. see full details
Top
The tiny but remarkable Stavropoleos Church was built
in 1724, designed by a Wallachian prince renowned for his religious
architectural accomplishments, and is one of the oldest churches in
Bucharest. Built using a combination of Romanian and Byzantine
architecture it has a beautiful façade and a delicately carved
columned entrance. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, it is an
architectural jewel, with beautiful frescoes and religious
icons. see full details
Stavropoleos Church
The tiny but remarkable Stavropoleos Church was built
in 1724, designed by a Wallachian prince renowned for his religious
architectural accomplishments, and is one of the oldest churches in
Bucharest. Built using a combination of Romanian and Byzantine
architecture it has a beautiful façade and a delicately carved
columned entrance. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, it is an
architectural jewel, with beautiful frescoes and religious
icons. see full details
Top
Housed in the former 1900 Post Office building is one
of Bucharest's most important museums, the National History Museum.
Spread throughout 41 rooms the exhibits recount the country's
development from prehistoric times to the 1920s. The highlight is
the basement National Treasury crammed with a dazzling display of
gold, jewellery and valuable Neolithic curios. It is the biggest
and best museum in the country and affords an excellent opportunity
to get to grips with the exciting history of Romania. see full details
National History Museum
Housed in the former 1900 Post Office building is one
of Bucharest's most important museums, the National History Museum.
Spread throughout 41 rooms the exhibits recount the country's
development from prehistoric times to the 1920s. The highlight is
the basement National Treasury crammed with a dazzling display of
gold, jewellery and valuable Neolithic curios. It is the biggest
and best museum in the country and affords an excellent opportunity
to get to grips with the exciting history of Romania. see full details
Top
The fortified medieval Bran Castle is often referred
to as Dracula's Castle, looking as a vampire count's abode should
look with a forbidding façade, towers and ramparts rising out of
the forest, and perched high on a steep cliff face against a
dramatic mountain background; however there is little evidence to
suggest Vlad Tepes ever stayed there. Bran Castle was built in 1377
to protect nearby Brasov from invaders, and it later became the
favourite summer residence of Queen Marie, offered to her by the
people of Brasov who owned it. The rooms and towers surround an
inner courtyard with a sculpted stone fountain. A warren of narrow,
winding stairs, secret chambers and underground passageways lead
between vaulted halls, a prison, watchtowers with sweeping views,
and the living area. The rooms are decorated with a collection of
Baroque furniture, elaborately carved four-poster beds, weapons and
armour dating from the 14th to 19th centuries. On the grounds below
is an open-air ethnographic Village Museum consisting of old
local-style architecture with household objects, costumes and
furniture on display. At the entrance to the castle grounds is a
large handicraft market that aims to distract the bus loads of
tourists. see full details
Bran Castle
The fortified medieval Bran Castle is often referred
to as Dracula's Castle, looking as a vampire count's abode should
look with a forbidding façade, towers and ramparts rising out of
the forest, and perched high on a steep cliff face against a
dramatic mountain background; however there is little evidence to
suggest Vlad Tepes ever stayed there. Bran Castle was built in 1377
to protect nearby Brasov from invaders, and it later became the
favourite summer residence of Queen Marie, offered to her by the
people of Brasov who owned it. The rooms and towers surround an
inner courtyard with a sculpted stone fountain. A warren of narrow,
winding stairs, secret chambers and underground passageways lead
between vaulted halls, a prison, watchtowers with sweeping views,
and the living area. The rooms are decorated with a collection of
Baroque furniture, elaborately carved four-poster beds, weapons and
armour dating from the 14th to 19th centuries. On the grounds below
is an open-air ethnographic Village Museum consisting of old
local-style architecture with household objects, costumes and
furniture on display. At the entrance to the castle grounds is a
large handicraft market that aims to distract the bus loads of
tourists. see full details
Top
Considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in
Europe, Peles Castle was the summer residence for Romania's kings.
Built by King Carol I in 1883 the castle is a masterpiece of
German-Renaissance architecture with an exquisite exterior, and is
surrounded by fir forests and the towering peaks of the Carpathian
range. The castle's 160 rooms are magnificent; lavishly decorated
in ebony, mother of pearl, walnut and leather with crystal
chandeliers, fine collections of sculptures, paintings and
tapestries, stained glass windows and furniture. It is set within a
large park with a statue garden in front. Further up the hill from
the main palace is the smaller Pelisor Palace, built for Carol I's
son and decorated in the Art Nouveau style. see full details
Peles Castle
Considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in
Europe, Peles Castle was the summer residence for Romania's kings.
Built by King Carol I in 1883 the castle is a masterpiece of
German-Renaissance architecture with an exquisite exterior, and is
surrounded by fir forests and the towering peaks of the Carpathian
range. The castle's 160 rooms are magnificent; lavishly decorated
in ebony, mother of pearl, walnut and leather with crystal
chandeliers, fine collections of sculptures, paintings and
tapestries, stained glass windows and furniture. It is set within a
large park with a statue garden in front. Further up the hill from
the main palace is the smaller Pelisor Palace, built for Carol I's
son and decorated in the Art Nouveau style. see full details
Top
Some of the 15th century painted monasteries of
Southern Bucovina have been declared UNESCO World Heritage
Monuments. They represent some of the greatest artistic monuments
in Europe and are among the most picturesque treasures in Romania.
Most of the churches are fortified with strong defensive
surrounding walls as protection against Turkish invaders and they
sheltered large armies of soldiers awaiting battle. The exterior
walls of the monasteries are richly decorated with vivid frescoes
depicting dramatic Biblical scenes, intended to teach Christianity
to the illiterate by means of pictures. The artwork has amazingly
survived harsh exposure to the elements for over 450 years and the
intense colours have been well preserved. The five main painted
monasteries near Suceava are Humor, Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita
and Arbore. The predominant colour of the artwork at Voronet is a
vivid blue that serves as a background to the designs. The quality
of the frescoes, the magnificent Last Judgement and the brilliant
colour has earned it the moniker of 'Sistine Chapel of the East'.
Humor is characterised by its predominant red colour; and the
largest and finest of the monasteries, Sucevita, has its thousands
of painted images on a background of emerald green. Moldovita,
situated in the middle of a quaint farming village, consists of a
strong fortified enclosure with towers and heavy gates, with the
beautiful painted church in the centre. Also nearby are Dragomirna
and Putna monasteries, the latter home to an active community of
monks and a small museum containing medieval manuscripts and rare
textiles. see full details
The Painted Monasteries
Some of the 15th century painted monasteries of
Southern Bucovina have been declared UNESCO World Heritage
Monuments. They represent some of the greatest artistic monuments
in Europe and are among the most picturesque treasures in Romania.
Most of the churches are fortified with strong defensive
surrounding walls as protection against Turkish invaders and they
sheltered large armies of soldiers awaiting battle. The exterior
walls of the monasteries are richly decorated with vivid frescoes
depicting dramatic Biblical scenes, intended to teach Christianity
to the illiterate by means of pictures. The artwork has amazingly
survived harsh exposure to the elements for over 450 years and the
intense colours have been well preserved. The five main painted
monasteries near Suceava are Humor, Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita
and Arbore. The predominant colour of the artwork at Voronet is a
vivid blue that serves as a background to the designs. The quality
of the frescoes, the magnificent Last Judgement and the brilliant
colour has earned it the moniker of 'Sistine Chapel of the East'.
Humor is characterised by its predominant red colour; and the
largest and finest of the monasteries, Sucevita, has its thousands
of painted images on a background of emerald green. Moldovita,
situated in the middle of a quaint farming village, consists of a
strong fortified enclosure with towers and heavy gates, with the
beautiful painted church in the centre. Also nearby are Dragomirna
and Putna monasteries, the latter home to an active community of
monks and a small museum containing medieval manuscripts and rare
textiles. see full details
Top
Sighisoara is one of the seven fortified towns founded
by the Saxons in the hills of Transylvania, and is a beautifully
preserved medieval town that is renowned as the birthplace of
'Dracula', or Vlad The Impaler. The hilltop citadel dominates the
town with the original medieval settlement enclosed within the
fortress walls, surrounded by nine surviving towers. Within the old
town, the narrow cobbled streets and steep alleyways,
brightly-painted tiny lopsided houses, ancient churches, stone
archways and covered stairways are overlooked by the striking Clock
Tower, the control tower of the main gate with magnificent views
over the whole town and countryside. At the foot of the Clock Tower
is the simple yellow building where Vlad was born and lived with
his father, Vlad Dracul, and is marked by a hanging wrought-iron
dragon. It now houses a restaurant with medieval furnishings. The
ancient cobblestone street that passes beneath the Clock Tower
leads to the lower town, and although shabbier than the citadel, it
has some interesting little shops where 'Vampire Wine' and locally
made products can be bought. There are also lively markets here and
pretty stone squares where townsfolk gather to chat animatedly
about daily affairs. see full details
Sighisoara
Sighisoara is one of the seven fortified towns founded
by the Saxons in the hills of Transylvania, and is a beautifully
preserved medieval town that is renowned as the birthplace of
'Dracula', or Vlad The Impaler. The hilltop citadel dominates the
town with the original medieval settlement enclosed within the
fortress walls, surrounded by nine surviving towers. Within the old
town, the narrow cobbled streets and steep alleyways,
brightly-painted tiny lopsided houses, ancient churches, stone
archways and covered stairways are overlooked by the striking Clock
Tower, the control tower of the main gate with magnificent views
over the whole town and countryside. At the foot of the Clock Tower
is the simple yellow building where Vlad was born and lived with
his father, Vlad Dracul, and is marked by a hanging wrought-iron
dragon. It now houses a restaurant with medieval furnishings. The
ancient cobblestone street that passes beneath the Clock Tower
leads to the lower town, and although shabbier than the citadel, it
has some interesting little shops where 'Vampire Wine' and locally
made products can be bought. There are also lively markets here and
pretty stone squares where townsfolk gather to chat animatedly
about daily affairs. see full details
Top
Nestled at the foot of Mount Tâmpa, Brasov is a
charming medieval town, and along with Sighisoara is one of the
seven fortified towns settled by the Saxons, with a distinct
Germanic flavour to its architecture. The Saxons built massive
stone walls and seven bastions around the city that are still
visible today, as well as ornate churches, elaborately trimmed
buildings and a fine central square that is said to be the spot
from where the legendary Pied Piper was to have led the children of
Hamlin. Lining the square are the red-roofed merchant's houses, now
occupied by cafes and shops, and in the centre is the 15th-century
Old Town Hall that is home to the History Museum. The town's
landmark is the impressive Gothic structure known as the Black
Church, so named because a fire blackened its outer walls in 1689.
The interior is beautiful, with balconies, stained glass windows,
an enormous organ, stone columns and walls adorned with fabulous
Turkish carpets. Many people use Brasov as a base for visiting the
nearby attractions of Dracula's Castle at Bran, as well as Râsnov
Castle and the ski resorts of Sinaia and Poiana
Brasov. see full details
Brasov
Nestled at the foot of Mount Tâmpa, Brasov is a
charming medieval town, and along with Sighisoara is one of the
seven fortified towns settled by the Saxons, with a distinct
Germanic flavour to its architecture. The Saxons built massive
stone walls and seven bastions around the city that are still
visible today, as well as ornate churches, elaborately trimmed
buildings and a fine central square that is said to be the spot
from where the legendary Pied Piper was to have led the children of
Hamlin. Lining the square are the red-roofed merchant's houses, now
occupied by cafes and shops, and in the centre is the 15th-century
Old Town Hall that is home to the History Museum. The town's
landmark is the impressive Gothic structure known as the Black
Church, so named because a fire blackened its outer walls in 1689.
The interior is beautiful, with balconies, stained glass windows,
an enormous organ, stone columns and walls adorned with fabulous
Turkish carpets. Many people use Brasov as a base for visiting the
nearby attractions of Dracula's Castle at Bran, as well as Râsnov
Castle and the ski resorts of Sinaia and Poiana
Brasov. see full details
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