- Duration: 8 Days
- Location: Departure from Cluj-Napoca
- Available Seat: Please contact us!
- Price: 678 €/person
Surrounded by the natural fortress of its mountains, Transylvania has remained a place of mystery. The variety of landscapes, the richness of the landforms, the antique remnants, the historical and feudal art monuments and the ethno-folk elements, all provide an abundance of tourist attractions. The main cities are old settlements and as a result of the influencing culture of the Catholic West, usually contain great monuments in form of buildings, churches and castles.
Settled in the South of Transylvania I the 12th century, the Saxons repeatedly witnessed their cities destroyed by Tartars. Hence they fortified them by building protective walls and towers, which led to the replacement of the old burgs with strong towns that were prepared to defy besiegers.
Day 1
Cluj-Napoca
Arrival at the international airport of Cluj-Napoca. Depending on the arrival time, free time for city tour: The Botanical Garden (with over 10 000 species of plants throughout the world), Saint Michael’s Church (built in the 14th century in a Gothic style), The Orthodox Cathedral, The National Theatre, Palace of Justice, Iuliu Maniu street (also known as The Street in the Mirror), the Central Park.
Welcome dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel.
Day 2
Cluj-Napoca – Turda – Alba Iulia
Breakfast. Departure to Alba Iulia. Stop in Turda and visit the salt mine, where the salt extractions were made even from antiquity. Since 2008, when it entered in a modernization and improvement process, the salt mine is a great touristic attraction through the galleries, big rooms (each one with its specific) and especially through the salt lake from the bottom. Lunch in a restaurant.
In Alba Iulia, visit the Citadel Alba Carolina, the most impressive on its kind in south-east of Europe, especially for its triumphal gates for the access in the fortress, initially six.
Dinner and overnight in 3* hotel.
Day 3
Alba Iulia – Deva – Hunedoara
Breakfast. Departure to the Hateg region, one of the most important historical regions in Romania: there are dinosaurs’ fossils, architecture and architectural monument, a reservation of European bisons.
Visit the Deva fortress located atop a volcano, which dominates the surroundings. Built in the 13th century, the fortress can be easily reached by the funicular from the city below. Lunch in restaurant.
Drive to Hunedoara and visit the castle known as Corvins’ Castle or Hunyadi Castle. The impressive size and architectural beauty sets it among the most impressive monument of medieval art, with subsequent developments added Gothic and then Renaissance and Baroque.
Dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel.
Day 4
Hateg region in place
Breakfast. Departure to Calan, the most important steel works center in Romania until 1989. Visit the Roman thermal bath, well-preserved until today.
Close to Calan, in Strei, visit the little church built in the 14th century in hard stone, with a nave of wooden, cross vaulted roof, on massive stone pointed arches. In Santamaria Orlea visit the stone church with a slim tower that looks far, unto the top of the Retezat Mountains.
In Densus visit the Church, one of the oldest Romanian churches still standing. Built in the 7th century over the ruins of a 2nd century Roman temple, the church is made by stone, especially from the Dacian Sarmizegetusa fortress. Lunch.
Continue to Sarmizegetusa. Visit here the ancient capital and the largest city of the Roman Dacia, settled by veterans of the Dacia wars. The city was destroyed by the Goths and the only preserved sites are the forum, an amphitheatre and remnants of several temples.
If the time allows, drive to Brad and visit the Gold Museum, the only one in Europe (there are only three in the world).
Dinner and overnight in the same 3* hotel.
Day 5
Hunedoara – Calnic – Sibiu
Breakfast. Departure to Sibiu. In Calnic visit the fortified church built in the 13th century and newly restored, included in the UNESCO Patrimony.
Arrival in Sibiu. Lunch in a restaurant. Visit the medieval city founded in 1191 by the Saxons: Grand Square, Brukenthal Palace (an important Baroque building which houses the main part of the National Brukenthal Museum since 1817, one of the oldest museums in the world), the Jesuit Church, the Council Tower, Huet Square, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lesser Square and Liar’s Bridge. Sibiu’s fortifications made the city one of the most important fortified cities in Central Europe. Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture in 2007 and in every week-end there are festivals, fairs or cultural events.
Dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel in Sibiu
Day 6
Sibiu – Fagaras – Rasnov – Bran
Breakfast. Visit the ASTRA National Museum Complex, a 96 hectares open-air ethnographic museum, which presents in its 6 sections a demonstration of the pre-industrial technology and life style.
Departure to Brasov region. In Fagaras visit the citadel built at the beginning of the 14th century. After being used by the Communist State as a prison for opponents and dissidents, the castle has been restored and currently is used as a museum and library.
In Rasnov visit the citadel built at the beginning of the 13th century by the Teutonic Knight and just once conquered in its history, in 1600, by Gabriel Bathory.
Departure to Bran in order to visit the castle dating since the 13th century and commonly known as “Dracula’s Castle”.
Dinner and overnight in a 3* traditional inn.
Day 7
Bran – Brasov – Prejmer – Harman – Viscri – Saschiz – Sighisoara
Breakfast. Visit the historical centre of Brasov: The Black Church (dating from 1477, acquires the name after being blackened by smoke from the 1689 great fire), The Council Square, The Rope Street, and Catherine’s Gate. Continue with the peasant fortresses Prejmer and Harman dating from the 13th century.
Departure to Sighisoara. In Viscri visit the Lutheran fortified church from the 12th century. Recently restored, is now included in the UNESCO Heritage. Lunch.
Stop in Sachiz and visit the Gothic church, with bell tower that resemble with the famous one in Sighisoara. Visit as well the peasant fortress situated on the hill close to the church. Dating from the 14th century, the fortress has six bastions and a well of 60 m depth.
Arrival at Sighisoara. Visit the Saxon edifice dating from the 12th century, one of the few inhabited citadel of its kind. Visit The History Museum in the Clock Tower, The Weapon Museum, Covered staircase, The Church on the Hill.
Dinner and overnight in 3* hotel.
Day 8
Sighisoara – Targu-Mures – Cluj-Napoca
Breakfast. Departure to Targu-Mures. Visit the Culture Palace built between 1911 and 1913 in Secession style. The building also shelters the County Library, the Art Museum and the Museum of History and Archaeology, as well as galleries for contemporary art shows. Lunch in restaurant.
Arrival in Cluj-Napoca. Farewell dinner and overnight in a 3* hotel.
Day 9
Cluj-Napoca
Breakfast. Last visits and shopping. Departure.
HIGHLIGHTS
* Cluj-Napoca City
* Turda Salt Mine
* Alba Carolina Citadel
* Deva fortress
* Corvins’ Castle
* Densus stone church
* Sarmizegetusa Regia
* Gold Museum in Brad
* Calnic fortified church
* Sibiu city
* Fagaras Citadel
* Rasnov Citadel
* Bran Castle
* Brasov city
* Harman and Prejmer peasant church
* Viscri fortified church
* Saschiz fortified church and hilltop citadel
* Sighisoara Citadel
* Culture Palace in Targu-Mures
PRICE:
Organized groups: 678 €/person
Special! Private tour: 1273 €/person
*174 €/person SGL Supplement
Included:
- Accommodation 6 nights in 3* hotels and 1 night in 3* traditional inn
- Full board (check-in with dinner and check-out with breakfast)
- All transport and round transfers
- Fuel, road and parking taxes
- Entry tickets for the visits in the program
- English speaking attested guide
- Telephonic emergency call and support 24/7
Not included:
- Air tickets
- Taxes for cameras and filming
- Drinks off the boarding
- Driver for private tour
- Tips
NOTE:
- The program in the present form is available if Day 1 is Friday or Sunday, according to the opening hours of some visits or activities in the tour. If Day 1 differs, they will be replaced or cancel.
- Rates do not apply during the main holidays (Easter, Christmas and New Year) and during great events (festivals, concerts, fairs).
