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ABOUT
ROMANIA
Dear
Visitor,
ROMANIA was one of the least visited countries in
Europe, till 15 years ago. Closed for more than
40 years behind the "Iron Curtain" and
almost isolated from the rest of the world by a
tough communist regime until 1989, Romania is a
land of many genuine treasures that are waiting
to be discovered.
Romania is one of the large countries of Europe
(the size of the United Kingdom or roughly half
of France), with a population of approx. 22 million
inhabitants. Along with the Romanians, Hungarians,
Germans, Serbs, Turks and other minorities also
live in the country. Most of them are of Greek-Orthodox
religion, but there are also many Catholics, Protestants,
Evangelical, Muslims and others. |
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Often compared to
a "Latin island in a Slav sea", Romania
features a unique familiar feeling in Eastern Europe:
its language of a Latin origin, the Latin alphabet
(quite rare in this part of Europe) and moreover
the Latin temperament and friendliness of its people
- all make of Romania a place where most visitor
feel very comfortable.
There are
many tourist attractions in Romania: some are unique
in the world, as the enchanting monasteries of Bucovina
with their churches entirely covered with 16th century
frescoes on the outside walls, appearing among hills
and woods as an illustrated Bible open on all the
pages.
So
is the Danube Delta, the largest natural reserve
in Europe, a paradise for fishermen and birdwatchers
- 430,000 hectares (approx 1,060,000 acres) of wild
land with just a few fishermen villages and only
waterways (no roads, no cars). |
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Unique is also Transylvania
- "the Land across the woods" (also known
as Siebenbürgen in German), a vast province of Romania
with its lovely medieval towns and fortresses at
the foothill of the Carpathians, rich with precious
Saxon heritage treasures...
Romania
is probably also the last place in Europe where
you can still see unspoiled countryside, with the
traditional rural civilisation still alive. Discover
the northern provinces of Maramures (in northern
Transylvania) or else Bucovina (in northern Moldavia),
with their old handicrafts, friendly people fiercely
dressed in their folk costumes, horse or oxen-drawn
carriages (horse-drawn sleighs in winter), with
colourful villages where time seems to have stood
still. You can be sure of forgetting all the stresses
and strains of the western world.
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If
you are a Dracula fan, you wouldn't want to miss
Dracula's Castle in Bran, the Borgo Pass or his
birthplace in the medieval "Upper Town"
of Sighisoara - they're all in Transylvania.
But
Romania is much more than this: just think of the
Black Sea coast, the wild and picturesque Carpathian
Mountains where one goes hiking or skiing, the cultural,
historical, architectural or archaeological tours
of the country, but also the wine-tasting tours
of Romania... :)
Many
guests also come to Romania for health purposes:
a huge richness of mineral and thermal springs spread
across the country, associated with many other natural
factors, have made this land very famous for its
spas and treatments. |
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If
your job just takes you to Bucharest for a few days,
you will certainly enjoy the tree-lined boulevards,
the delightful parks, the monumental city dating
from the end of the 19th century - early 20th century,
when Bucharest got the surname of "Paris of
the East" or "Little Paris".
You
should take advantage of being there to attend an
evening performance at the Opera, a symphonic orchestra
concert or a savoury play at the Yiddish Theatre
(the oldest in Europe). |
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Our
advice: take advantage of your being in Bucharest
and go on a trip to Sinaia in the Carpathian Mountains
(2 hours drive or by train) or even farther to Brasov
and Bran in Transylvania (approx 3 1 hrs drive)
- you will discover great scenery, a fabulous castle
(the Peles Castle in Sinaia - former summer residence
of the Royal family), the lovely medieval town of
Brasov (Kronstadt) and even Dracula's Castle in
Bran.
You could even spend a week-end there (and thus
your flight ticket will only cost you less...). |
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Wherever you go in
Romania, there is another thing you will enjoy:
tasty meals, large food portions, excellent wines
and other local drinks.
As most of visitors who discover Romania for the
first time confess, Romania could be for you too
well above the expectations...
So, ... Visit Romania! |
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