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Romance of Romania

Natural beauty, the cheerful hospitality of local people, folklore festivals and the flavours of regional cuisine – all these combine to offer you the unique land called Romania

Authentic, natural and cultural, are the words that best capture the essence of Romania, a dynamic country rich in history, arts and scenic beauty. Considered by many the most beautiful country in Eastern-Europe, rugged stone churches and dazzling monasteries dot its pristine landscape of rocky mountains and rolling hills. Being a member of the European Union means you can visit Romania on a Schengen visa. Natural beauty, the cheerful hospitality of local people, folklore festivals and the flavours of regional cuisine – all these combine to offer you the unique land called Romania. Transylvanian towns seem to have stepped out of time, while vibrant Bucharest is all energy, with scenes of communist-era cars sharing highway space with speeding Audis and rows of regal ruins of former palaces standing side-by-side with gleaming new office buildings.

Being a member of the European Union means you can visit Romania on a Schengen visa. Natural beauty, the cheerful hospitality of local people, folklore festivals and the flavours of regional cuisine – all these combine to offer you the unique land called Romania. Transylvanian towns seem to have stepped out of time, while vibrant Bucharest is all energy, with scenes of communist-era cars sharing highway space with speeding Audis and rows of regal ruins of former palaces standing side-by-side with gleaming new office buildings.
His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, once said, "Romania is the last corner of Europe where you see true sustainability."

From Medieval castles and fortresses, to ancient churches and traditional villages, gleaming skyscrapers to painted monasteries, world heritage sites and black sea resorts, and its intense spirituality, music, crafts and traditions – it is a smorgasbord of attractions. Europe's second-longest river, the Danube, marks Romania's southern border with Bulgaria before turning suddenly northward and emptying into the Black Sea. The Danube delta provides sanctuary for 300 species of bird and 160 species of fish. The sprawling marshes account for the largest expanse of reed beds in the world. On a luxurious cruise down the Danube river you can take in the beauty of the Danube Delta, the world's third most biologically diverse area, and view the life of people who call the river home.

The Carpathian Mountains draw a wide arc through the centre of the country, leaving a swath of exposed rocky peaks surrounded by groves of pine and deciduous trees, and stretches of bright green meadow below. Romania is known as a Bears' sanctuary. The harsh geography has limited human habitation, and the magical woods are filled with deer, elk and bear, as well as wolves, lynx, deer, aurochs, boars and, in the highest regions, chamois and marmots. It offers a diversity of natural parks and natural protected areas (27 national and natural parks), and its forests are very well preserved. The rocky peaks of Transylvania and Moldavia, snow-capped from mid-October in some years, call out for conquering, and well-marked trails lead to summits from all directions, with plenty of alpine flora on its mountain peaks, gorges, lakes, forests, caves, mud volcanoes and fossil deposits to explore. There are less adventurous but no less rewarding walks through woods, meadows and villages in other regions,

The rocky peaks of Transylvania and Moldavia, snow-capped from mid-October in some years, call out for conquering, and well-marked trails lead to summits from all directions, with plenty of alpine flora on its mountain peaks, gorges, lakes, forests, caves, mud volcanoes and fossil deposits to explore. There are less adventurous but no less rewarding walks through woods, meadows and villages in other regions,

Romania has so many stunning natural attractions and is ideal for skiing, camping, hiking, boating, cycling, nautical sports, rafting, bird and animal watching, caving, fishing, horseback riding or hunting.
From mid-June to early September, the action moves to the Black Sea coast. Beach resorts fill up with swimmers, divers, sunbathers and partiers, who come for the all-night, open-air clubbing marathons.
A journey of a few hours by car or train can take you from the Danube River to a beautiful, intact, medieval town in Transylvania, like Bran Castle, home of the famous blood-sucking Count Dracula. Take a step back in time as you visit one of the world's famous painted monasteries in Bucovina, or the ancient, hilltop citadel in Sighisoara.

For centuries, the hilly geography and lack of passable roads necessitated the emergence of hundreds of self-sufficient villages, where old-school crafts such as bread-making, pottery, tanning and weaving were honed to an art. Open-air skansens and village museums, and isolated hamlets, where the old folkways are still practised, are a must-see. This is most evident in Maramureş, where oversized hay racks, horse carts and stately wooden churches seem to have stepped out of the Middle Ages.

Built by the Romans, Romania's natural spas offer relief for many disorders and illnesses, as well as natural healing or relaxation. Romania is also becoming popular for its vibrant art scene and its delicious, traditional cuisine and lovely wines, with unique bouquets!
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