Day 1: BUCHAREST – SINAIA – BRAN – BRASOV ( aprox 220 km. / 137 miles )
Start the tour driving north towards Transylvania. While crossing the Southern Carpathians, stop in Sinaia to visit one of the most beautiful castles in Europe – the famous Peles Royal Castle, a masterpiece of German New-Renaissance architecture, commissioned by King Carol in 1873 and completed in 1883 The Peles Royal Castle is the world’s first castle fully powered by locally produced electricity.
The second visit will allow you to travel back time, in the Medieval Age. You will see Bran Castle, the most visited castle in Romania also thanks to the legendary character, Dracula.
Bran Castle is home to a rich collection of Romanian and foreign furniture and art items from the XIVth-XIXth centuries. It sits up atop a tall rock, overlooking the picturesque village of Bran. On the grounds bellow, there is an open-air ethnographic museum of old village buildings with exhibits of furniture, household objects, and costumes.
The day will end in Brasov where you will enjoy a walking tour of the downtown in the Council Square and see the Black Church, a Gothic masterpiece, being the largest Gothic construction in Eastern part of Europe.
Overnight in Brasov, hotel 4* Optional dinner in Poiana Brasov ( the most famous famous moutain /ski resort of Romania lies 12 km / 8 miles away on a winding road ) where the famous movie Oscar nominated movie THE COLD MOUNTAIN has been shot
Day 2: BRASOV – PREJMER – RUPEA – SIGHISOARA (150 km. / 93 miles)
After breakfast you will a have a panoramic driving tour of Brasov in other to see some other sights including : Saint Catherine’s Gate erected in 1559 – the only original gate that still survives since medieval times, Weaver’s Bastion – the largest medieval bastion in Brasov and the best-preserved among the seven original watchtowers constructed around the city walls , The three-nave Synagogue built in 1901,The Rope Street – the narrowest street in Romania and the 3-rd narrowest street in Europe ( after Spreuerhofstraße in Reutlingen / Baden-Württemberg / Germany, and Parliament Street, in Exter / Devon / England ).
Then you will leave Brasov and head to Prejmer to visit the fortified church. Prejmer is the largest and most heavily defended fortified church in South–Eastern Europe and it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.
The day will continue with another medieval monument, this time a citadel, recently renovated, Rupea Citadel. After a short stop in the front of Saschiz fortified church ( exterior ) UNESCO World Heritage. In the evening you will arrive in Sighisoara / Schäßburg- the only medieval citadel still entirely inhabited in South-Eastern Europe Iits picturesque architecture reminds you of some of the most illustrious medieval fortifications in Western Europe. Overnight in Sighisoara
Day 3: SIGHISOARA – BIERTAN – MEDIAS – SIBIU ( 120 km. / 75 miles )
After breakfast you will enjoy a short orientation tour. Sighisoara was fortified by the Saxon guilds – the Blacksmiths’, Butchers’ and Cobblers’ are among the defensive towers which still survive and the beautifully preserved medieval citadel is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Explore the Old Town of Sighisoara with cobbled streets, burgher houses and ornate churches.
Start your tour along the medieval street and see the Clock Tower known as the Council Tower (for an interesting panoramic view) built in the second half of the 14th century and expanded in the 16th century.
Continue tour with the Venetian House, built in the 16th century. Visit Dracula’s house where Vlad Tepes was born in 1431 and lived with his father until 1435
Afterwards free time to explore on your own. You may go up the stairs at the Clock Tower (for an interesting panoramic view) and enjoy a walk on the covered stairs to the Church on the Hill or enjoy a cup of tea /coffee in the small historical square.
You will leave this beautiful town and stop in the village of Biertan (UNESCO Heritage) where you will see one of the first German settlements in Transylvania. The name was firstly attested in 1283. It had an urban organization, notice the franconic style of the rows of houses around the central square overlooked by a grandiose fortress-church. Here you will find out the unique method of the citizens to keep their marriages and avoid getting divorced.
Prepare for a lovely surprise.
Medias / Medisch one of the most important seven fortified towns of Transylvania ( Siebenbürgen )
will be the second stop and in the evening you will arrive in Sibiu. Overnight in Sibiu
Day 4: SIBIU – COZIA – BUCHAREST ( 280 km. / 180 miles)*
Sibiu was a German medieval citadel, with the first documentary attestation in 1191, and the old name Hermanstadt. Sibiu is considered the most beautiful city in Romania and being so well preserved, in 2007, gained the title of the European Capital of Culture. You will enjoy here a walking tour in the old town (the historical center of Sibiu) including The Large Square, The Small Square with the picturesque Liars Bridge, the old fortifications of the city, the Council Tower, etc. Later you will have a traditional lunch and head back to Bucharest. On your way you will stop in Cozia to visit Cozia Monastery, considered one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art. In the evening you will arrive in Bucharest
- On request, during the summer season ( from July till October ) the itinerary may include instead Cozia, a drive from Sibiu on Transfagarasan high altitude road appreciated by Top Gear magazine as being the “best road in the world” ( the road’s highest point is at 2042 metres: the tunnel which links the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea )
- On this itinerary you will see the Poenari Citadel ( the real citadel which used to belong to Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula / upon request free time to go up the 1480 stairs ) admire the Vidraru reservoir lake and visit Curtea de Arges Monastery ( holding the graves of the kings of Romania )
Overview
TOUR STARTS
Bucharest
TOUR ENDS
Bucharest
DISTANCE COVERED
aprox. 770 km. / 485 miles
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private tour – guide
- Private transport by air-conditioned car / minivan /van with separate driver ( ensures your tour -guide full attention throughout the days )
- 1 night accommodation in a 4 star hotel in Brasov
- 1 night accommodation in a 4 star hotel in Sighisoara
- 1 night accommodation in a 4 star hotel in Sibiu
- 3 ( buffet ) breakfasts
- Entrance fees at the sights
What’s not included
- Expenses of private nature like souvenirs
- Gratuities (appreciated but optional /entirely at clients’ discretion)