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10 days/ 9 nights
Highlights: Day 1 Day 2  Back to the hotel Le Boutique Hotel Moxa 4 * and welcome dinner Day 3 It is a long and beautiful day’s traveling to cross the East part of the country in order to get to Moldova and the place where all the roads to the monasteries depart from. We will make a short stop at Marasesti, where we will visit the Mausoleum, built in 1923 in the memory of those who lost their lives in the First World War (480 officers and more than 21.000 soldiers) during the fights that took place in Marasesti in 1917 . Arrival in the afternoon in Piatra Neamt , and accommodation in Hotel Central 3 * Day 4 Piatra – Neamt  The Medieval Complex was founded in 1498-1499 by the Voivode Stephan the Great. It is composed of: The Princely Church of St. John the Baptist built of stone in a Moldavian style, the 19 m high Tower and parts of the Princely Court . Agapia Monastery Located on the Agapia Vally, this monastery was founded in 1642 , in celebration of the “Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel” . Today it is a convent. Apart from the wall paintings of inestimable artistic value the church has another treasure: a Byzantine icon from the 14th century. It is a miracle working icon and its beauty reminds one of the monumentality of the Mount Athos icons. Varatec Monastery Tirgu-Neamt with the Neamt Monastery The Neamt Monastery is first mentioned in a 14th century document. Nothing remains of the original buildings. The monastic buildings were built and rebuilt several times during the centuries. The present constructions, which form a defensive wall around the church, were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. Arrival in the evening in Iasi Accommodation in the Grand Hotel Traian 4 * a masterpiece built in 1882 by Gustave Eiffel . Two years before Gustave Eiffel became famous for the Statue of Liberty, and seven years before erecting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, he built the Grand Hotel Traian in Iasi. DAY 5 A city with a real vocation for history, Iasi, the former capital of Moldavia, is the most important political, economic and cultural centre of Moldavia and one of the oldest cities in Romania, dating from 1408. “Three Hierarchs” Monastery is the most beautiful building of the sovereign of one prince of Moldavia , built between 1637-1639. The exterior decorations completely cover the building combining Turkish, Arab, Georgian, Armenian and Persian elements with Romanian architectural motives . The Dosoftei House This is a building which dates from the second half of the XVIII century. It is the house which had installed in 1679 the second printing house in Moldavia . The Palace of Culture The Palace of Culture is one of the largest buildings in Romania.The construction was started in 1906, on the old ruins of the Royal Court of Moldavia, by orders from King Carol I. After visiting the marvels of one of the most impressives cities in Romania – IASI- , we will have a tasting of wine in theCotnari vineyards . Arrival in Suceava and accommodation in Popasul Domnesc Hotel 3 * Day 6 Dragomirna Monastery The great monastery of Dragomirna is built in a marvellous area, close to the forest. Finished in 1609, it is a very beautiful work, where the frames of the windows with Gothic elements match harmoniously with the rich and various decorations of the tower originating in Romanian folk art.  Patrauti Church The Patrauti Church -The Holy Cross Church – was built for Stephen the Great in 1487. It is the oldest of Stephen’s surviving churches to have kept its original shape. The frescoes inside the church were painted in part soon after construction work finished, in part about ten years later, during the last decade of the 15th century, and are not restored.  Putna Monastery The Putna Monastery is one of the most important monasteries in Bucovina, and the stage for many religious celebrations throughout the last five centuries. Built between 1466-1469, it is a Romanian Orthodox Monastery, one of the most important cultural, religious and artistic centers established in medieval Moldavia. As with many others, it was built and dedicated by Prince Stephen the Great. The church was unusually large for its time, but the explanation was that it was built to be the burial place of the Prince, his family and his successors  Black Marginea Ceramics The locality got a well deserved fame thanks to its valuable tradition in the field of pottery. There are more than 30 potter families in the town and they produce the famous black ceramics with different shapes and various paintings. Also, this is where visitors can watch the whole technological process: the preparation of clay and its modelling on the potter’s wheel, the decoration by polishing and the final burning process. Sucevita Monastery Sucevita Monastery which has the Resurrection of Jesus as dedication day, was built during the past decades of the 16th century.  The exterior Sucevita Monastery painting is the best preserved painting of the Moldavian exterior painting church group, the only one which has preserved its northern wall, where the “Virtue Staircase” is painted, the most impressive part, due to its dimension and contrast between the angel’s order and hell’s chaos. Moldovita Monastery Moldovita Monastery was founded in 1523. It is surrounded by strong walls,1.20 m thick and 5 m high, with towers in both corners of the façade and a strong tower of the gate. Together with Voronet, Sucevita, Arbore and Humor, Moldovita is part of the monument chain monasteries, famed for what specialists name “Moldavian medieval exterior painting”. Arrival in Cimpulung –Moldovenesc and accommodation in The”Guesthouse Sandru 3 * “ Day 7 Voronet Monastery Owing to the kindness of the Faithful Prince Stefan Cel Mare (Stefan the Great), Voronet Monastery, with St. Great Martyr Gheorghe dedication day, was built between May 26 until September 14, 1488. Voronet Monastery is considered to be the “Sistine Chapel of the Orient” because of its great frescoes situated on the western wall and named “Doomsday”. Also, “Voronet” blue is considered by art specialists to be unique in the world and famous like Rubes red or Veronese green. “Iesei’s Tree” or “Christ’s Genealogy” is presented on a background of this wonderful blue and Greek Latin philosophers are painted on the columns.  Humor Monastery This is one of the most famous foundations of the Romanian Middle Ages. An inscription situated at the entrance, on the exterior wall of the church, mentions the year 1530. The most attractive and impressive feature of Humor church are its exterior frescos.  Humor Church and especially its paintings are subordinated to the theological idea of human redemption; the idea of the human being who, under the overwhelming impression produced by the contemplation of the frescoes, which show scenes from the redemption history, feels irresistibly attracted to achieving Christian ideology, which gives the human being the opportunity of meeting and cooperating with the divine for his redemption. Arrival in the wonderful landscape of the Bicaz Lake . Accomodation on the Floating Hotel Lebada 3 * Day 8 Lake Bicaz, also known as Lake Izvorul Muntelui is the biggest artificial lake of Romania and is also a port to the unique “sea” of the romanian mountain lakes (Bicaz lake). The lake itself is 40 km long, has a total surface of 33 km2 and a maximum water volume of 1250 million m3. Bicaz Gorges, in the Eastern Carpathians, on the river Bicaz, form a natural link between Transylvania and Moldavia. Lacul Rosu is natural storage lake at a 980 m altitude, near Bicaz Gorges. The name Lacu Rosu – Red Lake comes from the reddish alluvia deposited in the lake by its main tributary. At only 3 km from the Lacu Rosu resort, offers beautiful views. The limestone walls of the gorges are like a medieval fortress walls. One can admire the “Altar Stone” – a rocky mountain 1120 high, impressive by its sheer slope and important for alpine climbing. Traditional Hungarian lunch in Red Lake with fresh trout made in Hungarian style . Arrival in Brasov , Accommodation in the GuestHouse ‘ The Wagner House “ 3 * Day 9 Visit the town of Brasov, according to documents dates from 1234 was called Corona. During the second half of the 14th century it was confirmed as the administrative and ecclesiastic center of Tara Barsei, (Corona, Kronstadt, Brasso), “the free royal town”, one of the economic and cultural centers of Transylvania.  The old center contains Piata Sfatului, the imposing Black Church, Casa Sfatului (The Council House), Casa negustorilor (Merchants’ House), Cetatea Brasovului (Brasov’s Fortress), Poarta Schei (Schei Gate), Poarta Ecaterina (Ecaterina Gate) of 1540, and Strada Sforii (The Rope Street), the most narrow street in Europe – and these are only a few of the attractions of this town which is always full of life. We continue our journey and reach Rasnov Fortress.  The biggest peasant fortress of the south and south-eastern part of Transylvania, built in the 13th century helped protect the inhabitants of Tara Barsei for centuries. Bran Castle can consider itself as the home of Dracula in so far as Vlad Tepes, the original Romanian Prince who inspired the legend, once lived there. Bram Stoker, the author of the book, was also inspired by this castle and the Transylvanian lands and villages surrounding it.  The first document regarding Bran Castle is a paper issued on November 19, 1377 by Ludwig I d’Anjou, by which Braşov inhabitants received the privilege of building the Fortress “at their own work and expense”. Between 1920-1927 Bran Castle was restored under the leadership of Carol Liman, the Architect of the Royal Court, who transformed it in a beautiful summer residence surrounded by a park with promenade alleys, lake, fountains, arbors, and a tea house. In 1938 Queen Maria bequeathed Bran Castle with all its domains, to her daughter, Princess Ileana, who owned it until 1948.  Dracula’s Legend The famous legend of Dracula is largely due to the book written by Bram Stoker which has since inspired countless films and stage productions. Stoker himself relied for inspiration on the historical image of the Romanian prince Vlad Tepes who ruled between 1456 and 1462. The cruelty of his punishment for the lack of loyalty and honesty coincides with his name. In Romanian it means “the devil”. In 1431 the Saint Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg granted Dracula’s father, Vlad II, the Dragon order, a chivalrous order for fights against the Turks. The emblem of the order was a dragon, symbol of the devil. This reality mentioned by history has been the legend’s starting point. The transfer was facilitated by the need of fiction, mysticism, exotic spirit of the time, made concrete in the literary works of the European culture. The legend and the true story of Dracula meet and are kept alive by other Romanian tourist destinations; Snagov Monastery close to Bucharest or Bran Castle, close to Brasov. Sinaia is situated at an altitude which varies from 798 to 971 meters, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Sinaia. Sinaia is situated at an altitude that varies from 798 to 971 meters, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Sinaia has documented connections to the construction of the famous monastery in 1695, around which the first settlements appeared. The rapid construction of the place is connected to the development, in the south Carpathian area, of the extractive and oil processing industries, and to the opening of the road at the end of the 18th century, then the construction of the railway (1879) and of Peles Castle. Sinaia was declared a town in 1880, thus being one of the oldest urban mountain settlements in the country. Peles Palace – is one of the best-preserved royal palaces in Europe. The Palace is full of ornaments inside as well as outside, and features elaborate wood sculptures and paintings representing scenes from the works of Wagner.  Pelisor is situated right next door to Peles Palace and was the summer residence of Ferdinand, the second king of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Even though it is not as big as Peles Palace, Pelisor offers more comfort. Sinaia Monastery After seeing these precious and unique places we shall stop in Azuga, where Medieval Tours invites you to taste foaming wines and have welcome lunch in a special place – the Halewood Wine Cellars. Foaming wine has been produced in Azuga since 1892, when a German merchant set up the Rhein & Cie company. The merchant had chosen this particular place due to the climacteric conditions as well as to the fact that it was close to the vineyards and that the wine could be easily transported to any other part of the country. The foaming wines ferment by a special process of sitting on racks deep inside the old Rhein wine cellers which still exist today as they did when the company was set up. Accommodation in Sinaia in the beautiful” Bastion Hotel 3 *” , situated in the parc of the Peles Castle . Day 10 Departure to the Bucharest airport .  PRICE: 2,750 EURO The price includes:  Guide-driver’s accommodation and meals included
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Maramures - Living Museum The Eternity of the Apuseni Mountains Romanian Traditions and Saxon Heritage Rarity and Beauty - The Painted Monasteries of BUCOVINA With special thanks to my friend, Victoria Zamorano an exceptional photographer from the USA, for all the wonderful photographs that she contributed to this site.
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