Palaces and fortresses of Romania

PALACES AND FORTRESSES OF ROMANIA

Day 1: BucharestTransfer to hotel in BucharestD Accommodation at Hotel**** in Bucharest. 

Day 2: Palaces of Bucharest
In the morning sight seeing tour. Start with a visit to the Royal Palace with its National Art Galleries hosting a representative collection of religious art, national artists, painters and sculptures like: Contantin Brancusi and Nicolae Grigorescu;  continue with “The Parliament Palace” – second largest building in the world, built during the communist leader Ceausescu. Drive to Sibiu through Olt Valley and visit Cozia Monastery.
D Accommodation at Hotel*** in Sibiu
 
Day 3: Medieval cities and fortified churches
This morning you’ll tour the beautiful city of Sibiu including the Main Square, the Small Square, the Catholic Cathedral, the Liars Bridge, the Orthodox Cathedral. Visit Brukenthal Palace, which hosts the largest fine art collection in Romania. Drive then 150 km to West – Transylvania to visit Corvin Castle, built in the 14th century, on the place of an old fortification. Cross Alba Iulia, an ancient Transylvanian town, a Dacian settlement called Apullum to see the Catholic Cathedral with the tomb of Iancu de Hunedoara, King of Hungary, hero of Christianity in the 15th century. Short visit of the citadel including the Citadel Gate, The Romano-Catholic Cathedral and the Union Museum. Dinner and overnight at Hotel*** in Cluj. 

Day 4: Cluj
The city of Cluj-Napoca is the cultural and historical capital of the region, and the site of the Babes-Bolyai University. The highlights of our visit here are Banffy Palace and St. Michael Cathedral. The Banffy Palace is a late Baroque palace also home to the Cluj Art Museum has some Roccoco Viennese elements and was build between 1774-1785. Drive then to Targu Mures where we will start our visit with the Palace of Culture built between 1911 - 1913 with rich ornamentation, as blue-white-rosy porcelain roof cover, monumental mosaic, carved porticoes and frescoes. Sightseeing continues with the Country Hall, Apollo Palace; Drive to Sighisoara where we will overnight in a 500 years old house.
Dinner and overnight in the medieval Citadel “Wagner House” Hotel.

Day 5: Sighisoara - > Brasov
We will start with a walk through the medieval houses of the Sighisoara Citadel build by the Saxons in the 12th Century. The citadel rises above the town and is preserved as a museum. Sightseeing tour of Sighisoara including the Clock Tower, Army museum, Catholic Church and Wooden Staircase.After lunch in the house were Dracula was born we will drive to Biertan (UNESCO site), a small German village dating from 1283 and visit the fortified church surrounded by three lines of defense walls and towers.
Dinner at Outlaws Hut in Poiana Brasov.Overnight in Hotel / Vila***. 

Day 6: Dracula’s Castle
This morning we will start with a sightseeing of Brasov including Black Church, Old Town and St. Nicolas church. The name of the Black Church comes from its black walls at the time after the “Great Fire” 1689, when a large part of the Brasov city was on flames. We continue with St. Nicolas Church with the first Romanian school back in 1495, The Old City hall and Ecaterina’s Gate. Drive then to Rasnov Fortress, a medieval beautifully restored fortress. Drive to Bran Castle a dark and gloomy edifice towering over a bed of stone – a gruesome though beautifully preserved fortress. South of Bran is the resort town of Sinaia where a quick stop at the monastery will prepare you for a visit to the spectacular Peles Castle. This exquisitely detailed landmark, set amidst sculpture gardens and fountains was the summer residence of Romanian Royal family. Short visit to the Sinaia Monastery.
Dinner and overnight at Hotel**** in Bucharest. 

Day 7: Bucharest
Transfer to Otopeni Airport.  
Price per person (2 – 5 persons):
888 EURO
Price Includes:
• 6 nights accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels with breakfast
• Guide’s expenses
• Transportation with modern air conditioned cars
• Professional English speaking guide
• Entrance fees included to all mentioned sites
• VAT and local tax (where applicable).
Price excludes:
• Drinks and meals (except for breakfast)
• Mini-bar consumption