TRANSYLVANIA
Many people in the West are unsure whether Transylvania actually existsor not, and some of the scenery can seem almost unreal. Embraced by theCarpathian Mountains and breathtakingly beautiful, Transylvania is anenchanting and exciting destination - a treasure trove of medievaltowns, imposing castles and fortified churches. Its multilayeredculture and unspoiled landscape offer stimulus to the mind and senses.
MARAMURES
The last peasant culture in Europe is thriving here, with hand-builtancient wooden churches, traditional music, colorful costumes andancient festivals. A land of traditions, customs and superstitionsunchanged for hundred of years, where tiny villages, sit among rollinghills and dreamy landscapes. Discovering this part of the world is atime-travel adventure.
MOLDAVIA
With its thickly-wooded hills and tranquil valleys, Moldavia rivalsmighty Transylvania when it comes to rich folklore, natural beauty andturbulent history, and even rivals mystical Maramures as a bucolicparadise of remote villages. The region is famous for its fantasticmedieval painted monasteries, which rank among Romania's greatest giftto world culture.
BANAT & CRISANA
The regions of Banat and Crisana reveal an unmistakableAustro-Hungarian influence, with large elegant cities, a thrivingcultural scene and a rich architectural legacy. Some of the country'sbest-kept secrets are here: the beautiful Apuseni Mountains, deepcaves, gorges, waterfalls and thermal waters alongside exquisitepalaces and cathedrals.
WALLACHIA
Wallachia lacks the dramatic scenery of the areas further north, but itis not without interest. Bucharest, Romania's booming capital lies inits heart. The spectacular Transfagarasan road - said to be one of thehighest roads in Europe - cuts dramatically across the CarpathianMountains, passing Romania's real "Dracula's Castle". Peles Castle, oneof the country's most fabulous, Sinaia mountain resort, the magnificentmonasteries of Cozia and Horezu, lure visitors to this region.
DOBROGEA
Most visitors head either for the sun and sand of the Black Sea resortsor choose to lose themselves in the Danube Delta. One of the world'sgreat wildernesses, the wealth of animal and plant life amazes andastounds visitors. The area has a fantastic, tangled web ofever-eroding canals, riverbeds and wetlands, remote fishing villagesand stretches of deserted beach.
About Romania
"... why should you go to Romania? The straight answer is because it is one of the most beautiful countries of Southeast Europe."
(The Blue Guide)
"Romania rewards exploration. As a visitor you are spoiled for choice, with an abundance of glorious scenery, an extraordinary array of architecture, folk festivals, romantic castles, lively resorts and intriguing cities competing for your attention."
(Insight Guides)
"...a land full of exceptional natural beauty, a showcase of architecture through the ages and home to unparalleled ethnic, cultural and religious diversity."
(Kelet-Nyugat)
"No journey to Eastern Europe would be complete without paying a visit to Romania... The country's fantastic mountain scenery and great diversity of wildlife, its culture and people, and a way of life that at times seems little changed since the Middle Ages, leave few who visit unaffected."
(The Rough Guide)
"Few regions offer a more dazzling display of cultural and artistic treasures than Romania."
(Smithsonian Journeys)
"Romania is among the last bastions of Europe's traditional heart and soul...Isolated villages nestled in lush valleys carry out traditions long relegated to tourist attractions just a few hundred kilometers west."
(Lonely Planet)
"Romania boasts some of the finest landscapes in east-central and southeastern Europe...Most striking of all are the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta, Europe's most extensive wetland."
(National Geographic Traveler)