romania travel

Calea Victoriei, under its old name "Podul Mogosoaia" was laid down in the 17Th century in order to link the Princely Residence in Bucharest to the summer residence of Prince Constantin Brancoveanu at Mogosoaia.
It developed, as known today, in the 19Th century, when it became "the Princely Road".
Cantacuzino Palace belonged to a famous princely family who came in Wallachia from Greece in the 17Th century.
The widow of G.G. Cantacuzino, former prime-minister and leader of the Conservative Party, married the greatest Romanian musician, George Enescu, against her family wish and nowadays the Palace became the Music Museum.
The present "Museum of Art Collections" is in the former Romanit Palace. Along Stirbei Street we arrive at Cotroceni Palace, a princely residence on Cotroceni Hill. The edifice had become later a second royal residence. After ample renovations following the earthquake that damaged it in 1977, Ceausescu made of it an official 'guest house'.
In 1991 the Cotroceni Palace became the residence of the president of Romania. A necklace of lakes surrounds Bucharest and almost near all of them there is a monastery or a castle.
Same as Brancoveanu's Castle build by the Lake Mogosoaia. The founder of Mogosoaia Castle, Prince Constantin Brancoveanu, was a great art lover and imposed in the Romanian architecture the style called Brancoveanu.

• Our guide will meet you in the lobby of the hotel or at your Bucharest residence
• Drive through the main boulevards; Outside glimpse of: Elisabeta Palace, Victoria Palace, Cantacuzino Palace, Romanit Palace, the Royal Palace, the Romanian Athenaeum, the Saving Bank Palace, the Palace of the Parliament
• Museums included: National History Museum, Village Museum, Cotroceni Palace, the Palace of the Parliament and Mogosoaia Palace.

At the end of the 19-th century, another prince, future king of Romania, Carol I, enchanted by the beauty of the surroundings built in Sinaia the Peles Castle, his summer residence. The castle is one of the nicest in Europe.
Built between 1875-1883, mainly in German Renaissance style, the castle has 106 rooms, decorated with fine ornaments of inlaid wood, Murano and Venetian chandeliers and mirrors, a rich collection of arms and weapon, more than 800 stained glass windows and an original heating and cleaning system. In the park surrounding the big castle, there are the Castle Foisor, the Hunting Castle and Queen Maria favourite castle Pelisor.

We will visit the city of Brasov, one of the seventh Saxon citadels of Transylvania, Kronestadt the largest town of Transylvania, in the Middle Age.
Driving through the main roads, you will discover its beauty and picturesque: the combination between new and old, blacken stone buildings and red bricks chimneys above the coloured tile roofs. Old fortification ruins of the former burg, the narrow and tortuous streets, the old baroque houses with their bulky arched gates, still, keeps in the downtown the mediaeval patina.
The Black Church (14th - 15th centuries), the largest construction in Gothic style from Romania, has very important collection of Turkish carpets and one of the largest organ in Europe.
In the afternoon, we arrive at Bran, where the waters hollowed their way in the rock stands Bran Castle, where Vlad the Impaler, Dracula spent some frightful times, on his way to Transylvania. Originally built by master masons of Brasov as a fortress, according to the privilege granted to the town on November 19th, 1377, by Louis I d'Anjou, who was ruling of Transylvania at that time. In 1920, the fortress was donated to the royal family and became its summer residence.
Arranged by Queen Maria into a most romantic castles: the old garret became the fourth floor, the old cylindrical tower with defence gallery became an apartment, Gothic stone arches framed the entrance doors, stairs and boarded floors were rebuilt.

• Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Departure from your hotel
• Drive through Prahova Valley to Sinaia, Bran and Brasov
• In Sinaia, visit of Peles Castle
• Sightseeing tour of Brasov including the Black Church and St. Nicolas Church and have lunch
• Arrival at Bran, visit of Bran Castle
• Evening arrival in Bucharest.

NOTE: departures 15 April - 25 October, excepting Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays

Thursdays:
Arrive in Bucharest at Henri Coanda or Baneasa airport.
You will be met and transferred to your hotel choice by our guide who will assist you with the check-in formalities.
Welcome dinner at local restaurant in Bucharest (transfers included) and overnight.

Fridays:
Breakfast.
Half a day tour of Bucharest including visits to Village Museum and Parliament's Palace.
Free evening in Bucharest to explore the city on your own or to relax.
Overnight.

Saturdays:
Breakfast and a free day in Bucharest for exploration on your own.
You may opt for the above full day tour "Medieval and Modern Romania on Prahova Valley".
Accommodation in Bucharest, same hotel.

Sundays:
Breakfast and transfer to Henri Coanda or Baneasa airport.