Last Christmas we were fortunate enough to drive through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Eastern Europe! Traversing over 2000 miles spanning Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia, we witnessed a multitude of cultures, behavior, cuisine, and of course landscapes. We felt like yo-yos as we halted in a different European town every single night, but what a scintillating journey it was! The architecture was grandiose in every city. Every single Christmas market was charming, memorable, and unique! However, the sights most indelibly etched in our minds were beholden while driving through the colorful, though mostly deserted, villages of Romania. This is the country on which we would like to focus.
Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen
When we traveled in December, Romania was still not part of the Schengen area even though it is a part of the European Union. Just after our travels, Romania and Bulgaria were inducted into the Schengen area on 30th December 2023, and will begin applying its Visa rules from 31st March 2024. Therefore we had to drive through the border crossing between Hungary and Romania which was not terrible but you should definitely prepare to be set back by a couple of hours. Eastern Europe typically has a very laid back culture and that applies to border crossings as well!
Mystical Romania
Driving through the snow-laden Romanian countryside, however, made up for it all. Once inside, we observed a mystical element unlike we’d seen in any other Eastern European countries. There were stretches of hundreds of miles with ostensibly nothing of interest to tourists, yet we had to frequently stop and admire the landscape! Some of the Romanian villages seemed like veritable remnants of Soviet-era towns, yet warm and welcoming in an inexplicable way. Besides, every few kilometers the colorful Romanian flags reminded us of where we were.
Corvin Castle and Vlad the Impaler
Our main goal was to visit Transylvania, a vast region in central Romania known for the scenery of its Carpathian landscape, rich history, medieval towns and castles, coupled with its multicultural character, and of course the legend of Count Dracula. As we entered Transylvania, the black mountains instantly evoked an unmistakable presence of dark spirits lingering around us! We came to this trip with the mental picture of Slovakia being the land of beautiful castles, but the castles of Romania shout out grandeur at an even higher level. Corvin Castle is where Vlad the Impaler (the legendary character on which Count Dracula is based) was imprisoned. If we didn’t see the torture chambers inside the Corvin castle, we would honestly have envied him. Entering the castle was like walking into a fairy tale, yet as soon as we set foot inside, eerie vibes took over!
Sighisoara: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Speaking of eerie, we next headed to the spooky yet otherworldly village of Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where Vlad the Impaler himself was “born and raised”. There is something enigmatic, supernatural, and mystical wherever you look. Not hard to imagine this as the birthplace of Dracula!
The views from Sighisoara’s old town, which is entirely built on top of a cliff, are mind-boggling, especially on a wintery morning.
The famous Clock Tower, one of the fourteen towers guarding the town of Sighisoara, looks like something that could have inspired Disney animation movies. Once inside the town walls, the color contrasts of the buildings made us wonder which famous artists hung out with Dracula while he was growing up!
Brasov
Next, we arrived at Brasov, arguably the most beautiful town in all of Transylvania ringed by the Carpathian Mountains. It’s known for its medieval Saxon walls and bastions, the towering Gothic-style Black Church, and lively cafes. Piaţa Sfatului (Council Square) in the center of the cobbled old town surrounded by colorful baroque buildings, without a doubt scores the winning points for this Transylvanian town!
Sibiu: The “city of eyes”
From Brasov, we headed to another delightful Romanian town, Sibiu, which has preserved the legacy of the 12th-century Saxon settlers. Sibiu is known as the “city of eyes”. As you walk around the town you get a sinister feeling that somebody is constantly watching you. Turns out you are not imagining things! The attic windows in every building are constructed in such a way that they resemble eyes staring at you from all possible corners.
Bran Castle
When you are in the “heart” of Dracula country there is no escaping visiting the Bran Castle, otherwise known as Castle Dracula, which supposedly became Bram Stoker’s inspiration for the setting and the locale of the story of Dracula. Truth be told, Stoker had never even been to Romania! He conjured up the story of Dracula right in his abode in Edinburgh!
We found every Transylvanian town unique, but the beautiful town of Timisoara on the border of Transylvania and western Romania, best epitomized its charm and mysticism.
Palatul Parlamentului
Finally, we arrived at the grandest of all Romanian cities, the capital Bucharest. Its iconic landmark is the massive Palatul Parlamentului (Parliament) building, which has 1,100 rooms. It is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon and the heaviest building in the world (after the Pyramids of Giza). It is valued at four billion Euros which makes it the most expensive administrative building in the world as well.
The Parliament building which can be seen from miles away is sheer proof of the megalomania of the erstwhile communist government of Romania. Nearby, the historic Lipscani district is home to an energetic nightlife scene. It is incredible how the immaculate streets surrounded by extravagant baroque buildings from the Middle Ages instantly transform into the most lively nightlife district in all of Europe as soon as evening falls.
In Romania, we also had some amazing food and met some of the most endearing people. As we bid adieu to this charming country, we took away memories that we know will haunt us for a lifetime – memories of the mystical, enigmatic, and in a stark way, incredibly romantic Romania.