Sinaia – Brașov

As you may already know, Romania hasn’t always been like you see it today. Through its long history our land has been conquered and freed several times, it was part of the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Austrian Empire and even the Russian Empire. Being that our land was in the middle of three gigantic empires of all time (Russian Empire in the north-east, Austro – Hungarian Empire to the west and Ottoman Empire in the south) they all wanted a piece of it.

I won’t bore you with all the historical facts so I will just make a short introduction of the part of Romania that you are visiting.

Bucharest is in the part of Romania known as Wallachia and which is historically mentioned starting with the 12th century but gained independence only in 1330. Although it maintained its independence until 1862 when Wallachia united with Moldavia forming the state of modern Romania, in time it was tributary to the Ottoman Empire.

Going north you will cross the border and enter Transylvania which I’m sure you have heard of.

Transylvania is as old as it gets, the Celts established themselves here in the 4th century BC and at the time of their arrival the land was already populated with small villages of dacians which will later form the Dacian Empire.

Transylvania was united with Romania at the end of the First World War in 1918 together with what is today the Republic of Moldova and the north - eastern part of Bulgaria (also known as Southern Dobruja or Quadrilateral). This was Romania’s peak of existence covering the most land in its history.

The name Transylvania translates as “The land beyond the forest”, the boundary between Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia being none other than the Carpathian Mountains.

A brief introduction to the Romanian language

As you may have seen, the Romanian language has a few letters that English doesn’t. You may encounter them on your journey so a little guide may be useful. You may know them already but just in case you don’t, here they are:

ă -» is pronounced just like the end sound in “the”. Try pronouncing “the” without the “th” or

say the “th” in your mind and the “e” out loud;

â or î -» is actually more tricky but we’ll give it a try. It’s kind of similar to the beginning of

„humingbird”. When you say it try making the “h” as long as you can (hhhhhhumingbird). That sound is how we actually say “h” in Romanian. Now start the same long “h” in “hummingbird”

but this time don’t finish the word, stop at “umingbird”. The end of the “h” sound is your î (â).

ș -» this one is easy. It is the same as the “sh” in English. Say “shadow” without “adow”, or

“sshhht” without the “t”, or “shit” without the “it”, or… you get it.

ț -» similar to the “ș” the „ț” is like the „tz” (or „ts”) in „tzar” („tsar”). Say it without the “ar”.

You won’t need a lot of Romanian words but knowing how you pronounce those letters can be useful in pronouncing names of cities or streets.

ă î or â ș ț the hhhhumingbird shadow tsar (tzar)

Trains in Romania

The Romanian railway system has 3 types of train, each different in price, time and comfort.

1) Regio – noted with an “R”, it is the cheapest one but also the slowest. It stops in absolutely every station and is usually used by commuters;

2) InteRegio – noted with “IR”, is the best one. A large number of trains, decent prices, very good travel conditions. Stops in important towns and cities.

3) Intercity – noted with “IC”. Stops only in very big cities. Expensive and not a very big difference in time.

The geoagraphy of Romania

As you can see on the map above, Romania is practically cut in half by the Carpathians. The Carpathians are a massive structure with different types of rock, due to the different processes that formed them, and a great amount of natural resources (from wood to coal, gold and radioactive minerals). But what makes them special are the unique ecosystems that are preserved like they were for thousands of years. With endemic plants and animals and a big population of brown bears they really are one of the last untouched mountains in Europe.

While Bucharest is situated in the middle of the plains, Sibiu, Sighisoara and especially Brasov are high between the mountain peaks. You’ll find Brasov right at the bottom of a big system of mountains and hills at the beginning of a big depression (basin). Sibiu and Sighisoara are lower in a system of high hills between the branches of the Carpathians.

Going from Bucharest to Brasov you’re going to cut through the mountains in one of the most famous and most visited place from Romania, the Prahova Valley. Going by train (or by car) through it you will have 2000 meter high mountains around you with very steep slopes. There are a lot of towns on the valley, touristic resorts with ski slopes, castles and other attractions.

SINAIA (PRAHOVA VALLEY)

Sinaia is the most important town on the valley. Located almost in central of the valley drained by the Prahova river it is one of the first settlements in this part of the mountains. Long ago before when Transylvania and Wallachia were different countries the valley was inaccessible due to the steep slope and thick forests. But in time people started to make way and step by step a road was built and after that the railway.

I know Sinaia is not in your plans of visiting but I recommend it and I’m sure that at the end you will agree with me.

Speaking of the railway, the Bucharest – Predeal (last station before Brasov) route was rebuild last year and is one of the best in country. Together with the incredible view even the trip to Brasov is an experience in itself.

Sinaia, like the rest of the towns on the valley is a touristic resort known especially for the ski slopes and winter sports that people come for during the winter.

But Sinaia has something special:

Beautiful isn’t it?

Sinaia was chosen as the summer residence of the Royal Family of Romania and Peleș Castle was their home.

Built between 1873 and 1914 at the order of the first king of Romania, King Carol (Karl) it is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Several german and austrian architects and decorators built the castle which at that time was unique in Europe. It was the single castle in Europe that was powered by locally produced electricity having built its own power plant.

The total investment that was put in the building would be worth 120 million US$ in today’s money.

The castle (which is actually a palace but still it’s called a castle) has 170 rooms most of them with dedicated themes from world cultures, 30 bathrooms, a collection of 4,000 pieces of arms and armors, oriental rugs from different sources (Bukhara, Mosul, Isparta, Saruk and Smirna), porcelain from Sevres and Meissen, Swiss hand painted glass vitralios and a collection of 2,000 pieces of paintings.

In more recent times, many foreign dignitaries such as Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Muammar al-Gaddafi, and Yasser Arafat were welcomed at the castle.

Besides the main castle there are also other buildings forming the Peleș Complex. Visiting differs on the scale of the tour. Usually you choose to visit only the castle or a linked tour with other buildings but being the beginning of winter they have a fixed schedule.

Visits are done within guided tour. One of the tours is limited to the ground floor, another adds the first floor and the complete tour includes the second floor. Admission is charged, and there is an additional photography fee.

Visiting hours Peleș Castle and Pelișor Castle:

Wednesday: 11:00 – 17:00

Thursday to Sunday: 9:00- 17:00

Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Prices:

Peleș Castle - General Exhibit

Adults – 20 RON Seniors – 10 RON Students – 5 RON Euro < 26 Card – 5 RON

The last group for the general exhibit enters at 16:15.

Peleș Castle - Optional Tour I

Adults – 50 RON Seniors – 25 RON Students – 12.5 RON Euro < 26 Card – 12.5 RON

The last group for the optional tour I enters at 15:45.

Peleș Castle - Optional Tour II

Adults – 70 RON Seniors – 35 RON Students – 17.5 RON Euro < 26 Card – 17.5 RON

The last group for the optional tour II enters at 15:15.

Pelișor Castle - General Tour

Adults – 20 RON Seniors – 10 RON Students – 5 RON Euro < 26 Card – 5 RON

The last group for the general exhibit enters at 16:15.

BUȘTENI

At only 5 minutes (by train) from Sinaia comes the town of Busteni. Here you also have a beautiful castle (Cantacuzino Castle) and a nice monastery. But you’ll have problems paying attention to them when right in front of you there’s this:

The Bucegi Mountains are one of the most spectacular mountain structures in Romania. Like a medieval citadel the mountain climbs abruptly up to 2,505 meters with the town beautifully placed at its roots.

On top of the Caraiman peak (2,291 meters) there is a metal cross which was built in 1928 for the heroes that died in the First World War. It was built at the initiative of Marie of Edinburgh and King Ferdinand of Romania in order to be seen from a large distance as possible.

It has a height of 28 meters, and the two arms have 7 meters each. Initially at the bottom of the cross in a concrete room there was a electric generator that lit the

cross at night. Today power lines go up the mountain.

The best way to explore the mountain is by going hiking on it. But because the weather will be very bad and on the mountain is even colder you should not risk it. People died and die because of inappropriate clothing. There are also brown bears in the area and now they are preparing for hibernation so they are even more dangerous. There is cable transportation but it doesn’t work in bad weather.

The best way right now is to admire it from the train. Coming from Bucharest (Sinaia) and going to Brasov, look on the left side and you will see the mountain in its grandeur.

This are the romanian mountains. Wild, pristine, magical but dangeros.

BRASOV

Welcome to my hometown.

Brasov is a much smaller city than Bucharest but it still has plenty of attractions.

The city started out as a medieval fortress with high walls and towers, a square in the center where people would exchange goods and a big gothic style church. Historical sources date the beginning of the city somewhere around the years 1200 - 1230.

The main attraction is the city center which still preserves the old square, the church and parts of the walls and a few towers. The traditional saxon houses are very common in Transylvania almost 90% of the houses in villages being built in that style.

In its history the city has been hit with a lot of disasters (natural – earthquakes, storms; human – invasions, fires, plagues) but important parts of the medieval fortress have survived.

Besides the historical buildings the city center has a large number of pubs and restaurants each with its own theme and special atmosphere. All of them are on the streets that go to the center, one of them especially, being a pedestrian street called Republicii (The Republic) which offers a very beautiful view.

Brasov is known in the country as a mountain city. When someone sais Brasov you automatically think about mountains. Although they are not as spectacular as those on the Prahova Valley, they still offer a beautiful view.

On a beautiful day, the city center is the perfect place to relax with o coffee or a beer.

Sitting on a bench and admiring the buildings, the pigeons and the people.

But it has one other thing that makes it special. As I said Brasov is a mountain city and one special mountain (actually it’s more of a hill) gives the city his identity.

Tâmpa mountain is located exactly in the middle of the city, watching over it and protecting it.

Nothing sais Brasov more than this mountain.

Beside its beauty the mountain has a historical value also. In the past it had a fortress on it, a famous Hungarian column and it has always protected the city from invasions.

The beauty of this one is that you can go on the top of it. Very near the city center (also known as Sfatului square) you can take a cable transportation and in a few minutes you are at the big antenna on the top. There you have a very cheap restaurant with very good food and the view... well, you’ll see. From there you can walk to the hoollywood style sign that sais Brasov.

Also one of the things that Brasov is famous for is the church from the city center. That old church that I was telling you about when the city was a medieval fortress has survived. Today it is known as the Black Church because of a big fire in 1689 that turn the walls black.

Piata Sfatului (Sfatului square) is the name of the city center and all that I have told you until now you will find them there. From there you can go and visit the ancient walls, towers, entrances (Schei gate is one of the most beautiful in town) and another special thing: Sforii Street (Rope street) one of the narrowest streets in Europe.

The city also has beautiful parks, museums, operas and cinemas.

To get to the city center you should take buss number 4 from the train station until you get to the end of the line at Livada Poștei. From there you can walk easily to every attraction I have told you about.

Also I strongly recommend you try a sandwich at Ando’s. Personally I have never tasted a more delicious sandwich then there and I have tried a lot.