Cultural sightseeing in Romania. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

The unique and diverse architecture of the country is largely due to its rich history. The mixture of Greek, Saxon, East European and even Scandinavian traditions formed a diverse and authentic architecture of the cities of Romania.

The country’s famous landmark is the Dracula’s Castle, built in the 14th century with the money of locals. The original architecture of the building resembles a labyrinth with narrow corridors designed to protect a small city. Unfortunately, the legend about Count Vlad Tepes is a little exaggerated, since most researchers believe that the famous Count visited the Castle only a couple of times, and he was just passing through. However, the modern restored Castle will please tourists with its high-quality “vampire” attributes. Those who wish can even lie down in the numerous coffins showcased in the cafes and restaurants of the city. The Castle is open daily for visits from May to September, from about 9 am to 6 pm. The cost of an adult ticket is 25 Romanian Lei. You have to pay an additional 20 Romanian Lei for a photo with a flash. You can get to Bran from the big city of Brasov by bus or taxi.

The Cantacuzino Palace built in Bucharest in the year 1903, combines both features of rococo air and original art nouveau. Tall oblong windows and openwork forged balconies in combination with a powerful foundation and stucco make Cantacuzino a real gem for Bucharest. To date, the Palace has a permanent exposition that showcases original interior items, paintings, and antique furniture. In addition, there is a concert hall in the museum and you can listen to live music in the garden during summer. Visitors are welcome from Tuesdays to Sundays; between the hours of 10 am to 5 pm. Entrance tickets for adults cost 6 Romanian Lei. On the 26th of every month, the museum provides free entrance. You can easily access the building by buses Number 300 and 381. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A Romanian example of Gothic style is Corvin Castle also called “Corvinesti”, or “Hunyadi Castle”. Classic high towers and lancet windows located on the mountain fortress will please fans of the “flaming” Gothic. The ancestral nest of the Romanian princes Hunyadi is full of legends and entertaining stories for tourists. For example, there is a 30-meter well in the Castle’s courtyard which according to legend was dug by prisoners of war in exchange for their freedom. When the work was completed, the Romanian princes did not release the prisoners, and in honor of these events the inscription “You already have a well, but do not have hearts” flaunts the well. The favorite exhibit for tourists is an authentic torture chamber with wax figures of martyrs and detailed instructions for the use of guns. The Castle is open for tourists from Tuesdays to Sundays, from the hours of 9 am to 6 pm. Entrance fee costs 20 Romanian Lei. The same amount must be paid for taking photos. Getting to the Castle is easiest on the Bucharest-Budapest train, leaving at the Simeria station, followed by a direct bus to Huneadora.

To appreciate the diverse culture of Romania, it is worth visiting the Peles Castle, which absorbed the features of several architectural styles. Named after the nearby river, Peles was laid in 1873 and was built by different rulers for 10 years. Each of them tried to bring something of his own, so the Castle will delight tourists with knightly attributes and a huge library, 30 bathrooms and a lot of halls in different architectural styles, among them Florentine, Moorish and Turkish. The entrance to the Castle costs 20 Romanian Lei. Excursions are held from Tuesdays to Sundays, between 10 am and 4 pm. You can get to the Castle from Bucharest by train or from Brasov by bus to Sinai station.