Transylvania is a region of central Romania known for its unique beauty, its landscapes and of course the Dracula’s castle!
To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains and to the west the Apuseni Mountains. Transylvania is known for its Carpathian landscapes and its history, combined with its multicultural character.
I visited one of the most famous cities in Transylvania, the city of Brasov, organizing an one-day trip from Bucharest. At the same time, I visited Bran Castle and Peleș Castle.
If you want to do something similar, I recommend staying at least one day to get to know the place at your leisure. Also the route was quite tiring, so staying one night will make the trip more enjoyable.
Brasov
The city of Brasov is 2.5 hours away from Bucharest by train. It was founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights and experienced further development by the Saxons.
Once you arrive you will stroll through Piața Sfatului square. From the magnificent Piaţa Sfatului square you can see the Tâmpa Forest and the imposing “Brasov” with its huge white letters as if you were in Hollywood.
Explore the cobbled streets, the small souvenir shops and taste local delicacies from traditional bakeries.
Today, historical sites and monuments, mainly from the Middle Ages, adorn the beautiful town. Most notably, Old Town, the Black Church, Tampa Mountain and St. Nicholas Church are just a few of the dozens of reasons to visit the city.
The Black Church got its name because of our fire in 1968. It is the largest Gothic church in Romania.
Among the most important sights of the city are the Catherine Gate, the last gate of the city still preserved from the Middle Ages and the Greek Orthodox Church.
If you want to eat something I highly recommend you try pizza from a small shop called Un Trancio e Via.
There I tried some of the nicest pizza I have ever had. The slices were very large and the prices were in the 10-15 lei per slice, about 2-2,50€.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle – or Dracula’s castle – is perhaps the most famous place in Transylvania and its gothic architecture captivates you from the first minute.
Located in the village of Bran, it was built in the 13th century and is now a national monument of Romania.
Bram Stoker’s so-called Dracula is a fictional character inspired by the personality of Vlad III Chepes, who is said to have lived in Bran Castle. Vlad was a native of nearby Sigisoara and a frequent observer of battles between Muslims and Christians. Once the Ottomans captured his family and after killing his children, they released him.
From then on, all the bloody events began, which is why Romania was never conquered by the Ottomans. Vlad from then on fought the Turks constantly with the tactic they themselves used, the “stake”, and more.
He terrified them by placing the dying bodies of soldiers on an entire hill, and so the enemy retreated in terror and never conquered Romania.
Entrance costs 50 lei (about 10 euros).
You can see more about the castle here.
Peleș Castle
One of the most famous places in Romania is Sinaia, an alpine town in the Prahova Valley that is known in the country for its thermal waters, whose salts are valued for various treatments.
There you will find Peleș Castle, perhaps the most beautiful castle in Romania. It is a palace of neo-Renaissance architecture with Saxon touches.
This former residence of the royal family, now turned into a museum, is one of the most popular places in the country after Bran Castle; it was one of the first castles on the continent to have central heating, electricity, a lift, sewerage and a telephone.
In the late 1940s, the ownership of Peles Castle passed into the hands of the communist regime and was turned into a museum in the 1950s. Its doors remained closed between 1975 and 1990.
After a long dispute, in 2007, the heirs of the Romanian monarchy discovered Peles Castle and leased it back to the state to continue operating it as a national museum.
The main tour takes place on the ground floor and is the most impressive as it includes all the large rooms of the castle, except for the private rooms.
Admission prices for adults start at 50 Lei. You can see more about tickets here.
If you want to see more about my trip in Transylvania check my profile on Instagram.
