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The program follows some fertile lands in Wallachia, the magnificent Carpathian Mountains, and the beautiful Transylvania, where the myth is still alive today, shaping the local folklore and giving birth to fantastic creatures, magic legends, and a fascinating tradition of storytelling.
We shall visit places where the real Dracula have lived, as well as places where the vampire have passed by...
Highlights: The royal court of Targoviste and Bran castle
Târgoviște, although officially mention first in 1400, became later the capital city of Wallachia in the 15-18th centuries, an important economic, political, military and cultural city of those times. The Princely Court of Târgoviște consist in a set of buildings and fortifications, center of the country’s administration and home for the Wallachian rulers. For almost 7 years it was the official residence of Dracula.
The road follows then an old commercial route that used to connect Wallachia to Transylvania, across the mountains. Right before getting to Transylvania, protecting somehow the access to the region we reach Bran castle. According to the book, the fictional count’s castle was located high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below in the Principality of Transylvania: “on the very edge of a terrific precipice, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests.” The construction was erected in 1376 to serve as custom point at the border between Transylvania to Wallachia as well as for defensing purposes. Fall almost into ruins after 1700’s it rose to fame again after 1920 when it was donated to the Royal Family of Romania, becoming the summer residence of Queen Mary.
Today is about this old medieval citadel, first documented in 1235, the most important commercial center from all the seven Saxon Cities of Transylvania (Siebenbuergen). We discover the Saxon legacy, built mostly in stone, from the amazing Black Church (the largest Gothic structure from Central Europe), to the towers and walls, part of the defensive system.
Dracula have visited Brasov, not as tourist, but as invader… the conflict is notable for the brutality that Tepes displayed towards Saxon as response to the refuse of paying taxes to him, despite repeated warnings. Many merchants and local nobles have died by being impaled, Dracula’s favorite method of punishment. Stories about his cruelty has begun, spreading the word in the whole Europe.
Afternoon walking the cobblestone paths from the old center, admiring the blend of different architectural styles, a testimony of the medieval long history of Brasov.
Back in the mountains, driving to Bucharest.
A beautiful architectural gem, Peles castle, the former Royal summer residence is a must while traveling in Romania. It was built starting to 1875 until 1914 in a tranquil and quiet forested environment, outside of Sinaia town, which soon later became a famous destination for the aristocrats of Romania. The New-Renascence German style (“Fachwerk”) building, the 160 rooms with variate decorations (Moorish, Turkish, Art Nouveau, Classic, and more) and the exterior Italian Renascence gardens attract by grandeur and richness of details.
The road leaves the mountains behind; close to Bucharest we get to Snagov Monastery, the presuming host of Dracula’s grave. This monastery-fortress on a small island in the middle of Snagov Lake, about 30 kilometers north of Bucharest. The mystery surrounding its origins are still active. Some historians say it built by Vlad the Impaler in 1461, others pointed an earlier date at the beginning of the century. A defensive wall, a prison (some say a torture chamber), and an underwater tunnel were added sometime in the 15th century.
The moment of Dracula’s death is cloaked in mystery. Died in a battle or assassinated by the political enemies, he was beheaded and bury in an unknown grave, the head being sent to Istanbul. Five hundred years later, a headless body (or just animal bones – upon other theories) was found during excavation work in the 1970s, inside of the Monastery church. His grave? We don’t know…
Returning to Bucharest in the evening. End of tour.
The program follows some fertile lands in Wallachia, the magnificent Carpathian Mountains, and the beautiful Transylvania, where the myth is still alive today, shaping the local folklore and giving birth to fantastic creatures, magic legends, and a fascinating tradition of storytelling.
We shall visit places where the real Dracula have lived, as well as places where the vampire have passed by...
Highlights: The royal court of Targoviste and Bran castle
Târgoviște, although officially mention first in 1400, became later the capital city of Wallachia in the 15-18th centuries, an important economic, political, military and cultural city of those times. The Princely Court of Târgoviște consist in a set of buildings and fortifications, center of the country’s administration and home for the Wallachian rulers. For almost 7 years it was the official residence of Dracula.
The road follows then an old commercial route that used to connect Wallachia to Transylvania, across the mountains. Right before getting to Transylvania, protecting somehow the access to the region we reach Bran castle. According to the book, the fictional count’s castle was located high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below in the Principality of Transylvania: “on the very edge of a terrific precipice, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests.” The construction was erected in 1376 to serve as custom point at the border between Transylvania to Wallachia as well as for defensing purposes. Fall almost into ruins after 1700’s it rose to fame again after 1920 when it was donated to the Royal Family of Romania, becoming the summer residence of Queen Mary.
Today is about this old medieval citadel, first documented in 1235, the most important commercial center from all the seven Saxon Cities of Transylvania (Siebenbuergen). We discover the Saxon legacy, built mostly in stone, from the amazing Black Church (the largest Gothic structure from Central Europe), to the towers and walls, part of the defensive system.
Dracula have visited Brasov, not as tourist, but as invader… the conflict is notable for the brutality that Tepes displayed towards Saxon as response to the refuse of paying taxes to him, despite repeated warnings. Many merchants and local nobles have died by being impaled, Dracula’s favorite method of punishment. Stories about his cruelty has begun, spreading the word in the whole Europe.
Afternoon walking the cobblestone paths from the old center, admiring the blend of different architectural styles, a testimony of the medieval long history of Brasov.
Back in the mountains, driving to Bucharest.
A beautiful architectural gem, Peles castle, the former Royal summer residence is a must while traveling in Romania. It was built starting to 1875 until 1914 in a tranquil and quiet forested environment, outside of Sinaia town, which soon later became a famous destination for the aristocrats of Romania. The New-Renascence German style (“Fachwerk”) building, the 160 rooms with variate decorations (Moorish, Turkish, Art Nouveau, Classic, and more) and the exterior Italian Renascence gardens attract by grandeur and richness of details.
The road leaves the mountains behind; close to Bucharest we get to Snagov Monastery, the presuming host of Dracula’s grave. This monastery-fortress on a small island in the middle of Snagov Lake, about 30 kilometers north of Bucharest. The mystery surrounding its origins are still active. Some historians say it built by Vlad the Impaler in 1461, others pointed an earlier date at the beginning of the century. A defensive wall, a prison (some say a torture chamber), and an underwater tunnel were added sometime in the 15th century.
The moment of Dracula’s death is cloaked in mystery. Died in a battle or assassinated by the political enemies, he was beheaded and bury in an unknown grave, the head being sent to Istanbul. Five hundred years later, a headless body (or just animal bones – upon other theories) was found during excavation work in the 1970s, inside of the Monastery church. His grave? We don’t know…
Returning to Bucharest in the evening. End of tour.
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Private and fully refundable tour.
The tour is fully refundable in case of cancelling up to 30 days before the scheduled trip
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