Following Dracula’S Steps!

Pick up from your hotel to head for the land of Transylvania. On the way our guide will tell you a bit about the life of Vlad the Impaler, three-time ruler of Wallachia, best-known for the cruel punishments he imposed on his enemies. Because it was also called Vlad “Dracul” (Devil), his figure was associated by many to the famous novel of Bram Stocker – “Dracula”. First stop of the day will be in Targoviste, the capital of Southern Romania in the medieval centuries before Bucharest achieved this status. The princely court was mentioned starting with 1417-1418 in a document of Michael the 1st, the son of Prince Mircea the Old who built here a church in 1415. During this initial stage, the fortress was rather small, surrounded by a wooden defence wall. It’s Vlad Dracul who extended and modernized the court to the standards of a princely residence, fortified against enemy attacks. His son, the famous Vlad the Impaler built around 1460 the Tower of Chindia, restored hundreds of years later to its current look, a 27 meters high tower with three floors connected by a winding staircase, plus an open terrace on the last level. The tower hosts today an exhibition focused on the life and reign of Vlad the Impaler. Continue to Poenari where lies one of the princely residences of Vlad the Impaler. Our guide will be glad to tell you all about the tumultuous life of the ruler of Wallachia but only after you prove your determination by climbing the 1480 stairs that lead to the ruins of the castle (NOTE: Poienari ruins may be closed for visits without prior notice). Continue the journey towards Sibiu – one of the most beautiful medieval towns of Romania, selected as European Capital of Culture in 2007. Accommodation at hotel. 

Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy moments of quiet in historical churches and get an amazing view, framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Făgăraș Mountains. Admire the elegant architecture on Grand Square, pass by the charming Renaissance-style Haller House, and see the Brukenthal National Museum in an Habsburg palace. Admire the symbolic Council Tower and take an enchanted walk up the Passage of the Stairs in the Lower Town. Discover the remains of the old city walls and pass the elegant Thalia Hall, where many of the concerts are performed. Be amazed by the Gothic façade of the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral on Huet Square and much more. After an enjoyable walking tour in one of the most beautiful cities of Romania, transfer to a local traditional village. A place where you can visit the Museum of Glass Painted Icons and see how the villagers are living. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a local house. In the afternoon transfer to Sighisoara, located in the heart of Transylvania, this is the hometown of Vlad the Impaler and is considered to be one of the most beautiful medieval citadels in Europe. Though it is still inhabited, you will be amazed by the charm and mystery that surround it. Enjoy a walking tour by night through the citadel and a dinner with medieval dishes in the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Accommodation at hotel. 

Breakfast at hotel. Situated in Mures County, in the valley of the Tarnava Mare river, Sighisoara (a former Dacian settlement called „the pearl of Transylvania“) was founded by the German immigrants in the second half of the 12th century and became a city in 1407. The Medieval Fortress is located „high up on a hill“ at 425 m. above sea level.  The first fortress was built in 1280 on a high plateau, around the church on the hill, and it was widened and fortified in the following centuries. Visit the Clock Tower Museum, Medieval Weapons Museum and Torture Room; climb the stairs to see the Church on the Hill and enjoy the narrow streets of the city. In the afternoon continue your journey towards Brasov. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels*, Brasov exudes a distinct medieval ambiance and has been used as backdrop in many recent period films. The location of the city at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe, together with certain tax exemptions, allowed Saxon merchants to obtain considerable wealth and exert a strong political influence in the region. This was reflected in the city's German name, Kronstadt, as well as in its Latin name, Corona, meaning Crown City (hence, the coat of arms of the city which is a crown with oak roots). Fortifications were erected around the city and continually expanded, with several towers maintained by different craft guilds, according to medieval custom. Stroll around the old Town Hall Square (Piata Sfatului) where you can admire colorfully painted and ornately trimmed baroque structures. Take a peek inside the Black Church (Biserica Neagra), the largest gothic church in Romania. Its name derives from damage caused by the Great Fire of 1689, when flames and smoke blackened its walls. The interior is impressive and well-kept and houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe.  Accommodation at hotel.