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  • The "Little Paris"
  • Brasov (Kronstadt)
  • The monasteries
  • The Black Sea & the Danube
  • The Mountains
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    The "Little Paris"
    Bucharest, the Romanian capital, is a splendid city, whose old architecture is so harmoniously mixed with the new style. The city was founded in 1459 by Vlad the Impaler and is the place where the visits throughout Romania should start. The 1930's "fin de siécle" architecture, the cultural orientation of the inhabitants and the streets lightening gave it the nickname of "Little Paris". The Arch of Triumph Arch which is located on Kisseleff Blvd. shows a familiar resemblance with Paris' Champs Élysée.

    In 1694, was set the first Academy for superior studies Saint Sava.
    Bucharest was the first city in the world, which introduced the street gas lightening in 1857. Vienna was the second to do this in 1859. 
    The Bucharest University which was opened in 1860.

    Apart from Bucharest's museums, one can see numerous cafe-troitoirs, green parks with lakes. In Herastrau Park, the two-decks boats, or a boat for two, take you for a tour of this wonderful, old and big park.
    Since you are there you can also visit the open - air Village Museum . Craftsmanship and samples of churches and houses from all over the country and from all times are all to be found in this Museum.
    Places to stop are: the National Museum of Art (the ex- Royal Palace); the National History Museums, The Downtown, Cismigiu Park, Curtea Veche, Manuc's Inn and many others. 
    On Lipscani Street, (named like this after the old city of Leipzig, from where the salesmen used to bring their merchandise) the visitor can enjoy the old shops where one can find cameras from the beginning of the century, ancient carriages, époque dresses, decorations from WW1 and WW2 and old Roman or Greek coins, and as well as local pottery, glassware, and woodcarvings.

    Bucharest is surrounded by forests and lakes. Forests still cover 28% of the country area and the fauna is one of the richest and the most various in Europe. Old palaces and monasteries are set close to the lakes and forests in a fairy tale landscape. The Snagov Monastery, dating from 1408, and the18th century Mogosoaia palace, only 14 km north of Lake Mogosoaia. 
     
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    "Stephen the Great" and the monasteries
    The old monasteries are the main tourist attraction in Bucovina due to their unique frescoes. There are five main monasteries of this kind.  Some of the most beautiful Romanian monasteries were built in the fifteen-century, by one of the most revered Romanian kings, Stephan the Great of Moldavia. He was a man of profound faith and as a general rule, who built a church or a monastery after every major war campaign against the Turks. Stephan the Great succeeded in 34 out of 36 wars against the invasion of the Muslim ottomans.
     
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    Brasov (Kronstadt)-The city of the Crown
    Brasov is an old city with a Slavonic name. The name of Brasov was established in the 6th century. A must see place is Biserica Neagra-the Black Church (named like this after it burnt in 1689). The biggest gothic church in Romania (1384-1477) can also be found in Brasov.
    This medieval city is situated nearby the Postavaru Mountain and is close to Transylvania's major mountain resorts. . Thirteen kilometers away is the Meadow of Brasov (Poiana Brasov) a fancy resort with excellent ski slopes, chalets, swimming pools, local restaurants, which welcomes tourists all over the year.
    The Bran Castle and the Royal Resort of Sinaia
    Sibiu is an old Roman city, Cibinum. It later became Villa Hermanni (from Hermann von Salza, Great Master of al Teutonic Order between 1209-39), and afterwards  (Hermannstadt-The city of Hermann). Sibiu has the open air Museum of Folk Technology in woodland by a lake, the Brukenthal Art Museum.
    Sighisoara is an old Dacian city, Sandava. It was named Sighisoara after 1918, also nicked the Rothenburg of Transylvania due to its beauty.
     
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    The Black Sea and the Danube Delta
    Altogether, the Romanian Black Sea has a coastline for 225 km. The countries that share the Black Sea are: Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine.
    Because the Black Sea tides are practically not-existent, the swimming is safer than in most parts of the world.
    At the Black Sea resorts you can windsurf, water-ski and scuba dive. Canoeing or kayaking is possible on rivers and lakes, while a kayak is the ideal way to explore the Danube Delta.

    Constanta is an old Greek city, Tomi, dating from 6 century B.C. Now is an international airport, seaport, and a touristic city with hotels, shops, ancient monuments, a casino by the sea and interesting museums. From Bucharest to Constanta are 2 and 1/2 hours by trains or car. From Constanta all the Black Sea resorts are easily accessible either by train or bus.

    The major resort near Constanta is Mamaia, between a 7 km long beach of fine sand and a lake. Sports like sub-aqua diving and paragliding are accessible from May to October. Restaurants, bars and nightclubs enliven the evenings. Typical country villages and the Danube Delta are easily accessible. Greek ruins can be also visited.

    The Danube Delta, a UNESCO protected biosphere reservation, is unique in Europe. 
    The Danube, 2.858 km long and 817.000 km square basin area (8% of Europe’s area), is among world’s rivers, on the 15th position lengthwise and on the 17th position in basin area. The name of the river comes from the Latin Danubius, but in antiquity Istros or Ister were constantly used as well. The river springs from the Black Forest Mountains and it flows into the Black after it runs across Europe from northwest to south east, making up a natural passage. The navigable length is at present 2,575 km, most of this route being accessible only to fluvial ships.

    The A.R.B.D.D. (The Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve) have identified 5,200 species and this represents an outstanding diversity. Whereas the Delta is strictly protected from intrusion, the southern 72 km area has been developed into a string of beach resorts and health spas.
    As far as flora is concerned they are identified over 955 species of spontaneous cormophytes, representing Euro-Asiatic elements (28 %). The Danube Delta is a genuine fauna paradise. Over 98% of the aquatic European fauna lives here. 

    Among the other spas Neptun, Olimp, Venus, Jupiter are the most popular, offering luxurious villas and hotels, some on the beach, others in the Comorova forest between the shore and a lake. Tennis, golf and the popular mini-golf and other sports, open air restaurants, discos, night clubs and cabarets.   For ancient ruins one can visit Mangalia, which is a Greek city from the 6 century B.C. (Kallatis). The name of Mangalia appears for the first time in 1593.
     

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    Mountains
     Sinaia took its name after the monastery of Sinaia, 1659, and as established after its founder Mihai Cantacuzino made a trip to the holly mountain of Sinai. Sinaia offers lighted by night ski slopes, the royal Palaces of Peles and Pelisor and numerous other attractions.
    Close to it are the cities of Predeal, (old city whose name means In front of the Hill) with great ski slopes as well, and Brasov, which is one hour by train.

    Romania's ski resorts are among the Europe's most enjoyable and friendly winter sports destinations. Most of the instructors are English, German or French speakers. Natural Reservations are numerous, protecting 75,000 hectares. Some, like the Retezat Mountains, have been designated as national Parks where wildlife includes the rare bearded vulture, red deer, chamois, marmot, wild boar, lynx and bears.
     

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