Dracula tour
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Sighisoara of Vlad the Impaler - Dracula
7 days / 6 nights, 2008 tour
Itinerary:
Bucharest - Curtea de Arges - Bran -
Brasov - Sighisoara - Bistrita -
Dracula Castle hotel - Bicaz Gorges -
Red Lake - Brasov - Bucharest
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Day 1 - Welcome to my land ! Your friend, Dracula
Arrive in Bucharest, capital of Romania, city first mentioned in a document signed on Sept. 20, 1459 by "Prince Vlad Dracula".
Tonight you shall enter the domains of The Count (as a first initiation step) at his residence in Bucharest, not far from the ruins of his court. Tonight, the Count's Chief will be inspired by his master's most feared enemy or servants.
- arrival at Otopeni airport and short sightseeing tour of main boulevards on the way to hotel
- welcome dinner at Count Dracula Club on Dracula specific dishes
- overnight at 3* centrally located hotel in Bucharest (Opera or similar).
Day 2 - Vlad the Impaler: the ruler
Visit the "House of the People" (today known as the Parliament's Palace), an enormous building built by the order of the last communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu - often compared to a vampire for his thirst of power.
Many human lives and historic buildings were sacrificed for the erection of the palace.
Your next initiation step takes place in the vaulted cellars under the ruins of prince Vlad the Impaler's palace in Bucharest. The earth talks. Our ancestors lie there, the roots of our houses, our daily food - the earth is within ourselves in more than the obvious ways
Drive to Sinaia. Located at the foots of Bucegi mountains, on Prahova Valley, Sinaia has charmed the young German prince Carol I of Hohenzollern who was to become the king of modern Romania.
- sightseeing of Bucharest including visits to Princely Court and Parliament's Palace
- visit the historic city center of Bucharest: old commercial street, churches
- drive to Sinaia in the afternoon
- dinner and overnight in Sinaia, 3* hotel (Sinaia or similar).
Day 3 - The real Dracula Castle ?
More than a century ago Peles Castle took shape and substance from fairy-tales and dreams about royalty. This exquisitely detailed landmark, set amidst sculpture gardens and fountains, was the summer residence of Romanian Royal family. Inside you'll see beautiful collections of mediaeval weaponry, stained glass, silk rugs and furniture.
Then, cross the mountains into Transylvania - this ancient Romanian lans stormed under so many legends and stories that it lost its earthly contour and passed into an utopian perception.
The next initiation takes us to Bran castle, built in 1377, at the edge between history and fiction. It is like a mirage placed to prevent the reach of the real Dracula Castle in Northern Transylvania.
The rest of the day finds us driving to Sighisoara - the birth place of Prince Vlad Dracula and one of the best preserved inhabited mediaeval citadels in Europe.
- visit Peles Castle in Sinaia
- cross the Carpathians and visit Bran Castle
- drive to Sighisoara via Brasov
- dinner and overnight in Sighisoara within citadel walls in 3* hotel (Wagner House or similar).
Day 4 - Beyond Count Dracula's domain
One of the most impressive fortified churches in Southern Transylvania is Biertan, built in 1302 as a Hungarian border fortification. Biertan is better known as the residence of the Lutheran Transylvanian Bishops for almost 300 years but is also connected to Vlad the Impaler's life. In 1459 has been appointed to the prince when it was restored for the last time.
Visit Sibiu, one of the most romantic cities of Romania with its Council Tower, Small Square and Liars Bridge.
Return to Sighisoara in the afternoon for another revelation. Optionally witness a Witch-trial, a page in our history as humans, using Sighisoara itself as a setting.
- visit the UNESCO fortified church of Biertan
- tour mediaeval Sibiu city: Council Tower, Small and Large squares, Liars Bridge, Brukenthal Museum
- return to Sighisoara - dinner and overnight within citadel walls at 3* hotel (Wagner House or similar).
Day 5 - Sighisoara of Prince Vlad
Sighisoara is the best-preserved 15th century walled town in Europe. On the present 'Hill of the Citadel' ("Dealul Cetatii"), the upper town, was erected a stronghold in the 2nd half of the 12th century, used by the population as a shelter in hard times.
Nowadays, Sighisoara is synonym to the European Middle Age in Romania. Here lived, between 1431-1435, Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Devil), future Prince of Wallachia, thus called because the German Emperor knighted him as Knight of the Dragon. He was Vlad the Impaler's father known as Dracula (the son of the Devil), born most probably here in Sighisoara, on 1431.
The actual 15th century house where Prince Vlad Dracul was born has been turned into a restaurant and museum full of interesting flavours and artefacts.
- visit mediaeval Sighisoara: Clock Tower, Hill Church, Vlad the Impaler's native house, Wooden covered staircase
- leisure time in the afternoon in Sighisoara citadel
- dinner and overnight in Sighisoara, 3* hotel (Wagner House or similar).
Day 6 - Epilog
Drive south, two hours away, to the mediaeval city of Brasov.
Driving through the main roads you'll discover its beauty and picturesque, the combination between new and old, blacken stone buildings and red bricks chimneys above the colored tile roofs, over the crenels and buttresses.
Tour Brasov with its landmark - the Black Church, famous for its 4000 pipes organ and a collection of Oriental rugs. Visit the Old City Hall Square and the Schei District before heading to Bucharest.
- tour Brasov : Black Church, Schei District, Old City Hall Square
- transfer to Bucharest - farewell dinner and overnight at a 3* centrally located hotel (Opera or similar)
Day 7 - Good by Romania
We hope you have enjoyed your Transylvania tour and we look forward to welcome you again in Romania.
- transfer to Bucharest airport.
Price/person: 1,100 Euro (for minimum 2 paying people)
Currency Converter
Services included:
- 5 nights accommodation with breakfast
- "Jonathan Harker" dinner at Count Dracula Club
- transportation by air conditioned car/minibus/bus with driver
- arrival/departure transfers
- English speaking guide assistance.
Supplements:
- Single room supplement: 195 Euro
Not included:
- arrival/departure flights
- health insurance (FREE TRAVEL INSURANCE QUOTES)
- personal expenses of any kind, hotel services like phone calls, laundry, mini bar, room service
- soft and alcoholic drinks with the main meals unless otherwise specified.
