Best Romanian destinations on Halloween

Best Romanian destinations on Halloween

We in Romania are not very superstitious, even on the contrary. I mean, we believe in God, or 90 % from us do, on a good reason, fearing the ultimate instance. But further we make a lot of fun and a lot of jokes about black cats and other common superstitions coming from outside, mainly Scotland and America.

The picturesque Romania is a good place to spend Halloween

We also make a lot of fun of the number 13 (it brought me always luck and happiness). But we have also Dracula, and every body is very serious about him, as an important motor and vehicle for the Romanian travel industry!

We all love Dracula here, and I owe you some details about his life and real history. Dracula was a ruling prince in the Romanian Vallachia, who dared to fight against the threatening Turks. He was may be a little bit too cruel, not only against the Turks, but also again the rich Romanian seniors and landlords, who were not very loyal. That is why the people loved and venerated Dracula, whose real name was actually Vlad Tepes. There are a lot of myths and legends about Dracula, but I am going to tell you about not this time.

Staying to the Halloween and the related Carnivals, as we have nowadays in Romania a splendide weather. It is a fantastic and spectacular Autumn, with daily temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius! So, you can spend a wonderful Halloween in Romania, even an unique one. Of course you need a special vestimentation, which must be very cosy, but also very sexy, and there a few special places for Halloween!

1. Sighisoara hosts the birth house  of Vlat Tepes Dracula, inside its unique medieval citadel, an UNESCO world heritage. Nowadays you can eat there (take a lot of garlic), it is a good restaurant. Not far a torture museum, an weapon museum and a secret room, where - but I'd better let you discover by yourself!

2. Bran Castle is also known as Dracula Castle, but had nevertheless with Dracula not very much in common. It was the property of a grandfather of Vlad Tepes Dracula, and Dracula himself was hosted one or two nights there. But the legend still lives, and it can be very useful for the Romanian tourism.

3. Piatra Fantanele resort lies even on the Borgo pass, where Bram Stroker placed the action of his strange novels, making from the poor Dracula a superstar, on the Hollywood connection. Thus, it has much more in common with Dracula as the Bran Castle!

Despite its interesting palaces, Bucharest is a fav Halloween destination

4.A carnival in Bucharest, on the Lipscani street, in a fancy local, not far from the royal court of Dracula, where he has a statue.

You will find anywhere an interesting mix between the local ingredients (Dracula wines or vodka, e.g.) and the international suits for Halloween, and you are going to have a big time for sure!

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The hidden secrets of the Romanian Bran Castle


Going from Pitesti to Brasov (Kronstadt), only 30 km away from the last mentioned city, you can see the huge Bran castle, who was guarding  once, a few centuries ago, the passing from Wallachia to Transilvania. Anyway, please keep in mind that bran means gate, as translated from the Slav language.

Certificated mention of the Castle Bran apear first at 1470, within the Court documents of the Romanian ruler Basarab Laiota. The fortress of Bran was at that time at another location, beyond the pass, towards Transilvania. It was first build in wood, and later replaced by the German saxons with a stone one, when they first settled here, under the King Lodovic of Hungary. By the end of the XVth century another king simply sells the castle to the city of Brasov. Because the custom was next to it, this is going to be a good business for the city of Brasov, lasting up to 1836, when the customs moves to Giurala, and the place decays, losing its wealthy times

Detail map of the Bran Rucar pass

At 1st December 1920, by celebration the first Romanian National Day, Brasov City Council donates the Bran Castle to the Romanian Queen Maria, as a reward and recognition of the Royal contribution to the achievement of the Big Union. Afterwards, the Czech architect of the Royal Court, Carol Liman transforms the castle into a splendid summer residence. The Principess Ileana inherites the Castle Bran from his mother Queen Mary in 1938, and will be his master up to 1948, when the new communist regime nationalized it.

The respected Queen Mary passed the way in Pelisor, in 1938, and her last wil was that his heart shall be conserved and kept in Balcic. When the Southern Dobrogea and Balcic gone to Bulgaria after WWII, the clever Princess Ileana took her mother's heart from Balcic and hidden it inside a stone of Bran Castle. The heart was kept in a wonderful silver box with 307 precious stones. In 1971 the priceless artifact has been moved to the Bucharest National History Museum. Nowadays it is back to Bran, resting finally after so many events.

In the park of Royal Bran Castle you can pretend for a few moments  being a Royal highness.

In the communist times the Bran Castle has been a few decades neglected, but nowadays, after restauration works, it shows again to the enthusiastic visitors its best face. Before visiting the Castle, have please a long walk ito the park, pretending to be the King and the Queen. Please behave yourself in the best possible way, a full country has big expectations for you. Observe in the park the Village Museum, with old houses from Wallachia, made of wood, and discover the fantastic popular technologies of wood and wool working. Inside the castle enjoy the Medieval Art Exhibition, and take a look through the special narrow openings for the archers! Don't miss the Museum of Medieval Custom, opened in 1987, illustrating the diversity of the wares circulating between Wallachia and Transilvania. Also, lots of other documents, maps, measuring instruments, transportation middles etc. For the souvenirs hunters, you can find enough to the main entrance, but most of them are bind to Dracula, who stayed only one night to the Bran Castle.

In summer you can walk and climb the mountains in the neighborhood  and discover breathtaking landscapes with amazing villages

Eating and lodging in the neighborhood  you can find a lot in Moeciu (many smaller or bigger family pensions), or further in Brasov. In summer you can climb the spectacular mountains around, discovering amazing villages of Sirnea, Moeciu, Fundata, Rucar. A lot of work to do for you, dear friends, let me know about your travel planning in the area!

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