1st Day, Sa: Bucharest. A Metropolitan City
Individual arrival to Bucharest's International Airport. Transfer to the hotel through the village of Otopeni. A sightseeing tour (ca. 3 hours) of Bucharest, including the House of the Press, the Triumph Arch, Victory Square, Victory Avenue, the Cişmigiu Garden, Monument of the Sanitary Heroes, Military Academy, Cotroceni Palace, the House of the People, and the Roman Square, shall give us an overview on the city. Attendance of a musical performance one of the concerts of the George Enescu International Festival or an alternative show on request. Accommodation in the chosen hotel of Bucharest.
2nd Day, SU: The Road of the Princes
After a delicious breakfast, depart for our tour of the day. Walking tour of Central Bucharest, with a particular emphasis on the Old Court, the residence of the Valahian rulers since the 18th century, despite the fact of being documented since mid-15th century, under Vlad the Impellor, better known as Dracula. During the early afternoon, we shall leave Bucharest for Târgovişte, the third Valahian Capital, with the Old Court, Church Stelea, in Moldovan style, the Old Metropolitan Church and Pătraşcu-Museum, a museum showing some of the paintings of the big Romanian painter. Continuing our route to Valea Mare-Pravăţ, we shall stop to visit the Monastery Cetăţuia, the church of which has been carved into stone. From the road, an easy to medium mountain trail leads us to the monastery. During the evening, we shall reach our destination for the day, the village Valea Mare-Pravăţ. Accommodation in the Pension Valea Mare.
3rd Day, MO: Câmpulung. The First Vallahian Capital
After a delicious breakfast, depart for our tour of the day. During the time of the legendary Negru Vodă (The Black Lord), who descended here in the 14th century, Câmpulung was the Capital of Valahia. No Princiary Court is known here, though. It is assumed he was ruling from today’s Monastery Negru Vodă. A brief tour of the city shall present us the nice and unspoiled city of Câmpulung, a city not being destroyed greatly during communist times. The Ethnographic Museum is worth-while a visit. The Catholic Church is only one of the buildings of the German Saxons of Northern Valahia - it is little known of the Saxons of this part of Romania, in Transylvania it is widely known of their historic role. Some free time to stroll through the town and its markets, shops and cafes. During the early afternoon, return to Valea Mare-Pravăţ for a free afternoon. Walking possibilities on the nearby hills are endless. Upon interest, we shall organize a visit to the Monastery of Nămăieşti, a monastery carved in stone, possibly a non-Chirstian temple at its origins, that should exist since the times of the Apostles. Back to Valea Mare-Pravăţ for dinner and accommodation. Accommodation in the Pension Valea Mare.
4th Day, TU: Romantic Road
After a delicious breakfast, depart for our tour of the day. This morning we shall depart through a scenic road used until the 19th century by the merchants trading with Transylvania, Valahia and the far south - the Ottoman Empire. Our first stop en route is the Monument to the Heroes of WW I, that presents the history of WW I in the area, with a light and sound show of a fight scene in the area. Upon interest, we shall research the area of the battle fields, some of the trenches of the fight can be seen still. Further we drive through Dragoslavele to Bran, in Transylvania, passing the now historic border between Valahia and Transylvania. Just behind the border, there we find still the Bran Castle, that has become known as Dracula Castle. Legend and real history do mingle here together and we shall know, by the end of the tour to differentiate between the two. Visit the castle shortly after lunch at a nearby restaurant. By the late afternoon or early evening we shall be back to Valea Mare-Pravăţ for dinner and accommodation. Accommodation in the Pension Valea Mare.
5th Day, WE: Second Valahian Capital. Retreat of last resort
After a delicious breakfast, depart for our tour of the day. Shortly after Negru Vodă, the Capital of the newly formed country had to be moved to a region, where there was less movement - and that was Curtea de Argeş. Little is being preserved from the Old Court, however, the church of the former monastery has been restored during the reign of Charles I, to become the Necropolis of the Royal Family of Romania. Further we drive to Poienari, in the Făgăraş Mountains, the highest mountain range in Romania. Some nearly 1500 steps lead us to the stronghold used by Vlad the Impellor (Dracula) during a fight with the Ottoman Army as a retreat of last resort for his army - by far outnumbered by the one of his enemy. Back to Valea Mare-Pravăţ for dinner and accommodation. Accommodation in the Pension Valea Mare.
6th Day, THU: End of tour
After a delicious breakfast, time comes to say good-bye. Transfer to the airport and end of services.
Info page with operation, weather and rates |
