Escapade in Transylvania (5 days) (Cultural Tour , Transylvania,Bucharest)

Day 1 : Băneasa BBU / Otopeni OTP Airport (Bucarest BUH) – Ploieşti – Bărcăneşti – Câmpina – Comarnic – Posada – Izvorul Rece – SINAIA
You take the car at the airport in Bucharest OTP / BBU (Bucharest) and leave directly to Sinaia located in the valley of the Princes, Prahova Valley. The escapade begins 100 km farther North, where you meet the legendary Carpathians. They form a natural border between 2 traditional provinces: Wallachia and Transylvania. You will follow Prahova Valley, one of the most frequented tourist roads in the country because of the splendor of its mountains, the emphasized colours of the vegetation, the wealth of the flora and the wildlife. 

DIRECTIONS: From the airport one goes to the right, heading for Ploieşti.  Just before entering this city, turn to the left, avoiding the city and follow the signs towards Brasov / Sinaia. When reaching Sinaia, take the road going through the town centre (lightly to the left as you go).
 
SIGHTSEEING:
Câmpina: The castle of Iulia Hasdeu.  In 1888, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu a renowned scholar in all Europe built a "temple of spiritism", a result of the advice he was supposedly given during spiritism seances by his deceased daughter (a promising poet, which died at the age of 19).
Posada:  The cynegetic  museum, where one can admire the wildlife of Romania

LODGING
Hotel Anda 4*
Bd.  Carol I nr.  30
Sinaia
Tel.: +4-0244-306020
http://www.hotelanda.ro/
The hotel is located to the center of the resort, on the main road, on your left after the big International Hotel.  The hotel has a good traditional restaurant (a cellar). 

Day 2 : SINAIA – Busteni – Azuga – Predeal – Brasov - SIGHISOARA
Today you cross the Carpathians along a secondary road crossing a scenic region. After visiting the medieval city of Brasov, you will continue straight towards Sighisoara, the very core of Transylvania.

DIRECTIONS:  Leave the hotel in Sinaia and continue towards Brasov. Continue on the main road all the way to Brasov. After visting the city, continue towards Targu Mures / Sighisoara.

SIGHTSEEING: 
Sinaia: Peles Castle, one of the most beautiful castles of Europe, former summer residence of the kings of Romania. There is also Pelisor Castle nearby, decorated in a different style by Queen Maria of Romania. Attention : Peles and Pelisor castles are closed on Mon and Tue, and also they might be closed for annual restoration from November 1 til December 15.
Sinaia : Sinaia Monastery
Brasov, one of the 7 Saxon citadels in Transylvania, formerly known as Kronstadt. The Council Square and the Black Church are recommended (the Black Church can be visited in the mornings usually).
Sighisoara, the still inhabited fortress with its impressive Clock Tower. You will be hosted in an old building inside the very fortress.

LODGING
Casa Wagner
Piata Cetatii 7
Tel.: +4-0265-506014
Sighişoara
http://www.casa-wagner.com
The hotel is located in the fortress. Access is not always permitted in the fortress itself (as the space up there is limited), but one can always leave the car in the parking at the bottom of the hill (as you come from Brasov / Rupea, go past the fortress hill and turn to the left, following the “Cetate” signs). Leave the car in the parking and walk up the hill (5-10 minute walk).

Day 3 :

SIGHIŞOARA – Brădeni – Agnita – Bârghiş – Nocrich – SIBIU (Option 1)
SIGHIŞOARA – detour possible for Biertan – Medias – SIBIU (Option 2)
After visiting the fortress of Sighisoara and admiring the view form the Clock Tower, you can take the day and follow a secondary road to visit remote, picturesque old villages preserving fortified churches and an ancestral way of life. Alternatively, you can take the main road towards Sibiu and make a short detour to visit the Fortified Church of Biertan on the way.

DIRECTIONS: 
Option 1 - Take the road towards Agnita (go towards the main road and then to turn left, following the signs to Agnita).  Once in Agnita, go straight and to the right, direction Medias. In Barghis turn to the left, towards Nocrich / Sibiu. Later on follow the signs towards Nocrich / Casolt / Sibiu all the way to Sibiu. The road is not always in the best asphalt conditions, but the scenery is well worth the effort.
Option 2 – Follow the main road towards Medias / Sibiu and you can make a detour to visit Biertan on the way.

SIGHTSEEING: Many Saxon towns, the rural landscape... 
The Fortified Church of Biertan, built on a hill in teh centre of the village. 
Sibiu, been founded in the 12th century, is the one of the most fascinating cities of Romania, that astonishes the visitors by its medieval atmosphere: narrow streets, the old houses with their triangular roof windows (also called “Sibiu’s eyes”). A city tour can include the Big Square, the Catholic Cathedral, the Council Tower, the Small Square, the Evangelic Church, the Bridge of the Liars and the Orthodox Cathedral. 

LODGING
Casa Luxemburg
Piaţa Mică nr.16
Sibiu
Tel.: +4-0269-216854
http://www.casaluxemburg.ro/
Option 1 : after entering the city, go straight direction Alba Iulia and, after passing some large hotels (the Ramada, the Grand), go still straight. After passing by the Grand (on your right), take the second street to the right, Bastionului Street, all the way to Huet Square. Park the car there and walk to the hotel (5 minutes on foot). Be careful in Sibiu, as there are many one way streets and sometimes they change the direction from where cars are allowed to drive.
Option 2 : after entering the city, turn to the left towards the centre and then go all the way straight until seeing the first bastion to your left. Turn on the first street to the left, Bastionului Street, and then one go all straight towards the Huet Square, where you can park the car; going on foot to the hotel, in 5 minutes.  Pay attention to the streets of Sibiu, one the city has a lot of one way streets and there are sometimes changes in the way cars are allowed to drive.

Day 4 :
SIBIU – Cartisoara – Transfagarasan Road – Curtea de Argeş – Piteşti – BUCHAREST (JULY - OCTOBER)
SIBIU – Talmaciu – Olt Gorges – Cozia Monastery – Piteşti – BUCHAREST (NOVEMBER – JUNE)
Return the car in Bucharest, at your hotel. 
Depending on the time of the year when you come, there are two possibilities of returning to Bucharest. The first and most impressive of the two involves crossing of the highest mountains in Romania, the Fagaras, through a 2042 m.a.s.l. tunnel, going by glacial lakes, impressive waterfalls and through dense firtree forests; down the mountains there is the fine stone carved monastery of Curtea de Arges. The second option goes along the grand Olt Gorges, visiting Cozia Monastery located on the river shore, and eventually, after crossing the city of Pitesti, you get to Bucharest across the flat Wallachian plain.

DIRECTIONS: 
OPTION 1 – FAGARAS MOUNTAINS (TRANSFAGARASAN ROAD)
Leave Sibiu towards Bucharest and, after exiting Vestem, turn to the left, towards Brasov / Fagaras. In the village of Cartisoara, next to a gas station, turn to the right, towards the Transfagarasan / Balea Lake / Curtea de Arges. It is advisable to ask here whether the road is open all the way (usually there is a sign saying that), because even in summer, in the case of a serious storm or of the odd snowfall, they can close the road up there. Then continue all the way up. Be careful, as there are tight curves along the way. From Curtea de Arges continue straight to Bucharest via Pitesti.

OPTION 2 – OLT GORGES
Leave Sibiu towards Bucharest and, after exiting Vestem, continue towards Bucharest / Ramnicu Valcea / Pitesti. In Cozia, you can visit the monastery (to the left of the road).  Before entering Ramnicu Valcea, turn to the left, towards Bucharest and then continue towards Pitesti – Bucharest. 

SIGHTSEEING:
Fagaras Mountains, the highest in the country (2545 m.a.s.l.), nicknamed the Transylvanian Alps
Cozia Monastery, built some 600 years ago by the grandfather of Vlad the Empaler, Mircea cel Batrin.
Curtea de Arges Monastery and its dazzling church are among the most impressive sights of the country, with its twisted steeples bearing great stone carved decorations. The monastery is linked to an interesting legend involving Master Manole. Romanian kings are buried in the monastery garden.
Bucharest:
The Palace of the Parliament, the second largest buildign in the world, started in 1986 and nowadays hosting the Parliament, as well as many international events
Cotroceni Palace, former royal residence and actual residence of the President (visits by appointment only)
The Royal Palace, nowadays hosting the most important art collection in the country, recommendable especially for Brancusi’s sculptures, as well as for the religious art collection or for the Romanian impressionists. (closed on Mon, Tue)
The old churches in the city, of which the most interesting can be Antim, Stavropoleos, Curtea Veche or Cretulescu.
Cantacuzino Palace, nowadays hosting George Enescu Museum.
The Metropolitan Cathedral, the meart of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The Romanian Athenaeum, an elegant classical music concert hall with excellent accoustics. (concerts on Thu and Fri from September to late June)


LODGING
Hotel Opera
Str. Brezoianu nr. 37, Sector 1
Bucarest
Tel.: +4-021-3124855
http://www.hotelopera.ro/ 
From University Square turn to the West, along Regina Elisabeta Avenue, and, just before the Mc Donald’s (on your left), turn to the right, along Ion Brezoianu Street; the hotel lies 200 m. later, on your left.

Day 5 :
GOOD-BYE!  ... And we hope to see you again in Romania! 
Without car
The transfer is included.