

Built-in the early 1970s as a strategic military route ( in case of a Soviet invasion) the construction of this paved mountain road crossing the southern section of the Carpathian Mountains was once thought impossible due to its extreme alpine environment. One of the most famous places to visit in Romania, in large part thanks to a specific Top Gear episode, the Transfăgărășan Highway is unlike any other road on earth. Even with these extraordinary uses, 70% of the building still remains empty.īe transfixed by this seemingly impossible highway, which was gouged out in the steep mountains through the sheer folly of Nicolae Ceaușescu. In addition, there is also an international conference center and three museums, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Communist Totalitarianism, and the Museum of the Palace. Its interior constitutes 23 orant sections, and today has been repurposed to house the two houses of the Parliament of Romania: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Today it is still the world’s largest civilian building with an administrative function, as well as being the heaviest and most expensive building. Built over 13 years from 1984 to 1997, this grand moment to socialist realist and modernist neoclassical architecture was ordered by Nicolae Ceaușescu, the dictator of Communist Romania and designed by a team of approximately 700 architects. The Palace of the Parliament is the current seat of the Parliament of Romania, found in the capital, Bucharest.
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Wondering the best film to see before you travel to Romania? You guessed it, the 1991 movie Dracula where Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder star in a tortured tale of a charismatic vampire, based on the tale of the Prince of Darkness.įeel tiny standing in front of one of the world’s biggest buildings, which consumes as much electricity as a medium city! There is also a cute little open-air museum displaying classic Romanian peasant structures such as cottages and barns, which is worth a look in. Regardless of this, the medieval dramatic architecture, intriguing history, and a well-stocked museum displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie mean Bran Castle is not to be missed on any Romanian road trip. Today, Bran Castle’s private owners are happy to keep playing this up to keep tourists flowing in. Still, this association was one that the Communist Party of Romania used in tourism in the 1970s to encourage tourism as they sought to develop a closer relationship to the West. In fact, there is no evidence at all that Bram Stoker was even aware of the existence of this castle. However, in reality, the description of Dracula’s crumbling fictional CastleCastle bears almost no resemblance to the immaculate Bran Castle, and there are only tenuous associations with Vlad the Impaler, the presumed inspiration for Dracula. It was rebuilt and destroyed many times over the centuries taking its dramatic form we see today in the 14th-century.Ĭommonly known outside Romania as ‘The Real Dracula’s Castle,’ Bran Castle is frequently alleged as the inspiration for the famous Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s famous book.


One of the most famous castles in Romania – if not the world, initially built-in 1212 and destroyed just a few decades later in 1242 by Mongols. Get goosebumps exploring the famous castle-keep that didn’t actually inspire Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula.’ Some of their accounts are very sad, but supporting this shelter helps to ensure the remainder of their life is as peaceful as possible. Only open in the mornings, onsite guides take you around the sanctum informing you of each of their personal stories – and giving you a unique opportunity to see over 50 rescued bears. Thus Libearty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti was born. She then made it her personal mission to rescue bears who were languishing in small and rusted cages at restaurants and petrol stations and create a sanctum for them. Sadly, in the past, this practice was all too popular. The Libearty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti was founded in 1998 by a Romanian woman, Cristina Lapis after she witnessed three bears in a small cage in a restaurant being used to attract customers. Come face to face with nature in this safe space for the rescued brown bears of Eastern Europe.Ī beautiful bear sanctuary hidden in the historic oak forests above the town of Zarnesti in Transylvania is now open to guests.
