His delegation included the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in Bucharest The Archbishop of Canterbury was welcomed at the new Archdiocesan Cathedral by the Neagoe Basarab Theological Seminary choir Accompanied by the Archbishop of Argeș and Muscel the Archbishop of Canterbury visited the royal tombs paying homage to King Michael and his family members The visit continued to the old Archdiocesan Cathedral where the guests were delighted by the church’s architecture and the royal and princely necropolis Justin Welby received a silver icon representing the Mother of God as a gift from Archbishop Calinic Archbishop Calinic led the delegation to the archdiocesan chapel and museum the guests admired the old wooden church in the yard of Curtea de Argeş Monastery The visit ended in the Archdiocesan Palace where the guests admired the Manole Hall and the royal rooms recently restored through a project with European funding the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. From Dracula’s castle to breathtaking monasteries and medieval fortresses these iconic spots should be top of your travel list Published: Jan 19, 2025written by Gabriel Kirellos The Carpathian Basin and Southeastern Europe, historically a crossroads of empires and cultures, is home to Romania, a nation shaped by millennia of transformation. From the ancient Dacian kingdom and Roman rule to medieval strongholds and the unification of its provinces in 1918 Romania’s history is a testament to its enduring legacy Romania’s historic sites are a must for any traveler eager to dive into the stories of the past Fortified monasteries perched in quiet valleys and castles straight out of legends offer windows into centuries of culture Each destination reveals a unique piece of Romania’s identity and its role in the wider region’s history which makes it an unforgettable part of any European adventure We provide you below with ten must-see historic sites in Romania Perched atop a rocky hill in Transylvania, Bran Castle is Romania’s most iconic fortress and one of the world’s most impressive medieval castles famously associated with the Dracula legend Built in 1388 to defend a vital trade route the castle’s history is rich with medieval warfare and royal heritage Though its ties to Vlad the Impaler are tenuous Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” immortalized it as the vampire’s lair and furniture once used by Queen Marie of Romania and breathtaking views of the Carpathian Mountains add to its allure Surrounding the castle is a serene park featuring traditional Romanian cottages and barns is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns and a key historical landmark in Romania Built in the 12th century by Saxon settlers protected by thick walls and fortified towers The citadel is famous for its Clock Tower, which dates back to the 14th century and now houses a history museum. Visitors can also explore Vlad the Impaler‘s birthplace adding a significant historical connection to the town leads to the Church on the Hill and a historic cemetery and well-preserved architecture provide a clear view of medieval life The town hosts cultural events and festivals and attracts history enthusiasts and tourists is a landmark of architectural innovation and historical significance Built between 1873 and 1914 under King Carol I it served as the summer residence of Romania’s royal family It was the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity The castle features 160 rooms designed in various European styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. Notable spaces include the Grand Armory, housing over 4,000 pieces of weaponry The Hall of Mirrors and the Music Room are further examples of its intricate design and royal use Peleș Castle is surrounded by well-maintained gardens and overlooks the Carpathian Mountains it offers a detailed look at Romanian royalty is a defining example of Gothic-Renaissance architecture in Eastern Europe the castle was strategically positioned on a rocky outcrop in Hunedoara It served as both a fortress and a residence blending defensive functionality with imposing architectural design The castle is renowned for its massive drawbridge Key areas of interest include the Knights’ Hall is said to hold a legend: prisoners who dug the well were promised freedom but never received it Corvin Castle also bears historical significance as a political and military hub during Hunyadi’s campaigns against the Ottoman Empire it draws visitors with its dramatic architecture and haunting atmosphere are UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in northern Romania which cover both interior and exterior walls depict detailed biblical scenes designed to teach Christian doctrine to the illiterate population Each monastery is distinct in its color palette and themes Voroneț Monastery is renowned for its “Voroneț Blue,” a unique pigment used in its frescoes Sucevița Monastery features a blend of green tones and a prominent Ladder of John Climacus fresco while Moldovița Monastery uses warm ochre tones to convey religious narratives These monasteries are significant for their preservation of medieval art and for showcasing the fusion of Gothic and Byzantine architectural influences The Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains are six ancient defensive structures built between the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE these fortresses showcase advanced military engineering and were key to the Dacian resistance against Roman conquest Constructed using a unique combination of limestone and wood the fortresses employed a technique known as murus dacicus which enhanced their strength and resilience the largest and most important of the fortresses served as the Dacian capital and features a sacred area with circular and rectangular sanctuaries highlighting the cultural and spiritual life of the Dacians These sites are remarkable for their strategic locations on mountain ridges interconnected by pathways that allowed for rapid communication and troop movement they offer insights into the ingenuity of the Dacian civilization Alba Iulia Fortress, built in the early 18th century during the Habsburg rule is a star-shaped citadel located in Alba Iulia Designed by Italian architect Giovanni Morando Visconti it was constructed using the Vauban-style fortification known for its defensive strength and strategic design The fortress was built over earlier Roman and medieval fortifications integrating layers of history into its structure Key landmarks within the fortress include the Coronation Cathedral where Romanian kings Ferdinand I and Queen Marie were crowned in 1922 the oldest existing cathedral in Transylvania where the Great Union of 1918 was proclaimed further solidifies its significance as a site of national heritage the fortress is a powerful reminder of Moldova’s medieval strength and strategic importance Built in the late 14th century by Petru I Mușat it became a cornerstone of defense under Stephen the Great who reinforced it with thicker walls and additional fortifications to repel Ottoman attacks Suceava Fortress relied heavily on practical military design and steep embankments making it nearly impenetrable Its elevated position provided a defensive advantage and served as a symbol of authority for Moldavian rulers the fortress invites visitors to step into the past Restored sections highlight its original structure while modern exhibits showcase its historical role in safeguarding the region Perched on a rocky hilltop overlooking the town of Râșnov this fortress was a vital defensive stronghold for centuries Built in the 13th century by Teutonic Knights it was later expanded by the local Saxon community to protect against frequent invasions What sets Râșnov Fortress apart is its design as a self-sustaining refuge Visitors can explore the partially restored complex and small museum displaying medieval artifacts The panoramic views of the surrounding Carpathian Mountains add to its appeal is one of the country’s most significant religious and architectural landmarks Built in the early 16th century by Prince Neagoe Basarab it is renowned for its intricate stone carvings and unique blend of Byzantine and Gothic styles sacrificed his wife within the walls to ensure the structure’s durability This tale has become an enduring part of Romanian cultural heritage the monastery serves as the burial site for members of Romania’s royal family Gabriel is a travel writer and editor with 5 years of experience having authored more than 400 articles on historic sites from medieval castles in France to ancient temples in Asia offering readers in-depth cultural insights With personal travels to over 35 countries he combines firsthand exploration with historical research Gabi is a digital nomad traveling across Europe throughout 2024-25 to bring authentic storytelling to his followers This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Kärcher will begin the construction of a factory in Curtea de Arges thus expanding its production capacity in Europe German-held cleaning equipment manufacturer Karcher which sealed a production partnership with Electroarges as early as 2002 will produce on a 22,000 sqm area mainly household and professional vacuum cleaners The opening of the production unit is scheduled for mid-2016 located 140 kilometers northwest of Bucharest Kärcher is present in Romania since 2006 through its own subsidiary the company unrolled within a project of cultural sponsorship a cleaning of the famous monument Podul Miniciunilor in Sibiu Staff We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used Some are necessary and we can’t switch them off Others help us to provide you with the best possible service We use cookies to personalise content and ads to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic We also share anonymous information about your use of our site with our social media By accepting cookies you will be helping us to continue to provide you with the best possible service has given the green light for a 23% cost increase for the construction of a 10km section of motorway connecting Curtea de Arges to Tigveni The main element of the project is the 1.3km Momaia tunnel which will be the first twin tunnel ever built on a Romanian motorway The two tunnel tubes will traverse the Momaia mountain and be connected to each other by three cross-passages the total investment value of the project stands at €400 million The decision to increase the cost of the project being undertaken by Austrian contractor Porr is reportedly due to escalating construction-related expenses “It is a state-of-the-art technology for tunnel construction and monitoring worldwide,” adding The contract between CNAIR and Porr was signed towards the end of 2021 combining a 16-month design phase and a 44-month construction phase The project is slated for completion at the end of 2026 Porr has recruited a workforce of 300 labourers and a fleet of 100 machines for the project as well as assembling a team of 60 tunnelling experts from Austria with the number expected to double as work on the tunnel progresses Off Highway Research - Market research Unique marketing services that create demand for your products locally Marketing Services Download Media Kits SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you Queen Mother of Romania has been reburied in her adopted country Her family led tributes at reburial in the new Archdiocesan and Royal Cathedral with a series of ceremonies marking the event across the weekend And as Helen was laid to rest next to her son their relatives marked the occasion with a special message ”from today who she saw take the throne of Romania twice and who she followed into exile when he was forced to abdicate in 1947 Switzerland in 1982 where she was originally buried her remains were returned to Romania so that she could be reunited with Michael one final time The coffin of Queen Mother Helen arrived at Otopeni Airport where her granddaughter A formal ceremony saw the flag draped coffin carried solemnly from the plane with a large wooden cross carved with ‘Elena Regina’ and the queen’s dates borne before it The casket was then driven through towns and villages to Curtea de Arges with crowds gathering along the route to pay tribute and throw flowers On arrival at the Old Cathedral of Curtea de Arges a short ceremony took place attended by the Romanian royals before the doors were opened to members of the public who wanted to pay their respects The funeral service for Queen Mother Helen took place at noon on Saturday October 19th with Margareta and her husband personal representative of the Prince of Wales Political representatives as well as members of Romanian society attended the ceremony Queen Mother Helen’s coffin was carried by the Mihai Viteazul Guard Brigade to the new Archdiocesan and Royal Cathedral where she was laid to rest beside King Michael in a private ceremony After a tumultuous life which saw her separate from her husband and spend time away from her beloved son as power struggles erupted in the Romanian royal family