HISTORY AND LEGEND – DRACULA’S MYTH 5 nights / 6 days
Romania and Transylvania are often linked to the legendary figure of Dracula from Bram Stoker’s most famous novel. Behind the Dracula legend is Vlad Tepes, a Romanian prince famous for his fight against pagans and thieves and for his romanticism.
Our tour will take you into Wallachia and Transylvania, following the steps of Dracula, or Vlad Tepes – the “Old Court” in Bucharest, his former residence; the Bran Castle where the prince was imprisoned for a short period in his tempestuous life; Paso Borgo and Bistrita town, depicted in Stoker’s novel as the country of Dracula; the house in Sighisoara where he was born.
Day 1: BUCHAREST – SIBIU Morning departure from your hotel in Bucharest . Our journey takes us through the picturesque Olt valley to Sibiu, a town that still preserves its medieval appearance. Many of the houses are painted sky blue, apricot or pea green and the promenade is sprinkled with busy cafes and restaurants. Visit the medieval centre of Sibiu, including the Brukenthal Museum, Transylvania’s finest museum, and the Evangelical Cathedral, raised during the 14th and 15th centuries. It contains a fine collection of funerary plaques, a superb altarpiece, and in the crypt the tomb of Mihnea the Bad, Dracula’s son and voivode of Wallachia for just one year. He was stabbed to death outside after attending Mass in 1510. Day 2: SIBIU – ALBA IULIA – CLUJ - BISTRITA Breakfast and departure to Alba Iulia. After a short stop in the town we continue to Cluj. We follow the legend of Dracula and arrive at the town of Bistrita, which is still full of medieval buildings. From here starts the journey of Jonathan Harker in Bram Stoker’s novel. Day 3: BISTRITA -BORGO PASS – TIRGU MURES - SIGHISOARA Breakfast and departure to Passo Borgo ( Tihuta Pass – 1200m) –stop at Dracula Hotel, which outwardly resembles a forbidding castle. It is supposedly built up on the ground where Dracula’s abode was located. The scenery is simply marvellous. We continue to Targu Mures (“The city of the roses”). Then on to Sighisoara - visit the medieval city of Sighisoara (the Fortress) including the house where Vlad Tepes was born. Day 4: SIGHISOARA – BRASOV - SINAIA After breakfast, departure to Brasov and some free time in the medieval centre. We continue to Sinaia, known as “the Pearl of the Carpathians” for its magnificent mountain scenery and architecture. Day 5: SINAIA – BRAN - SINAIA Breakfast and then a short trip to Bran to visit Dracula’s Castle. We then return to Sinaia to visit the monastery and the most impressive Peles Castle. Day 6: SINAIA - BUCHAREST Breakfast and departure to Bucharest. Sightseeing tour of Bucharest (including the “Old Court” former residence of Vlad the Impaler, the first to establish the court of the princes of Valachia in the city of Bucharest). Our tour ends in Bucharest.
Departure dates from Bucharest - 2006:
27 Aug, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 08 Oct and 22 Oct.
For reservations, information or assistance, please contact:
Email: james@justromania.co.uk Tel: 01243 536323
or the agency in Bucharest: Email: fantastic@fantastictours.ro