#914 Transfagarasan Road, Romania

Going up and down one of Romania's highest mountains, this road built by Ceaucescu is a most amazing drive. With glacial Lake Balea and year-round snow at the top, the hairpin turns just above the tree line form a wild journey into and out of wild nature. A small cabana and cable car at the top with tourist stalls offer a charming lunch stop that would be impossible in mid-winter. Returning via a 887m tunnel under Paltinu ridge that drops you back into the trees, it is an appropriately otherworldly journey.

Historically built by Ceaucescu after the Soviet's invasion of Czechoslovakia, it was intended to help form part of a national security zone offering an alternative north-south route, though fit his megalomania well. It was built in 4 years (and really only the summers in those years), and up to 40 workers are said to have died during it's maniacal construction. 

Source: Lonely Planet Romania & Moldova 3rd Edition

#918 Bear's Cave, Romania

In the hills near Chiscau village in Romanian in the Apuseni Mountains lies a cave. This was a cave that is a truly amazing example of a story that can be told (and imagined) from evidence. There are many bones in this cave -- piles of them, in fact. We can tell that the bodies of the owners have been broken apart and that they must have had tragic, difficult, hard-fought deaths. How do we know? Well, the only intact skeleton is that of a bear, and he lies curled up deep within the cave, where his last slumber has been recorded for eternity. He consumed all the other animals in the cave (including other bears, I believe), before eventually succumbing to starvation and dying himself. 

Something cataclysmic happened to trap the animals in the cave and I think its fascinating to imagine the last days of these animals. Terrified cattle or prey knowing that there was nowhere to go, no way of escaping their fate with a hungry bear in the same space. We can truly see the work of the food chain, but I like to imagine what a great scene it would have been while each animal was consumed, one by one!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Cave

Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains Romania

The civilization of the Getes (Getae) and Dacians can be distinguished in the Thracian world long before Herodotus first referred to them in the 7th century BC. The Getes inhabited the Danube plain and the Dacians the central and western part of the region between the Carpathians and the Danube. Their close cultural and linguistic links are emphasized by several ancient authors. Theirs was a typical Iron Age culture, practising agriculture, stock-raising, fishing, and metal-working, as well as trade with the Greco-Roman world, shown by finds of luxury goods and coinage. When Greek colonies such as Histria, Tomis, Odessos, etc were established along the northern shores of the Black Sea in the 7th century BC, the Geto- Dacian rulers established close links with them and extended their protection. This cultural interchange had a profound effect on societies in the region. The other major cultural influence, adopted by the warrior aristocracy, came from the Scythians who inhabited the regions to the north and east.

Continent: Europe

Country: Romania

Category: Cultural

Criterion: (II)(III) (IV)

Date of Inscription: 1999

4th Century Expansion of Dacian Fortresses

During their expansion that began in the 4th century Celtic peoples settled in modern Transylvania and established hegemony over the region because of their superior weaponry. However, their influence waned from the mid-3rd century BC onwards. A new Geto-Dacian form of territorial organization appeared in the early 2nd century BC, at the same time as important technological developments (wheelmade pottery, iron ploughshares, use of stone for building). It was based on the dava, the central place of a tribal territory; these contained many sacred sites (temenoi) and other forms of cult centre.

The process whereby the earlier fragmented tribal structure became centralized is not understood, but there is abundant evidence that the Geto-Dacian civilization flourished from the 1st century BC onwards, thanks to the intelligence and pragmatism of its rulers and of its priests. A Hellenistic form of kingdom was evolved by Burebişta (82-44 BC), supported by a warrior aristocracy and with its heart in the Orašţie Mountains around the sacred mountain Kogaionon where the sacred city was built, Sarmizegetusa Regia. It became master of the entire Black Sea coast, absorbing the Greek colonies.

Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains Romania

Browse Gallery Plus UNESCO Storyline

After the death of Burebişta his kingdom was divided up into smaller territories, but Sarmizegetusa retained its primacy; it became in effect the first (and only) true town in Dacia. The Dacian rulers became increasingly involved in the internal politics of the Roman Empire, and suffered accordingly from punitive expeditions. The lower Danube frontier (limes) was constantly the scene of cross-border raids and minor campaigns. This entered a new phase in AD 86, which marked the beginning of a series of Roman-Dacian wars.

Slideshow for this Heritage Site

In the spring of 101 the Roman Emperor Trajan, having secured his Rhine frontier, took the offensive against the Dacians. Decebalus unified the Dacian kingdoms and concentrated his forces in the Orašţie Mountains, where he submitted to Trajan. An uneasy distribution of territory ensued, broken in 105 when Decebalus seized the Roman governor Longinus. This time he could not hold the Dacians together against the powerful Roman army. His capital and his fortresses were overwhelmed and Decebalus himself committed suicide to avoid capture. This campaign is graphically depicted in the reliefs running round Trajan's Column in Rome.

Dacia became a Roman Imperial province, and its fortresses were slighted. New Roman towns were created, but none of them on the site of the Dacian settlements, with the exception of Sarmizegetusa, which was given the resounding Roman name Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa. Dacia was to remain part of the Roman Empire until 274, when the Emperor Aurelian abandoned it in the face of irresistible pressure from the Goths.

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania. The original UNESCO inscription Here!!!

#960 Bran Castle, Romania

Dracula's Castle in Romania is a happening tourist spot these days, despite the fact that neither Dracula nor Bram Stoker who wrote about it lived or even visited here. So this place is amazing because it is a testament to advertising, propaganda, and the impact of a good story!

Bran Castle, which is really more of a big house than a castle, is one of many interesting sites in the Carpathian mountains. It is built on a high hill, next to an even higher hill of green meadows and forests, but lacking much of a view over the castle. It's architecture is interesting with odd shaped courtyards, multi-level rooms and winding corridors and staircases. Full of charm and well maintained with a bear skin rug, the decorations are evocative of 18th century country living.

While I can commend it for being ambianced-filled, it was disappointingly roped off and full of tour groups, so perhaps not so amazing after all?

Poenari Castle

Poenari Castle, also known as the palace fort Poenari is very famous in his country, and even in the world. The palace was precisely located in Romania, on the cliffs, on the right side of the road Transfagarasan in Arges County. The building was founded around the beginning of the 13th century by the rulers of Wallachia. And in the 14th century, the fort is the main Poenari of Basarab rulers.

Poenari Castle became one of the famous buildings in the world among tourists. Because this building into the history of a creepy building, which is this palace has a relationship with the Impaler Vlad III, or "Vlad Dracula". Poenari Castle Dracula's castle is located adjacent to it, and said the story is here every night of the vampire spends his time.
So now the building has become one of the goals that must be visited by tourists if it is in Romania. And to get to this castle tourists must tread around about 1500 steps.

Bezid Lake

Bezid Lake is a lake that is very famous and phenomenal located in the territory of Transylvania Romania. This lake has beautiful scenery and stunning, but not only that, because this place has a uniqueness, namely the lake was formed after Bezid whole village is flooded, leaving the houses at the bottom of the lake and only a local church tower and the trees still be seen rising above the lake. Branches and twigs of old trees towering above the surface looks like the water is full of mystical hands. And under the water there are still ruins of the village are sinking more and add to the atmosphere so beautiful and unique.

Bran castle

Bran castle is a fortress or better known as the Palace. The fort is situated near Bran, the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. And by common among these places are known as "Dracula's Castle" (although this is only one of the few places linked with the legend of Dracula, like the Palace and the Palace Hunyad Poienari.

Not only that, history also shows that a tyrant named Vlad the Impaler never lived in this palace. In one of the carvings in the building, described Vlad was partying alone with the "presence" of the victims hanging on the wall.

Because history is pretty awful, now the Palace is now a museum open to tourists. Tourists can see the interior of the individual or by a tour. At the bottom of the hill is a small open-air Museum shows the traditional Romanian peasant structures (cottages, warehouses, etc.) from around the country. But the usual rules in the sights as "vulnerable", the visitors are limited only been until four o'clock in the afternoon only.

Dracula's Castle

Dracula's Castle. Transylvania is a historical region in central Romania. Bordered on the east and south by the Carpathian mountains, Transylvania extended history in the west to the Apuseni Mountains, however, sometimes the term encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the history Crisana, Maramureş, and (Romanian) Banat.

Transylvania is often associated with a legend surrounding community, that is Dracula.
Bran Castle has had a reputation as one of the most famous monuments of medieval architecture in this place, known by travelers worldwide as "Dracula's Castle." Although Romania is full of buildings with historical architecture and old, Bran castle remains the most important buildings, and can not be denied the building has been widely known.

Popularity is the association with Count Dracula, the infamous. The castle consists of 17 pieces of the room, Bran castle is also one of the most expensive property in the country, with a sales value of about 140 million dollars.

Hunedoara Castle (Corvinesti Castle)

Hunedoara Castle (Corvinesti Castle) this castle is a solid rock fortress fiercely built by Turkish prisoners. Holds 3 huge pointed towers, a drawbridge and high battlements, 5 marble columns with delicate ribbed vaults support two halls, and Knight's Hall. 50 rooms today houses a feudal art museum. It served as a fortress until mid the 14 C when it became the residence of Transylvania's ruler, Iancu de Hunedoara. Iancu upgraded the fortress and it soon became known as the most beautiful castle in Transylvania. Today you can see its Gallery, Maces Tower, the Knights Hall, the Council Hall, Chapel, and 100 ft courtyard.
Gothic style castle built on roman ruins in 14 C. Vlad Tepes was imprisoned here during his youth for 7 years. And location for this castle near the city of Hunedoara, 18 km/9 miles south of Deva.

Peleş Castle

Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914. Its inauguration was held in 1883.

The Palace's 160 rooms are adorned by the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures. Its medieval collection of swords and nights armour are simply astonishing.

Bran Castle

 

Bran Castle often refered to as "Dracula's Castle", originally built as a fortress for the Knights of the Teutonic in 1212. It was later re-built in 13 C by the Saxons to protect the city of Brosov. Some versions refer to Bran Castle as the base for Vlad Tepes; although this point is heatedly debated among Dracula fans.

Bran Castle situated near and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, on DN73.

The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. Tourists can see the interior individually or by a guided tour. At the bottom of the hill is a small open air museum park exhibiting traditional Romanian peasant structures (cottages, barns, etc.) from across the country.

Făgăraş Castle

 Făgăraș is a city in central Romania, located in Braşov County (German: Kronstadt. It lies on the Olt River and has a population of 38,020 as of 2010.

Although the city has become almost totally Romanian-populated through Saxon and Hungarian emigration, the diverse background is still obvious. The most important attraction points in the city are the fortress, Radu Negru High school, the Reformed Church and the local Catholic church.