Raahe Guide Raahen Esittely
Thinking about traveling to Romania? Romania is located in Southeast Europe on the Black Sea border between Bulgaria and Ukraine. The country is bordered by Moldova, Ukraine, the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Hungary. Transylvania and Moldavia form the northern part of the country. The Carpathian Mountains run through the center of the country.
The area of Romania is about 238,391 square kilometers, the population is about 19.1 million and the official spoken language is Romanian. Other popular languages are Hungarian and German.
Attractions in Romania
Widely known as the land of vampires, Romania has much more to offer than Dracula’s castle. The country has an impressive alpine scenery with skiing resorts, hiking trails and scenic roads running through quaint villages. Equally impressive is the Danube Delta where millions of birds live carelessly. Some must-see attractions in Romania are the following:
Danube Delta
In spite of its remote location and low accessibility, Danube Delta is a popular destination for nature lovers and retreat seekers. The UNESCO-protected Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve boasts the third largest biodiversity in the world, coming right after the Great Barrier Reef and Galapagos Islands.
There are 300 bird species that flock here from Africa and Asia. Other wildlife includes wolves, wildcats and otter. Getting around the area is possible only by boat. Don’t hesitate to use your binoculars and camera while cruising down the willow-lined canals to capture the stunning flora and fauna.
Peleș Castle
Perched on a Carpathian hillside against the backdrop of a lush forest, Peleș Castle is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Romania. The Neo-Renaissance castle was built in the mid 19th century as a holiday residence for King Carol I. Nowadays, there are tours around the castle where visitors can see the opulent rooms, the king’s huge weapons collection, and the queen’s stunning frescoes collection.
They can also roam the castle’s idyllic gardens and take pictures. Moreover, you take a cable car ride from Sinaia to get a bird’s eye view of the castle and its picturesque surroundings.
Salina Turda
One of the most visited attractions in Romania is the 17th century Salina Turda salt mine. Over its history, the immense underground world served as a food storage and bomb shelter. The excavations stopped in 1932, and after a long stagnation period the mine was transformed into a fascinating theme park. As you head 120 meters under the earth, you will encounter a wonderworld with an amphitheater, a Ferris wheel, a panoramic lift, a bowling alley, and a lake where you can take a boat ride.
Sibiu
The town of Sibiu is a crown jewel of central Romania. It is packed with well-preserved medieval buildings and cobbled streets that give you the impression of traveling back in time.
The Big Square, where most tourists flock, boasts a great collection of medieval architecture, a lovely church and Bruckental Palace housing Romania’s oldest museum. The Small Square is famous for its houses with oddly shaped windows that resemble eyes, also known as the Eyes of Sibiu.
Moreover, the town is close to Făgăraș Mountains, a popular trekking destination, and the Valea Zânelor Clay Castle with a fairy-tale appearance. Not far runs the Transfăgărășan Road that offers some of the most spectacular drive through the Carpathians.
Palace of the Parliament
The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world. The grandiose structure was built by 20,000 workers in the 1980s during the reign of the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. It has more than 3,000 rooms and 4,000 tones of crystal. The rooms are regally decorated with marble, gold and frescoes.
Aside from housing the Romanian Parliament, the palace features museums, art galleries and event halls. There are tours where you can visit the opulent interiors and learn about Romania’s troubling past under the communist rule.
