Transylvania: Culture & Nature

Transfer from the airport to the hotel by taxi at your own expense.

Cluj, the largest city in Transylvania, is one of the most important university, cultural and industrial centers in the country. If you arrive around noon you will have time to discover the old town center which stands out for the richness of its Gothic and Baroque architecture: the Roman Catholic Church of Saint-Michel, one of the oldest religious monuments in the city, the birthplace of Matei Corvin, Banffy Castle - built in the 18th century in Baroque style, which today houses the Art Museum. You can also admire the Orthodox Cathedral, the National Theatre and the Opera in Baroque and Rococo style.

Car pick-up in the morning in Cluj and departure towards the Trascau Mountains.

On the way to Rimetea, a visit to the Turda Salt Mine is a must. This salt mine, exploited since antiquity, leaves no one indifferent. Over the centuries it has served as a makeshift shelter, cheese aging cellar, tourist attraction, therapeutic center, leisure center…

Not far from Turda are the Turda Gorges, a canyon formed by the erosion of limestone, one of the wonders of the Apuseni Mountains, with a length of 2900 meters, while its walls can reach 300 meters in height. The spectacular landscapes and the diversity of fauna and flora make these gorges one of the main tourist attractions of the Apuseni Mountains. We recommend a walk along the gorges, very easy, which will take you 1-2 hours.

Finally, in the afternoon you will arrive at Rimetea – one of the most beautiful villages in Roumanie. It will amaze you with its white houses with geraniums at the windows. It is part of the UNESCO heritage!

This day will be a treat for nature lovers.

We offer you a hike on Piatra Secuiului (The Stone of the Székely) which will take approx. 4 hours. It's not easy because you'll need to "climb" about 600m, but it's worth it because from the ridges you'll have a spectacular panorama over the surrounding villages and mountains.

Towards the end of the morning you will arrive at Alba Iulia, a city that is home to a recently restored Vauban citadel that will enchant you and transport you to the early 18th century.

In the vicinity of the citadel there are lovely restaurants where you can have lunch before continuing on the road to Sibiu.

In the afternoon you will visit the city of Sibiu – European capital in 2007.

Sibiu was founded in the 12th century by Saxon settlers established in the region. The city still retains its medieval atmosphere.

To visit: the Great Square (Piata Mare) - the centre of the city since the 16th century, home to the Council Tower, one of the city's symbols; the Small Square (Piata Mica) and Huet Square; the Evangelical Church - the Bridge of Lies – which dates from 1859, is the first cast iron bridge in Southern Europe. It bears this name because it is supposed to collapse as soon as a liar crosses it.

Finally, before leaving Sibiu there is still an unmissable site, the ASTRA Open-Air Ethnographic Museum – a concentration of the beauty and ingenuity of the Roumanian people.

Sibiu, cradle of Saxon civilization in our country, borders to the west a grouping of Romanian villages that form an ethnological unit called Marginimea Sibiului. These villages bear witness to the cultural identity of Romanians in this region.

Since time immemorial, these shepherd populations have been masters in the processing of wool and hides.

Paltinis is a mountain resort located in the Cindrel Massif, at 1440 meters altitude, being the highest ski resort in Roumanie. Paltinis is a popular destination for hikers thanks to the landscapes surrounding it and thanks to the fresh air that gives energy and the desire to discover the surroundings.

There are many hiking trails in the Cindrel Mountains, starting from Paltinis for both experienced and less experienced hikers. It's up to you to choose! We will provide you with a map with descriptions of the possible itineraries.

At the level of Cârțișoara, you can take the Transfagarasan road, a mythical road winding up to Balea Lake, a glacial lake located at 2,040 m altitude in the Fagaras Mountains, the highest mountains of the Southern Carpathians. A grandiose panorama opens towards the South of Transylvania.

Depending on the weather and your physical condition, a hike of approximately 2-3 hours will be possible from Balea towards the ridges of the Fagaras Mountains.

Then you will descend to resume the road towards Brasov. If time permits, you can stop at Fagaras to visit the fortified citadel converted into a museum.

During this day you will explore the Brasov region.

The Bran Castle, falsely attributed to Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) was built on the site of an old small fortress, which stood on the border between Wallachia and Transylvania. The castle attracts thousands of travelers, who are captivated not only by the legend of Vlad the Impaler, but also by its interesting architecture: small rooms, narrow corridors, dead ends…

After visiting the castle we recommend visiting the Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti and then a walk through the Prapastiile Zarnestilor - the walls that border the trail reach heights of up to 200 meters, covered with moss patches. The beauty of the landscape will take your breath away. The hike can continue further towards the ridges of Masif Piatra Craiului.

In the morning take some time to stroll through the old town centre. Don't miss the must-sees: the Black Church (the largest Gothic cathedral between Vienna and Istanbul), Rope Street – a very narrow alley, the Council Square.

On the way to Miercurea Ciuc you can visit the Prejmer peasant fortress, built by the Knights of the Teutonic Order in the 15th century, currently part of UNESCO heritage.

Then you will cross the Land of Szeklers (South-East Transylvania, the only region of Roumanie where Hungarian speakers are in the majority) to arrive in Praid. A village known for its salt mine with therapeutic properties, for the salt mountain and its ethnocultural traditions.

This day will be dedicated to discovering Saxon heritage in Transylvania – citadels, fortified churches and villages where the imprint of the Saxon community is still present.

The result of almost nine centuries of existence of the Saxon community in southern Transylvania is a unique cultural and architectural heritage in Europe. Transylvania is, even nowadays, a fabulous medieval territory, home to many well-preserved fortified cities and churches, built between the 13th and 15th centuries by the Saxons.

The fortified church of Biertan and the citadel of Sighisoara are among the most well-known sites in this region but throughout the day you will cross many more villages, each having its evangelical church and typical houses.

Car return in the afternoon in Cluj.