Bucharest and Bucovina

Depending on your arrival time, you can already have a first glimpse of the city of Bucharest

Nicknamed "the Little Paris of the '30s", the capital of Roumanie will surprise you with the variety of its architecture: the Stavropoleous Church, the Lipscani merchants street, the Royal Palace, the Romanian Atheneum and the impressive Palace of Parliament – People's House, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon are just a few visits not to be missed.

Car rental pickup and departure to Brasov in the morning.

A first stop on the way will be at Sinaia to visit the impressive Peles Castle, dating from the late 19th century. It was built following the personal financing of Romania's first king, Carol I of Hohenzollern. The result of the work was a true marvel: an imposing castle in Neo-Renaissance German style, with sharp profiles, an abundance of carved wood and statues.

A cable car ride up to 2000 m, on the ridges of the Bucegi Mountains is also possible.

Then you continue towards Prejmer to see one of the largest fortified churches in southeastern Europe, built in the 14th century. Each family in the village had a room within the ramparts, which they inherited from generation to generation, where they stayed for the duration of sieges.

If you wish to visit the Bear Sanctuary at Zarnesti you will need to start the day with this visit because there are only guided group visits in the morning.

Next, you can take an easy walk in the Zarnesti Gorges before heading towards Bran where you will find the famous Bran Castle, often mistakenly attributed to Prince Vlad Tepes. Perched on a rock, the castle overlooks the valley that connects Wallachia to Transylvania. Used by Saxon settlers since the 13th century, this route was a very important commercial road.

Back in Brasov, late in the afternoon, visiting the old town center will be very pleasant. Don't miss the Black Church, the most impressive Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, Council Square, Rope Street.

For this day we propose two unmissable Saxon villages, namely Viscri and Biertan, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The village of Viscri (Deutschweisskirch) will charm you with the architecture of its pediment houses, beautifully colored in blue with facades decorated with moldings. The village has already seduced Prince Charles, who purchased a residence there…

Biertan houses one of the largest Saxon fortified churches in Transylvania. The fortress is protected by several rows of ramparts. The treasury chamber in the church is particularly interesting, thanks to its door dating from 1515 and featuring a 19-point locking system - which earned it international renown following its presence in 1900 at the Paris Exposition Universelle.

In the afternoon you can embark on a "treasure hunt" in Sighișoara ("Schassburg" for the Saxons), an imposing fortress, still inhabited, perched on a hill that overlooks the entire valley. Visit the museum housed in the Clock Tower, whose upper terrace offers a superb view. Then, hike up to the Church on the Hill, passing through the wooden-covered staircase, which facilitates access to the hilltop. On your way down, stop at the Deer House and, why not, have dinner at a nice restaurant in the citadel.

Not far from Sighisoara is the village of Corund, one of the most representative Hungarian pottery centers in Transylvania. The dominant colors of the ceramics are blue, green and yellow, with many stylized floral representations. You will have the opportunity to buy products directly from the artisan!

Stop at Red Lake (Lacul Rosu in Romanian). Following the collapse of a huge rock during a terrible storm in the years 1837, the course of the Bicaz river was blocked and a natural lake flooded the spruce forest. You can still see the stumps sticking out of the water. During heavy rains, the alluvium brought by the torrents colors the lake red – hence its name "Red Lake".

Next you will pass through the Bicaz Gorges, whose vertical limestone walls are impressive. An opportunity to take a walk, accompanied by the roaring of the Bicaz river, and to see the artisans who sell their products along the road.

The Agapia Monastery is an Orthodox convent monastery, built in the 17th century. The church is beautifully decorated with frescoes executed in 1858 by Nicolae Grigorescu, considered the national painter of Roumanie and also the founder of modern Roumanie painting. Like all the array of Roumanie painters of the 19th century, he studied painting in Barbizon.

Then departure for Voronet (nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the East), the most famous of the monasteries of Bucovine, part of UNESCO heritage since 1993

Continuation towards Humor and then return to Agapia passing through the town of Targu Neamt which houses on its heights an impressive citadel recently restored.

On your way to Berca, stop in Piatra Neamt to visit the old town center, the church, Stephen the Great's Tower and the Cucuteni Eneolithic Art Museum (Muzeul de Artă eneolitică Cucuteni), which houses the largest and richest collection of artworks from the Cucuteni-Trypillia Culture (a Neolithic culture of the 5th and 4th millennia BC).

Late in the afternoon you will arrive in Berca, the starting point for visiting the "mud volcanoes" - a very rare phenomenon in the world, which has created a truly lunar landscape.

Route towards Bucharest and car rental return at the hotel

Continuation of visits in Bucharest if you did not have enough time at the beginning of the program.

Free time. Last shopping before your return.

Transfer to the airport for departure, at your own expense.