Hidden Treasures

Arrival at Bucharest airport and transfer to your hotel at your own expense.

Depending on your arrival time, you can already get a first glimpse 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 Athenaeum and the impressive Palace of Parliament – House of the People, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon are just a few visits not to be missed.

Upon arrival at the hotel in Bucharest today, you can discover the old center. There are many things to discover: Lipscani Street, Stavropoleos Church, the Parliament Palace, the History Museum where you can see the gold bracelets belonging to the Dacian royal treasure; the Art Museum or Ceausescu House.

In the early afternoon you will pick up the rental car and then head towards Horezu.

Before leaving the village of Horezu village we suggest you visit the Monastery as a UNESCO heritage site and visit a ceramics workshop.

On your way to Targu Jiu you absolutely must take a detour on the Transalpina road, one of the most impressive roads in the country that climbs up to 2150 m. From this road you will have a breathtaking panorama of the majestic Carpathians.

Before heading to Targu Jiu take the opportunity to visit the Museum of Popular Architecture in Curtisoara, where you will find the elements that served as a source of inspiration for Brancusi's sculptures.

The morning will be dedicated to visiting the central park, where the imposing sculptures of Constantin Brancusi, originally from this region, are located: the Table of Silence (Masa Tacerii), the Alley of Chairs (Aleea scaunelor), the Gate of the Kiss (Poarta Sarutului), the Endless Column (Coloana Infinitului)

Then you will take the road that runs along the Jiu Valley to reach Hunedoara, the city of the famous Corvin Castle – the largest castle in Roumanie. Over the centuries, the castle was owned by several princes of Transylvania, including Matei Corvin who was also king of Hungary.

Towards the end of the afternoon you will arrive in 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.

On the way to Cluj the visit of 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…

In early afternoon you will arrive in Cluj, the largest city in Transylvania and one of the most important university, cultural and industrial centers in the country.

In the afternoon you will have time to discover the old center which is remarkable for the wealth of its Gothic and Baroque architecture: the Roman Catholic Church of Saint-Michael, 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 Opera of Baroque and Rococo style.

You will leave Cluj heading towards Maramureș - a treasure trove of traditions and rituals still alive, which has carved its history in wood, preserving as nowhere else in Roumanie its traditions, art and folk costumes.

Maramures is an immense open-air museum and village daily life represents a genuine step back in time.

It owes its fame to wooden architecture – gates, houses, churches with pointed roofs but also to traditional crafts, such as weaving, wood carving, painting on wood or glass, and to its vibrant and rhythmic music and its inhabitants always happy to welcome you.

To get to Targu Mures, you will travel along the Iza Valley. Don't miss the Barsana Monastery, the village of Dragomiresti with its new church and its small museum of Romanian peasant life as well as the wooden churches of Ieud.

Once back in Transylvania you can stop at Bistrita, one of the 7 medieval citadels of Transylvania built by the Saxons. The Germans call Transylvania Siebenburgen!

This day will be dedicated to discovering the 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, cradle of many well-preserved fortified towns and churches, built between the 13th and 15th centuries by the Saxons.

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

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

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

To visit: the Great Square (Piata Mare) - center of the city since the 16th century where the Council Tower stands, one of the symbols of the city; 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 essential site, it is the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum ASTRA – a concentration of the beauty and ingenuity of the Romanian people.

In the afternoon you will take the road that runs along the Olt Valley to reach Bucharest in the evening.

You will return the rental car to the hotel in Bucharest.

Free time. Last shopping before your return.

Transfer to the airport for departure, at your expense.