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A Grand Tour of Romania:
Maramures to Bucharest
Discover the colorful villages, traditions and crafts of Maramures, and participate in one of the local festivals. Delight in the unspoiled rural life and legendary painted monasteries of Moldova. Explore Transylvania’s medieval gems. Enjoy cosmopolitan Bucharest.
Special Festival Tour Date: Sep 5-16, 2008
Price per Person Twin $2,295 * Single Supplement $570
Our Tour Features
* 11 nights at deluxe, first-class & moderate hotels, including porterage
* Buffet breakfasts & Dinners with beverages daily
* 2 Traditional farm house lunches
* All entrances and special visits according to itinerary
* English-speaking Guide throughout
* Transportation by modern coach
* Transfers by coach on arrival
* Individual transfers on departure
* Participation limited to a maximum of 15
Fri, Sep 5
Arrival Cluj * To Baia Mare
Independent arrivals at Cluj airport (1). We are greeted and transferred to Baia Mare for three nights at the Carpati Hotel. Welcome Dinner at the hotel. (D)
Sat, Sep 6
Maramures: Villages, Wooden Churches, Colorful Traditions
We drive to Sapanta to visit the unique Merry Cemetery, where colorful folk-art paintings are carved into the wooden grave markers. We pass picturesque villages on the way to Sighetu Marmatiei, historic capital of Maramures, to tour its open-air village museum and its superb Maramures Museum. We stop at Plopis to admire its wooden architecture, and at Surdesti, we view the highest wood church in Europe, rising 170 feet. (B, D)
Sun, Sep 7
Festival Day – Jocul Satului in Hoteni
We drive to Hoteni, known for its wooden farm houses and decorated wooden gates, to participate in the festival of Jocul Satului. We will enjoy the colorful show given by the many regional folk bands and traditional dancing teams assembled here to celebrate. We have leisure time to sample the culinary specialities and admire local crafts. We stop at Budesti before returning to Baia Mare. (B, D)
Mon, Sep 8
From Maramures to Bucovina, Moldova
En route to Bucovina, renowned for its painted monasteries, its vineyards and fine wines and its unspoiled natural beauty, we stop in Ieud to view the murals of its Church on the Hill. At Barsana, we enjoy a special visit to a wood-carving workshop and watch the local craftsmen. After a traditional lunch at a farm house, we are received by the wife of the local priest, for a private viewing of her internationally renowned carpet collection woven by herself. We continue to Radauti for three nights at the Gerald Hotel. (B, L, D)
Tue, Sep 9
The Crafts & Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
We drive to Marginea for a special visit of the black pottery workshops before beginning our tour of the painted monasteries, all greatly influenced by Byzantine art. The brilliant colors of their exteriors have survived the elements since the 15th century. Today we tour Suceavita Monastery, considered the best-preserved of all, with stone fortification walls and towers and the most frescoes, and the award-winning fortified Moldovita Monastery, built as a refuge from the Turks. We tour the Wood Museum in Campulung Moldovenesc before returning to Radauti. (B, D)
Wed, Sep 10
Painted Monasteries * Suceava * Dragomirna Monastery
Today we tour Arbore Monastery, known for its predominance of green in its paintings; Humor, the smallest monastery, where shades of red were used, and Voronets, called the “Sistine Chapel of the East” for its exterior and interior frescoes, with biblical scenes and themes, and a predominance of a special blue, known as Voronet blue. We enjoy a sightseeing drive of Suceava, medieval capital of southern Moldova, and tour the unpainted Dragomirna Monastery with massive fortress-like walls. We admire the interior of its church and visit its Museum where 26 surviving illuminated manuscripts are displayed. We return to Radauti. (B, D)
Thu, Sep 11
Bucovina to Sighisoara, Transylvania
We leave enchanting Bucovina and drive through the spectacular Bicaz Canyon, into Transylvania, arriving in colorful Sighisoara, the best-preserved medieval fortified town in Romania. We enjoy a walking tour and visit the famous Clock Tower Museum with its Torture and Weapons Rooms. We stop at the house where a plaque marks the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, commonly called Dracula. We spend two nights at Dracula Danes Pension House, just outside the city, surrounded by magnificent scenery. Dinner at a local restaurant in Sighisoara. (B, D)
Fri, Sep 12
Sighisoara * Sibiu * Sighisoara
We drive to Sibiu for a comprehensive walking tour of its historic center- Large Square, Small Square and Huet Square. We view its baroque-style Catholic Church and admire the art at the Brukenthal National Museum, the first art museum in Romania and tour the impressive Evangelical Church, with its five pointed towers. We drive to Sibiel to visit a working farm and enjoy a traditional lunch. We visit the Museum of Icons Painted on Glass in its village church, returning to Sighisoara for a walking tour of its open-air Museum of Folk Civilization. Dinner at a local restaurant in Sighisoara. (B, D)
Sat, Sep 13
Brasov * Castle Bran * Sinaia
We drive to Brasov, a well-preserved medieval city and once a rich Saxon trading town. We stroll in the cobble-stoned Council Square and view its 15th century Weaver’s Bastion, the largest, best preserved medieval watchtower. We visit the 15th century Romanian Gothic Black Church, with a stark-white interior adorned by a colorful collection of antique Turkish carpets, and an astounding 4,000 pipe organ. We drive to Bran for a comprehensive tour of 14th century Bran Castle, built by the Brasov merchants to protect the borders. The castle has lots of hidden places that we discover. We continue to the resort town Sinaia, Pearl of the Carpathians, and overnight at the Palace Hotel. (B, D)
Sun, Sep 14
Peles Castle * Bucharest
We tour Peles Castle, former summer residence for the Romanian royal family, considered one of the best preserved royal castles in all Europe. Behind its Bavarian chalet façade are 160 rooms filled with treasures of all kinds. At Sinaia Monastery, we stop to admire its architecture and view some of its magnificent frescoes. We return to Bucharest through the scenic Prahova Valley and spend two nights at the Hotel Intercontinental. (B, D)
Mon, Sep 15
Bucharest Highlights
We enjoy a city tour of Bucharest, affectionately called “Little Paris” for its many wide tree-lined boulevards, fine architecture and French, once the second language of many Romanians. We pass the Romanian Atheneum, with distinctive Baroque dome; the Opera House; the National Military Club and Military Academy, Bucharest’s Arch of Triumph, built to commemorate the 1877 War of Independence, and Revolution Square. We visit the mammoth Palace of Parliament, world’s second largest building, where every detail is Romanian-made, from the 24-carat gold leaf on the ceilings to the hand-woven carpets on the floors. We view some of the collections of the National History Museum as well as its dazzling Treasury, with an impressive array of gold objects. This evening a Farewell Dinner. (B, D)
Tue, Sep 16
Departure
After breakfast, transfers are provided to Bucharest Otopeni airport. (B)
(1) Flights to Cluj leave from Bucharest Otopeni and Budapest. We suggest arriving in Cluj between 1:30-2:30 p.m.
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