Description

The Romanians, EU’s most religious nation have kept up their diverse Christian legacy and used it as an identity anchor during the long centuries of foreign domination and also through the short but fierce decades of communism. The World Heritage Organization has recognized the value of the near-mint condition Byzantine art of the Orthodox churches and the uniqueness of the handcraft displayed by the tallest wooden churches in the world, all of whom scatter the bucolic landscape of Northern Romania.

Specifications

 

The tour includes:

– The company and expenses of an experienced, licensed and knowledgeable tour guide, fluent in your language, throughout your tour;

– Private chauffeured transport throughout your tour (including all local airport transfers);

– All transportation expenses;

– Airfare and airport taxes for both in-tour flights;

– 4 to 5 nights in 4* or 5* hotels (depending on the tour level chosen), 2 to 3 nights in 4* hotels and 2 nights in 4* guesthouses;

– All entrance fees and non-professional photo taxes;

– All costs associated with other visits you may decide to add to the itinerary (by yourself or with the assistance of our staff);

– All breakfasts;

– One exclusive traditional lunch;

– Complimentary Wi-Fi internet in the vehicle.

The tour does not include:

– Airfare to and from Romania;

– Fees for excess luggage on the in-tour flights;

– Your meals other than specified;

– Gratuities for accompanying staff (only if satisfied and entirely up to your discretion).

9 to 12 Days. UNESCO Religious Art & Architecture Tour

See Dynamic Tour Map
START END
Arrival 4
Day 1

Arrival

4

Private chauffeured transfer from the Bucharest airport/border to your downtown hotel.

Add-On

Add-On Day. Bucharest

Along with your tour guide, you will discover Bucharest’s wide squares and avenues, bordered by 19th century art nouveau French-inspired architecture, which during the age earned the city the nickname “Little Paris”. The political struggles of the last century have changed the city landscape, leaving behind a remarkable diversity, ranging from the palaces and concert halls of old to the worker neighborhoods  and megalomaniacal projects of the communist decades, who’s ultimate expression is the largest parliament building in the world. Snug in the very center of town is Bucharest’s very own “Vatican” – the seat of the Patriarch, the leader of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The colorful pedestrian Old Town offers a variety of choices for a leisurely evening, with its beehive of activity around its restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

  • Highlights:
  • Walking tour of the Old Town;
  • Tour of the three most iconic buildings of the city (Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum and Ceausescu Residence);
  • Patriarchal church;
  • Communist neighborhood.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    Visit of the biggest Parliament building in the world
    Add-On Day. Bucharest 60
    Flight to and Tour of Cluj 61
    Day 2

    Flight to and Tour of Cluj

    Private chauffeured transfer to the Bucharest airport for your noon flight (approx. 1 hour) to Cluj. The second largest city in the country is rapidly becoming known as “the Silicon Valley of Europe”. After lunch and check-in, get introduced to this vibrant cosmopolitan city, by taking a guided walk along its pedestrian quarters, central park and wide squares. The city scape is riddled with a multitude of different styled steeples, reflecting the ethnic and religious melting pot of Central Transylvania.

    • Highlights:
  • In-tour flight to Cluj;
  • City tour of Cluj;
  • St. Michael Cathedral;
  • Mathias Corvinus statuary complex;
  • Cluj National Theater.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    The mighty 14th century St. Michael Gothic Cathedral
    Day 3

    To Maramures

    47

    The region of Maramures, isolated by two mountain ranges, kept close ties with its customs, thus preserving more than anywhere in the country the habit of wearing the traditional clothes, especially on holidays and while going to church. Short stop in Rohia, at a monastic establishment that gradually developed in the 20th century, by offering shelter from communist oppression to several religious and philosophical figures of the time. Enjoy a copious authentic Maramures lunch, in the house of the former local cultural promoter, now a good friend of ours. The nearby town of Sighet hosts a former communist prison, now a museum, where the country’s previous political elite used to be locked away during the 50’s and early 60’s. Then, hug the Romanian Northern border to the colorful and unique Merry Cemetery, where the life story of the deceased is reflected on their wooden crosses in meaningful and sometimes even hilarious hand-carved images and poems. En route to your cozy accommodation, get a glimpse of the tallest wooden church in the world, Peri (UNESCO).

    • Highlights:
  • Rohia monastery;
  • Maramures traditional exclusive lunch;
  • Communist oppression Memorial Museum of Sighet;
  • Merry Cemetery of Sapanta;
  • Tallest wooden church in the world (UNESCO).
    • CENTERPIECE :
    The colorful and cheery cemetery of Sapanta
    To Maramures 47
    To Bistrita 62
    Day 4

    To Bistrita

    In Maramures, elaborately carved timber is still heavily used for buildings and, especially, for intricate gates. All the communities of the region have their respective wooden churches. In an out of the way village, visit one of them, not in use anymore (so you can explore all the nooks and crannies). Due to its location, it is virtually unknown, even though the almost 300 year old interior naïf painting is still incredibly vivid. A few villages away, in an idyllic valley, lies the breathtaking complex of Barsana convent, a great recent example of the style. The pointy steepled wooden church, of impressive height, watches over the occasional nun, leaning over the colorful flower beds, always kept in perfect order. A short distance away, don’t miss the church of Ieud. Some historians argue that, perched upon its hilltop, it managed to weather for more than 600 years both nature and nomadic invasions. Leave the enchanted land of Maramures behind, going through villages, following rivers and crossing hay-stacked valleys, surrounded by mountains. End the day in the town of Bistrita, with a walk through its small but pretty pedestrian center.

    • Highlights:
  • Hidden away old wooden church with naïf painting;
  • Barsana wooden architectural complex;
  • Oldest wooden church in Maramures, Ieud.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    Visit of the fairytale nunnery of Barsana
    Day 5

    To Bucovina

    After a scenic crossing of the Carpathians, that meets all the stereotypes of the Swiss Alps except the yodeling, venture into Bucovina, a region known for its UNESCO protected exterior painted churches. First visit the most representative museum of the long lasting local tradition of egg painting. Then delve into the world of Byzantine artwork. The church of Moldovita is one of three key examples of this style, which makes Bucovina, a once remote area, one of the most unique and desired art destinations of Eastern Europe. A short distance away, the heavy walls of Sucevita convent hide the largest and most recent (late 16th century) of the UNESCO protected painted churches. The themes of the scenes depicted on its walls vary considerably from its earlier counterparts. In the early evening, reach the town of Gura Humorului. In the evening or before leaving the region next day, visit the 15th century church of Voronet, which sports its world famous vibrant blue (applied on its exterior walls), which has baffled scientists until recently with its formula that allowed it to withstand the ravages of time almost unchanged.

    • Highlights:
  • Museum of painted eggs;
  • Moldovita Monastery’s (UNESCO) frescos and garden;
  • Sucevita Monastery’s (UNESCO) frescos and defenses;
  • “The Sistine Chapel of the East”, Voronet Monastery (UNESCO).
    • CENTERPIECE :
    UNESCO 16th century Byzantine frescos
    To Bucovina 63
    Add-On Day. Iasi 64
    Add-On

    Add-On Day. Iasi

    The city of Iasi, the former capital of Moldova for three centuries, preserves its charm and grandeur, majestically expressed by the neo-gothic Palace of Culture (finished in 1925), now a complex of museums. Its gardens, terraces and water pools could fit into any postcard of Vienna or Paris. One of the landmarks of the city has been designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel (yes, the guy with the tower). Close by, the 1642 Three Hierarchs church is built in Byzantine style but completely covered with Islamic-patterned bas-relieves, that stand proof to the Ottoman cultural influence. A few steps away, the massive Metropolitan Cathedral attracts, every September, ecstatic crowds of more than 150.000 pilgrims from around the country.

    • Highlights:
  • Walking tour of Iasi;
  • Palace of Culture;
  • Metropolitan Cathedral;
  • Three Hierarchs Church;
  • National Theater.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    The Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, host of the largest pilgrimage in the country
    Day 6

    To Piatra Neamt

    Today, you visit three other of Moldova’s iconic spots. First, take a short hike up the steep hill crowned by one of Moldova’s most strategic fortresses, the reputation of which has inspired generations of writers. Access is still done over a long draw bridge, almost 30 feet into the air. Then, in the populous convent of Agapia, the nuns are dividing their time between carpet weaving and worshiping in a centuries old church, decorated by the most prominent Romanian painter. In his early 20’s he set off to break the Orthodox Church’s custom of using the Byzantine style for its vaulted frescoes. Before arriving in Piatra Neamt for the evening, visit another center of Orthodox spirituality, in Varatec.

    • Highlights:
  • 14th century Neamt fortress;
  • Agapia Monastery’s neoclassical painting;
  • Varatec Monastery.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    The Renaissance-styled frescoes of Agapia Monastery, created by Romania's most celebrated painter
    To Piatra Neamt 65
    To Targu Mures 66
    Day 7

    To Targu Mures

    Venturing through one of the Carpathian’s narrowest and most scenic gorges, exit the historical province of Moldova and head back into Transylvania. Stop at Red Lake to taste some fresh trout straight from the lake and, possibly, take a rowing boat ride or a short hike. The 5 mile long lake was formed in 1838, as a result of a landslide, following an earthquake. This area is heavily visited by Hungarians because it represents an ethnic enclave located in the dramatic mountainous backdrop, hard to come by in much flatter Hungary. In one of the local villages, Ditrau, the locals erected a surprisingly neat and spacious Catholic church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This area also hosts the largest Catholic pilgrimage in Central and Eastern Europe, amounting for as much as a third of the attendance of the largest on the continent (el Camino de Santiago). In 2019, the sermon was given by Pope Francis himself.

    • Highlights:
  • Stroll through the Bicaz gorges;
  • Red Lake;
  • Ditrau Catholic church.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    Stroll through the natural wonder of the narrow Bicaz gorges
    Add-On

    Add-On Day. To and Around Sighisoara

    Extend your exploration of Romanian UNESCO sites by heading South towards Sighisoara, a place so medievally correct that you could believe you’ve stepped back in time. You may still walk the cobbled streets and marvel at the defense towers. On one of them, the bullet marks from the last siege of the city are still visible. The real Dracula was born in Sighisoara in 1431 – the house is still well maintained. A short distance away, the church of Biertan, another UNESCO site, has impressed visitors for five centuries with its three distinctive lines of fortifications. Enter the reconciliation room, where couples about to divorce were being locked up. For lunch, prepared by local women, you are invited into a restored medieval tower, in the village of Alma Vii. Then, if you choose, we can also pay a visit to a local traditional gypsy craftsman. Meet the entire family and find out about the lifestyle of this unique ethnic group. In the afternoon, proceed to the city of Medias. Take a walking tour through the colorful streets of this walled city and see the over 220 ft. high leaning tower of the main cathedral in town, before returning to Targu Mures.

    • Highlights:
  • Walking tour of Sighisoara (UNESCO);
  • Biertan fortification complex (UNESCO);
  • Home cooked lunch served in a medieval tower;
  • Frequent addition: Meet the gypsies;
  • Short stroll in Medias.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    Visit of the 12th century Sighisoara Citadel
    Add-On Day. To and Around Sighisoara 68
    To Cluj and Flight to Bucharest 67
    Day 8

    To Cluj and Flight to Bucharest

    The ethnic and religious mix of Transylvania is perfectly reflected by the city of Targu Mures (approx. half Romanian and half Hungarian), whose diverse Christian Cathedrals frame the charming Roses Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare. In less than a mile, one can pray in four different Christian denomination churches, whose architecture also spans several centuries. The two century-long rule of the Habsburgs over the land left its mark through the iconic Palace of Culture, equally colorful on its glazed tile roof and on its exquisite secession interiors. Depending on your flight schedule, later in the day you can choose to go underground and visit a former salt mine, turned into a futuristic-looking tourist attraction featuring a lake and an island. Continue North, to Cluj, for your in-tour flight back to Bucharest. Private chauffeured transfer from the airport to your Bucharest hotel.

    • Highlights:
  • Walking tour of Targu Mures with the Old Fort;
  • Palace of Culture;
  • Turda salt mine;
  • In-tour flight to Bucharest.
    • CENTERPIECE :
    Visit of the Palace of Culture, a great example of secession art
    Day 9

    Departure

    Private chauffeured transfer to the airport, for your flight home. End of our services.

    Departure 19
    Pasarani Street no.5, Bucharest
    District 2, Romania

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