Transylvania: not only Dracula

PHOTO BY Mark – Pixabay 

You say “Transylvania” and you immediately think of Count Dracula, vampires, monsters, fear. Then you might think that Transylvania is located in the heart of Romania and then you say to yourself: well, it is a poor and unknown country…! Nothing could be more wrong than this, today. Romania, in fact, together with all the Balkan territories attracts a new dynamic tourism. And Transylvania – with the precious help of Dracula, of course! – plays the lion’s share. Come and discover this region. You will be surprised. Beyond the castle of the famous bloodthirsty count… there is much more to see.

Transylvania, beyond the forest

The name Transylvania, in Romanian, means “beyond the forest”. In fact, for a long time it marked a border between the Romanian mountain territories and the great Hungarian plains, just beyond the thickly forested peaks – from which the term derives.

Consisting of the Apuseni Mountains, the Transylvanian plateau and the Great Plains still called “Hungarian”, this region has been exalted in its historical and artistic heritage thanks to the famous novel by Bram Stoker (1897) which had as its protagonist a vampire-man, Count Dracula. Inspired by the life of a real man, and with a real bad reputation (although he never really drank anyone’s blood!), Dracula has entered the planetary myth and today tourists who come to Transylvania are mainly looking for him. And “he” is at Bran Castle, in the province of Brasov, or at least that’s what the guides and tourist brochures say!

The truth is, Dracula’s castle could be anywhere: Transylvania, in fact, has preserved its medieval architectural heritage intact. There are many villages and towns with crenellated walls, castles, towers and fortresses. In addition to Bran, you can admire the castles of Pelesh, Pelisor, Rasnov and Corvino.

Cities of Transylvania

The capital of Transylvania is Cluj-Napoca, whose old town contains some splendid Gothic churches, Baroque palaces, large squares and avenues full of shops. Here is the most important airport in the region, Cluj Avram (CLJ), which -thanks to the support of excellent ground transportations, especially private transfers- allows easy travel in the surrounding lands. Not far from Cluj-Napoca are the Turda salt mines, an absolute natural wonder!

Brasov is the reference point for all “Dracula tours”, located a few kilometers from Bran Castle. In this city, in addition to the spectacular Market Square and the fascinating Black Cathedral, you can admire remarkable natural panoramas such as the Bucegi Mountains National Park and the Piatra Mare Massif.

Halfway between Brasov and Cluj-Napoca lies the city of Târgu Mureș, an industrial and commercial center rich in history and beauty: in addition to the many universities, it is home to dozens of splendid churches. The Palace of Culture’s Museum is the pride of the community. The city’s strategic position has allowed the construction of another airport, the third most important after Bucharest and Cluj: Transylvania Airport (TGM) where you can easily book private transportation that will take you to any destination.

Other iconic places of Transylvania are: Sighisoara, famous for its ancient multicoloured houses; Sibiu, with its elegant Central European style and its fortified historic center; Alba Iula, with its medieval and Roman fortifications; Biertan, famous for the medieval Citadel that preserves one of the oldest “fortified churches” in Romania.

Natural beauties

In Transylvania there are dozens of national parks and protected nature reserves. The almost completely “wild” territory offers spectacles of rare beauty. Among the wonders of this region we point out: the Duruitoarea Waterfall, the mud volcanoes (or “live fires”) of Buzau, Lake Techirghiol, Seven-Stairs Canyon, Rodnei Mountains, Lake Cuejdel reserve. In winter, many of the wooded mountains of this region turn into highly attractive ski resorts.

Useful tips for a trip to Transylvania

The best time to enjoy Transylvania is summer, or -at most- late spring. Exploring the entire region thoroughly takes at least two weeks, but the main destinations can be visited in 4 or 5 days.
To get around, always prefer private transportations with a local driver. With Transfeero you can easily book it long before leaving for Romania, so as not to run into “bad surprises” upon arrival.
What should you never do in Transylvania (but in Romania in general)? Meddling in discussions, disputes and quarrels. Sometimes these are “simple confrontations” that the people here manage animatedly …. But that’s their business and they do not like foreigners to take part in this!