Brasov

            Brasov was originally known since its foundation in 1235 by the name of Kronstad and is still called like so by the successors of its original German colonists. Protected by the mountain surroundings, Brasov is centered on a main market place and Saint Mary’s church. This is the reason why Brasov became the merchants’ and craftsmen’s town. The belt of the fortress around it made Brasov one of the most reinforced medieval towns in Transylvania.

            Brasov has gradually become a modern city, while still retaining traces of the past.

Day 1, Friday

Bucharest – Brasov

     Arrival at the international airport in Bucharest. Departure to Brasov city. In the evening, have a walk on Tampa Mountain for a great view over the city and its surroundings. Dinner and overnight in a 4* hotel in the city center.

Day 2, Saturday

Brasov – Prejmer – Harman – Bran

     Visit The Black Church, which acquired its name from the great fire in 1689 that blackened its walls. It is the greatest Gothic church in Transylvania and, in some historians’ point of view, the greatest religious edifice from Vienna to. More than that, inside the church there is one of the greatest organs in Europe (with 4000 pipes and famous for its sonority), and also the largest collection of old carpets from Asia Minor. The construction of this Gothic Evangelic church began around 1380, in the time of Vicar Thomas Sander, and initially it was named St. Mary’s Church.

     Visit the Council Square and the council House, built in the 10^th century and destroyed by the same fire that devastated the Black Church in 1689. It was rebuilt in Baroque style and nowadays it is the home of the National Museum which houses archaeological collections of ancient furniture and objects pertaining to the city’s crafts.

     The Rope Street is the narrowest street in the city and one of the narrowest streets in Europe, its width varies between 111 and 135 cm.

     Visit Catherine’s Gate was built by the Tailors’ Guild in 1559 for defensive purposes instead of an old gate; it was destroyed by the flood in 1526. The four small corner turrets (also seen in other Transylvanian towns) symbolize the fact that the town had judicial autonomy, and the “right of sword” (ius gladii) which was the right to decide on capital punishment. Above the entrance the tower bears the city’s coat of arms, a crown on an oak tree trunk and rootsand.

     Like other Saxon cities, Brasov refused to grant members of other nationalities the right to live in the city. This is why a prosperous Romanian community formed outside the walls of the city under the name of Schei. This is the home of the St. Nicholas’ Church, an excellent example of an orthodox cathedral. The old wooden gates make the neighborhood very appealing and the traditional feast The Youngsters of Brasov still takes place there in every spring.

     In Prejmer visit the 13^th century peasant fortress, one of the biggest in South-eastern Europe. Around the gothic church is a great defence wall with special hiding functions. Each family in the village owned a special “rescue room”, inherited from generation to generation, where the families where having permanent stocks of food and drinks so they could save their lives at the moment of the enemy attacks.

     In Harman (“the honey hill”) visit a 13^th century peasant citadel, with its church clock tower. During a recent restoration there was discovered the rest of an old exterior picture of this tower. This fortress, like the one in Prejmer, preserves inside the fortification part of the rooms owned by families in the village, where they were running to save their lives during the enemy attacks.

      Departure to Bran in order to visit the Bran Castle, known also as Count Dracula’s Castle, even though Dracula never passed there. Built between 1377 and 1382 by Brasov county residents, Bran stands 60 m above the surrounding landscape; a position that gave it a strategic military role in the Middle Ages. The modern history of Bran began in 1920, when the castle was donated o the royal family in recognition of the contribution to the accomplishment of the Great Union of December 1, 1918. Until 1927 the stronghold entered in a restoration process, being changes more into a plush summer residence, surrounded by a park, with promenade alleys, a lake, wells, terraces and a Tea House, where the Queen used to spend her afternoons.

     Dinner and overnight in a 4* tradition inn.

Day 3, Sunday

Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest

     Departure to Bucharest. Stop in Sinaia and visit the impressive Peles Castle, an imposing German neo-Renaissance castle with vertical and slim sharp profiles, irregular shapes, fragmented composition, and abundance of carved wood and decorative elements. It shelters large valuable collections of firearms, art objects and furniture. The foundation of the castle was laid in 1875 by Prince Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and was entirely paid from his own founds. In 1883, when completed, Peles would become Europe’s most modern castle: central heating, mobile ceiling, electricity etc.

     Last visits and shopping. Departure.

HIGHLIGHTS

* The Black Church

* Council Square and Council Square

* The Rope Street

* Catherine’s Gate

* Prejmer and Harman peasant fortresses

* Bran Castle

* Peles Castle

PRICE: 186 €/person

*60 €/person SGL Supplement

Included:

• Accommodation 1 night in 4* hotel and 1 night in * traditional inn
• Half-board (check-in with dinner and check-out with breakfast)
• Rent-a-car for 3 days
• Travel files
• Telephonic emergency call and support 24/7

Not included:

• Air tickets
• Entry tickets and taxes for cameras and filming
• Road transfers
• Fuel and parking taxes
• Tips