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Destination information: Map of Europe Holiday Property With
the overthrow in 1989 of communist dictator
Nicolae Ceauêescu
well behind it, Romania is pushing ahead with its market
economy reforms. The standard of living remains generally
low, and the development of a tourist infrastructure
lags behind that of other eastern European countries.
Consumer items as simple as toilet paper are no longer
irritatingly difficult to find in a hotel, and shops
in the large cities stock most western creature comforts—the
only problem being that most Romanians cannot yet afford
to buy them.
Despite these difficulties, Romania, a country almost half the size of France and with an equally varied terrain, has much to offer. It is perhaps best known for the exploits of Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century real life inspiration for Count Dracula—theme tours based around the legendary vampire, including visits to the eerie Bran Castle, are one of the mainstays of the tourist industry today. The Count's home territory of Transylvania is a beautiful mix of dramatic scenery, alpine landscapes, and deep forests where bears roam freely. The Black Sea coast around Constanta and the increasingly popular ski resort of Poiana Braêov are the two major holiday destinations. The Carpathian Mountains cover a great swathe of western Romania and offer superb scenery with unsurpassed opportunities for hiking. The vast Danube Delta, where the great central European river completes its 2,841-kilometre (1,775-mile) journey, boasts a unique wetland ecosystem which sustains a remarkable variety of wildlife. A number of well-preserved medieval towns boasting Gothic spires and ancient fortified walls reveal Hungarian, German, and Turkish influence, and the country's Christian heritage includes the celebrated painted monasteries of Bukovina. Romanians are a warm people whose lively character has withstood the rigours and deprivations of the recent past. Many aspects of their traditional culture are still the norm in more remote rural parts of the country, and visitors who are able to get off the beaten track for even a short while are rewarded with glimpses of a fast-disappearing European lifestyle. The most important ethnic minority are the Magyars, or Hungarians, who number about 2 million and live mostly in the Transylvanian region of the country.
Bucharest (Bucureêti)
today is a far cry from the 19th-century city known
as the “Paris of the Balkans”. Tourists with an interest
in political history should see the former Communist
Party Central Committee building where, in December
1989, dictator Nicolae Ceauêescu
addressed jeering crowds before trying to flee the
country he had terrorised for more than 25 years.
Ceauêescu's
megalomaniac vision, which led to the destruction
of so much of old Bucharest, culminates in the gargantuan
Centru Civic and the unspeakably vulgar House of the
Republic, four times the size of Versailles and still
largely unoccupied.
The Black Sea Resorts Warm climate,
miles of sand beaches, ancient monuments, vineyards
and modern resorts invite travellers to seriously consider
Romania's Black Sea Coast as their summer vacation destination. Medieval Towns Brasov, Sibiu
and Sighisoara are some of Europe's best-preserved medieval
towns. They are living, veritable symbols of Transylvania.
Visitors can stumble upon unique architectural treasures,
small ancient tiny houses that line narrow streets,
cobble stoned passageways and covered stone steps as
they wander. Tiny shops purvey a range of antiques and
fine hand-made products of artisans and artists who
have established little communities in the countryside.
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