ROMANIA - BUCHAREST, BRASOV, SIGHISOARA, SIBIU, CLUJ, .... TRANSYLVANIA.
.
Bucharest remains one of Eastern Europe's most attractive capitals, as the Communist Architecture begins to mingle with the old -aided by the leafy tree- lined boulevards, and Western purchase of ex-Communist palaces, some of which have become reasonably attractive hotels and trade centers.
The glorious Belle Epoque buildings outside the old city core survived to help continue the capital's reputation as "Little Paris."Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named "Bucur", whose name means "joy". His flute playing reportedly dazzled the locals and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.
Remodeled, in the late 19th century, by French and French-trained architects Bucharest even features a Triumphal Arch on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer that Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan days. Many years after the overthrown of the communist regime, the "House of the People" — the world's second largest building after the US Pentagon — reminds Romanians of the communist years. Only Romanian materials and products were used — local marble, cherry and walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially commissioned hand-woven tapestries, carpets and draperies — to build what supposed to be the headquarters of Romania's last communist leader.
Now renamed the Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of 1,000 rooms reflects the work of the country's best architects and artisans.Bucharest is one of the few cities in east-central Europe with gambling. Many 18th and 19th Century palaces and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos, where guests can play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance, dine on sumptuous buffets and dance all night to live music.
Today, Bucharest — the capital and largest city of Romania — is experiencing renewed vigor. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by: the old Romanian aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I, and the communist society.
Size:City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq. km)Buch. Metro area - 587 sq. miles (1521 sq. km)
Elevation:190-295 ft. (55-90 m) Population:2.1 milion (2002) Inhabited since:500 BC
First documented: 1459 AD.
Airports OTOPENI International Airport — 12 miles from downtown. Domestic Flights:Scheduled daily flights to / from Romania's main cities.International flights:scheduled flights to / from main cities in Europe, North America and Asia from Otopeni Airport.
TELES ROYAL PALACE IN THE BEAUTIFUL "ROMANIAN ALPS ABOUT HALFWAY TO BRASOV FROM BUCHAREST. (TERRIBLE PICTURE - SORRY. ... BEST I HAVE)
Please see the new picture at the beginning of this posting.
Bucharest remains one of Eastern Europe's most attractive capitals, as the Communist Architecture begins to mingle with the old -aided by the leafy tree- lined boulevards, and Western purchase of ex-Communist palaces, some of which have become reasonably attractive hotels and trade centers.
The glorious Belle Epoque buildings outside the old city core survived to help continue the capital's reputation as "Little Paris."Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named "Bucur", whose name means "joy". His flute playing reportedly dazzled the locals and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.
Remodeled, in the late 19th century, by French and French-trained architects Bucharest even features a Triumphal Arch on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer that Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan days. Many years after the overthrown of the communist regime, the "House of the People" — the world's second largest building after the US Pentagon — reminds Romanians of the communist years. Only Romanian materials and products were used — local marble, cherry and walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially commissioned hand-woven tapestries, carpets and draperies — to build what supposed to be the headquarters of Romania's last communist leader.
Now renamed the Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of 1,000 rooms reflects the work of the country's best architects and artisans.Bucharest is one of the few cities in east-central Europe with gambling. Many 18th and 19th Century palaces and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos, where guests can play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance, dine on sumptuous buffets and dance all night to live music.
Today, Bucharest — the capital and largest city of Romania — is experiencing renewed vigor. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by: the old Romanian aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I, and the communist society.
Size:City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq. km)Buch. Metro area - 587 sq. miles (1521 sq. km)
Elevation:190-295 ft. (55-90 m) Population:2.1 milion (2002) Inhabited since:500 BC
First documented: 1459 AD.
Airports OTOPENI International Airport — 12 miles from downtown. Domestic Flights:Scheduled daily flights to / from Romania's main cities.International flights:scheduled flights to / from main cities in Europe, North America and Asia from Otopeni Airport.
TELES ROYAL PALACE IN THE BEAUTIFUL "ROMANIAN ALPS ABOUT HALFWAY TO BRASOV FROM BUCHAREST. (TERRIBLE PICTURE - SORRY. ... BEST I HAVE)
Please see the new picture at the beginning of this posting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIBIU - MY FAVORITE MID SIZE, BUT YET PRESERVED AS A 19TH CENTURY CITY
IN TRANSYLVANIA. IT'S MOST TOURISTS' FAVORITE CITY AS WELL, IN ROMANIA.
Thanks to http://www.romaniatourism.com/
Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels* built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons. The riches amassed by its guilds paid for the construction of both impressive buildings and the fortifications required to protect them. Sibiu’s Old Town retains the grandeur of its earlier days when rich and powerful guilds dominated regional trade.
Like Sighisoara and Brasov, it has a distinctly Germanic feeling. Sections of the medieval wall still guard the historic area, where narrow streets pass steep-roofed 17th century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into vast, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square. Sibiu is a pedestrian-friendly city with two easily accessible levels: the Upper town, home to most of Sibiu's historic sights, and the Lower town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin. Traditionally, the Upper town was the wealthier part and commercial outlet, while the Lower town served as the manufacturing area.
The historical center includes the Great Square, Huet Square, the beautiful Passage of Steps connecting the upper town to the lower town, the well-known Bridge of Lies, Goldsmiths’ Square and the Small Square. * The seven walled citadels populated by the Saxons of Transylvania were known in German as the Siebenburgen.
The other Siebenburgen citadels are located in the towns of: Bistrita (Bistritz), Brasov (Kronstadt) , Cluj (Klausenburg) , Medias (Mediasch) , Sebes (Mühlbach) , Sighisoara (Schässburg) Interesting facts:- In 1797, Samuel von Hahnemann opened in Sibiu the world's first homeopathic laboratory - Sibiu is home to the first hospital in Romania (1292), the first pharmacy (1494) and the oldest museum in Romania, the Brukenthal Museum, opened in 1817 - The first book in the Romanian language was printed in Sibiu in 1544
BRASOV
Brasov is located in Central Romania, is 28.5 sq. miles (74 sq. kilometers) in size, and boasts an elevation of2,133 ft. (650 meters). Its population is 320,000, and it' been inhabited since
100 BC.
Main Attractions
Sights: Black Church, St. Nicholas Church, Brasov Fortress, Franciscan Monastery, Weavers' FortressMuseums: Museum of History, Museum of Ethnography, Brasov Museum of Art, Museum of the First SchoolArts / Shows: Brasov Philharmonic, Opera House, Drama Theater, Marionette Theater name="nearby">Nearby Attractions Poiana Brasov — mountain / ski resort (9 miles)Rasnov Fortress (10 miles).
Bran (Dracula) Castle and Bran village (20 miles) Saxon Villages and fortified churches in Harman, Sanpetru, Prejmer, Rotbav (20 miles) are half day trips, while Sinaia — Peles and Pelisor Castles - (30 miles), Sighisoara — medieval town (70 miles), and Sibiu — medieval town (85 miles), make excellent long day trips, though Sibiu and Sinaii BOTH desrve their own stays, perhaps even more so than Brasov- Kronstad.
BRASOV'S MAIN STREET AT DUSK (It's actually pretier from a shorter ngle, and without the lighting. It's a gorgeous middle-Europe German Town, now surrounded by good and very affordable ski resorts.
BRAN CASTLE (COUNT DRACULA- THE IMPALER'S CASTLE NEAR BRASOV)
Hands down, SIGHISOARA IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
and least known, NOT TO MENTION WELL PRESERVED MEDIEVAL
TOWNS IN EUROPE. THE PICS BELOW DON'T DO THE PLACE JUSTICE,
BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE!
CLUJ (formerly known as Clausenburg). This great Habsburg City in Transylvania & my last city on this trip has close to 400,00 inhabitants, and has a big royal town feeling. Cluj International Airport, 5 miles from downtown Cluj Domestic flights: daily flights to / from Bucharest and Timisoara International flights: scheduled flights to/ from several cities in Austria, Italy, Germany and Hungary.
Taxis from the airport/dowtown are about: $ 4.00. Train Stations: Cluj Train Station (Gara Cluj)Strada Garii nr. 1-3, Cluj (2 miles from downtown). Daily connections to / from any city in Romania.Daily connections to / from Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic.
ATLASSIB — scheduled bus service to Austria, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, Italy, France, Sweden — Telephone: 433.432 — http://www.atlassib.ro/CALIBRA — scheduled bus service to Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France Telephone: 190.808TRANS EUROPA — scheduled bus service to Germany, Netherlands Telephone: 190.090UNIFIX — scheduled bus service to Germany, Telephone: 430.425
Accommodations: listing 4-star Hotels (upscale) only :Onix, Rimini3-star Hotels (mid-scale):Transilvania, Continental, Napoca, Victoria, Paradis, & Best Western - all very inexpensive for their four stars.
Attractions to choose from: Sights: Tailors' Tower, Fortified Orthodox Church, Franciscan Monastery, St. Michael Church, Church of Ethnic Minorities, Cluj City Hall, Babes Boliay University, Pallace of Justice, Cluj Synagogue, Protestant Church, Cluj Botanical Garden.
Museums: National Museum of Art, Museum of Ethnography, Transylvania History Museum, Natural History MuseumArts / Shows: National Drama Theater, Opera House, Magyar Theater and Opera, Drama Theater, Transilvania Philharmonic, Marionette Theater.
Nearby Attractions: Belis — Fantanele LakeTurda GorgesDay Trips: Town of Bistrita — Saxon town (65 miles)Shopping:Handicrafts:Magazinul Central, Str. Gheorghe Doja 22 - 26Turist, Bd. 21 Decembrie 1989, nr. 10Ethnographic Museum Handicrafts ShopAntiques:Antichitati, Str. Napoca nr. 5Antichitati Ernest, Str. Horea 22Antiques-Consignatie, Bd. Eroilor 41.
Official Website of Cluj County: www.cjnet.ro
Some Distances from Cluj (HIGHLIGHTING ITS PROXIMITY
TO CENTRAL EUROPE'S CITIES) are, in miles:
Bucharest 273 Belgrade 370 Brasov 170 Budapest 256 Constanta (Black Sea) 439
Prague 610, Timisoara 207 & Vienna, only 427 miles.
SIBIU - MY FAVORITE MID SIZE, BUT YET PRESERVED AS A 19TH CENTURY CITY
IN TRANSYLVANIA. IT'S MOST TOURISTS' FAVORITE CITY AS WELL, IN ROMANIA.
Thanks to http://www.romaniatourism.com/
Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels* built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons. The riches amassed by its guilds paid for the construction of both impressive buildings and the fortifications required to protect them. Sibiu’s Old Town retains the grandeur of its earlier days when rich and powerful guilds dominated regional trade.
Like Sighisoara and Brasov, it has a distinctly Germanic feeling. Sections of the medieval wall still guard the historic area, where narrow streets pass steep-roofed 17th century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into vast, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square. Sibiu is a pedestrian-friendly city with two easily accessible levels: the Upper town, home to most of Sibiu's historic sights, and the Lower town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin. Traditionally, the Upper town was the wealthier part and commercial outlet, while the Lower town served as the manufacturing area.
The historical center includes the Great Square, Huet Square, the beautiful Passage of Steps connecting the upper town to the lower town, the well-known Bridge of Lies, Goldsmiths’ Square and the Small Square. * The seven walled citadels populated by the Saxons of Transylvania were known in German as the Siebenburgen.
The other Siebenburgen citadels are located in the towns of: Bistrita (Bistritz), Brasov (Kronstadt) , Cluj (Klausenburg) , Medias (Mediasch) , Sebes (Mühlbach) , Sighisoara (Schässburg) Interesting facts:- In 1797, Samuel von Hahnemann opened in Sibiu the world's first homeopathic laboratory - Sibiu is home to the first hospital in Romania (1292), the first pharmacy (1494) and the oldest museum in Romania, the Brukenthal Museum, opened in 1817 - The first book in the Romanian language was printed in Sibiu in 1544
BRASOV
Brasov is located in Central Romania, is 28.5 sq. miles (74 sq. kilometers) in size, and boasts an elevation of2,133 ft. (650 meters). Its population is 320,000, and it' been inhabited since
100 BC.
Main Attractions
Sights: Black Church, St. Nicholas Church, Brasov Fortress, Franciscan Monastery, Weavers' FortressMuseums: Museum of History, Museum of Ethnography, Brasov Museum of Art, Museum of the First SchoolArts / Shows: Brasov Philharmonic, Opera House, Drama Theater, Marionette Theater name="nearby">Nearby Attractions Poiana Brasov — mountain / ski resort (9 miles)Rasnov Fortress (10 miles).
Bran (Dracula) Castle and Bran village (20 miles) Saxon Villages and fortified churches in Harman, Sanpetru, Prejmer, Rotbav (20 miles) are half day trips, while Sinaia — Peles and Pelisor Castles - (30 miles), Sighisoara — medieval town (70 miles), and Sibiu — medieval town (85 miles), make excellent long day trips, though Sibiu and Sinaii BOTH desrve their own stays, perhaps even more so than Brasov- Kronstad.
BRASOV'S MAIN STREET AT DUSK (It's actually pretier from a shorter ngle, and without the lighting. It's a gorgeous middle-Europe German Town, now surrounded by good and very affordable ski resorts.
BRAN CASTLE (COUNT DRACULA- THE IMPALER'S CASTLE NEAR BRASOV)
Hands down, SIGHISOARA IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
and least known, NOT TO MENTION WELL PRESERVED MEDIEVAL
TOWNS IN EUROPE. THE PICS BELOW DON'T DO THE PLACE JUSTICE,
BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE!
CLUJ (formerly known as Clausenburg). This great Habsburg City in Transylvania & my last city on this trip has close to 400,00 inhabitants, and has a big royal town feeling. Cluj International Airport, 5 miles from downtown Cluj Domestic flights: daily flights to / from Bucharest and Timisoara International flights: scheduled flights to/ from several cities in Austria, Italy, Germany and Hungary.
Taxis from the airport/dowtown are about: $ 4.00. Train Stations: Cluj Train Station (Gara Cluj)Strada Garii nr. 1-3, Cluj (2 miles from downtown). Daily connections to / from any city in Romania.Daily connections to / from Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic.
ATLASSIB — scheduled bus service to Austria, Hungary, Germany, Serbia, Italy, France, Sweden — Telephone: 433.432 — http://www.atlassib.ro/CALIBRA — scheduled bus service to Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France Telephone: 190.808TRANS EUROPA — scheduled bus service to Germany, Netherlands Telephone: 190.090UNIFIX — scheduled bus service to Germany, Telephone: 430.425
Accommodations: listing 4-star Hotels (upscale) only :Onix, Rimini3-star Hotels (mid-scale):Transilvania, Continental, Napoca, Victoria, Paradis, & Best Western - all very inexpensive for their four stars.
Attractions to choose from: Sights: Tailors' Tower, Fortified Orthodox Church, Franciscan Monastery, St. Michael Church, Church of Ethnic Minorities, Cluj City Hall, Babes Boliay University, Pallace of Justice, Cluj Synagogue, Protestant Church, Cluj Botanical Garden.
Museums: National Museum of Art, Museum of Ethnography, Transylvania History Museum, Natural History MuseumArts / Shows: National Drama Theater, Opera House, Magyar Theater and Opera, Drama Theater, Transilvania Philharmonic, Marionette Theater.
Nearby Attractions: Belis — Fantanele LakeTurda GorgesDay Trips: Town of Bistrita — Saxon town (65 miles)Shopping:Handicrafts:Magazinul Central, Str. Gheorghe Doja 22 - 26Turist, Bd. 21 Decembrie 1989, nr. 10Ethnographic Museum Handicrafts ShopAntiques:Antichitati, Str. Napoca nr. 5Antichitati Ernest, Str. Horea 22Antiques-Consignatie, Bd. Eroilor 41.
Official Website of Cluj County: www.cjnet.ro
Some Distances from Cluj (HIGHLIGHTING ITS PROXIMITY
TO CENTRAL EUROPE'S CITIES) are, in miles:
Bucharest 273 Belgrade 370 Brasov 170 Budapest 256 Constanta (Black Sea) 439
Prague 610, Timisoara 207 & Vienna, only 427 miles.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário