Transylvania, Romania: Adventure in The Carpathian Mountains

Transylvania, Romania:
Adventure in The Carpathian Mountains

This is the perfect time of year to visit Transylvania and have a little fun. Transylvania is not a city or a county but a historical region located in central Romania that is famous for being the home of Vlad of Impaler - the origin of Dracula! I’m online, still trying to get tickets to the Halloween Party in 2028. It’s a hot ticket.

Today, we will deep dive into the Adventure itinerary. Tomorrow, we will focus on a Culture itinerary and Wednesday will bring the ultimate Relaxation itinerary. Can you relax in the land of Dracula? Check back on Wednesday (please) to see if we made it.
- Cris

Day 1: Brașov Old Town Walk

Head to the Black Church (Biserica Neagră) in the center of Brasov. Construction began in the 14th Century (and taking 100 years to complete), the Black Church was commissioned to prove to the world that the citizens of Corona were important, successful people. This was the original Instagram status symbol. As merchants traveled among towns, you could hear them casually say ‘have you seen the new church they are building in Corona? I hear the pope sent them money.’ And it worked. People talked, people gawked, and people moved there.

Mount Tampa

Strap on your boots and hike up Mount Tampa to the Hollywood-esque Brasov sign. You are hiking through the Carpathian Mountains, and it’s almost Halloween, so let your imagination wander. What was that sound? The hike itself takes roughly an hour, and your reward is the ability to look down on Brasov and see the entire city.

Throwing a Halloween Party for the kids? 

How will you keep them busy? What food will you serve? It’s too much! Check out the helpful Halloween Party Package and cross this off of your list. It’s 100% digital so if you waited until the last minute, you are still on time.

Day 2: Piatra Craiului National Park

Hiking the 25 KM (~15.5 miles) long rocky mountain range called Piatra Craiului is loved by Romanian outdoor enthusiasts as it has plenty of climbing on large limestone crags. It gets really crowded on beautiful summer days so mountain climbing rather than hiking is recommended. Are those brown bears? Yep. You are walking through wilderness and people do get hurt every week. The phrase “bear-infested” is used to caution people that you aren’t in Central Park. You’re here for Adventure, right?

Via Ferrata or Canyoning

You are at the top of the National Park. How do you get down? You could walk (boring) but most people via ferrata or canyon back down the limestone walls. Your choice is based on skill level. Have no experience? Take the via ferrata, which means “iron path” and is essentially a series of ladders and ropes that are already secured to the side of the mountain wall. I can’t stop laughing that this is considered the beginner level. The advanced level is to rappel down the wall using your own skills to secure the anchors.

Spooky Insights

Dracula: This is how legends are created.
Scam: Don’t believe everything you hear.
101: Dracula was an introvert?

Day 3: Transfăgărășan to Balea

Drive the Transfăgărășan

Rent a 4×4 (or hire a Guide) because we are going to drive the Transfăgărășan! One of the most spectacular roads in the world, offering stunning mountain vistas, hairpin turns, and suspension bridges. Rev that engine but watch out for bears, lynx, and people who unexpectedly enter the road. Do you travel with someone who hates how you drive? Leave them at the hotel because this is an absolute delight.

Balea Waterfall

Hike around the glacial Balea Lake. With heights that exceed 2,000 metres (6,561 feet), the Făgăraș Mountains are perfect if you like hiking. Several hiking routes start from Bâlea Lake, going towards the mountains’ peaks and dramatic valleys. Following the marked trails, you can reach their highest peak, Moldoveanu, at 2,544 metres (8,346 feet) in a nine-hour hike or the second highest, Negoiu, at 2,535 metres (8,316 feet) in a five-hour hike. Or head a short distance to the Balea Waterfall and capture beautiful photos.

Day 4: Creepy Old Buildings

Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle)

It’s 1448 and you are sitting at the pub. “Who bought the castle?” you ask the guy next to you. “Some joker who calls himself ‘Vlad the Impaler.’ What a clown.” And then, Vlad murders several hundred people in your town to settle an argument. Vlad is quickly dispatched far away to defend the border. Be careful whom you mock! This castle is the basis for every movie you have seen about Dracula. It’s real. When booking your tickets, note that entry to the torture chambers are an extra fee. Seriously. They throw a Halloween party here that sells out years in advance.

Rasnov Fortress

What self-respecting Impaler would have a Castle but no Fortress? Exactly. Strategically located on the commercial route linking the provinces of Transylvania and Walachia, Râşnov differs from other Saxon fortresses in that it was designed as a place of refuge over extended periods of time. As such, it had at least 30 houses, a school, a chapel and other buildings more commonly associated with a village.

The defensive system included nine towers, two bastions and a drawbridge. Any house with a drawbridge seems appealing to me. Surrounded by 500-foot-slopes on the north, south and west sides, the fortress was obliged to surrender only once, in the year 1612 when invaders managed to find the secret route that supplied the people inside the fortress with water. With the location of their water supply no longer a secret, the need for a well inside the fortress became a must. When it reopens, following renovation, set aside a few hours to explore the tunnels and secret passages. People often become hopefully lost and need help to find their way out. Good luck!

Tomorrow, we will explore the Cultural diversity and attractions of Transylvania, with an emphasis on the Dracula origins and myths. Romania is far more sophisticated than Dracula but it’s that time of year!

See you tomorrow.

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