Romania
Treasures of Romania: Enchanting Castles and Painted Monasteries
Program No. 19208RJ
Discover Romania’s legendary culture and charm as you enjoy wine with locals, revel in art and explore pristine forests that boast some of the greatest biodiversity in the world.
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Protecting the Environment
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11 days
10 nights
23 meals
9B 8L 6D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Bucharest Sightseeing
Bucharest
6
Transfer to Gura Humorului, Bicaz Gorge, Lacu Rosu
Gura Humorului
8
Transfer to Cluj-Napoca, Bistrita
Cluj-Napoca
9
Rimetea, Salt Mine at Turda, Meeting Locals
Cluj-Napoca
10
Romanian Sociology, Cluj Landmarks, Free Time
Cluj-Napoca
11
Program Concludes
Cluj-Napoca
At a Glance
Romania is one of Europe’s most dynamically changing nations — a hauntingly beautiful land set apart by the Carpathian Mountains, great plains, deep forests, ancient cities and villages with architecture of many periods. Three major ethnic groups and half a dozen religions blend influences of East and West. Delving into this intriguing society, explore the capital, Bucharest; Moldavia’s painted monasteries; the Saxon area with its preserved medieval cities; and Transylvania’s remarkable landscapes.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking and standing up to 3 miles and 4 hours per day on city streets, cobblestone streets, rough terrain, in museums and sites, and with some uphill walking. Unavoidable stairs. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Some extended bus travel. Elevations up to 3,000 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Explore the Castle of Dracula in Bran and learn the true story behind the myths.
- Join an expert in the famous painted monasteries of Gura Humorului, including the World Heritage sites of Voronet, Moldovita, and Sucevita monasteries.
- Taste Romanian foods and the famous wines of the Aiud wine region as you lunch with a local family in Rimetea.
General Notes
Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with select dates of "Treasures of Bulgaria: Ancient Ruins, Roses and Revival" (#19207) for even more learning in Europe!
Suggested Reading List
(25 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Treasures of Romania: Enchanting Castles and Painted Monasteries
Program Number: 19208
A Concise History of Romania
Beginning with the Roman conquest of Davia, this exhaustive overview of Romania helpfully divides the course of history into four distinctive periods: medieval, early modern, modern and the so-called return to Europe.
The Color of Smoke, An Epic Novel of the Roma
First published in Hungarian in 1975, this epic novel provides both a sweeping glance of World War II-era rural Hungary and an intimate glimpse into the interior life of an adolescent coming of age within the harsh but resolutely light-hearted Roma community.
Rough Guide Romania
An informative, up-to-date guide that combines general information on the country with practical travel details.
The Balkans, A Short History
With eloquence and clarity, Mazower addresses issues of geography, nationalism and nation in this indispensable survey.
Blue Guide Travels in Transylvania
With maps, plans and photographs, this accessible guide to Transylvania's "land that time forgot" focuses on its small towns, cultural heritage and wondrous landscapes.
Bradt Guide Transylvania
This comprehensive guide focuses on culture, nature and responsible travel. Mallows includes sights and activities throughout the region.
Romania, An Illustrated History
An illustrated primer on Romania's eventful history, from the bronze age to the period of the Dacians before and during Roman rule, the principalities from the 14th century until 1821 and modern times.
All Rivers Run to the Sea
Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel recounts his remarkable life, from his childhood in Romania to the horrors of Auschwitz, his days as a young writer in post-war France and New York and his many pilgrimages to Israel.
In Europe's Shadow
In this engaging personal account of more than three decades of visits to Romania, prolific writer and journalist Kaplan presents a comprehensive portrait of an often overlooked country, which he argues is key to understanding Europe as a whole.
The Historian, A Novel
In this wildly popular historical thriller, Kostova traces a 16-year-old woman's harrowing journey across Europe to find the notorious 15th-century prince of Wallachia, Vlad Dracul, completing her father's research in the medieval monasteries and dusty libraries from Istanbul and Budapest to Romania.
Just a Bite, A Transylvania Vampire Expert's Short History of the Undead
Based on his experiences spent in the lands of vampire legend, Transylvania, Istvan Pivarcsi explores the fascinating development of the modern-day vampire from its sources in Transylvanian oral tradition.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
The Broken Road, From the Iron Gates to Mount Athos
Assembled from Leigh Fermor’s manuscripts by friend and biographer Artemis Cooper, with the travel writer Colin Thubron, this is perhaps the most personal of all Leigh Fermor’s books, catching up with young Paddy in the fall of 1934 and following him through Bulgaria and Romania to the coast of the Black Sea.
Bury Me Standing
This marvelous portrait of the Roma, also known as the Gypsies, offers insight into their music, foods, religions and folk traditions and also examines their influential but complex relationship with Eastern Europe.
Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of the Balkans
The changing borders and complex history of the Balkans are clearly and concisely shown through 50 double-page maps and accompanying essays, organized chronologically.
Dracula
The vampire novel that started it all, based on the legend of "Vlad the Impaler." The gothic shocker is set within the dank castles and misty forests of Transylvania and the foggy streets and staid country houses of Victorian England.
In Search of Dracula
This history of Vlad Tepes (AKA Vlad the Impaler), the Romanian warrior prince and inspiration for Bram Stoker’s infamous blood-drinking count, draws on oral histories and archaeological evidence and also examines Dracula’s many incarnations in film and literature.
Balkan Ghosts, A Journey through History
Kaplan interweaves history, art and culture with his travels through Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece in this regional portrait.
Between the Woods and the Water
In this sequel to A Time of Gifts (CEU30), Leigh Fermor's classic account of his adventure on foot to Constantinople in 1933, Paddy relates his youthful travels in Hungary and Romania, culminating with his arrival at the Iron Gates on the Danube.
The Dance at Mociu
A collection of stories, prose poems and meditations on Old Europe, drawn from the author's many visits to Transylvania.
The Mountains of Romania
This practical guide, with 40 color maps and photographs, includes the Carpathians, Bucegi Massif and monasteries of Bucovina.
Painter of Silence
An exquisite historical novel set in the somber desolation of postwar communist Romania, the story opens with the arrival of a deaf and mute man at the hospital in the provincial city of Lasi. A nurse at the hospital befriends the man and as their relationship unfolds a secret history is revealed that binds the two characters both to one another and to the suffering of their stricken homeland.
Romania Moldova Map
This handy fold-up map at a scale of 1:500,000 includes a multilanguage legend and city plans.
Language and Travel Guide to Romania
This personal, comprehensive guide includes the history and culture of Romania, language essentials and practical travel information.
Bucharest Map
Full-color map at a scale of 1:20,000.
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