Holiday destinations in Romania

Grama Ion - Madalin MIEADR IES GROUP 82021 University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania59 Mărăști Blvd, District 1, 011464, Bucharest, Romania

KeywordsCastle, vampire mugs, Dracula, ghosthouse, masks, transylvania, Bran, Peles, Carpathian Mountain, clock, tower.

Hotel Castle Dracula

Positioned roughly on the promontory where the Count's castle would have stood, Hotel Castle Dracula is lazily Gothic from the outside, but more interesting within (particularly in reception, where a stuffed hawk, wolf, raven and ferret watch you signing in). Corridors are lined with cranberry-coloured carpets and dragon motifs, while rooms are rustically stylish. with bureaus for writing fraught diaries, and old-fashioned furniture. The apartments are more vampy with wine-dark walls, candlebra and dinner tables for impromptu séances. Meanwhile, the hotel's Fear Room is a creaky-stepped, ghosthouse-style crypt, with murals retelling the story of Dracula. We won't tell you the denouement but in the '90s someone had a heart attack (clue: since when did Dracula wear sneakers?). The restaurant is earthy with dishes such as pork suckling and mutton on the bone, and an outside terrace perfect for summer breakfasts. On a stormy night when the Pass is whipped by rain, wind rattles the casements and the odd wolf howls across the valley, the hotel can be genuinely creepy.Outside in the car park there's a faded map detailing four colour-coded walks in the area as well as a sculpture of author Bram Stoker in a glass coffin. Immediately after is a gathering of stalls hawking snow globes, vampire mugs, masks, hats and garden gnomes! There’s also tennis and a small ski lift next door.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Coordinating teacher: Mihai Daniel Frumușelu

REFERENCEShttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/romania

STUDENTS’ SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUMUSAMV MIEADR 2015

Transylvania conjures a vivid landscape of mountains, castles, fortified churches and superstitious old crones. The Carpathian Mountains are truly spectacular and outdoor enthusiasts can choose from caving in the Apuseni range, rock climbing atPiatra Craiului National Park, biking atop the flat Bucegi plateau, or hiking the Făgăraş. The skiing scene, particularly in the Bucegi Mountains, is a great draw, while well-beaten paths up to Bran and Peleş Castles are also worth the crowds.A melange of architecture and chic sidewalk cafes punctuate the towns of Braşov, Sighişoara and Sibiu, while the vibrant student town Cluj-Napoca has the country’s most vigorous nightlife. Many of southern Transylvania’s Saxon villages are dotted with fortified churches that date back half a millennium. An hour north, in Székely Land, ethnic Hungarian communities are the majority. Throughout you’re likely to spot many Roma villagers – look out for black cowboy hats and rich red dresses.

Transylvania

The clock tower of Sighisoara is the grand dame of the city, reigning tall and proud from atop a central hill. Founded by Transylvanian Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features well-preserved medieval stone streets and structures. Visit fortified churches, climb the famed Scara Şcolarilor covered staircase, and get goosebumps at the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s terrifying creature, Count Dracula.

Sighișoara