Epic little towns in the Romanian Bucovina

If you came in Bucovina and stay in Suceava do discover the legendary painted monasteries,

you have the wonderful chance and opportunity to discover a few interesting places, according to your specific interests and hobbies.

You can, e.g. to ride your bike on the hills around, and discover the churches and the villages on slow speed, which I recommended more times. Not far from Suceava, beyond the hills, are the mountains, and you can walking and hiking in these wonderful mountains, watching carefully the the rich world of local plants and animals. For the fans of urban life and civilization I have also some tips. Discover first the city of Suceava, and compare it afterwards with the little towns of Radauti, Gura Humorului, Campulung Moldovenesc, Falticeni or Vatra Dornei. And that's the today issue.

The little town of falticeni, a Romanian Florence. Here the communist blocks of flat

I would propose as a first target the town of Campulung Moldovenesc. It lies at 600 meters height and enjoys an excellent tempered climate. It si very long (good 15 kilometers), as its development has been made along the main road. Very long are here the winters, as also very snow rich, and the summers chilly and rainy. The mountain peaks of Rarau and Giumalau are close to the town, and many hiking paths lead from the town to those peaks. In downtown you can still see some interesting buildings from the Austrian period, before 1918. Shortly, the best conditions to make a good climatic and tourist resort. which Campulung really is. Discover in Campulung Moldovenesc , whose economic life is tighten to the wood, the impressive "Museum of wood crafts". It is old, hosted in a wonderful building, with 10 exhibiting rooms, as also an exhibition outside, under the sky. You will try to imagine how old these artifacts have been used in the area for wood working, hunting and fishing. There is even an amazing horse driven wine barrel (for me the most important piece from the museum, you can bet on it). Outside expo contains two traditional houses, two or three centuries old.

Aerial view of the picturesque Campulung Moldovenesc

Also in Campulung Moldovenesc a private collection, named Ioan Tugui, has an convincing expositions of 5000 wooden spoons, mainly from Bucovina. Besides many carpets, pottery and coins.

Much better renowned in Romania and worldwide is the picturesque town and tourist resort Vatra Dornei, lieing in an breathtaking depression, on a height of 800 meters. The town developed first as an important trade point in the area, on terraces at different levels. All around, small mountains, not higher than 1300 meters, and only 3 months yearly of hot season. If you dream to ski, Vatra Dornei is the right place, with 120 days of snowy days every year. All the mountains around have a volcanic origin, and in the area there are many sources of mineral waters. The downtown Vatra Dornei and mainly the nice Casino are very well kept. Find and discover there the Museum of Natural Sciences, with his Ethnographic or Biology departments. A special mention for the huge Central Park (wider than 50 ha, means aproximately 100 accres). It is protected as a natural reserve, and the squirels in the park are friendly, you may feed them! I reckon, that a good occasion to discover Vatra Dornei could also be the Festival of Winter Traditions, starting on 28th December.

vatra Dornei is a favorite target for ski and winter sports

Last for today, but not least, the town of Falticeni, which is comparable with the Italian Florence, due to the high density of notorious culture people having the roots in the area: Ion Creanga, Mihai Eminescu, Ion Irimescu and many others more. Their presence and relation with Falticeni is remembered in the local Gallery of Important People. 

Falticeni is lower than the other mentioned towns (400 meters) and you can see all around charming orchards. You can discover the local traditions in the best conditions taking part to the local festival, one in Summer, on 20th July, and one in Winter, on the 27th December.

Romanian Festivals in 2013 (Part II)

We have a lot of things to do, our job is to fill all the major festivals in Romania for the coming year. Not an easy task, there are some extra local little unknown festivals, which are even more picturesque than these official ones, sometimes overcrowded due to exaggerated publicity.

June Festivals
Brancovenesti (Transilvania)- Cherry Festival, on the first Sunday.
Bucharest hosts The carnival, consisting on one week long of public street manifestations.
Cluj-Napoca enjoys the International Transilvania Film festival
Bucharest on 21st : The Feast of music
Bucharest again: Beer Festival with music in the Herastrau Park
Avram Iancu (by Oradea): the sheep Festival (Tacasele)
Miercurea Ciuc-Pilgrimage of the Catholic Szekelyi on the Whitsuntide
Odorheiu Secuiesc: Festival and market of skilled artisans

A specific Romanian Dance, Hora (The Round) as you can see in any Romanian traditional festival

July Festivals
Vadu Izei: traditional music festival, four days long
Somcuta Mare (Maramures): The oak festival, popular music and traditions
Sibiu: International festival of popular and country music
Ilisesti (Suceava), the second Sunday, The Folklore Festival of The Rarau mountain
Mount Gaina (Western Carpathians) on the last Sunday before 20th : The Girl Market, a big Festival with concerts and  traditional dances
Sighisoara, the last week: Festival of Medieval Art
Targu-Mures, the last five days: Rock Music festival Felsziget
Mangalia, the third week end: Callatis Music Festival

Traditional Festival in Sibiu

August Festivals
Marginimea Sibiului (Transilvania) -first Saturday: The Bear Day
Bucharest,the second week end, The Hora Festival in Village museum, dedicated to Romanian folkloric groups
Constanta, the first week: National Music Festival
Sibiu, the first week: national festival of popular traditions, hosted in Astra Museum

Baia mare hosts many Traditional Festivals

September Festival
Mamaia, the first week: International Festival of Popular Music
Brasov, the first week: International festival of Chamber Music
Lesu (Transilvania), first Sunday: Traditional Festival (sheepherds)
Bucharest, three weeks long: George Enescu Music Festival
Targoviste (Wallachia), middle of the month: Festival of Folkloric Song Miorita
Biertan (Transilvania): Saxon Festival (Sachsentreffen)
Sibiu, by the end of the month: International Oper Festival
Brasov, the end of month: Golden deer, International Entertainment Music Festival, with many Romanian and international first class stars

Piatra Neamt, a Romanian pearl

Piatra Neamt (or Neamtz, for an accurate pronounciation) is really something special among the cities of Moldova, which have been for decades subjects to a forced industrialization, which destroyed their landmarks.

Panoramic view of the city Piatra Neamt with the neighboring mountain Pietricica behind

I think that in Piatra Neamt this process was not so brutal, and this is one of the reasons for the city acting so relaxing and wonderful. It is definitely a city to fall from the first sight, due to its privileged position in the middle of the mountains. The city has been not totally spared to the communist systematization at all, you can see the unavoidable blocks of flats. The city consists actually from two cities, the Northern one and the Southern one. The Southern part of the city is well developed, but lacks on landmarks and personality, while the Northern one is much nicer, greener and shows a strong personality. My tip: prefer the North, of course!

The old church of Stephen the Great from 1497 is a must see in Piatra Neamt. Notice the  high  bell tower, which served in the peaceful times as observatory for the firemen.

Piatra Neamt lies on the boundary between town and city (100 000 inhabitants) and enjoys the vicinity of the Pietricica peak, offering an excellent view of the city. My tip: visit Popasul Gospodinelor, a good restaurant on Pietricica, in the middle of the forest. The etymology of Piatra Neamt is not easy to define: Piatra means rock, but there are other many towns in Romania carrying the same name. To make a difference, was added Neamt=German despite lack of any special relation to Germans!

The amazing Cucuteni Museum of Neolithic Art will delight any Art and History  freak.

Piatra Neamt has a wide offer on hotels and restaurants, and is a favorite starting point for many trips in the surrounding area (Durau, Ceahlau, Pietrele Doamnei etc). Also, the city itself has some very interesting museums and buildings. Start your tour with the King's Church build in 1497-1498 by the great Romanian ruler Stephen the Great. The bell tower served as observation point against fires, and offers a nice shot of the city (tip: ask for the key in the church, it is not permanently open). The interior paintings are not so impressive anymore, being not the original ones. A few steps further to the West the small, but interesting Ethnology Museum, shows up a collection of traditional suits, carpets and tools, as some traditionally decorated rooms.

Piatra Neamt is nice and spectacular also in winter

The Art Museum is much more interesting and have rich works of Romanian masters in painting, scupture and tapestry. My tip: don't miss the section called the Museum of the King's court, but probably you must ask for the key and pay another fee! This is actually a rounded cave hosting artifacts and photos. Pay attention to the superb green ceramic tiles, they are original.

Even more spectacular is the Cucuteni Museum of Neolithic Art, which is unique in the all Romania, totally dedicated to the Cucuteni culture. See in the ground floor a nice collection of colored decorated pottery, and in the first floor antropomorphic and zoomorphic figures representing the Neolithic culture of Cucuteni in an amazing good state of conservation. Another place to visit is the unique wooden synagogue from the 18th century, which is not in function anymore, being replaced by the Leipziger Temple. Unfortunately, they are almost permanently closed and can't be visited.