Most impressive Romanian Churches, As Seen by a Group of Lebanese Tourists

Most impressive Romanian Churches, As Seen by a Group of Lebanese Tourists

One of the most important things to know about Romania is quite simple: despite the pregnant existence and influence of the minorities (specially, the Hungarian one), the people is very unit and homogene: 90 % of the population are Romanian, speak Romanian as Mother's language and are members of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Here started the all story: Arrival of Lebanese tourists on Bucharest airport

Every small village has a church, and the tour leader Ziad Khairallah from Vladimir Travel/Beirut made a special selection of the most impressive and spectacular Romanian churches, with the help and on the competent suggestion of Euforia Travel/Nicoleta Balasa (I had the pleasure and honor to be the tour guide, and I was totally fascinated by their joy of life! Another story, though.)

The fantastic church of Voronet Monastery, probably the most impressive and spectacular church from Romania

Visiting the Romanian Churches is maybe the best way to learn and understand something about the Romanian history. We saw together a lot of churches, ones of them very renowned, like the Black Church from Brasov, but also one almost unknown, totally off the beaten path, the Monastery of Rasca/Suceava.

I learned on this tour (thank you, Zyad & Co from Lebanon) that nowadays the biggest orthodox church of Romania lies in Targu Mures. There the people were preparing the Easter, the most important feast of the Christianity. Everything on the way reminded us those preparations, and it was really an event celebrating Easter with this fantastic group of Lebanese tourists.

A wood church in the Village museum from Bucharest, another hit

We also saw and visited one of the oldest Romanian Churches: the church from the Old Courtyard from Bucharest, which has hosted from centuries the intronization of the happy Romanian princes! It was overcrowded, because is in the middle of Bucharest, a city with 2 Millions inhabitants. Another old church, build by the Cantacuzino family, is in Sinaia,( also known like the pearl of Carpathians, a romantic and royal getaway not far from Bucharest). The old church is little, but more interesting than the new big one.

The St Nicholas Church from Brasov

A special mention for the painted churches from Bucovina. We choose the most beautiful one, namely Voronet. It is really amazing, and totally overwhelming. The colors are based on a secret recipe (probably lapis lazuli powder, with other vegetable ingredients) and have lasted for 500 years without restoration!

As the Columbian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez used to say: the most important thing in life is to tell the story of it! I must not forget the Cathedrals from Sighisoara, Sibiu(on the model of St Sophia Cathedral from Istanbul) or the Monastery of Bistrita.

Seeing this long list of churches or monasteries ( add the Evangelic Churches from Sighisoara, Targu Mures) could lead to the idea of a religious pilgrimage. Totally wrong, it was much more than that, and the churches are just a small part of of the Romania Introduction Course! We still remember museums, restaurants, songs and dances!

The best city breaks in Romania

Thinking to a city break lasting 1-2 days I wanna propose a special selection for Romania. I have made this selection based on the things to do in every mentioned city, hotels and restaurants, museums, airports. It is possible to organize the transfer, where we can't find an airport immediate next to the mentioned city!

The selected cities are selected all over Romania, and everyone is in the happy position to offer an unforgettable city break. So, these are my winners:

1. Brasov/Kronstadt, maybe the most travel oriented city in Romania. You can even ski in Poiana Brasov. At every step you will be welcomed by hotels and restaurants, giving the city an exceptional flair. You can take a walk in the centre and downrown, you can climb in Restaurant Panoramic  to get a wonderful spectacular view of the city. For gourmet, Aro Palace is also a target, there is a wide selection of exquisite wines. Landing in Bucharest or Sibiu requires a 100 km long transfer, also very easy and affordable.

The Black Church from Brasov is the biggest Gothic Cathedral in the South East Europe

2. Bucharest. The Romanian Capital needs a longer break, if I may to say so. This city is huge, you must only avoid it in summer, even the locals are going out in the mountains or to the seaside. It is really warm, nevertheless charming after 18 hours with so many open terraces to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer. Discover the Bucharest fountains with their legends, Bucharest museums and Bucharest parks. Walk in the downtown on the Magheru Boulevard or Calea Victoriei, which are really expensive, even comparing with other famous streets worldwide.

You can walk on Calea Victoriei from Bucharest, but avoid entering the boutiques if you are on a budget. They are really expansive

3.Iasi. hasn't an own airport yet, transfer from Bucharest lasts 5 hours, but you can also use the airports of Chisinau or Bacau (2 hours). I can organize wonderful breaks in Iasi, with wine tastings . Don't miss the Culture palace with its 4 museums, and visit Hotel Restaurant Traian, the city's oldest and biggest. The city is build on 7 hills, similar to Rome, and you can have a relaxing walk in this city.

The Culture Palace from Iasi is a must see for any art freak

4.Cluj Napoca/Koloszvar/Klausenburg is really international and definitely worth to your time. Take a walk in the downtown, be sure to visit the catholic church of St Michael and also the orthodoxe cathedral. Visit the New York Palace, today Continental Hotel. Other important points: History and Art museum. But first of all, observe the fantastic cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city sitting in a restaurant from downtown. You will be able to hear more languages, mainly Romanian and Hungarian, and the locals can easy commute among these two!

Cluj Napoca and the Orthodoxe Cathedral

5.Constanta, the old Tomis, is a must see for the sea lovers, but it is not limited to that! Its position on the seaside gives him some advantages, against other cities from Romania. The vineyards from Murfatlar and Niculitel are very close, and the city has a breathtaking History Museum. Coming in summer, you have at your disposition a wide selection of beaches. Coming out of the season, you will find a quiet peaceful city, which is also very affordable, you can stay on a budget for sure!  

Most important things to do in Brasov

Very easy accessible from Bucharest (only 170 km away), Brasov lies literally in the very center of Romania. After visiting Brasov you are going to have a tonic feeling that the World, Romania and specially Brasov are wonderful, a good place to live.

The Black Church of Brasov is not black at all, but passed many fires. It is one of the Europe,s biggest gothic cathedrals. Be sure not to pass the organ concerts on Tuesday and the fab carpet collection

Brasov (German Kronstadt, Hungarian Brasso) has a Turkish ethimology after all, as the Turks have been also active and interested in the area. Brasov is maybe the most touristic city in Romania, with the best restaurants and a much relaxed atmosphere compared to Bucharest, the Romanian Capital. The city has many cafes and hotels, but usually all of them are booked up; during the Music Festival Golden Deer you need for sure a prior reservation.

Downtown at night. Very impressive, very Medieval and very nice. A living lesson of architecture

Historically speaking, the first attested written docunent date back from the XIIIth century, mentioning the privileges granted to German Saxon in Brasov by the Hungarian King Geza IInd. The German traders and craftsmen from Brasov gained a good reputation in the neighboring Romanian countries of Wallachia and Moldavia, where they received also some privileges. The Black Church in the centre of Brasov is still today the center of the German community, still counting 2000 people. The downtown is very well preserved and offers a brillant example of German architecture, and you can feel transported elsewhere in Austria and Germany. Looks even today overwhelming for the Romanians (during Middle Age the Romanians had no right to settle in the German city, and were supposed to live in the Schei neighborhood, entering the city through Scheigate. Compare the architecture from Schei with the Downtown!). Don't miss in the Black Church the organ concerts on Tuesday and the impressive collection of hand woven carpets, donated by the German traders.

One of the two citygates still lasting today.(Catherine gate)

Very close to nature, Brasov has very near (12 km away) the winter sports resort of Poiana Brasov ( actually counting as a city neighbourhood!). In Poana Brasov's many slopes you can ski at any knowledge level, you can skate and practise other winter sports. It is really a bid for an edition of Winter Olympic games.

Poiana Brasov is a reputated winter sport resort

After a longer or shorter walk in Brasov you are normally subject to napeache, due to the many things needing your attention. If you are not hit by napeache, it surely means that you haven't been enough regardful to city beauties! A wonderful panorama of the city you can get from Tampa, the peak overseeing Brasov. Up to 1450 there was a fortress there, but Vlad Tepes Dracula destroyed it. Nowadays you can find a good restaurant there.

Another highlight in Brasov is the Romanian Orthodox Church of  St Nicholas