TOURISM

From Skiing to Watersports,
Romania Has All the Challenge

Romania is a ravishingly surprising country, where lively modern cities keep an untouched small town charm, where ancient European tradition meets contemporary sophistication, a place of extraordinary diversity and stunning natural beauty. It has over 230 km of coast line on the Black Sea with perfect sand for the beach lovers. The majestic Carpathian Mountains and Transylvanian Alps are fabulous for skiing and mountaineering. Romania has breathtaking views of the Danube Delta, medieval castles, painted monasteries, and a generous supply of natural, healing springs and spas.
Open air activities have been enthusiastically pursued in Romania for a long time. In fact the word "tourism" to Romanians virtually means hiking in the mountains, while down at the Black Sea there are superb conditions for watersports.

More than 11,000 caves can be explored without official permission, many being in the Apuseni Mountains.

Black Sea Resorts

Marvellous weather from spring to autumn and miles of golden sand make Romania's Black Sea resorts the ideal destination for beach holidays.
One can find everything there: modern hotels and facilities, a busy night-life, a wide range of sports facilities and numerous inland attractions from castles to vineyards. Now, while the country is heading towards a promising future, the Black Sea is coming back onto the European
touristic agenda.

The major resort near Constanta is Mamaia, sited north of the city, between a magnificent 7 km (4.5 miles) long beach of unbelievably fine sand and a lake. It is especially designed for families with children.

Sports like sub-aqua diving and paragliding offer thrills from May to October.

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs enliven the evenings. Typical country villages, the ruins of the ancient Greek fortress of Histria, and the Danube Delta are easily accessible.

Among the most popular resorts are Neptun and Olimp, built as leisure sites for the rich of the communist era, now offering de-luxe villas and excellent hotels, some on the beach, others in the quiet Comorova forest between the shore and a lake.

Castles And Fortresses

Romania's numerous castles perhaps best illustrate the country's medieval heritage. Many castles and fortresses in Romania feature unique architectural elements and styles that reflect local traditions, customs and purpose. While castles built from the 14th to the 18th Centuries are strong and austere fortresses built mainly for defense against invaders, those erected beginning in the late 1800s are imposing and luxurious.

Considered by many one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883, Peles' interiors are an opulent display of elegant design and historical artifact. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures.

Bran Castle

This fortified medieval castle, often referred to as Dracula's Castle, was built in 1377 to protect nearby Brasov from invaders. It also served as a customs station.

The castle's rooms and towers surround an inner courtyard. Some rooms are connected through underground passages to the inner court. In 1920, the people ofBrasov who owned the castle offered it as a gift to Queen Maria of Romania, and the castle soon became her favorite residence.

The Royal Palace, Bucharest

The former official royal residence. Built in the Neoclassic style, between 1927-37. The Royal Palace is today home to Romania's National Museum of Art. Highlights include works by Romanian and foreign artists such as Constantin Brancusi, Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ioan Andreescu, Stefan Luchian, Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, Messina, Titian, Tintoretto, Velasquez, and others.

Skiing in Romania

Poiana Brasov is a very appreciated international ski resort, referred in SKI directories all over the world

Poiana boasts 12 ski runs (an Olympic run, three downhill and giant slalom runs, one special slalom run, two jumps, etc.).

Activities and services: sports (tennis, minigolf, football, basketball), indoor swimming-pools, Sports and Fitness Centers, Sauna.

· Altitude 1050 - 1800 m. Clean, ozone-rich air, marked ionization and nice temperature (average: 21 C summer, -2 C winter).