Blogs from Bran, Brasov, Transilvania, Romania, Europe

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Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran September 8th 2018

Dag 12 – Rondreis Roemenië – zaterdag 8 september 2018 – Busuitstap Berenreservaat – Rasnov en Bran. Met 2 kleine busjes wegens keien bergwegen over smalle brugjes de bergen in naar een geleid bezoek in het Berenreservaat nabij Zanesti. Dit is geen zoo of een berenattractie, wel een soort ngo die beren uit gevangenschap van private attracties redt en een relatieve bewegingsvrijheid geeft in een afgesloten domein van 69 ha diep in de bergachtige bossen. Er zitten er nu een honderdtal opnieuw te wennen aan een relatieve vrijheid en verzekerd van een een onbekommerde oude dag. Mooi initiatief en volledig zelfbedruipend. Spijtig geen foto's met fotoapparaten, tenzij een forse taks. Met telefoon mocht het dan wel. Dan naar de Citadel van Rasnov (Rosenau), gebouwd vanaf de 13de-14de eeuw, als verdediging en toevluchtsoord bij opeenvolgende belegeringen van ... read more
Berenreservaat nabij Zarnesti
Berenreservaat nabij Zarnesti
Berenreservaat nabij Zarnesti

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran October 31st 2017

Last night's quick winter storm passed through and we awoke the next morning with everything covered in a beautiful blanket of fresh snow. Halloween in Romania! Never did I ever think I would be in Romania but here I was getting ready to celebrate Halloween at Dracula's Castle! But first, we got the chance to spend the morning exploring the city of Brasov. We arrived in Brasov around 10am and immediately headed out for a 2 hour walking tour of Brasov's Old Town. The bus let us out near the base of Mt. Tampa, a mountain overlooking Brasov's Old Town. Atop this mountain was a sign of Brasov that was similar to the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles. Had we more time, it would have been great to take one of the trails to the top ... read more
Piata Sfatalui in Brasov
The Black Church in Brasov
Piata Sfatalui in Brasov

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran October 30th 2017

After a late night of dancing, we were thankful to have a free morning to sleep in as we weren't scheduled to leave Sighisoara until 1:00pm. We had a delicious buffet breakfast in the hotel dining room before venturing back up to the Old Town to explore in the morning daylight. Shea and I bundled up as the morning was blisteringly cold and made our way to do some morning exploring. We basically retraced the same steps we took last night during our walking tour but this time with the advantage of daylight. During last night's tour, we missed just how colorful the Old Town is. Along every street that we walked on, the structures were painted various shades of blue, green, yellow, and orange. We passed small outdoor cafes with inviting terraces which would have ... read more
Exploring The Old Town in Sighisoara
Exploring The Old Town in Sighisoara
Exploring The Old Town in Sighisoara

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran July 24th 2015

Staying such a relaxing place we were in no hurry to set off to Bran, only just over a 2 hour drive to our next stop just outside of Bran, where the history Castle of Dracula's although there never was a Dracula and Stoker Bran never actually saw the castle. It is however a well preserved Castle and a national landmark of Romania. It is one of the most beautiful castles that I have visited in Europe, the tour is self guilded which allows you to take your time to visit all of the gounds without being rushed. You must make an appointment time to enter, then you are on your own. We stayed at a lovely family pension, with our own suite but shared the kitchen and dining room with the other guest, because it ... read more
Bran Castle
Rasnov Fortress
Resnov Fortress

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran July 5th 2015

From Vlad the Impaler to Nicolae Ceausescu Romania has over the years had its fair share of unpleasant rulers. Ruthless dictators all over the world seem to have two things in common: they like to torture people and tend to have a liking for erecting big buildings as monuments over themselves. In Romania things aren't much different from any other places. Hence there are a few palaces and castles around and we would now like to write about the ones we visited. Bran Castle Bran Castle is likely the most well known of the Romanian castles and palaces thanks to it being the home of the largely fictional character Count Dracula in the Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Having seen Bran Castle we must say that using that particular castle as setting for the novel was wise. ... read more
Bran Castle
Bran Castle
Corvin Castle

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran May 7th 2015

Rano 20 minutovy pesi presun na autogara 2 (strada avram ianacu resp oproti stadionu). Preco sme sa nepresuvali mhd ? no lebo pesi toho clovek vidi viac :) Napr sme videli pekny dreveny kostolik, tiche ulicky, miestnych ludi atd Na bus stanicu vstupujeme od stadiona, zadnym vchodom, preskakujeme kaluze,rano bola dobra leja, a dostavame sa na nastupiste. Mensie obzeranie stanice,nic extra,stanica z roku 0. Na jednom buse vidim napisane rasnov, pytam sa sofera na bran, posiela ma o jedno miesto dalej. Po 20 min prichadza nas bus. Taka stara rachotina , v ktorej si sofer potrpi na vonacky. Ma ich po celom strope,vyzera to dost zaujimavo. Aby turisti vedeli lahko najst tento bus je na nom v predu obrazok "drakulovho" hradu. Ako s blizime k cielu, v dialke sa crtaju zasnezene vrchy hor. Paradne to vyzera. ... read more

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran November 8th 2014

8:30 in the morning, my mobile is ringing. It's my one of my colleagues who came with me from the Netherlands. Where are you? Did you had breakfast yet? We have to leave! Immediately I was awake. I made it just a bit late the last evening and I was not up to date about the agreed time to meet with the rest. Quickly I prepared myself and grab a sandwich from the hotel restaurant and went to the meeting point. All our colleagues were already there waiting for us. With three fully loaded cars we left and drove to the northern direction, towards the mountains. As one of the smallest persons I had to sit on the back and be squeezed with two other colleagues for the next hours, so unfortunately no sleeping during the ... read more
Babele  @ Busteni mountains
Brasov
Moieciu de Jos

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran October 31st 2014

Up now: Halloween, visiting the home country of Dracula and seeing the Transylvanian castles that Vlad III the Impaler resided, in turn, inspiring Bram Stoker's legendary tale. It was a brisk Halloween night when I left Budapest by train for my journey in to the Transylvanian Alps. This party was THE place to be. Vlad, the Impaler himself, invited us all to a killer party at his home, known throughout the lands as Dracula’s Castle. I arrived at the Brasov hostel within hours of departing for the castle. Almost everyone staying at the hostel that night was attending the party, so travelling companions helped pass the 35 minute drive to and from the castle. There were people from all over the world. My hostel covered Brazil, Australia, India, England, Boston, MA, Ireland, and myself; and we ... read more
Virgin of Nurenburg
Vlad Dracul, Himself
30

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran July 15th 2014

On arriving in Brasov we went to town to have a look. We soon came to the town square with beautiful buildings. No traffic here. We discovered an old hotel restaurant that started in 1914 with old photos about early years. Very nice. The price for dinner is as two hamburgers at home. The reason coming here was Bran castle or Dracula castle. We went in the late morning to Bran, thinking that the buses would be to lunch. Ha. It took forty-five minutes to get a ticket. Bran castle was up and running by 1382. Huge additions were build by 1531. The association between Vlad Tepes Dracula, Prince of Walachia 1448-1476 who spent this early years in Transylvania gave Bran Stoker, the idea of Count Dracula the Vampire. Tepes which means the Impaler, was a ... read more
Dracula
courtyard
cross at the entrance

Europe » Romania » Transilvania » Brasov » Bran August 9th 2013

We woke to find Woolly ready for the day with garlic round his neck and a sirloin under his crossed paws, not quite sure that he understands bless him. Woolly says – Ian gave me a sirloin steak last night but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to drive it through a vampire’s heart? Anyway, I was prepared for anything and after numerous cups of tea and coffee I finally got Jo and Ian moving. The sun was out and it was already pretty hot so grabbing bottles of water – not sure if they were holy or not – we headed towards Bran Castle. Started in 1212 the castle has had a chequered history with residents including Vlad the Impaler and Her Royal Highness Queen Marie of Romania. It is most famous though through Bram ... read more
Entering Bran Castle
Are there Vampires down there
Armour




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