In the mid-1990s, a Romanian businessman named Iosif Constantin Dragan commissioned a sculpture of an ancient king known as Decebalus, who ruled the country of Dacia—now known as Romania. If King Decebalus had not defended Dacia against numerous Roman incursions, modern Romania would not exist in its current state. King Decebalus has been a celebrated…
Every year, countless travelers flock to the Romanian region of Transylvania to visit stately Bran Castle, after which Irish horror master Bram Stoker modeled Count Dracula’s imposing lair. Many visitors are unaware that a forest known as Hoia-Baciu is the spookiest place in all of Transylvania. Hoia-Baciu is home to twisted trees, dense blankets of…
Starting around 1075, Romanian miners wielding pickaxes began chipping away at one of the largest salt deposits in Europe. This vast cache of salt was transformed into the expansive mine known as Salina Turda. The mine flourished until the early 1930s when the Great Depression led to a global economic downturn. After operations at Salina…
Since the 17th century, salt mining has played a crucial role in the Romanian economy. The Slanic Prahova Salt Mine Museum stands as a tribute to Romania’s most celebrated salt mine. During its prime, the Slanic Prahova Salt Mine was the largest in Romania. Situated in the Prahova province, the now-defunct mine is so expansive…
Nestled in the heart of Eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania are two of the most interesting yet underrated countries to visit in Europe. With an astonishing wealth of natural beauty to explore, a remarkably rich history, and gloriously beautiful towns that will transport you back in time to a bygone era, these two countries are…
Transylvania, Romania is best known for a menacing castle that was home to a fierce warrior and ruler named Vlad the Impaler. Vlad the Impaler ruled Transylvania in the mid-1400s. Locals view him as an avenging hero who drove away Saxon invaders. Descendants of the defeated Saxons have characterized Vlad the Impaler as a brutal…
Transylvania is a home not only to a vampire hotel, but also to the Valley of the Fairies. Located in a village Porumbacu de Sus, Romania, Clay Castle of the Valley of Fairies is a newly built hotel. Two years ago, Romanian couple Razvan and Gabriela Vasile decided to sell their home in the capital…
In the northern part of Romania, near the city of Suceava, there is a holy sanctuary, carved from stone more than 500 years ago. Situated only one mile away from another historic landmark (Putna Monastery), this place of solitude and prayer was built by a single man, a Romanian monk that used nothing but a…
