Romania is located in southeastern central Europe with the Carpathian
Mountains dividing the upper half of the country and joining
with the Transylvanian Alps which lie in an east-west direction
in the centre of the country.
Travel Insurance for Romania:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Romania
Bordering countries are Hungary
to the west, Ukraine to the north, Moldovia and the Black Sea
to the east, and Bulgaria and Serbia and Montenegro to the south. The
Carpathian Mountains divide Romania's upper half from north to
south and connect near the center of the country with the Transylvanian
Alps which run from the west across the centre. The country
is loosely divided into four different geographical areas. The
northern half of the country is comprised of Transylvania and
Moldavia, which is mainly mountains and forests. South
of the country is the Danube plain area of Walachia where the
capital city, Bucharest, is located. The coastal area of
Romania runs along the BlackSea and includes the port of Constanta
and Danube Delta region.
The population is comprised of mainly Romanians, with some Hungarians,
Roma (gypsies), Ukrainians, Germans, Russians, Turkish and others. Romanian
is the official language with Hungarian and German and French
also spoken. The dominant religion is Romanian Orthodox
with some Protestant, Roman Catholic and others. Romania
joined the U.N. in 1955 and NATO in 2004 and has been provisionally
approved to enter the European Community in 2007 subject to certain
reforms.
The capital city, Bucharest, is a beautiful city, with
wide boulevards and elegant buildings. Many of the grand
old buildings have been turned into sophisticated casinos. Other
sizeable cities in Romania include: Constanta, Craiova,
Galati, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara.
For beach lovers the Black Sea resorts are a big draw
with the long stretches of sandy beaches and modern resorts and
hotels with sports facilities. Beach-goers can also enjoy
the attractions of nearby ancient monuments, vineyards, the Danube
Delta area, painted monasteries and trips to the capital city
and neighbouring countries. The Black Sea coastal area
is also famous for its spas and mud baths – the mud being
taken from various salt lakes in the area.
The Danube Delta is a designated UNESCO Natural World
Heritage Site. The Danube flows into the Black Sea and
the Delta is a thriving area for many species of birds, fish
and plants with its acres of canals, lakes, marshes and islands. The
River Danube forms most of the southern border of Romania and
cruises of the river are available at several locations.
Some of the other big attractions are Romania’s 15th century
UNESCO protected painted churches and monasteries in the Bucovina
area and the dozens of natural mineral and thermal spas
The city of Constanta has many attractions including
a casino, cathedral, many museums and theatres. It is not
far from the Black Sea resort areas and many spas. Galati is
a city in Eastern Romania has historic churches, a cathedral,
museums and botanical gardens. There are vineyards within
a day’s trip and cruises on the Danube. The city
of Timisoara is in western Romania and offers attractions
such as the Ruins of Timisoara Fortress, a castle, cathedral,
palace, botanical gardens and good shopping. Many spas
are within a few miles.
For those seeking more than just relaxing and sightseeing, there
are a variety of outdoor activities, such as cycling, fishing,
horseback riding, bird-watching in the Danube Delta area, and
golf. The Carpathian mountain range provides great opportunities
for campers, rock climbers and hikers with the diverse terrain
and lakes.
Romania has plenty to keep history buffs happy with its medieval
castles and fortresses dating from the fourteenth to eighteenth
centuries and fascinating medieval towns. The historical
Romania has inspired writers such as Jules Verne and Bram Stoker
in their novels about the Carpathians and Dracula, respectively. The
magnificent Peles Castle and the smaller art nouveau Pelisor
Castle are located near Sinaia in the Prahova Valley at the foot
of the mountains.
The Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania are the home of the
legendary vampire, Count Dracula. The legend of Dracula was started
in Transylvania’s mountains and ancient forests and taken
from a character in Romania’s history who ruled Wallachia
in the 14th century. Needless to say, for fans of
Anne Rice and Bram Stoker and other vampire followers, there
are many Dracula tours available.
Weather
Romaia benefits from a temperate climate with warm summers, crisp,
sunny autumns and cold winters. Snow covers the mountainous
area in the south of Poland during late winter months. Rain
can fall throughout the year. |
