The most mystical and mysterious tourist routes. Mysterious Romania: travel plan Natural attractions of romania

What do Russians know about Romania? I bet a little. The very first thing that comes to mind to our man: “Ah, this is where Dracula lived!” Well, yes. He is. It is what it is.

I thought so too. But, as it turned out, in addition to Dracula, there are still a lot of interesting things in Romania. This beautiful country with a rich and diverse culture, eventful and often tragic history, picturesque nature. During my travels, I just fell in love with Romania.

Romania is a kind of spiritual border between Europe and Asia, as, in fact, many Eastern European countries. The mixture of cultures creates a whimsical and very attractive picture with a unique charm.

This is a country where people live who are very similar in mentality to us Russians, to some extent our “close relatives”. Slavic, Romanesque, Turkic, Dacian roots mixed into one whole, and now Romania appeared - the way we see it now.

Geographically, the country is small. But each of its regions can be so different from the neighboring one that sometimes it seems that these are generally different countries. If you want the sea - please! If you want mountains - you are welcome! Or maybe dense forests, stormy rivers or medieval castles? Get everything.

Historic areas the countries, the former principalities from which the current Romania was formed:, Wallachia, Moldova, Dobruja - differ like flowers in a flower bed. All beautiful and all so different, each with its own scent. For every taste.

Romania cannot be seen in one trip. Once there, you will definitely want to come back.

Visa and border crossing

A visa is required to enter Romania. It should be remembered that Romania, although a member of the European Union, is not a Schengen country.

You cannot enter the Schengen countries with a Romanian visa, but if you have a Schengen visa with the right to double or multiple entries, then you can enter Romania. Here is all the information (website of the Romanian embassy in Moscow).

Romanian visas are: transit, short-term with a single or multiple entry, or long-term. The latter are usually needed only by those who work or study in Romania, that is, they live there for a long time, at least a year.

For tourist trip short enough. The list of documents (the most reliable :)) can be read. Nothing unusual is required, quite a standard set as in any European country. Waiting for a visa usually takes from a week to 10 days. The consular fee is 35 euros (it hasn't changed for several years, pah-pah-pah :)).

You can apply through numerous agencies in Moscow (it will cost more, about 100 euros). Or go to the consulate yourself. Monday, Wednesday or Friday, from 10:00 to 12:30. Address in Moscow: Mosfilmovskaya street, 64. The nearest metro station is University, and then by bus or trolleybus (bus No. 67, trolleybus No. 34k, 34, minibus No. 525m or No. 87m. Stop "Mosfilmovskaya street, 35"). And a little on foot.

How to get there

We are coming from Moscow. By plane from Sheremetyevo. Direct flights: Aeroflot and Tarom (Romanian company). Alas, there is no direct train to Bucharest from Moscow or St. Petersburg. Was a few years ago (- Kyiv - Bucharest - Sofia), but canceled. However, on Blablacar you can consider the “automobile” option, but this is not for everyone.

Tourist regions

Transylvania

Shown to romantic lovers of the vampire theme, especially films about Dracula, and generally admirers of the Middle Ages. It is there that you will be met by mysterious castles, majestic cathedrals, mountains shrouded in mist, dense forests, where, as they say, the largest number of brown bears in Europe. As well as medieval shows, jousting tournaments, witch trials (calmly, gentlemen, I say - a show).

Historical sights are provided in abundance. , Sibiu, Brasov, Sebes, Medias, Bistrita ... here they are, the "jewels of the Transylvanian crown." Each city has its own charm. Once this area was called Semigradie by the number of military fortresses-cities.

Now located in Transylvania ski resorts(e.g. Poiana).

Top cities

Here it is, my favorite! :)

• Sighisoara. Firstly, it is one of the few European cities with a well-preserved medieval citadel. There, in fact, the entire center is medieval. Secondly, it was in Sighisoara that Dracula was born. Since many people associate Romania with him, there is no way to drive past Sighisoara. Thirdly, Sighisoara hosts an annual festival of medieval art (the last weekend of July). I wrote more about this charming city in.

• . Another famous Transylvanian city. Beautiful and ancient. There you can see medieval buildings and streets, including one of the narrowest streets in Europe Strada Sforii (the width is something between 111-135 cm), as well as the Black Church. You can ride the cable car, admire the letters fixed on the top of the mountain "a la Hollywood". Only in our case it says "Brashov", of course.

• Sibiu. Also applies to Semigrad (see above). A beautiful example of medieval architecture with interesting museums. For example, the Brukenthal Museum, where you can admire a collection of paintings, exhibits related to the city and natural history as well as weapons. I remember that I admired for a very long time, until my legs got tired. The museum is really huge. There are also interesting churches in the city, in particular, St. Mary's. This Lutheran Cathedral is one of the main attractions of Sibiu. The Church of the Holy Trinity, the Tower of Soviets will not leave indifferent tourists ... in general, I strongly recommend Sibiu. There is something to see.

• Bucharest. Where without the capital! In Bucharest, you will find a lot of interesting things: the ruins of the princely palace Curtea Veche, and ancient churches, and beautiful parks such as Cismigiu and Gerastrau. I remember that there was a summer mini-zoo in Gerastrau, or rather, a poultry house where peacocks lived. There, for the first time in my life, I saw white representatives of this species. And the monumental Palace of Parliament is worth something! Read more.

• Hunedoara. A correction should be made here: it is not the city itself that is interesting, but the castle of the Hungarian royal dynasty of the Corvins. Here is something to admire! The most majestic spectacle.

• Sinai. It is there that you can look at Peles - a unique royal residence in the neo-Renaissance and Baroque style, where already in the XIX (!) Century there was a cinema.

Top attractions

• Bran Castle (Castelul Bran, Castelul Bran). Located 30 km from Brasov (), on the border of Muntenia and Transylvania. It is also called Dracula's castle. Absolutely in vain, since Vlad Dracula did not even live there. In the Middle Ages, it served as... a customs post. I remember that it even upset me: where is the romance-gothic-vampires?! In such a castle - and some kind of customs?! But the building is so picturesque that it is simply unforgivable to miss it. Standing on a mountain, majestic and impregnable, Bran looks exactly like a "movie" vampire castle. One of the most famous sights of the country.

• House of Dracula (Casa Dracula, Casa Dracula). Now there is a restaurant in it, but Vlad Dracula was really born in this building, there is even a fresco with a portrait of his father Vlad II. In Sighisoara (Transylvania) it also makes sense to take a look at the Clock Tower and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Church on the Hill). This is at least. Better yet, go around the entire medieval city center.

• Clock tower (Turnul cu Ceas, Turnul cu Chas) in Sighisoara. The most beautiful building in the Baroque style, built in the XIV century. True, the tower acquired its present appearance only later: after the fire of 1676, the roof was rebuilt and the main attraction was installed: a clock with wooden figures depicting Justice, Peace, Law, Day and Night, as well as 7 ancient Roman gods, patrons of the planets.

• Black Church (Biserica Neagra, Biserica Neagra) in Brasov. Sounds mysterious and gothic, doesn't it? In fact, the famous Lutheran church was called black because of a fire that happened there in the 17th century. She herself is from the 14th century. And indeed, she is very beautiful.

• Poenari Fortress (Cetatea Poenari, Cetatea Poenari). These are the real ruins of Dracula's fortress. Look for them near the town of Curtea de Arges, between Wallachia and Transylvania. About one and a half thousand steps lead to the mountain where the fortress rises. The view from the top is just fabulous. There is a legend that it was from the walls of Poienari that Dracula's first wife threw herself down into the Argesh River, afraid to be captured by the Turks. However, this fact has not been proven. But everything is possible.

• Transfagarasan (Transfagarasan) Mountain highway in the Carpathians, leading from Wallachia to Transylvania. The highest road in the country. Breathtaking mountain landscapes will not leave you indifferent. Nearby is the most beautiful Mountain Lake Bylya, and not only it: there are many mountain lakes in the region. Don't forget your video camera.

• Peles Palace (Castelul Peles, Castelul Peles) in Sinai (Wallachia). Royal residence. A unique building combining baroque and neo-renaissance styles. The only one of its kind.

• Merry Cemeterymore(Cimitirul Vesel, Cimitirul Vesel). It is located in the village of Sapintsa (Maramures). There is no other like it in all of Europe. Unusual monuments with humorous epitaphs worth seeing and photographing.

• Corvin Castle (Castelul Corvinilor, Castelul Corvinilor). Gothic citadel of the Hungarian kings of the 15th century. It is located in the city of Hunedoara (). It is believed that Vlad Dracula spent 7 years in prison there.

• Forest Hoia-Baciu (Padurea Hoia-Baciu, Padurea Hoya-Baciu) in town (). If you are interested in ghosts and aliens, this is the place for you. You will probably see something.

• Palace of Parliament in Bucharest (Wallachia). Built in the 80s. Known as the largest administrative building in the world. It covers an area of ​​270 by 240 square meters. Height - 86 m, the underground part goes down to 92 m. The palace has about 1100 rooms ... a monumental structure, in general.

Weather

The climate in Romania is warm. The average summer temperature is more than 30 or even 40 degrees, in winter it varies in different ways, depending on the region. There are also positive temperatures, for example, in Bucharest. And even rains in January. There are snowy, cold winters; in Transylvania sometimes it reaches -20.

IN major cities in the summer it is hard: there is absolutely no fresh air, the heat is hellish. At the same time, it is quite comfortable on the sea coast or in the mountains in summer. So, if you are going to the seaside resorts of Mamaia, Euforie Sud, etc., or to some lakes, June/July/August is the best time, of course.

If your goal is sightseeing, cities, castles and museums, I would suggest April/May or early autumn... but not quite early, until November. At this time, it is not too hot, not too cold. Degrees +10-15, sometimes +20 during the day.

At the end of October for mountain peaks you can already see the snow, although below it will be quite sunny and warm. In the mountains, the weather is terribly changeable, including in summer: sometimes the sun, sometimes showers with gusty winds.

And all this can change very quickly. If you stop by the Borgo (Tikhutsa) pass near Bistrita, or if you are on the Transfagaras, you will be convinced of this.

Winter is good for ski lovers.

Money

Romania is not a euro area. The local currency is Lei (RON). One euro is equal to approximately 4.5 lei. And one leu is about 16.6 rubles.

Exchange offices, ATMs are in all tourist cities and, of course, at the airport. But: you won’t change rubles in Romania, so it’s better to change your domestic currency for euros or dollars in Russia, and they are already for lei upon arrival.

Nevertheless, in Romania you can use almost any Russian cards, including ruble ones. Master Card, Visa - everything is fine. The main thing is that your bank provides card services abroad, in EU countries (this must be found out when issuing a card). Conversion when withdrawing money from an ATM takes place on the spot, you get your cash already in lei. The commission, of course, will be charged according to the tariffs of a particular bank.

Most restaurants pay in cash. Small shops too. I advise you to change cash if you are going on a tour of Romania, especially in the outback.

Moving around the country

The best way to get around Romania is tourist bus or by car with friends :). But if this option is not available to you, it's okay.

First, you can use local trains. From Gara de Nord, Bucharest North Station, we take the train. And go! Inexpensive, comfortable. For example, the cost of a ticket from Bucharest to Brasov (more than 3 hours to travel) will cost 11 euros (50 lei).

Trains are clean, with soft seats, tables, air conditioners. Drinks and snacks are offered along the way (not from granny peddlers as in domestic electric trains, but from CFR. It's like our Russian Railways :)).

The disadvantage of this method of transportation: it happens that you have to make a transfer, there are no direct trains to some cities. Or first use the train, then the bus. In this case, it is better not to go "to the people", that is, to public transport as it can be tiring, especially if you have heavy luggage while renting a car.

This is easy to do: there are a number of international car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, Alamo, National, Sixt, etc.). We order everything online. The best selection of cars, in my opinion, on the site. The average cost is from 27 euros per day. And you can rent a car with a driver. You also automatically receive insurance in case of theft, accident.

Another option for getting around the country is buses. If you go, or here, you can find out the current routes, schedules intercity buses. In the top line (de la) we select the city where we are going from, in the next line (pana la) - where we are going. Next, enter the date. And everything is ready! We get complete information.

On the same site - the addresses of all bus stations in Bucharest. I can indicate the cost on the example of the route -. The average ticket price is 70 lei (15 euros). It can also be a little cheaper, depending on the bus company. There are no complaints about comfort and cleanliness, most buses are quite decent and comfortable.

Connection

Wi-Fi is everywhere. Theoretically, they are everywhere. But practically ... yes, in any inexpensive hotel in Romania, wireless Internet is offered. But it doesn't work everywhere. In Bucharest hotels, as a rule, everything is in order. Still the capital. In Transylvania in mountainous areas you will very soon want to smash the unfortunate tablet, smartphone against the wall or throw it out the window, since the promised Wi-Fi will simply “fall out” every couple of minutes and hang in every possible way. In my experience, Wi-Fi is especially bad in Sibiu. And it does not depend on the high cost or cheapness of the hotel.

Solution: buy a local sim card. Mobile operators in Romania: Vodafone, Telekom, Orange, Digi.Mobil. On average, a card will cost about 5 euros.

Regarding the Internet, I will cite Telekom as an example, which I use myself. So, the minimum offered traffic on the card (Internet XS + package) is 0.5 GB per week, the speed is 3G and 4G. The minimum cost of Internet services of this very XS is from 2 euros. The maximum is 15 euros, there are generally 13 GB of traffic per month.

The cost of calls to Russia is from 25 euro cents per minute (and here Vodafone is perhaps the cheapest). In general, you can compare with the prices of our operators in roaming and calculate which is cheaper.

You can buy a card without any passport (so far) in any mobile phone store or in a machine (there are plenty of them in Bucharest, at the train station, in the city center, etc.).

We replenish the balance either online - through your bank card, or through the above-mentioned machines, or in the store.

To top up online, just go to the website of a mobile operator, for example, Vodafone, etc., and find the Reincarcare cartela section there, which just means “card top-up”. You can understand this section without even knowing Romanian: the page will display a line for the introduction phone number, the desired amount, then details bank card.

In a store, as a rule, you can tell the seller in English that you want to top up your phone account, the operator is such and such. You will be offered several options for scratch cards: for 5 euros, for 7, for 10, etc. Usually the "smallest" is just for 5 euros. Buy a card, erase the protective layer, dial the specified code on your phone. Voila! It is done.

Language and communication

The official language of the country is Romanian. The language of the Latin group, related to, say, Italian, but with large inclusions of Slavic and all sorts of other words. It has in common with Russian, in particular, the existence of a common word "yes" with the same meaning in both languages. This makes many of our tourists very happy - they say that they came to the country for the first time and we can already talk a little in the local language! But this, of course, will not be enough to communicate with the Romanians, as you and I understand.

Note to those who know English: as in many countries, in large cities and tourist centers You can meet quite a lot of people who speak English. Service staff in hotels, restaurants, shops, as well as guides are a must. Among the local population, it is better to turn to young people if you need, say, to ask in English for directions, etc.

In Russian - better and do not strain. You will not be understood. Although there is a caveat: people of the older and middle generation (over 40) can understand a little Russian, since at one time (under socialism :)) they studied it at school. True, things will not go further than “thank you, comrade”, “hello” and the rest in the same spirit.

In general, it is better to take a phrase book with you to Romania. You can't buy it there. English-Romanian, German-Romanian, Spanish-Romanian, whatever - yes. In any quantities. But it’s better to stock up on Russian-Romanian at home.

The most important phrases:

• Buna ziua - good afternoon, buna diminyatsa - good morning, buna shara - good evening.
• Mulcumesk - thank you.
• Taxi, coach, bus, avion, car - taxi, train, bus, plane, car.
• Yes - yes :), well - no, sorry - sorry (almost like in French :)).
• La revedere - goodbye.
• Note, va horn - count, please.
• Kyt kosta? - how much does it cost? Straight scump! - too expensive. Eftin is cheap.
• Binet - good.
• Unde este... (hotel, gara, autogara, restaurant, museul, bead, shop)? Where is... (hotel, train station, bus station, restaurant, museum, church, shop)?
• Pharmacie - pharmacy.

Important inscriptions:

• Plecari - departure (at railway stations, at the airport).
• Sosiri - arrival.
• Inchis - closed,
• deschis - open.

However, many of the words on the signs can be understood, as they are, in fact, international. For example, politie is difficult to confuse with something else. Plus the corresponding characters next to the words. I brought those that you can’t recognize “by sight” because of their dissimilarity to English, Russian, German-Spanish-French and others like them.

Features of the mentality

The mentality of the Romanians is very close to the mentality of the Russians. Let's just say they are not pedants, polished and super-duper-punctual boring lords and ladies with the same glued smile, obsessed with the "ordnung". Not in life! Romanians are emotional, hospitable, open, and also touchy (but only if their national pride is hurt). The worst insult is to say that Romanians and Gypsies are one and the same. So you shouldn’t say that, and you shouldn’t think like that, because it doesn’t correspond to the truth at all. Romanians as such have nothing to do with gypsies.

Due to emotionality, Romanians sometimes violate this aforementioned "ordnung" ... for example, traffic rules. Pedestrians who cross the street at a red light are not uncommon in Romanian cities. Or a couple of drivers leaning out the windows of their cars and with feeling, with gestures and using local untranslatable "folklore" at the top of their lungs, figuring out which of them was wrong on the road. And often both are to blame.

What else to add ... yes, the Romanians are quite traditional, somewhere even patriarchal. For example, the attitude towards same-sex love among the people is not very positive ... as in Russia, in short. Although this phenomenon also occurs there (as in any country), only in small quantities. In general, before Western ... uh ... tolerance :), when dad and mom are called only “parent 1” and “parent 2”, Romanians have not yet ... not survived yet. Someone will say, unfortunately, someone - fortunately. This is a matter of taste of individual citizens. I will not specify. Just what is, is.

Go ahead. The main religion in the country is Orthodoxy. Although there are many Catholics in Transylvania, mainly among the local Hungarians, and the Transylvanian Germans, respectively, are Protestants. In general, I have noticed more than once: when a Romanian passes or drives past a church, he will definitely cross himself. Even if he is not at all devout, he does not observe fasting and goes to church only at Easter. Just a very respectful attitude towards religion.

Of the negative features ... yes, the same ours, Russian ones. For example, some men are addicted to alcohol, mainly among the poor and middle strata of the population, more often in villages. Moreover, its owner often does not think to hide this habit from neighbors and passers-by. He goes for a walk down the street in a "natural-alcoholic" form and does not blow in his mustache. And what - the salary is small, everything is so expensive in the store, the son / daughter are blockheads, the boss is a tyrant, life is not successful - that's the man drinking. Well, something like this. That is, everything is a blueprint with the Russian hinterland.

Sometimes in the countryside I had the complete feeling that I had come to the village of some Bryansk - Kostroma - Orlovskaya, etc. areas. I mean, the audience is the same. Considering that Romania is a poor country and the salaries of the locals are really ... not very good, you can understand people.

For the same reason, perhaps, there are many enterprising people among Romanians, with the so-called "commercial streak." If there is an opportunity to earn, to “make” at least a little money, to break out to a higher level, this opportunity will not be missed. People are not lazy, as they say. However, everything is individual.

Let's summarize the above: in Romania you will be met very cordially, they will remember their entire stock of Russian words and how the country lived under Ceausescu, they will be happy to show you local sights, they will feed and drink deliciously. They will offer to buy interesting souvenirs for memory (they can even give them as a gift). And if you return, they will be received as a dear old friend. The Russians there are treated kindly, friendly and with some curiosity.

Food and drink

Romanian cuisine is influenced by several countries. Something from Italian (Mediterranean), German, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Turkish. Meat dishes with vegetable side dishes predominate. Pork is perhaps the most consumed meat in the country. La gratar meat, that is, grilled meat, is popular.

There are many fish dishes in the Danube Delta region.

Of the vegetables, Romanians most often use eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, sweet peppers, and corn. Also beans, including green beans. They love spicy, pickled hot pepper pods (ardei iute) are served with many meat dishes. Many have probably heard about hominy - corn porridge. Once it was eaten in the villages for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in general instead of bread. There are many recipes for its preparation. Now in most restaurants it is served with sour cream and fried eggs.

Romania is also a country of cheeses. There are a lot of types of cheese, which can be divided into two main categories: cheese and porridge. Cheese - soft cheeses, porridge - hard. They come from cow, sheep, goat milk; smoked (afumat), salty and not very... In general, for every taste.

Very good flat pies with sweet cheese (placinta cu branza, placinta cu bryndza). Romanian cuisine is related to Russian and Ukrainian cuisine by the presence of such dishes as slanina - lard with meat layer, sarmale - cabbage rolls, piftie - jelly.

When it comes to drinks, there are many varieties of wine in Romania. The most remarkable thing (to the taste of the author :)) is the white semi-sweet “Kotnari” from Moldova. But in general, what kind of wine tastes better is up to you, dear readers. Come and try it yourself.

There is also a national vodka - tsuyka with a strength of 50 degrees. More precisely, this is not quite vodka ... locals call it “brandy” for tourists, but in fact, tsuika tastes the closest to moonshine. Only high quality. It is made from fruits, most often from plums, pears or apples.

Tsuiki palinka is even stronger, it can generally be up to 70 degrees. For an amateur.

Homemade sweet cherry tincture visinata is also good. It is soft and very tasty.

shopping

Shopping... well, it all depends on what and where you want to buy. Clothing, cosmetics, appliances - the same and the same brands as in Moscow. , Japan, occasionally Europe. Or "China under Europe." Local production, say, clothing or shoes, is poorly represented. The only thing is that in Transylvania you can find cheap Hungarian cosmetics. The quality is normal. I won't say anything bad.

By prices. In Bucharest (and other cities) in large shopping malls the difference with Moscow will be small, although there are often discounts. So there is no point in going to Romania on a shopping tour. You can buy the same pants-shirts-jackets-skirts in some H&M, Bershka or Stradivarius everywhere and at about the same price.

But if you are interested in something authentic and unique, go to a shop called Artizanat, where you can buy very interesting souvenirs, handicrafts. Mostly ceramics, very pretty plates, pots or mugs; wooden souvenirs, figurines, dolls; textiles - tablecloths, handbags, embroidered shirts, aprons; products made of leather, sheepskin (these are usually elements of a national costume, vests, for example, or slippers); beaded jewelry in national style.

It won't be cheap, I must say. For example, an average vyshyvanka blouse will cost under 100 euros and more. There are similar shops in any city where tourists stop by.

There are a lot of products for a masquerade, for example, in Sighisoara, and especially on the eve of Halloween. Masks, cloaks, wigs, dresses, knightly weapons ... in general, if you want to have fun celebrating Halloween, all attributes can be bought on the spot. In the same Sighisoara, you can buy a mug in the form of a vampire head, a candlestick, which is a miniature ceramic Clock Tower - the main identification mark of Sighisoara.

Vacation with children

Unfortunately, there are no special sights that are memorable for children like Disney Land in Romania. Playgrounds please. The zoo is a must visit. In Targu Mures, for example. This is a city in Transylvania, an hour's drive from Sighisoara.

Teenagers may like the Halloween masquerade and the vampire theme in general. There are many children's creative groups in Sighisoara, which often, especially in summer, show free concerts.

Safety

Romania is not some kind of criminal country. It is not necessary to tremble and not leave the room at night. The crime rate is, let's say, average. Even in Europe there are countries where it is much more dangerous.

If you do not walk alone for an hour at two in the morning along the dark alleys of Bucharest, hung in three layers with expensive cameras, tablets and other equipment, do not hold banknotes or credit cards like a fan, nothing bad will most likely happen to you.

Caution and prudence, of course, are needed everywhere, but there is no need to strain and rush away from every shadow. Two tips:

• Try not to get into discussions with gypsy beggars.
• Don't forget to fasten your bags and barettes in crowds (say, in the subway or in the markets).

Another one for girls walking alone:

• Don't catch a car late in the evening in Bucharest. It is better to call a taxi by phone. Numbers should be recorded in advance, they will be given to you at the reception of any hotel. The dispatchers usually speak English. Or you can ask the waiter at the restaurant to call a car for you.
  Sitting in an unknown “swallow” at night, even in the historical center of the capital, you can run into:
  • You will be taken to right place, but they will rip it off like sticky (and this is at best).
  • They will try to offer a "great job" where "you will get a lot of love and a lot of money." That is, simply in a brothel. They will talk about it in a decent way English language, very intrusive and persistent.
  • Having received a refusal to the offer above, they can be “offended” and bring the calves to where Makar did not drive the calves.

In general, this can end badly. You won't necessarily end up in the latter situation, but the danger is there.

The second happened to me. How did you manage to solve the problem. I said that my boyfriend, a boxer, was meeting me, to whom I would now tell what the driver offered me. And, they say, the boyfriend will not like it very much :). Everything from the first to the last word was fiction :). But the result followed: the driver fell silent, quickly and culturally drove me to the place, and then instantly melted into the Bucharest night.

So some legend about a husband or a boxer friend can help, in which case. But it’s better, I repeat, if you’ve already gone on a walk until night, call the taxi service.

In small tourist towns like Sighisoara, you can walk at night, it is extremely calm there.

In the outback, tourists are not particularly threatened by anything, unless, of course, it occurs to you to go for a walk in the forest without fail at night. You can just get lost. Or in some mountain regions, for example, near Sinai, run into a bear. The fact is that animals can come close to settlements in order to get food from the dumps.

5 things to do in this country

• Visit Bran Castle
• Try hominy, papanashi, tsuyka, michi and Cotnari wine.
• Learn to dance folk dance.
• Climb the Poienar fortress.
• Celebrate Halloween in Transylvania.

Nearby countries

Romania borders on:

• Bulgaria
• Hungary
• Moldova,
• Serbia
• Ukraine.

Visas are required to visit Bulgaria and Hungary. I have already said above that the Romanian visa is not a Schengen one. You can enter Romania with a Schengen visa, but you can’t enter the countries of the Schengen agreement with a Romanian visa (Romanians themselves, according to their passports, by the way, have no problems). So plan your routes in advance, get the necessary visas.

Forest Hoya-Bachu, located near Romanian city Cluj-Napoca, rightfully bears the title of one of the most mysterious places Europe. It is called the "Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania".

This analogy suggests itself: here people disappear without a trace, encounters with UFOs are not uncommon ... Residents surrounding villages they prefer not to go to Hoya Bacha, so as not to incur the wrath of the powerful forces that, in their opinion, live in the forest.

The forest was changing before our eyes...

The main tourist attraction of Transylvania is Bran Castle, built in the 14th century. It was once owned by the legendary Vlad Tepes, better known to us as Count Dracula.

However, in last years more and more tourists tend to visit not only and not so much Dracula's castle, but the surrounding Hoya-Bachu forest, in which paranormal phenomena have become almost commonplace.

But a little over 100 years ago it was a forest as a forest. Locals hunted there, picked mushrooms and berries. A well-trodden path ran through the forest, along which travelers were not afraid to travel even at night. Now this road is almost overgrown, and only extreme people will risk going to Hoya Bacha at night. Or obsessed paranormal investigators. Which, however, is enough.

At the beginning of the last century, the forest (then it was simply called Hoya) began to change literally before our eyes. The straight trunks of the trees gradually bent at monstrous angles. The ground was overgrown with thick moss. Animals gradually disappeared from the forest, and almost all birds followed them. Local residents whispered that they saw Vlad Tepes in Hoya, who at one time loved to hunt in these places. It was rumored that the devil himself chose the forest thicket.

The Lost Shepherd

The forest of Hoya began to justify its sinister reputation immediately after the end of the First World War. In one of local villages there lived a shepherd nicknamed Bachu (translated from Romanian - "leader", "leader"). The local residents were engaged in cattle breeding, and therefore Bacha, who raised and sold hundreds of sheep, was respected. One day in June, a shepherd drove a flock of 200 heads to a fair in the town of Cluj-Napoca. His path ran through the forest. Bachu went there early in the morning and ... disappeared without a trace.

When at the appointed time he did not appear at the fair, the merchants, who were waiting for the flock, for which they had already paid a deposit, became alarmed. Residents of the city and surrounding villages (several thousand people participated in the search) literally combed the forest, which covers an area of ​​35 hectares, literally by a meter. But no traces of either the shepherd or the sheep could be found.

There were no robbers in these places for a long time, but even if they appeared from somewhere and killed Bacha, hiding his body, taking away such a large flock so that it would not be noticed in the surrounding villages is an unrealistic task. The respected man and the sheep disappeared without a trace. And the forest has since become known as Hoya-Bachu.

Time loop

The forest, like a predator that tasted the taste of human blood, demanded more and more new victims. Within a few years, several more people disappeared in Hoya Bachu. Their bodies were also not found. But these tragedies can be attributed to an accident, an attack by wild animals, that is, at least somehow explained. Other stories smack of outright devilry.

Here, for example, are two cases that occurred after the Second World War. A young teacher, who did not believe in God or in hell, went to Hoya Bacha for mushrooms. Soon local residents found her sitting on the edge of the forest.

In 1989, the Screaming Forest, located in Kent near the village of Pluckley, got into the Guinness Book of Records. It has the highest number of ghosts in the UK, with at least 12 "apparitions" per year.

The unfortunate woman completely lost her memory - she did not even remember her name. And, of course, she could not answer the question of what happened to her in the forest. Another time, a five-year-old girl, chasing a beautiful butterfly, ran into the forest and disappeared. Searches were organized, but the baby could not be found. Only five years later, the missing girl - in the same clothes and absolutely unchanged in appearance - came out of the forest, holding a caught butterfly by the wings.

The little girl was never able to tell where she disappeared: for her, only a few minutes had passed from the moment she entered the thicket.

Educated people, like the teacher mentioned above, despise superstition. Therefore, although the bulk local residents avoided hiking in Hoya-Bacha, some still went there for berries and mushrooms. Not all, but some soon fell ill - people complained of skin rashes, migraines, dizziness, unreasonable vomiting. Doctors could not establish the cause of ailments in absolutely healthy people. After some time, the patients recovered, but Hoya-Bachu finally gained a bad reputation.

World fame

In the 1960s, the Romanian biologist Alexander Sift became interested in the Hoya-Bachu phenomenon. He became the first scientist who seriously took up the study of the paranormal zone. For a number of years, Alexander, despite the danger, crossed the forest far and wide, spent the night in the thicket, and held photo shoots there.

Surprisingly, Hoya-Bachu did not cause him any harm. Alexander Sift noted that in the depths of the forest there is a strange round clearing on which there is no vegetation. When comparing soil samples from this clearing and from a regular forest clearing, no difference in composition was found. This means that there are no biological reasons for the disappearance of vegetation within the round meadow.

Alexander Sift noted: UFOs (most often round) can be found anywhere in the forest. But in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe "bald" meadow, their activity is greatest. When the films were developed after nightly photo shoots, the researcher drew attention to another strange feature. Many photographs show round luminous objects that are not perceived by the naked eye.

By the way, such balls still often appear in photographs taken with digital cameras. Scientists cannot give a reasonable explanation for this, but the locals have it. In their opinion, balls are souls dead people. The fact is that the lands of Transylvania are abundantly watered with blood - this area constantly changed hands in the Middle Ages. All this, of course, was accompanied by violence. The unfortunate peasants were robbed and mercilessly killed by local princes, and Hungarians, and Romanians, and Turks.

... In 1968, the case of Sift was continued by the Romanian military engineer Emil Barni. Shortly after the observation began, he managed to photograph a UFO above the treetops. Experts have established that we are really talking about some kind of flying object, the nature of which they do not undertake to explain. It is believed that this is the clearest and most reliable picture of a UFO taken in Romania.

Portal to another world?

Nowadays, numerous ufologists from different countries world - Germany, France, Great Britain, Hungary. However, paranormal activity in these places has declined somewhat in recent years. Not all visitors manage to encounter mystical phenomena.

However, many of them observe luminous balls in the forest (most often - near the "bald" clearing in the depths of the forest). Sometimes researchers hear strange sounds or see flickering shadows and lights. In winter, strange footprints often appear in the snow that do not belong to any creature known on Earth.

Photographs still often show strange silhouettes and glowing orbs that are not visible to the naked eye.

Prestigious ufology publications, as well as the BBC channel, call Hoya Bachu one of the most interesting paranormal zones on the planet. Even Nicolas Cage came here, intrigued by the programs about the mysterious forest. The famous Hollywood actor filmed a documentary about Hoya Bachu for several days, which he now shows to his friends at private parties. Cage is sure that the trees in the forest have changed their shape under the influence of the powerful energy inherent in these places. After this statement by the actor, yoga lovers began to come to Hoya Bachu. They meditate in the forest and try to draw energy from a mystical source.

In recent years, the inhabitants of the surrounding villages have found their own explanation for all the devilry that is happening in Hoya-Bachu. They are sure that the “bald” clearing in the thicket is a portal to another world. Disappeared people simply failed there. And luminous balls, strange shadows and UFOs are the inhabitants of a parallel universe who accidentally fell into our world.

But there is another version that explains the mysterious phenomena in Hoya-Bachu. Dracula's castle, which was somehow forgotten among all this hype around mystical forest, may well influence the territory surrounding it with its negative energy and even be a kind of portal connecting our world with parallel worlds.

Andrey Leshukonsky

Romania is an amazingly interesting and multifaceted country that offers travelers a wide variety of options for spending time.

The excursion program in Romania is rich and vibrant. Travelers are waiting for medieval cities that look like a museum under open sky, ancient temples, unusual wooden churches, ancient monasteries, picturesque nature, luxurious palaces and mysterious castles, surrounded by blood-stirring legends about the gloomy Count Dracula.

The majestically calm and attractive Carpathian Mountains, striking in their beauty, deserve special attention.

Popular attractions in Romania.

For most tourists, Romania is attractive, first of all, for its comfortable and fairly inexpensive accommodation. beach holiday on Black Sea coast. The perfect time to relax in Romanian seaside resorts- from May to October.

Mamaia, Jupiter, Neptune-Olympus, Venus - best resorts Romania. They are ideal for quiet family vacation. The sea here is calm and calm, and the beaches are well-equipped, clean and wide, with fine fine sand.

Young people will be interested in the resort Kostinesh. Here, travelers are waiting for affordable prices, active night life, bright festivals and beach discos.

In winter, amateurs flock to the country skiing. Unusually picturesque slopes, comfortable trails, the purest mountain air and developed infrastructure ensure a steady interest in Romanian ski resorts from both beginner skiers and professional athletes. The most popular resorts are Poiana Brasov, Predial and Sinaia.

Balneological resorts in Romania

Romania is famous for its mineral and thermal springs. Therefore, at any time of the year, travelers can not only have a wonderful rest, but also improve their health at medical resorts. There are over 160 of them in total. The most famous and popular Romanian balneological resorts are Mamaia, Eforie-Nord, Sovata, Neptune-Olympus.

Bran Castle (or Dracula's Castle) is the most popular attraction that almost any tourist who travels through picturesque Transylvania seeks to visit. Popular rumor claims that Count Dracula himself lived in the castle. In fact, Vlad Tepes, who served as the prototype of this mystical character, only stayed here for the night a few times.

The "vampire" castle is a four-story bastion that once served to protect the town. It is built on top of a rock, which serves as the foundation of this trapezoid building. The corridors and halls of the castle form an ingenious labyrinth, complemented by many secret underground passages that allow the inhabitants of the castle to quietly leave it if necessary.

In the market located next to the castle, there is a brisk trade in vampire-themed souvenirs.

Location: Street General Traian Mosoiu nr. — 24.

You can continue your journey through the places of "vampire glory" in the Korvinov castle, in the basement of which, according to legend, the overthrown Vlad Tepes was kept for several years. Getting to the place that served as the family nest of the Kovins is very problematic, but it does not lack tourists.

This popular landmark was built in the middle of the 15th century. Over the centuries, more than a dozen owners had a hand in creating the external appearance of the castle. Its architecture combines elements of Gothic and Renaissance in a very original way.

You can get to the castle on a huge bridge, which is thrown over the Zlashte river. Gloomy interiors, torture chambers with very realistic dummies create a special, slightly sinister atmosphere in the castle. Once here, you are involuntarily transported to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages and begin to sincerely believe in the existence of vampires, trying to stay away from the dark corners of the castle.

Location: Hunedoara, Strada Castelului 1-3.

Castle Poenari (Poenari) can rightfully participate in the competition for the title of "the most vampire" of all the vampire castles in Romania, because Vlad Tepes lived in this castle for a long time.

According to legend, the wife of Tepes jumped into the river from one of the platforms of this castle, having learned about the imaginary death of her husband. When visiting this attraction, tourists should calculate their strength: to wander through the ruins of the castle (one of the oldest in the country) and enjoy great view in the vicinity, you need to overcome almost one and a half thousand steps.

Another castle of Dracula, which is an impregnable medieval fortress, can be found in the charming town of Fageras.

The impregnable walls of the fortress in former times served as the residence of the rulers of Transylvania, among whom was Vlad the Impaler, better known as Count Dracula. Creepy legends about vampires brought black fame to the castle, which is aggravated by the fact that a prison for political prisoners was located within the walls of the fortress.

Location: Fagaras, Street Mihai Viteazul - 1.

The fortress of Sighisoara is another must-see for tourists interested in vampire themes. Outside the walls of the citadel is the house where Count Dracula was born from the age of seven.

Location: Strada Octavian Goga - Sighisoara.

A significant part of the sights of Romania is located in its capital - the city of Bucharest. Palace of Parliament - business card Romanian capital. This imposing building occupies an area of above 350 thousand sq. meters and is considered the largest administrative building in Europe.

The interior of the palace amaze with incredible splendor and luxury. The palace rises 86 meters above the ground, in addition, there is a hidden part of the building that goes underground for several floors. According to various estimates, 1-3 billion rubles were spent on the construction of this monumental structure. dollars.

Location: Strada Izvor No. 2-4.

No less interesting attraction of Bucharest is the Cotroceni Palace, built in the Neo-Renaissance style. Today it serves as the residence of the President of Romania. Also located in the building National Museum, the collection of which contains over 20 thousand exhibits.

Location: Bulevardul Geniului - 1.

One of the most picturesque sights in Bucharest is the Cantacuzino Palace. Its facades amaze with rich decor, and wide arched windows and wrought-iron balconies give the building a special charm.

The main entrance, decorated with the coat of arms of the noble Cantacuzino family, is reliably guarded by two stone lions. In 1956, the museum of George Enescu began to function in the building.

Location: Calea Victoriei - 141 (sector 1).

The outstanding landmark of Bucharest is the Ateneum - the main concert hall cities. The building was built in neoclassical style and is famous for its unique acoustics.

Location: Strada Benjamin Franklin #1-3.

Peles Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Romania. It is located in an unusual picturesque place, near the city of Sinai and is in perfect harmony with the surrounding mountain landscapes.

Its interior impresses with original paintings, amazing stained-glass windows, an abundance of wooden decorative elements, handmade carpets, and giant mirrors. The castle has a unique collection of weapons, numbering over 4 thousand exhibits.

Location: Aleea Peleșului - 2.

An amazing sight of Romania is the small and cozy painted monasteries of Southern Bukovina, covered from top to bottom with frescoes, and not only from the inside, but also from the outside.

The unique murals are protected from precipitation by a wide roof slope. The frescoes date from the 16th century. Despite the venerable age, rains and winds, they are well preserved to this day.

Maramures - unique corner Romania, famous for its reverent attitude to ancient traditions and unique wood carvings. The most striking reflection of the talent of local craftsmen are numerous wooden buildings. Particularly impressive 8 wooden churches built in various architectural styles.

A very unusual attraction of Marmuresh is a cheerful cemetery near the village of Sepintsa. The idea of ​​its creation belongs to the master Jon Petrash - a creative and cheerful person.

Above each grave, the master installed bright wooden tombstones, decorated with carved wooden crosses, cheerful ornaments, and poetic texts. Drawings in the style of naive art reflect the events that happened to the deceased during their lifetime.

The Carpathian Mountains occupy a third of the territory of Romania. This is the second largest mountain range in Europe. The Carpathian mountains captivate with their grandeur and silent beauty. An excursion to the Carpathians will bring pleasure not only to lovers of winter sports, but also to tourists interested in historical and cultural monuments.

Bigar Falls is one of the most unusual waterfalls in the world. Having a small height, only 8 meters, the waterfall is simply a fantastic sight: water flows down a rock covered with emerald green moss, and thin streams resembling a plume fall into the water.

Location: Karash-Severin, in the western part of the country, near the town of Bozovich.

The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is a place of unique beauty and significance that lovers of untouched nature will surely appreciate. There are many fish and animals here. Delta - real paradise for birds. 160 species of birds nest here permanently. Approximately the same number of bird species rest here during flights.

If you think that Romania is a country completely overgrown with forests, in which, here and there, there are medieval castles, always inhabited by vampires, and there is nothing else in it, then you are deeply mistaken.

Modern Romania is a classic European state, in no way inferior to its neighbors on the map.

Of course, the country keeps in itself national legends about the mystical prince Dracula, and there are also gloomy castles resting against the sky with their spiers, but the Gothic component is not the whole of Romania.

Majestic Bucharest boasts grand buildings Soviet era, small Transylvanian cities - medieval history countries. Numerous museums in Romania abound with paintings, architecture and weapons collections. In the Carpathians there are ski resorts, on the Black Sea coast - places for a beach holiday.

Romanian shops are open from nine to six, on weekdays. In major cities there are 24-hour markets. The main souvenirs of the country are numerous wines and handicrafts with a "Dracula theme".

Romanian cuisine is represented by dishes based on meat (michi sausages) or corn (mamaliga). In local cafes, fruit tea is usually served, and in bars - plum tincture.

Hotels in Romania are rarely rated higher than four stars. But rest and accommodation in them costs around 35 euros per day.

The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see in Romania?

The most interesting and Beautiful places, photos and a short description.

Built at the end of the 14th century, Bran Castle went down in history as Dracula's castle. According to one of the legends, the Wallachian prince Vlad Tepes, who became the prototype of the famous literary character, often stopped at the castle during campaigns and hunted in its vicinity. Bran Castle is located on top of a cliff and has a trapezoidal shape. The corridors of the fortress are an intricate labyrinth.

The Romanian Carpathians are the second largest mountain range in Europe. It occupies a third of the country and includes Eastern, Southern and Western Carpathians. The majestic mountains consist of high peaks (about two and a half kilometers in height), volcanoes, glaciers, picturesque caves. In some parts of the mountain range there are well-maintained ski resorts.

The largest administrative building in the world is located on Spiriy Hill. It covers an area of ​​three hundred and fifty thousand square meters, consists of twelve floors, four underground levels and over a thousand rooms. The palace was built in 1984 by order of Ceausescu. About a million cubic meters of marble and three thousand five hundred tons of crystal were spent on its decoration.

The Lutheran Church of St. Mary appeared in the southeast of Transylvania in the 80s of the XIV century. Today it is considered the largest Gothic building in the country. The height of the Black Church, together with the bell tower, is sixty-five meters. The inside of the building is decorated with Gothic frescoes, the outside with Renaissance sculptures and patterns.

One of the longest streets in Bucharest runs through the center of the Old City. It got its name in the 17th century from German merchants who called the place of their trade Leipzig, which later transformed into Lipskan. The architectural appearance of the street began to take shape in the 15th century, but most modern buildings belong to the style of the early 20th century - secession.

Historical Center cultural capital Romania is separated from the rest of the city by a high fortress wall. It consists of narrow streets, medieval residential and church buildings and spacious squares. In the upper part of old Sibiu, wealthy citizens used to live, while industrialists and artisans lived in the lower part.

One of major museums open-air was opened in Romania in 1905. Located in the south of Sibiu, in the ancient park "Dumbrava Sibiului" architectural complex consists of more than three hundred buildings, reflecting the technological development of the country. In ASTRE you can find wooden farmhouses, traditional inns, various mills, cattle pens, hydraulic forges.

Herastrau Park was laid out in the northern part of Bucharest, on the shores of the lake of the same name in 1936. One part of it is the Village Museum (about it - below), the second is a traditional recreation area for the townspeople. The Herastrau park area consists of quiet leafy alleys, small artificial reservoirs and picturesque embankments.

Founded in 1690 by Constantin Brâncoveanu, the Wallachian monastery is one of the best representatives of the Brâncovean style that emerged in Romania at the beginning of the 18th century. The presence of rich carvings and decorative paintings, openwork oriental arches with small columns and roof cornices far from the walls form a unique architectural image of the Khorezu monastery.

Located in the northwest of Sinai, the majestic neo-Renaissance palace began to be built in the 70s of the XIX century and was completed by the First World War. One hundred and sixty rooms of the castle contain rich collections of paintings, sculptures, furniture, weapons, porcelain, carpets and tapestries. Park Ensemble Peles is based on seven Italian terraces, decorated with stairs, lions and fountains.

The internationally recognized Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is a swampy area consisting of small lakes, sand dunes, reeds, reeds and swamps proper. In this part of Romania you can find a large number of birds, fish and animals. The Danube Delta is home to rare species of red-throated goose and Dalmatian pelican.

Opened in Bucharest in 1888, the Ateneum was built on the initiative of the local cultural community, which included prominent Romanian diplomats, politicians and artists. Today the Ateneum concert hall is one of the best in Europe. It annually hosts the International music Festival them. J. Enescu.

One of the first ethnographic museums in the world was opened in Bucharest in 1936. It bears the name of the famous educator Dimitri Gusti and consists of three hundred rural buildings (farms, huts, windmills, etc.), collected from all over Romania and located on an area of ​​one hundred thousand square meters.

Towering above the Tirnava Mare River, the Transylvanian city of Sighisoara was founded in the 13th century by German colonists. His historical Center looks like a classic medieval city, fortified with two bastions and nine towers. On the territory of Old Sighisoara there are ancient residential and educational buildings, towers with weather vanes, museums (of history, torture, weapons).

The most positive cemetery in the world took place thanks to the talent of the Romanian artist and sculptor S.J. Petrash, who in the 30s of the XX century began to decorate wooden tombstones with illustrations that reveal the characteristic features of the life of the deceased. Colorful caricature images still appear at the Merry Cemetery, accompanied by text messages from relatives or statements of the causes of death of the deceased.

Located at the top Carpathian mountains Skarisoara cave consists of several halls bearing "religious" names - Church, Cathedral, Big hall. Similar associations were taken from the unusual shape of stalagmites resembling church candles. Skarisoara Cave is also unique in that it contains an underground glacier with a total volume of seventy-five thousand cubic meters.

The boyar estate of Mogoshoaya is located in a dense forest, fourteen kilometers from Bucharest. The fabulous palace and park complex was built at the beginning of the 18th century by the ruler of Wallachia, Konstantin Brynkovyanu, in accordance with the architectural style inherent in that time. Replete with elegant arches, protruding cornices and decorative ornaments.

Passing through the Carpathian massif Fagaras and connecting Wallachia and Transylvania, the highway was laid in the seventies of the XX century by order of Ceausescu. The construction of the route was carried out by the Romanian army. It was assumed that the highway would be used for military purposes. Today it serves peaceful purposes, but only in summer and during daylight hours.

19. Mud Volcanoes Berg (Berca Mud Volcanoes)

Formed after the 1977 earthquake, near the city of Buzau mud volcanoes Berga, unlike ordinary volcanoes, erupt gases and mud onto the surface of the earth with a small amount of water and oil. Sometimes the gas released from the ground ignites spontaneously, turning the volcanoes of Berg into colorful natural torches.

An eight-meter waterfall flowing over tuff covered with green moss is located in the Beušnica National Park. From afar, Bigar resembles a huge mushroom. A special bridge was built to observe the waterfall in the Nera Gorge. characteristic feature Bigara is the rapid rate of falling water.

Romania will forever be associated in the minds of people with mystery and mysticism, and all thanks to Count Dracula Stoker. However, there are other mystical places in Romania that are no less interesting for lovers of mysticism. We offer you to go on a trip to Romania and learn about two of the most famous places.

witch lake

Not far from Bucharest, in a mysterious forest, there is a lake, for many centuries it was called the Witch's. The lake has several strange features. So, it always has a depth of one and a half meters, regardless of drought or heavy rains. Animals prefer to bypass the lake and do not drink from it, and neither birds nor frogs settle on its banks.

Pregnant women are advised not to approach the lake as it may cause miscarriage. The lake attracts sorcerers and witches to perform their sinister rituals, as it is considered the source of the power required for this. After the sun sets, mysterious figures can be seen near the lake, performing actions of an undoubtedly occult nature.

In most cases, sorcerers and witches performing their rituals here are so focused that they are not distracted by random witnesses, but still a few risk attracting the attention of those communicating with dark forces.

Dracula's castle

Located in the northwest of the country, Dracula's castle is one of the most remarkable and mysterious places in Romania. Despite the fact that Transylvania for centuries was considered the habitat of vampires, its popularity, along with the fame that fell on Dracula, brought a novel by Bram Stoker written at the end of the nineteenth century. The image of Dracula he created became canonical, becoming almost an archetype.

It is now almost impossible to imagine another Dracula, and he himself has become the most striking incarnation of a vampire. Bram Stoker took the name for his character from Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, who ruled Wallachia, a land in present-day Romania. The reason why Vlad III became a vampire in popular rumor is his extreme, sophisticated cruelty. His nickname Tepes - "the stinger" - fully reflects his favorite method of execution. Another nickname - "Dracul", that is, "dragon", he inherited from his father, along with membership in the knightly order of the Dragon.

It was said about Tepes that he loved to kill for fun, washing his body with blood. Foreign ambassadors who refused to take off their hats to him regretted it when he ordered their hats to be nailed to their heads. The fight against poverty in the view of Dracula looked like this: to gather all the beggars, feed them, and then burn them. Tepes did not leave his hobby even when he was captured.

He caught birds flying up to the window and planted them on stakes made of wood chips. Among other things, Vlad Tepes changed his faith, which, according to popular belief, was another reason that made him a restless bloodsucker after his death. While writing the novel, Bram Stoker studied the available books about the princes of Moldavia and Wallachia, as well as all the information available to him about Vlad Tepes himself.

Stoker indicated a castle in Transylvania as his place of residence, while in reality Vlad Tepes lived in the capital of Wallachia, Targovishte. The reason for this literary migration is believed to be that Stoker learned about Bran Castle, where Tepes often stopped while hunting. This castle is located in Transylvania, near a deep gorge. All this led to the fact that Bran Castle began to be considered Dracula's castle.