GUIDE FOR VISITORS

TO ROMANIA

Did You Know ?

The Palace of Parliament, located in
Bucharest, ranks as the biggest office
building in Europe and second-largest
in the world, after the U.S. Pentagon?
Voronet Monastery, located in
northeastern Romania, is also known
as
the Sistine Chapel of the East?

 The city of Brasov (Transylvania) is

home to the largest Gothic church
between Vienna and Istanbul ? The
Black Church built between 1385 1477
The meaning of the word
Transylvania is the land beyond the
forest?

 Romania has the second-largest outdoor

museum in the world? - Astra Museum in
Sibiu has more than 300 buildings, windmills,
watermills, etc.
The Romanian city of Timisoara was the
first in Europe to have electric streetlighting? its the first European city to
introduce horse-drawn trams (in 1869) and
electrical street lighting (in 1889).

 The first fountain pen was invented

by Craiova-born Petrache Poenaru

(1799-1875)?
Insulin was discovered by a
Romanian physiologist ? Nicolai
Paulescu
The jet engine used by modern
airplanes was invented by Bucharestborn inventor Henri Coanda ?

 Romania features the youngest continental

land (Danube Delta) in Europe ?
Brasov is home to what is said to be the
narrowest street in Europe ? - The Rope
Street (Strada Sforii) is approximately four feet
wide. The street was initially used as an access
route by firefighters.
Romania has the second largest
underground glacier in Europe? Scarisoara

Quick facts about ROMANIA

Location: (Southeastern) Central Europe

Time Zone: GMT + 2
Area: 91,725 sq. miles (237,502 sq. km)
Flag of Romania: Three vertical stripes: red, yellow and blue.
Population: 21,400,000 (2009 mid-year estimate)
Ethnic Groups: Romanian 89%, Hungarian 7.5%, Gipsy 1.9%,
German, Other 1.6%
Religions: Christian Orthodox 87%, Roman Catholic 5%, Protestant
5%, Jewish
Official Language: Romanian (a Romance language)
Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)
Climate: Temperate, four distinct seasons
Capital: Bucharest (Bucuresti)

Main attractions
What travel guides say about Romania:
"Few regions offer a more dazzling display of cultural
and artistic treasures than Romania." (Smithsonian
Journeys)
"No journey to Eastern Europe would be complete
without paying a visit to Romania Outstanding
landscapes, a huge diversity of wildlife"
(The Rough Guide)
"Romania has majestic castles, medieval towns, great
hiking and wildlife"
(The Lonely Planet)

Castles & Fortresses

Bran Castle in Transylvania famous for

the myth created around Bram Stockers

Dracula
Peles Castle in Sinaia a masterpiece of
German new-Renaissance architecture
Biertan Fortified Church (UNESCO
World Heritage Site) 15th century
Rasnov Fortress - built by Teutonic
Knights to protect against invading Tartars

Medieval Towns
SIBIU - designated European Capital of
Culture in 2007
SIGHISOARA - birthplace of Vlad
Draculea (Wallachian ruler), who inspired
Bram Stoker, home to the Medieval
Festival each year
CLUJ NAPOCA

TRADITIONS
The Living Fire is a Romanian tradition of

making fire just by lighting the wood with the

bare hands, no source of fire involved.
The Girl Fair of Mount Gaina
Easter The Most Important Christian
Holiday
Dragobete The Lost Romanian God of Love
and Lovers (celebrated on February 24)
Romanian Spring Traditions (Martisor is a
sort of lucky charm that symbolizes the spring
season given to women on March 1)

SPORTS
Oina traditional Romanian sport (similar
to baseball)
Nadia Comaneci The Mark of
Perfection in the Summer Olympics in
Montreal 1976
Ilie Nastase won the French Open in
1973, the US Open in 1972