Compare Treasures of Romania: Enchanting Castles and Painted Monasteries by Road Scholar

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive Bucharest, Orientation, Welcome Dinner Bucharest

Check-in available from 2:00 p.m.

Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Breakfasts will typically be European-style buffets with cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, yogurt, fruit, breads, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water. Unless noted otherwise, lunches and dinners will typically be 2 or 3-course set meals. Water is included in the program cost at all meals. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel dining room, we’ll have a plated welcome dinner with one alcoholic beverage, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 3 Bucharest Sightseeing Bucharest

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving short distances within the city; up to 2 hours total through multiple transfers. Walking up to 3 miles; approximately 4 hours; periods of standing; city streets, some stairs.

Setting out via motorcoach from the hotel, we’ll begin our exploration of Bucharest with an expert-led walk to Revolution Square where we will learn about the Romanian Revolution of 1989 against communism, one of the last in Eastern Europe. Nicolae Ceausescu was Romania’s communist leader at the time who, for years, had quashed all political opposition through promotion of fear tactics including the use of a ruthless secret police force. Next, we’ll board a motorcoach and travel to Patriarchy Hill where Romania’s Parliament building resides, which was designed to be the office of the former dictator and is the second largest building in the world. The 17th-century cathedral on Patriarchy Hill is also the center of the Romanian Orthodox Church. While on site, we’ll learn how government works in Romania, how the Parliament was built, and where the money came from for the massive project.

With our Group Leader, we will continue exploring the historic center of the city including the Ceausescu area and how the family got involved in the life of the country. Afterward, we will continue with our Group Leader for a field trip to the open-air Village Museum where we will learn about Romania’s diverse population and its multi-cultural heritage, including emphasis on folk traditions and rural architecture.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, yogurt, fruit, and breads, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

At a downtown restaurant, Caru cu Bere – once a meeting point for writers and politicians – we’ll have a tasty plated meal with coffee, tea, water included.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Day 4 Peles Castle, Transfer to Brasov Brasov

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 118 miles; approximately 3 hours to Brasov. Walking about 2 miles; up to 2 hours in Sinaia; some stairs to negotiate.

After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and begin travel to Transylvania and our next destination, Brasov. On the way, we will stop in Sinaia where we will enjoy an expert-led field trip through Peles Castle – summer residence of the Royal Family. The castle was built according to Western-European fashion by using the best possible materials: Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, Cordoba leather wall coverings, Meissen and Sevres porcelain. Many people believe this to be the most beautiful castle in Europe.

We’ll check into the hotel upon arrival in Brasov, a nicely preserved Saxon (German) city with the largest Gothic cathedral in the region. Its former German community is the birthplace of Transylvanian Protestantism. Later on at the hotel, we’ll attend a lecture given by a local expert to learn more about the history of Romania.

At leisure.

Hotel dining room.

At the castle in Sinaia, including coffee, tea, water.

Hotel dining room.

Day 5 Historic Brasov, Bran, The Castle of Dracula Brasov

Walking up to 3 miles; up to 4 hours; periods of standing; city streets, many stairs inside/outside of castle, uphill walk to Bran Castle. Getting on/off bus; driving about 21 miles to Bran; approximately 1 hour.

Setting out from the hotel, we’ll enjoy a walk in the historic center of Brasov led by our Group Leader. Brasov is one of the most picturesque historic cities of Romania. Established by Saxon (German) settlers at a strategic crossroad of trade routes in the 12th century, it was the gate of the Hungarian kingdom towards the southeast. Surrounded by high mountains one can always enjoy the clean air and the nice streets, squares, towers, and churches. One of the highlights that we will visit is the Black Church, the largest Gothic structure of Eastern Europe.

Next, we will take a bus transfer to Bran, known as the Castle of Dracula, for a field trip. The castle was originally built in the 14th century by the citizens of Brasov to protect their trade routes. Later, it was owned by Hungarian kings and the Romanian royal family. While on site with our Group Leader, we will become more acquainted with the myths of Dracula.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Hotel dining room.

At a restaurant in the historic center, we’ll have lunch with coffee, tea, water included.

On your own to explore local fare.

Day 6 Transfer to Gura Humorului, Bicaz Gorge, Lacu Rosu Gura Humorului

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 300 miles; approximately 7 hours from Brasov to Radauti. Walking about 1 mile; approximately 4 hours on our feet; periods of standing, city streets with some stairs.

Once checked out of the hotel, we will begin our journey from Brasov to Radauti. Along the way, we’ll stop in Simleu Ciucului, which is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site that was recently visited by the pope. With our Group Leader, we will see the church, the statue of the Holy Mary, and hear the story of a 500-year-old tradition. Continuing our transfer, we’ll cross the magnificent Bicaz Gorge and stop at Lacu Rosu (Killer Lake) to admire the beautiful lake.

Continuing our transfer, we will arrive at the hotel in Radauti for check-in.

At leisure.

Hotel dining room.

At a local restaurant at Lacu Rosu with coffee, tea, water.

Hotel dining room.

Day 7 Voronet, Moldovita & Sucevita Monasteries, Pottery Workshop Gura Humorului

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 100 miles total with multiple stops; approximately 3.5 hours. Walking about 2 miles; approximately 2 hours; periods of standing, city streets with some stairs.

We’ll set out for an all-day field trip via motorcoach to some famous painted monasteries including those listed as World Heritage sites. At each location, we’ll learn about the history and architecture of the monasteries, and study the iconography and specific meaning of the wall paintings. The morning will include field trips to Voronet and Moldovita Monasteries. Afterwards, as we cross a picturesque mountain en route to Sucevita, we will admire great views and see Ukrainian farms.

Next, we’ll travel to the Sucevita Monastery for a field trip to the religious museum. Continuing, we’ll make our way to a famous black pottery workshop in Marginea and learn how the pots are made.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Hotel dining room.

At a local restaurant in Sucevita with coffee, tea, water.

Hotel dining room.

Day 8 Transfer to Cluj-Napoca, Bistrita, Dracula Castle Restaurant Cluj-Napoca

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 200 miles; approximately 5 hours from Radauti to Cluj-Napoca. Walking up to 2 miles; approximately 1.5 hours; periods of standing, cobblestone streets with some stairs.

Return to Transylvania, to Cluj-Napoca - the educational and cultural center of the region. Enjoy a coffee stop at the Dracula Castle Restaurant, Hanul Tihuta.

While learning about Saxon heritage and culture with our Group Leader, we’ll take a walk in the town of Bistrita, during which we will see the historic city center, an example of a typical Saxon settlement with Gothic and Renaissance buildings. We’ll then complete our transfer to Cluj-Napoca where we will settle into the hotel.

At leisure.

Hotel dining room.

At a local restaurant in Bistrita, a formal Saxon town, with coffee, tea, water.

On your own to explore the local fare.

Day 9 Rimetea, Salt Mine at Turda, Meeting locals Cluj-Napoca

Getting on/off subway, motorcoach; driving about 76 miles; approximately 1 hour one-way to Rimitea. Walking about 3 miles; approximately 4 hours; periods of standing; city streets, some stairs.

Setting out for a full-day field trip, we will go to Rimetea, a historic village with stunning natural and architectural heritage. It was awarded the Europa Nostra Medal in 1999, which recognizes places that have put significant effort into conservation of historical sites. First, with a local expert, we will visit the five-hundred-year-old salt mine at Turda, which has since been turned into a museum. With our Group Leader, we’ll learn about the history of mining, the machinery used to mine, and the health benefits of the microclimate in the salt mine.

Continuing our time in Rimetea, we will then visit the local museum to learn from our Group Leader about folk traditions, local costumes, embroidery, and the local iron mining and manufacturing.

We’ll continue chatting with locals and carrying on informal conversation as we discuss any questions you might have before returning to the hotel.

Hotel dining room.

At the home of a local family in Rimetea, we’ll eat local meals and taste the famous wines of the Aiud wine region.

We’ll enjoy a dinner arranged by the Teodidactos Foundation, during which we can meet locals and discuss any questions you might have. Coffee, tea, water included.

Day 10 Romanian Sociology, Cluj Landmarks, Free Time Cluj-Napoca

Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 20 miles; less than 1 hour. Walking up to 3 miles; approximately 3 hours; periods of standing; city streets, some stairs.

A local expert will join us at the hotel for a lecture on what life is like in Romania today, including emphasis on the sociological statistics of the state. After the lecture, we’ll have a Q&A session during which we can compare what we’ve learned about both countries through discussion. Then, we’ll take an expert-led walking field trip to see the most magnificent landmarks in Cluj including two historical city centers, the Gothic Franciscan Monastery, the birth house of King Mathias, and the Baroque Bánffy Palace. We will end our walk on the picturesque Wolf Street where we will view former palaces, a great heraldry collection in the Protestant church, and one of the medieval bastions of the walled city.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Hotel dining room.

At a local restaurant with coffee, tea, water.

At a restaurant in the nearby village of Savadisla, we’ll have a farewell dinner featuring traditional food, plus local beer and wine, coffee, tea, water.

Day 11 Program Concludes Cluj-Napoca

Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.