If you visit Romania then don't miss this

The beautiful city of Brasov

     Located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, in the centre of Romania,  Brasov is one of the largest and most charming cities of the country. Founded in 1211, it is one of the best preserved cities in all of Europe. Brasov is home to a very pointy Orthodox church and one of the narrowest streets in Europe. Called “the Prague of Transylvania”, the old city was thoroughly restored to the delight of an increasing number of tourists.

 Offering a wonderful old architecture and splendid setting, Brasov has always been an important cultural centre. A centrepiece in Brasov is the Black Church which was built in the 15th century. The name, Black Church, was adopted in 1689 following a sweeping fire that destroyed the town and blackened the church walls. Eighty-nine meters long, it is the largest religious edifice between Vien and Istambul. The church displays numerous icons and holds an extremely valuable Gothic chalice, created over 500 years ago by an unknown artist. The church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Contemporary Brasov, with a population of about 400,000 is a busy industrial, shopping, tourist and cultural centre that offers the perfect escape for travels, adventure, cultural, and ecotourism. The Carpathian Mountains are the largest intact ecosystem of its kind in Europe. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, Brasov also makes a fabulous base for exploring the surrounding countryside where the air is clean and the people friendly. The geographic position and natural beauty, the great variety of the scenery and its contrasting aspects, the numberless historic and architectonic monuments make Brasov one of Romania’s main urban centres. The official website is: www.brasov.ro

Cetatea Neamt

     Cetatea Neamt is only 46 kilometres away from the Piatra Neamt town and is known as one of the most important medieval monuments in the area. The place where this fortress was erected is over 7000 years old, fact proved by the numerous archaeological sites and architectural evidence of cultures that dwelled in that area of Romania.

       It is very hard to determine the exact moment when Cetatea Neamtului was founded, but historians and great figures of local culture like A.D. Xenopol, B. P. Hasdeu or D. Onciul quote the document "Papal Bull" from 1232 which states that the Teuton knights were stationed in Tara Barsei between 1211-1225 and they built a "castrum muntissium",  on the eastern side of Carpathian Mountains. This citadel could only have been Cetatea Neamt.
The spot where Cetatea Neamt was built was wisely chosen, as the Plesului Height provides cover, in case of enemy attacks. The Plesului Rock is a triangle-shaped block, part of the Cerdac peak, measuring about 480 metres above sea level and 80 metres from the level of the river Neamtului. The architecture of the fortress seemed to have suffered Polish and Lithuanian influences, but what's interesting about this settlement is that the defence towers from the four corners were not placed at the exterior of the walls, but rather built directly from the walls' main structure.
The initial version of Cetatea Neamt was in fact a fort with 12-15 metres tall walls, that were 3 metres thick. One could enter the fort via the northern gate, which was the weak point of the settlement, but it was protected by a deep moat. As medieval weapons evolved into catapults and other methods of destruction that involved rock projectiles, that walls had to be reinforced. The most important reinforcement was made during the reign of Stefan cel Mare, probably between the battle of Vaslui (January 1475) and the battle of Razboieni-Valea Alba.

    In that short period of time, the fortress walls were risen by 6-7 metres and some of them even reached 30 metres and had openings meant for enemy surveillance and attack. What's impressive is the new access way into the fortress, an arched bridge, supported by 11 pillars of stone with prismatic shapes. It is believed that the orientation of the bridge forced any attacker to move his shield from the left hand to the right, which diminished the effect of attacks. The section of the bridge between the last pillar and the citadel wall was mobile and could be pulled up in case of danger with the aid of a rope system.
Aside from these fortifications, there are also many other security measures, like traps know as "rat and mouse traps". Cetatea Neamtului is not all about warmongers and fortified walls, as its architectural splendour is easily noticeable. Notice the gothic style, present in the design of doors and windows, the work of Transylvanian craftsmen, probably from Bistrita and Rodna.
Most of the citadel's roofs had brick arches supported by thick rock walls, aside from the roofs of the tower rooms, supported by thick oak pillars. The chamber beneath the entrance of the north-eastern tower was used as prison, while the room next door was used a treasury. According to local tradition, the south eastern tower had a room below called “the dark dungeon”, which imprisoned the people who had received their death sentence.

The Carpathians – A Cathartic Experience 

 A friend told me a story about mountains. About their multiple meanings. About their complex life and what it has to offer us. After telling me their story, he showed me. He took me on their cliffs and showed me that sometimes the mountains are the only ones that can save us. Our last resort. And this is exactly what I want to do for you now.

THE CARPATHIANS – A YEAR-ROUND ATTRACTION

Romania’s mountains are known as the Carpathians. They witnessed so many things during their existence that you can almost literally feel the heaviness of all the history they lived through. These mountains are not only great in appearance, but also due to all the experiences they hosted and surpassed. Maybe because we are so used for them to always be there, we have come to take the treasure the mountains hold within for granted.
The Carpathians have something to offer throughout the whole year. They welcome everyone during the winter to enjoy a variety of winter sports like skiing, ice skating or snowboarding. You can also come here to witness the nature coming back to life during spring or to escape the summer heat. But coming to the mountains during fall can be more than a fascinating experience. Nothing compares to seeing nature literally change in front of your eyes.

EXPLORING THE CORE OF THE CARPATHIANS

If you want to fully enjoy what the Carpathians have to offer, you must take the road less traveled. You have to remember that there is so much more to the mountains than staying at a fine resort and taking short walks in the nearby areas. We all seem to forget this somewhere on the way.
If you want to feel the essence of the mountains, you have to wake up early in the morning, take your backpack and just follow the signs that mark your way to the cliff. Sure, you will be sleepy. You will be a bit scared, too. But this is only natural. After all, you are about to come face to face with something great.

 There is something about the mountains during autumn that can leave you breathless. Everything goes though deep transformation from one week to the other. The trees, which at first have shades of green, gold or light brown, gradually turn into a darker, more violet color, as the winter gets closer. There is nothing quite as amazing as dragging your feet through the freshly fallen leaves, listening to the sounds they make and leaving your feet free to find their own rhythm, their own path.
There are no boundaries here, you can let yourself go. You can throw yourself in the leaves and just lie there. Lie there and look at the sky. Realizing the small part of the universe you occupy and feeling the sudden, out-of-this-world sensation that your spirit is no longer entrapped in your body. It may sound like a cliché, but still, clichés are born out of the most beautiful experiences in the world.

ROMANIA’S MOUNTAINS – MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE JOURNEY

The road to the mountain peak is not easy. At times, you will be under the strong impression that you will not be able to make it to the top. The mountains put you to the test. You have to fight, you have to be worthy of their beauty.
Once you pass the test, the mountains will embrace you and be there for you forever. They will reveal themselves in all their beauty; they will show you all their streams, their meadows, their valleys, their cliffs… all their ups and all their downs. And they will make you forget about yours. The road is not easy. But it is one about becoming. And you will never be the same after that.
The mountains have something to offer for everyone. All you have to do is open your eyes. And maybe bring a friend.