Romania is a country where reality blends with legend. The Carpathian Mountains hide Dracula’s castles, forests are full of wolves and bears, and something primal lingers in the air – the echo of ancient Dacia, the dragon Draco, and knowledge from millennia past. It is one of the most mysterious places in Europe – and my absolute favorite.
“Top Gear” Roads – Transfăgărășan and Transalpina
The most spectacular roads in Europe, winding at over 2,000 m above sea level.
- open only in summer
- dozens of hairpin bends
- wild sheep, bears, shepherd dogs
This is not just a drive – it’s adrenaline, fog, clouds under your wheels, and the feeling that you’re entering another dimension.
Dracula’s Castles and the Truth About Vlad the Impaler
Poenari – Vlad’s Real Fortress
A forgotten stronghold high in the mountains – said to be haunted.
Peleș Castle – Royal Splendor
A Neo-Renaissance masterpiece in Sinaia – fairy-tale interiors.
Corvin Castle – Dracula’s Dungeons
Corvin Castle in Hunedoara is one of the most evocative and darkest places in all of Romania. Massive towers, a drawbridge over a deep moat, and austere Gothic walls make it feel as if time has stopped in an age of torture and intrigue.
According to local legends, Vlad Țepeș was imprisoned here for several years after being betrayed by the boyars. He was allegedly held in brutal conditions in the dungeons. Although historians dispute the exact details, the story alone is enough to send chills down your spine when visiting the castle cellars.
If dark European history fascinates you, Corvin is not an ordinary castle. It’s one of those places you don’t just see – you feel it under your skin.
Bran – The Marketing Dracula
Beautiful, but Vlad may have spent only about two months here.
Vlad Țepeș – Tyrant or Reformer?
A hostage of the Ottomans, ruler of Wallachia, terror of the corrupt nobility.
One legend speaks of impalement. Another – of a ruthless fight against corruption.
The truth? Somewhere between fear and politics.
Sighișoara – Dracula’s Birthplace
A colorful UNESCO town with antique shops, Vlad’s birthplace, and the golden dragon of the Order of the Dragon.
The Carpathians – A Night with a Shiver
At night in the Carpathians you hear many sounds – howling wolves, rustling bushes – but the sky is extraordinary.
Wild Romania – Europe’s Last Primeval Forests
Romania is one of the last countries in Europe where nature still rules on its own terms. The Carpathians are home to the continent’s largest population of brown bears, while wolves and lynx still roam vast primeval forests. There are places where civilization truly fades at night – only distant howls remain, the smell of wet earth, and the feeling that you are a guest in a world that existed long before us.
Fairytale Places
- the clay fairytale castle between Sibiu and Brașov
- the colorful Dumbrava Forest
- Viscri – Saxon village and Prince Charles’s house
- Cisnădioara – fortified church from 1223
- Alba Iulia – star-shaped citadel
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Banat – Waterfalls, the Danube, and Decebalus
- Bigăr
- Beușnița
- Lake Beiului
- Herculane – abandoned spa town
- the rock carving of Decebalus above the Danube
Romanian Magic and Witchcraft
Romanian folklore does not treat magic as a fairy tale. It is part of everyday life, passed down through generations. In many regions people still believe in Deochi, the “evil eye” – the energy of envy that can cause bad luck, headaches, or sudden weakness. Curing it involves simple ritual gestures using fire, water, and words – without books or theatrics.
Mythology also speaks of strigoi and moroi – beings born from the souls of the dead who failed to find peace and drain the energy of the living. Even in the 21st century, remote villages have reported rituals meant to “neutralize” such entities, showing how alive these beliefs still are.
This is not a tourist legend. It is a world where the line between the real and the invisible can be very thin.
The Last Vampire Slayer of Transylvania
In 2004, an elderly man died in a small village in southern Romania. A few days after the funeral, his relative fell seriously ill – plagued by nightmares, the feeling of being strangled in her sleep, and sudden loss of strength. For the local community, this was not a medical issue but a sign that the deceased had returned as a moroi – a vampiric spirit draining the living.
An old man known for his knowledge of ancient rituals gathered neighbors. At night they opened the grave, removed the heart, burned it, mixed the ashes with water, and gave it to the sick woman to drink. According to reports, her condition improved almost immediately.
The story spread through Romanian media. The man who led the ritual was dubbed by journalists “the last vampire slayer” – but he was also sentenced by a court for desecration of a corpse.
For the law, he was guilty.
For the local community – he saved a life.
And that is why Romanian legends are still not just stories.
Mirrors
In the past, when someone died, all mirrors in the house had to be covered immediately. It was believed that the soul of the deceased – still unaware of its death – might look into the mirror and become trapped there, wandering between worlds.
Masks of Dacia and Ruginoasa
Shamanic masks, New Year battles, symbolic release of anger.
Romanian Cuisine
Be sure to try fasting dishes “de post” – a paradise for vegans:
zacuscă, mămăligă, papanași, palinka 🙂
Other Interesting Places
- the Merry Cemetery in Maramureș
- the Danube Delta
- bear sanctuaries
- the medieval festival in Sighișoara
- Râpa Roșie
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Romania is not a country you simply visit.
Romania is a country you experience.
Malvina Dunder 
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