Romania Attractions

Brasov

Surrounded by verdant Transylvanian hills, Brasov is one of Romania's most visited places. The first public opposition to the Ceausescu regime occurred here in 1987, where thousands of workers protested harsh food rationing. Ceausescu's response left three people dead and rations were cut further.

A medieval Saxon town, Brasov's main attraction is the Black Church, said to be the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul. Many people use Brasov as a base for visiting nearby attractions, most notably Bran Castle, commonly known as 'Dracula's Castle', 30km (18.6 mi) south of town.

Bucharest

Romania's capital lies on the Wallachian plains, between the Carpathian foothills and the Danube River. In the 1930s it was known as 'the Paris of the East'. Since then, earthquakes, WWII bombing and Ceausescu have combined to destroy much of its prewar beauty.

The focal point of what locals dubbed 'Ceausima' is the enormous 12-storey Palace of Parliament, intended to be the largest building in the world (it comes second to the Pentagon). Central Bucharest has some classic beauty, a 16th-century Old Court Church that contains stunning preserved frescoes.