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Romania Overview
Located in south-eastern Europe, bordering Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Moldova, Ukraine and the Black Sea, Romania is known predominantly as the only Latin country of Eastern Europe among the Slavonic element and the birthplace of Dracula. However, Romania has many other interesting features, including beautiful landscapes with the dramatic Carpathian Mountains which bisect its territory, as well as a rich historical heritage.
The history of this country is far from limited to Count Dracula; however, his castle in Bran, next to the city of Brasov, is one of the most popular attractions in Romania. The fantastic building perched on a high rock makes for an impressive view. But Romania is also worth a visit for the wonderful castles of Transylvania, including Hunyad Castle, Peles Castle or Pelisor Castle, and unique beautifully painted Orthodox monasteries in Voronet, Humor, Putna, Sucevita and Dragomirna. Sinaia, a mountain resort in central Romania, is another place to visit, attracting tourists with its outstanding ancient monastery. Bucovina and Transylvania, two historical regions of the country, are dotted with picturesque Medieval towns such as Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Sibiu and Sighisoara. A curious attraction is the so-called Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, with beautiful graves decorated with wooden elements painted in various colours.
The shape of Romania resembles a fat fish which touches the coastline with its tail only, but anyway, the short strip of seaside offers excellent resorts known for wonderful beaches and nice weather. The most popular resorts include Constanta, one of the main cities of the country, Mamaia with its sandy beach, bars and clubs, Mangalia, Venus, Saturn, Neptun and Olimp. Romania also has a number of natural reserves, including the Danube Delta.
Romania has a scenic, varied terrain, distributed equally among hills, lowlands and mountains. Its highest peaks are the Moldoveanu, Negoiu and Vistea Mare, all in the Fagaras Mountains and all with altitudes reaching above 2,500 metres. The mountains make Romania a good destination for those who like hiking and skiing. Poiana Brasov and Valea Prahovei are the most popular skiing resorts in the Carpathian Mountains.
The most fascinating aspect about Romanian culture is related to the well-preserved folk traditions. Some of these traditions predate the Roman invasion. Traditional crafts include ceramics, embroidery, wood-carving, weaving, dance and household decorations. In the last century, many village museums have been established throughout the country with the aim to preserve traditional wooden houses – wood was the main construction material in Romania in the past.