People, civilizations & lifestyle in Romania

     Among so many tours showing to you identical buildings, telling you similar stories and selling common experience this tour shines in a different light: a return to the original interest for people, their civilizations & lifestyle throughout the centuries. What have the people done, how have they judged different situations, what kind of relations have existed among them, what values have counted for them, what dreams, hopes or satisfactions have they got ?

     Our tour will take you through exciting areas with beautiful wild nature and amazingly authentic sites but mostly our focus will be on people of different areas and their evolution all the way to present days.

Bucharest, the splendor of “La Belle Epoque”

     Bucharest, the capital of Romania ever since the mid 19th century was once called the Paris of the East. Let us take you to those parts of the city were the atmosphere of the turn of the 19th & 20th centuries can be still felt. French architects created a piece of Paris in the Romanian capital and besides the numerous architectural samples of the era, we will learn about the people living in those times, their way of life or forms of entertainment they enjoyed.

Constanta & Adamclisi – Pontus Euxinus or “the end of the world” for
                                                                                the ancient Greeks

     Constanta is only the present name of 26 century old Tomis, the Greek harbor established in the geographical point where the ancient Greeks believed it was the end of the world. The Museum of Archaeology as a starting point is just one of the many such sites the city has. Let us discover the ancient harbor city life, from the valuable exhibits of the museum, to the ancient city walls, funeral stones or commercial area.

Tulcea & Danube’s Delta – the genuine fishermen’s villages of the 20th centurys

     The Danube’s Delta is one of the most amazing Europe’s natural preserved areas. Among the various species of fauna & flora there is a unique “species” of men, the fishermen communities of the Danube’s Delta. An ethnical mix of Romanians, Moldavians, Ukrainians & Russians these people have lived for the whole duration of the 20th century in a remote, isolated community. Who could better unveil the secret stories of the Delta, its mysteries and the human side of the story than these people?

Iasi, the cultural capital of Romania

     Iasi was the flourishing capital city of Moldova in the beginning & middle of the 19th century. It was the main center of the cultural development of Romania, as the landmark of the city, the Palace of Culture witnesses. A walk through once the most bohemian city of the country would reveal to us the combined spirit of old & new. Old because of the cultural heritage, new, because Iasi is the youngest city of the country because of its university, the best in Romania, that gathers 100.000 students.

Cucutenia – the oldest Neolithic culture of Europe

     It took a German researcher, Mr. Hubert, to discover in the village North of Iasi, the oldest Neolithic culture of Europe. The Necropolis is of extraordinary importance, revealing a culture that has strong connections with both worlds. Maybe the most exciting is the German researcher’s quote which is still valid presently: “the outlook of the village is not much changed nowadays, the houses are still made out of adobe, and people are still living their life in an ancient way”

Suceava – the life in a medieval royal court

     A city of many attractions, Suceava impresses us with its fortified citadel, where the rulers of Moldova had their headquarters. How was the daily life at the royal court, how were the trials organized, how was the defense system conceived or how were the European coins counterfeit this it will be our mission to find out? Moreover, the Royal Inn and the Open Air Village museum will take us back in time and allow us to understand the lifestyle not only of the ruling class but also of the middle class and of peasantry.

The UNESCO World Heritage painted monasteries – saving Byzantium values & heritage

     In 1456, Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire fell into Turkish hands, but far away, in the stronghold of Christianity called Moldova, a ruler called Stephen the Great married a Byzantine princess, Maria and aimed at continuing the traditions of the glorious empire. The Orthodox churches build mostly in his times reflect the Byzantine art of painting and the Byzantine values. The monasteries needed to be fortified in a time when the Ottoman Empire was threatening the country of Moldova constantly. Besides the military strategy, most probably the faith also helped the Moldavians in achieving one of the most illustrious victory against Turks ever, the sultan Mahomet the Conqueror (of Constantinople) leaving on the battlefield 100.000 casualties.

Transylvania – a county of legends

     This day we will cross the impressive Carpathian Mountains chain through a canyon, called Bicaz gorges. Transylvania, a land changing hands from Romanians to Hungarians, Turks, Austrians and back to Romanians, is a county of legends. The best known one is Dracula, the story that needed a special setting, a mysterious castle, in a transitional zone, in the middle of wonderful wild nature…Transylvania offered the setting to the Irish writer Bram Stoker and this is how the story became so famous.

Sighisoara, Bran & Rasnov – dangers in the Middle Ages / the fortified lifestyle

     How was like living under continuous threat from migrates, invaders or just plunderers? Those were the times, in the Middle Ages when some of the strongest European fortresses were created in Transylvania, mostly by German constructors. What was the story behind, how did those people live & survived the dangers of their time, including the epidemics besides the wars this will be our mission to find out today.

Peles – a German dynasty imported in Romania

     As soon as Romania was created, a need for international recognition of the country was born and one of the most effective ways was seen as the appointment of a German prince to the throne of the country. Peles palace, the residence of the kings is one of the most valuable palaces in Europe and the charm lies in the combination of styles the palace has. Walking from a room to another one can experience a French style decorated room, continue in an Italian Renaissance style one or ending in a Moorish-Arab hall.

     At the end of the tour we drive back to Bucharest our starting point.