People in most of the world seem to know very little about Romania these days. Either they have no idea where it is in the atlas, or they have heard about terrible events in the country. The mention of the name of the country could be accompanied by questions about the execution of Ceausescu, the problem of the gypsies, etc. Some might even suggest that Romania still languishes in medieval times.

Now, there is a little truth to these wild reactions, but only a little bit. That image is very old and needs to be updated immediately. Romania today has many things that can be said in its favor, things that will completely transform the negative impression of the country. First of all, Romania is a Southeastern European country that has been blessed with incomparable scenic beauty. The diversity of its geography has to be seen to be believed.

Romania’s beauty is evident from the elevated arc of the Carpathians in the northwest to the serene Black Sea coast and the mouth of the Danube in the east. Romania has everything from the sunny hills and rolling vineyards of Moldova to the great fertile plains of Walachia, drained by gurgling streams and rivers of clear water. It is a land of natural beauty and diversity that can really leave a foreign visitor fascinated.

Take, for example, the Black Sea coast. It has a large number of modern tourist complexes with their architecture completely in tune with the natural environment. This non-intrusive style of construction can also be seen in many large cities. By the way, Romania has a population of over 22 million at last count.

Bucharest, the capital of Romania and a vibrant metropolis, has its own charms for the foreign tourist. Iasi, Brasov and Sibiu are other interesting cities, the latter being considered the cultural capital of the country. Not only the big cities, but all the provinces of Romania have something special to attract the foreign visitor.

Oltenia, in the south, is famous for the exquisite quality of its carpets and embroidery. Maramures is famous for its wooden sculptures. Bucovina is a land of picturesque traditions from the past. And if you are interested in history, Dobrogea is where you will find the ancient ruins.

Perhaps the best known region of Romania is Transylvania with its mysterious legend. The legend of Dracula, the vampire king, has Transylvania as its backdrop. It dates back to the time of Vlad the Impaler, the ruthless tyrant, who briefly ruled between 1456 and 1462. His favorite form of punishment for his subjects was impaling them for disloyalty or any other crime.

The barbarism and cruelty involved in such a form of punishment led naive people of the time to think that no human being was capable of such brutality. Therefore, they concluded that it must be the work of a creature from hell. The blood associated with the punishment also contributed to the legend of a vampire, which was based on human blood. The seat of power for this king was at Bran Castle in the Brasov county of Transylvania. It is a very popular tourist destination and you can visit it for a spooky experience.

Now it is not only the evil of the past that you will find in Romania, but also the sacred. Romania is famous for its monasteries, especially in the north of Moldova. The secluded monasteries will give you a taste of the tranquility that is so rare in today’s fast-paced life. The peace and tranquility of these monasteries will fill your mind with sacred joy and free you from your sorrows and worries. Have some holy water and pray there, or just enjoy the serene and beautiful scenery.

That was a very brief summary of the treasures that you can find in the beautiful country that is Romania. Now that you have an idea of ​​what to expect, you can visit the country for a fantastic experience.