Transylvania and the Painted Monasteries

Arrive in Bucharest and stay overnight

This morning involves you taking a train to Suceava, which takes around 5.5 hours. If you wish you could spend some time and visit Putna monastery; the spiritual centre of Romania. If time allows you can take a short round walk of 1 hour to “Chilia lui Daniil Sihastrul”; a small hermitage dug in a rock. In the 15^th Century, it was inhabited by the hermit Daniil who supposedly predicted to Stephen the Great that he will become ruler of Moldavia. After becoming ruler, Stephen the Great was advised by Daniil to build the Putna monastery.

From Putna you will take the old monastery path to Sucevita monastery. The undercoat of emerald green on which the superb frescoes are painted (1596) gave the monastery the name ‘a Poem in Green and Light’. The iconostasis is supposed to be the most beautiful one in Romania, which makes it a worthwhile visit. There is a little museum which houses the most precious collection of medieval art in Moldovia. Including medieval embroidered portraits and an epitaph with 1000 pearls.  You will spend two nights in Sucevita.

A car will take you over the Ciumarna pass, you can enjoy the astounding panoramic mountain views. You can visit Moldovita Monastery, famous for its warmth and brilliance of its frescoes. The blue undercoat for its tree of Jesse gave the monastery the name ‘a parchment dipped in blue colour’. Maybe you will meet Sister Tatiana (she speaks some English) who will show you around. The little museum contains a priceless silver cased Evangelistary presented by Catherine the Great of Russia, valuable icons and miniatures. Back in Sucevita you can explore on foot and enjoy the bird’s eye view upon the impressive, fortified monastery.

Today you will transfer to the Voronet Monastery. Its superb frescoes gave it the name ‘the Sistine Chapel of the East’. Architecturally it combines Gothic and Byzantine features. After visiting you will walk up to Objina with good views over a valley and villages scattered around until you reach Humor. Humor monastery, which exudes friendliness and tranquil charm, is painted in warm blues, greens and reddish browns (from oriental madder pigment).

Today you’ll cross the Carpathians to Transylvania through the spectacular Bicaz gorge, drive into Hungarian villages and further on to Bran where you’ll stay overnight. One night in a guesthouse next to Dracula’s Castle. 5 – 6 hours by car

Visit the Dracula castle this morning and enjoying looking around. Afterwards a short transfer to the Kalibash village of Magura which is situated 1000 m up in the mountains. Then around walk to Pestera. On your way, you may see orchids, gentians, campanulas and endemic flowers like the ‘Carpathian Iris’. Little farms are scattered around over beautiful alpine pastures and meadows covered with wildflowers. Overnight in a guesthouse with beautiful views over the surrounding mountains.

Walkthrough the spectacular Prapastiile Zarnestilor (Zarnesti Canyon) to the rustic Curmatura mountain hut (1470 m) where you may have a drink or a meal, then walk to Zarnesti. You may see wall creeper, alpine swift and with some luck the tricky three-toed woodpecker. Zarnesti once was made famous through a ‘Large Carnivore Project’.

Transfer to the airport and departure.