Romania is a country in southeastern Europe. The modern country of Romania was created in 1859. Romania was a kingdom from 1881 to 1947. In 1948 Communists took control of Romania and modeled the government and economy after those of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In 1989 Romanians revolted against the repressive dictatorship of Nicolae Ceauşescu, the country’s president and Communist Party leader. The first free multiparty elections took place in Romania in 1990.
Romania is roughly oval in shape, with a maximum distance from east to west of 720 km (450 mi) and a maximum distance from north to south of 515 km (320 mi). A long chain of mountain ranges curves through northern and central Romania. The Danube River forms much of the country’s southern and southwestern borders with Bulgaria and Serbia and Montenegro, and the Prut River divides Romania from its northeastern neighbor Moldova.
The Eastern Carpathians extend from the northern border to the center of the country and contain the forested region of Bukovina; the Southern Carpathians, also known as the Transylvanian Alps, stretch westward from the Eastern Carpathian range; and the Western Carpathians traverse the western portion of Romania. The Southern Carpathians contain the country’s highest peak, Moldoveanu, which reaches an elevation of 2,543 m (8,343 ft).
The most important river of Romania is the Danube. Its lower course forms a delta that covers much of northeastern Dobruja. Romania has many small, freshwater mountain lakes, but the largest lakes are saline lagoons on the coast of the Black Sea; the largest of these is Lake Razelm.
Wooded steppe, now largely cleared for agriculture, dominates the plains of Walachia and Moldavia. Fruit trees are common in the foothills of the mountains. Wild animal life is abundant in most parts of Romania. Many species of birds are abundant; the Danube delta region, now partly a nature preserve, is a stopover point for migratory birds. Among species of fish found in the rivers and offshore are pike, sturgeon, carp, flounder, herring, salmon, perch, and eel.
Romania has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Temperatures are generally cooler in the mountains, while the hottest areas in summer are the lowlands of Walachia, Moldavia, and Dobruja. The average daily temperature range in Bucharest is -7° to 1°C (19° to 34°F) in January and 16° to 30°C (61° to 86°F) in July. Rainfall is heaviest during the months of April, May, June, September, and October. Yearly rainfall averages about 650 mm (about 25 in), ranging from about 500 mm (about 20 in) on the plains to about 1,020 mm (about 40 in) in the mountains. The climate of Dobruja is extremely dry.
The principal resources of Romania are agricultural, but the country also has significant mineral deposits, particularly petroleum, natural gas, salt, hard coal, lignite (brown coal), iron ore, copper, bauxite, chromium, manganese, lead, and zinc. Soils in Transylvania are generally lower in nutrients.
Romania has been long known as one of the most beautiful countries in Eastern Europe. Her major tourist attractions include Transylvania, the Carpathians and their legendary castles, the famous Bucovina monasteries, the Black Sea and the Danube Delta.
Bucharest
The Romanian capital, stands out with its glorious Belle Époque buildings and reputation for the high life. The city once known as the "Little Paris" is guaranteed the best starting point to visit the whole country.
Bucharest, was founded in1459 on the banks of the river Dambrovita. It was a very cultural and artistic city offering an artistic life through its Opera House, Theatres and Philarmonic Orchestra. Its population was one quarter that of Paris although today more than 2 million people live in Bucharest.
Many important buildings are found in Bucharest such as The National Bank, the Firemen’s Tower, the Museum of Romanian Literature, the Romanian Academy, the Courts of Justice, the Northern Railway station and the second largest building in the world the People’s House now housing the Parliament, the Arc the Triumph situated in Kiseleff Avenue, which is longer than Champs Elysees.
Bucharest is a garden town with varied architecture. Lakes and forests, old palaces and monasteries surround it. In Cismigiu Park, lawns and statues create a relaxed and old-fashioned atmosphere. The Magheru Boulevard, a relatively short road hosts many tourist agencies, airline offices, shops and restaurants, cinemas and hotels. Next comes Nicolae Balescu street with modern buildings such as the tower of the Intercontinental Hotel, the National Theatre and University.
The old town is still a part of Bucharest; its ruins are now an open-air museum including its little church from the 16th century. The Village Museum another open-air museum exhibits 198 buildings of authentic peasant architecture from all over Romania.
In the evenings Bucharest offers another life, all its bars, discotheques, cabarets, nightclubs, and restaurants come to life. There are a variety of restaurants, all with different menus at very fair prices. It is the European city with the most numerous casinos, the Bucharesters, like all Romanians are warm and hospitable people who like to have fun and make friends.
The Brasov County
This is is the second Romanian tourist county. Due to its natural landscape as well as its proximity to the mountain, it is the centre of all other tourist resorts such as the Prahova Valley with its famous Sinaia, Azuga, Busteni Spas, Bran- the land of Dracula, Poiana Brasov, Victoria.
The pictorial landscape of Brasov calls beauty lovers to visit it all year round. Here the landscape changes from green of the rich flora to plain and austere grey of the rocks, then again to colourful mountain pastures covered by oak, beech and fir trees. Here is also the home of the chamois, the roebuck, the brown bear, wolf, lynx, wild bear, fox and hare.
Brasov is the ideal place for a short mountain holiday where one can also practice some sports such as mountain climbing, hiking, and ski-ing. This county is also rich in historical, architectural, cultural and art monuments relevant to its history and civilisation. Worth mentioning are the fortified Transylvanian Saxon churches, which are a characteristic, defining phenomenon for the civilisation of Transylvania.
On the main route to Brasov one passes Bran and the highlight here is the castle of Vlad Tepes known today as Dracula. A lot is often said about this feudal fortress and its association with Price Vlad Tepes and hence the imaginary vampire of Bram Stocker’s Victorian novel. In fact this castles’ own towering strength, its narrow stone stairways, the relative smallness of its Lord’s rooms and the cleverly authentic way it is furnished give an absorbing picture of how a noble family ruled this district in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Arges
This county is situated in the centre of Romania, near the Carpathian mountains, about 150km from Bucharest. Curtea de Arges was the first capital city of Romania in 1330. Here are valuable art monuments surrounded by a wonderful landscape. Several rivers cross this county besides a lot of natural ice lakes and man-made lakes. Its flora and fauna and soil characteristics are remarkable.
Pitesti
Currently the capital city of Arges, offers to visitors many interesting places to visit such as the famous monastery of Curtea d’Arges, built in stone of Labesti and Princely Church, a Byzantine classical church, a mediaeval monument of art and architecture with frescoes from three different periods of time.
Romania is also known for its old tradition as a great producer of wine. Its wines are appreciated and known in other countries for their extremely good taste. A visit to a local vineyard is definitely a must!!!
