Romania Rural Tour - Crafts and Traditions

Starting point: Bucharest

Ending Point: Bucharest

Total distance: approx. 1650 km (1025 miles)

Total driving time: approx. 24 hrs.

Average daily driving time: approx. 3 hrs

Accommodation: Viscri area (2 nights), Botiza – Maramures (3 nights), Sibiel village (2 nights)

Map Legend: H (Bucharest), B (Brasov), C (Viscri), D (Corund), E (Sapanta - Maramures), F (Botiza - Maramures), G (Sibiel)

Meet our tour guide, in the morning at your hotel in Bucharest or at the airport for morning flights. Note: on request we can include extra nights and travel services in Bucharest. See our Bucharest optional services.
We’ll start today our experience in Transylvania rural life and crafts. We’ll cross the Carpathians mountains to the South Eastern corner of Transylvania – Brasov region, an area with a very old history, with towns, villages and fortresses dating since 13th century. We’ll visit Prejmer fortified church (UNESCO) a great sample of the mix between a religious and defensive structures. Fortified churches are characteristic for Transylvania and can be seen in almost every village. It was a concept of the German settlers and they had the role to protect the local communities.
Another sample of a fortified church is Harman, where we’ll have our next stop. Both villages preserve the old architecture and we can see small ethnographic collections in the churches museum. We’ll find more about the life of villagers in Middle Age and after.
Next stop will be at Feldioara fortress (Marienburg). The first defensive system was built in early 13th and it was the headquarter of the famous Teutonic Knights.  Our tour guide will give you all the information about the history of the knights, their role and activity in Transylvania. In 14-16th century Feldioara became an important peasant fortress.
One of the best rural areas of Transylvania which preserve well the authentic architecture and influence of the medieval times and German / Saxon heritage is the region between Brasov – Sighisoara – Sibiu.
In this area we’ll stay in a village guesthouse located in an old authentic house. Depending of the availability at the time of booking we’ll choose a place in one of these villages (Veseud, Viscri,Crit, etc).
Dinner and accommodation in a village guesthouse. Taste the delicious Transylvanian meals and drinks.
Optionals: If you want, we can have a short walking tour in Brasov Old Town or we can visit Bran castle

Transylvania is a multicultural place where along the time Romanians, Hungarians, Germans and others shared the time, places and threats. There are three main religions as Orthodox, Lutherans, Catholics. Our rural tour in Transylvania will reveal all these aspects and the beauty of this mix of cultures.
Today we’ll explore the area of Sighisoara, the old medieval town and the charming villages of Tarnava Valley.
Viscri village. It is one of the oldest, charming and known village of Transylvania. Local people managed to preserve the houses, way of living and customs. The life continue here almost not changed for centuries. You can see local craftsmen still making their products in the old way and we’ll visit Viscri fortified church and the small museum dedicated to the local life and traditions.
We’ll visit the family and workshop of a local blacksmith where we can see him working in the traditional way and find more about his family life. Next his wife will do a demonstration on how to produce felted house shoes. Anytime you can be part of the activity and try your skills. The family is a member of the Roma (Gypsy) community, so it is a good moment for our guide to tell you more about them, their traditions and history.
After this we will go to one of the houses to see how it is made and taste a local delicious sweet cheese pie and to hear more about the Saxons civilization and traditions and how they were organized in Transylvania.
We’ll visit Viscri fortified church (UNESCO) , which is the oldest and most important building. The local ethnographic museum will reveal more about the locals' life.

Sighisoara medieval town, dating since 13th the town preserve the best the authentic architecture of the houses and streets. It is mostly untouched by the modern changes. The old town is included in the UNESCO World Heritages List. Enjoy a walking tour as a walk through the past times. The impressive Clock tower is the city landmark. We’ll also see the Church on the Hill, Tinsmiths Tower, Tailors’ Tower, parts of the fortified wall and the House of Vlad Dracul, the place where Vlad Dracula was born.
Sighisoara is surrounded by charming old villages scattered among the green hills and beautiful valleys. We’ll visit couple of them.
Stop for a jam tasting in Saschiz village. Visit a small producer in the area.

Biertan village and fortified church. Biertan was an important trade center in 15-17 century, famous for farming land and vineyards. The impressive fortified church (UNESCO) was the headquarter of the Lutheran bishops for 300 years.
Other beautiful places to see and visit in the area are the villages Mosna, Axente Sever, Alma Vii, a ceramic workshop or a ceramic shingles factory.
We’ll adjust your visiting plan according with your wishes. There are people which like to take it slowly and enjoy longer every stop or people which may like to have a busy day and see as many sights possible.
In the late afternoon we’ll return to our accommodation place. Dinner and accommodation in a village guesthouse.

We’ll leave the south of Transylvania heading north. First stop will be at Corund village with a large Hungarian community and one of the most famous ceramic centres in Romania. Visit local ceramic workshops. 
Next we’ll have a bout 4hrs of driving until we’ll arrive in Maramures, the land of wooden churches, wooden gated and traditions.
We’ll stay overnight in Botiza village, a great place, located further from the main roads, at the end of the Botiza valley. Our hosts will welcome us with a tasty home-made dinner. Don’t hesitate to try the plum brandy or fruits liqueurs.   
Dinner and accommodation in a local guesthouse.

The land of Maramures is known as a place where the old traditions and customs are very well preserved. Here is common to see people dressed in their folk costumes, working the fields or going to Saturday market. Sundays or in major religious holidays people get dressed in their best traditional clothes and are going to the church. Maramures is famous for its wooden churches, some of them being more than 300 years old and for the wooden carved gates. Working in wood is a regional tradition. Our tour in Maramures will give you the time to find more about its history, culture and crafts.
In the morning we’ll see Barsana monastery, a symbol of the religious life in the area and a sample of wooden buildings architecture. Next we’ll see a wooden crafsmen workshop and an artisanal crafts centre in Sarbi village, using the power of water. 
Another stop will be at Desesti Wooden church (UNESCO) one of the best preserved church and interior frescoes.  It is a great sample of the construction and decoration of the Maramuresean old wooden churches. We’ll continue to Sapanta Merry Cemetery (UNESCO), famous for its colourful tombstones and funny inscriptions. In the afternoon return to Botiza village. Dinner and accommodation in a local guesthouse.

We will continue to discover the best places in Maramures. In the morning we’ll visit Bogdan Voda wooden church, built in 1718. It preserves frescoes in naïve style painted directly on the wooden walls by the local artists at the end of 18th century.
In the neighbouring village – Dragomiresti we’ll stop at Maramuresean Women Museum. It is a small but very interesting museum which present the way how a village house was built, organized and the daily activities which regular villagers had to do in the past.
Along our trip we’ll see the beautiful carved wooden gates from Maramures, a landmark of the area. They are higly carved with religious and spiritual symbols and used to represent the rank of the family in the society. These type of wooden gates are specific for Maramures area. Your tour guide will explain you the significance of the carved motifs.
We’ll spend the afternoon back in Botiza village. Walking on the village, finding natural spring waters or having a quick visit at Botiza monastery and enjoy the nice countryside views. Depending of the season we can go to visit a sheep yard or to see a local weaver. Dinner and accommodation in a local guesthouse.

The last stop we do in Maramures will be at Surdesti Church (UNESCO). Due its total height of 72 m it is considered the highest wooden church in Europe.  
Our journey will drive us to the southern Carpathians are where we’ll discover the mountain villages from Transylvania, where the main activity is growing animals. It is known for the good cheese and meet products too.
Icon painted museum from Sibiel is a very interested place where we can see icons painted on glass an old art which was very popular in Transylvania. Women from the villages use to paint their own icons for religious purposes and to decorate their own houses. Find more about his technique which is still in use.
Enjoy a tasty dinner with home made food and try their drinks.
Dinner and accommodation in a local guesthouse from Sibiel village.
Optional: we can have a short detour to see Alba Iulia, a very old town with a huge influence in Romanian history. Highlights: Roman ruins, Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals, 17th century fortifications in Vauban style, Union Hall and Museum.

In a slowly and comfortable way we’ll explore the architecture and life in the Transylvanian mountain villages. It is a day to relax and enjoy the area. We’ll start with Sibiel, the village which is a pioneer in developing rural and responsible tourism in Romania. 
The best way to do it is having a horse driven wagon trip in the village and its surroundings. We’ll see the house’s architecture, the way how the village is organized, the farming land and woods around it. We will tell you all the information about people’s life and activities.
If possible you can be part of the family activity on the farming land or in the household. We’ll visit the household and see how it is organized and how a normal family live. This is not a tourist place so you’ll see things as they are.
We can have a drive in the neighbouring villages as Orlat, Jina, etc. From some areas we can have excellent scenery over the mountains on one side, hills and valleys on the other side. The program is flexible and we’ll arrange it as you wish.
Dinner and overnight in a local village guesthouse.
Optional: visit the old town of Sibiu, one of the oldest and largest Transylvanian medieval cities, dating since the end of 12th century. Main sights are: Big Square, Little Suare, Liar’s Bridge, Orthodox Cathedral, Lutheran Cathedral, Catholic Cathedral, Council Tower, Stairs’ Tower, etc.

Drive on the way back to Bucharest where we’ll arrive around 14.00 hrs. Drop off at the airport or to a hotel in Bucharest. See our optional services in Bucharest if you need accommodation, transfers, etc.
Optional: stop and visit at Peles castle, former royal summer residence or at Cozia monastery, 13th century. 

END OF TRANSYLVANIA TOUR SERVICES

This is a private guided tour therefore we can always create a customized offer for you. Are you looking for a certain area to visit or to stay? Do you want to include certain services? Do you have a special diet? Do you want to spend more or less time in Romania? Would you like to use a different airport for your arrival / departure? Just tell us and we will design the best tailor-made tour for you.