Monday, April 18, 2011

weird top 200 eastern european destinations

I was looking at a top 200 eastern european destinations here and, indeed, it is a humble attempt to create the list.
I cannot say that all the romanian places related there are all promoted for tourists, some places for example consists only in visiting a citadel and the access to the objectives is not so easy, which for the tourists point of view is not so OK, as they should see many points of attraction in a trip with the easiest way of access.

I think the list on the guy site refers only to the spectacular point of view and it should be revised taking into account also the degree of attractions per place and the easiness of access.

And this happens probably for the other eastern EU countries from his list too.

I've extracted the romanian objectives from the guy list:
15. Sighisoara, Romania
27. Brasov, Romania
40. Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, Romania
48. Sibiu, Romania
71. Wooden churches of Maramures Region, Romania
87. Fagaras Mountains, Romania
100. Biertan, Romania
111. Prejmer, Romania
113. Bran Castle, Romania
116. Sapanta, Romania
121. Sinaia, Romania
151. Bucharest, Romania
155. Timisoara, Romania
157. Hunedoara, Romania
159. Viscri, Romania
161. Cluj-Napoca, Romania
177. Rasnov Castle, Romania
188. Iasi, Romania


and reordered it (without setting the overall position in the guy top) and I put also some hints:

Bucharest - many attractions, easy access, i am confused why the guy put it on the #151 place;

Fagaras Mountains - especially Transfagarasean - maybe the biggest attraction of RO but with poor access from Sibiu, especially in winter - Vidraru Dam (Hotel on the lake), the longest canyon, Poenari Citadel, Balea Lake (Ice Hotel in winter), Balea waterfall; see an rticle here; you may also visit Curtea de Arges, a beautiful hystorical monastery;

Brasov - hystorical center, german architecture, the city is also named Kronnstadt - located at about 150km from Bucharest, the city has many attractions, easy access, Bucegi mountains around, many surrounding attractions (see below); you may go also to Poiana Brasov ski resort from here; it has no airport, but it may be accessed from Bucharest via road, train or seightseeing tours;

Painted Monasteries of Bucovina - their surroundings were redesigned for tourists, many objectives;

Sibiu - hystorical centre, german architecture, the city is also named Hermannstadt - many attractions, easy access, many surrounding attractions (especially citadels); it has airport;

Wooden churches of Maramures Region - this may refer also to the specific zone architecture and may include the Sapanta entry; a little poor access, but available via organized trips;

Timisoara - the 2nd sized city in RO - many attractions, easy access; it has international airport;

Cluj-Napoca - the 3rd sized city in RO - many attractions, easy access; it has international airport;

Alba Iulia - this entry is missing, but it shouldn't as it is the biggest citadel in RO and it was already redesigned for tourists; Alba Iulia is probably the most important hystorical city in RO; access from Cluj-Napoca (about 100km);

Sighisoara - one of the fewest populated citadels in the world (people actually live in the citadel); great festivals here; often associated with Dracula origins; located at about 100km from Sibiu;

Hunedoara Castle - very impressive castle, maybe the biggest castle in Romania, but this is the only attraction here; poor access from Deva, Timisoara;

Sinaia - the Peles and Pelisor castles where Queen Maria lived; impressive Bucegi mountains; ski resort; access from Bucharest, Brasov;

Constanta - this entry is missing; known under hystorical name of Tomis, it is an important city at the Black Sea with many attractions, linked with Mamaia sea resort; it has airport;

Iasi - many attractions; many surrounding attractions, it is the 4th sized city of RO and has airport;

Bran Castle - impressive castle, but this is the only objective in the area; impressive mountains around; located nearest Brasov; another place associated with Dracula;Fagaras Citadel - this entry is missing, impressive castle with awesome architecture, a good location for visitors (between Brasov and Sibiu and at about 50km of Transfagarasean); impressive mountains around;


Oradea this entry is missing -large city, located at the border with Hungary, beautiful hystorical center;

Aradthis entry is missing -large city, located at the border with Hungary, beautiful hystorical center; located nearest Timisoara also, the city has a very impressive citadel, but unfortunately it is not opened for visitors;

Biertan - beautiful citadel and surroundings, but this is the only objective in the area; also visit the fortified citadel of Medias; both located nearest Sibiu and Sighisoara; 

Prejmer - impressive citadel, but this is the only objective in the area; located nearest Brasov;

Viscri - impressive citadel, but this is the only objective in the area; located nearest Brasov;

Rasnov Castle - impressive citadel, but this is the only objective in the area; impressive mountains around; located nearest Brasov;

Aiud - this entry is missing - impressive citadel nearest Alba Iulia; access from Cluj-Napoca (about 80km);

*
There are also many attractions, many of them being much more spectacular than the above but some of them with poor access:

Apuseni Mountains, Cetatile Ponoarelor, Ghetarul Scarisoara and surroundings - located in Apuseni Mountains, these are the most valuable and interesting carstic destinations from Romania, being on the list of the most important european objectives to visit and also protected by UNESCO; The Apuseni area is also full of other objectives like Focul Viu, Groapa Ruginoasa (Bear Grylls was there), Ghetarul Vartop, Izbucul Tauz, Coiba Mare, Cheile Galbenei, Cheile Sighistelului, etc; Apuseni Mountains has maybe the biggest density of carstic elements and caves; poor access from Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Alba-Iulia;


Lacu Rosu and Cheile Bicazului - Lacu Rosu is a lake formed in the past by a mountain which felt-off; Lacu Rosu is located at 2km from Cheile Bicazului, a wonderful place to visit with Devil Gates and other objectives; poor access from Piatra Neamt city (at 40km, a wonderful city surrounded by mountains); surrounded by other interesting objectives like Durau and Ceahlau Mountains (here you may see interesting spectral effects);


Retezat and Parang mountains - great mountains with high density of glacial lakes and caves with many international UNESCO protected areas (Retezat, Domogled reservations, aso);
Piatra Craiului Mountains - wonderful mountains with access from Bran Castle and Brasov via Zarnesti;

7 Ladders Canyon - an interesting canyon, located in Bucegi mountains, having 7 levels, each with a ladder; access from Brasov;

Baile Herculane - impressive thermal resort with spa centers; the center is hystorical, german asrchitecture; unfortunately, many of its buildings are still not renovated; access from Caransebes, Timisoara; access to Retezat mountains and Domogled reservation;

Sarmisegetusa - these are the ruins of the ancient DACIA capital, or ancient Romania, until it was occupied by romans (approx. 2000 years ago);

Orastie - you have to visit this city to see the real architecture of Romania; access from Alba-Iulia, Deva;


Transalpina road - very impressive road also named Drumul Regelui (King's Road) - located between Sebes (a wonderful little city located at about 30km from Alba-Iulia and 30km from Orastie) and Novaci, this road passes 2200 altitude;

Vulcanii noroiosi (mud vulcanoes) - important european objective located nearest Buzau city (approx 100km from Bucharest); poor access.

Of course, there are other important objectives, too, sorry I forgot to put'em on the list if I remember;

1 comment:

  1. These places presents the most beautiful Romanian tourist spots. I also remember one castle there was inspired with the history of Vlad Dracul, the impaler and defender.

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