Take A Day Tour @ Castles and Churches
Castles and Churches
Bran Castle was built as a customs point on the most traveled merchant road linking Transylvania to Wallachia. It stands on a 60 m high cliff overlooking a narrow mountain crossing. It was buit between 1378 – 1382 in a Gothic architectural style. Due to it’s placement and similarities to the description in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, Bran Castle becomes the legendary Castle of count Dracula. The name of the famous vampire, Dracula, is associated to the historical figure of Vlad the Impaler the bloody despot of 15th century Wallachia, who is surrounded by many other legends and stories.
On 1st of December 1920, Bran Castle, was gifted to Queen Marie of Romania by the Saxon mayor of Brasov. Seven year later it became a royal residence as a direct consequence of it being the the favorite retreat of the Queen. The castle was inherited by her daughter Princess Ileana and it was later seized by the communist regime.
Today Bran Castle is a “the Rockstar” of the Romanian tourism being the most visited sight in Transilvania.
The Donation Diploma signed by king Andrew II of Hungary and then approved by Pope Innocent III, one of the most influential and powerful pope in the middle ages, with his Papal Bull in 1211, gives the the strategic S-E region of Transylvania, called Burzenland (Tara Bârsei), to the Teutonic Knights Order, in return for defending the southeastern border of the Hungarian Kingdom against foreign invaders.
The Teutonic Knights plan of defence was building five Strongholds (quinque castra fortia), including Rasnov Fortress build in 1211 as awood-and-earth fort. Rasnov Citadel was built as a strategic fort and was able to offer refuge, for short intervals, to the population of Rasnov and two other nearby villages in case of an invasion. From the beginning of 16th century to the end of 17th century, the Saxon population from Rasnov permanently inhabited the citadel which gave Rasnov Fortress the look of a medieval fortified Saxon village.
Nowadays Rasnov Citadel is one of the most visited places in Romania gathering tourists from all over the World.
Prejmer village is situated in the Burzenland (Tara Bârsei) in a flat marshy area at approx. 18 km from Brasov. Primary colonization settlement, documented in 1213, Prejmer founded, by tradition, by the Order of the Teutonic Knights. Following the chase of the Knights from Burzenland in 1225 by the Hungarian King Andrew II, the town passed under the patronage of the Cistercian monks of Cârţa (Kerz).
The center of gravity of the settlements is the market, with the most important construction, the Evangelical Church. Surrounded by a powerful oval-shaped defensive wall with five cracked towers, doubled by a defense wall and moat. The enclosure includes commission rooms, parochial house, school, wells and a cemetery. Prejmer became the strongest stronghold in the southeastern rural environment of Europe.
Nowadays is a UNESCO World Heritage monument, Prejmer Fortified Church has the oldest triptych altar in Transylvania, dating from 1450. This fortified church was never conquered by the enemies, today it has the gates wide open for tourists and I would be glad to show you this well-preserved fortified church.
The beginnings of Hărman are likely to be found between 1211 and 1225, as the Teutonic Order expanded the Burzenland as their own territory, many German colonists came to the newly established sites. The first official mention was in 1240, the Church has a particular appearance of a 13th century Romanesque triple-nave basilica, and a massive 9 floors bell tower, being the highest in Burezenland. As early as the 13th century, the church was surrounded by an oval wall, which was bilaterally connected at the east to a chapel building. Only in the mid-15th century as a result of frequent Ottoman attacks, the complex was expanded into a fortified church. Therefore, the already existing churchyard wall was strengthened and remodeled into the 10-to 12-meter high main circular wall with a roofed guards walkway with embrasures and machicolations.
The Chapel Tower is just behind the church, built as a a separate chapel in 1300 it is integrated into the defence wall. Because the existing circular wall was strengthened during the course of 15th century, the chapel was also expanded into a fortified tower.
What you’ll get from this tour: tour guide in English, transport, and skip the line.
Pick-up & Drop off @ your hotel / location in BRASOV.
The first stop is Peles Castle in Sinaia, then Bran Castle, have lunch, and afterward visit Rasnov Fortress.
Lunch at a local restaurant where you can get a Romanian cuisine experience.
Recomended restaurant: La Promenada Restaurant
NOT included: entrance fees, lunch costs.
Prices
1 person – 110 €
2 – 4 persons – 65 €
5 – 7 persons – 60 €
Tour Duration
~ 9 hours – from pick up to drop off
we believe in Quality over Quantity
private tours only!
what my clients say about
Why Choose?
Experienced Guides
10 years in the tour guiding field
Best value for your money and time
Support Local Business
Small Local Business is supported by traveling with us also we know the area better.
Guide Tips & Storytelling
Stories that you don't find on the internet 🙂
