Brașov is a city lying at the heart of Romania, only 161 kilometres from
Bucharest. The town stretching at the foot of Tampa Mountain makes an
ideal holiday destination for various categories of tourists,
irrespective of their age. Known for its Black Church, which is
South-eastern Europe’s greatest worship edifice in Gothic style,
Brașov also stands out thanks to its narrow streets, with a medieval
flavour and for its restaurants and clubs, being an ideal city-break
destination. A plus for Brasov’s status as central Romania’s
urban hub, is the opening of its International Airport in 2023, which
links Brasov to some of Europe’s biggest cities, thus turning
Brasov into an even more accessible destination.
However,
today we target those who have a little bit more time on their hands,
since Brașov County has very many things to offer. We wanted to know
the entire area better, so we sat down and spoke to the 1st
vice-president of the Rosenau Tourism Association, Mihai Dragomir,
who is also on the steering committee of Romania’s Ecotourism
Association. Mihai Dragmomir is also the coordinator of the Rasnov
Fortress’ Film and Histories Festival, as well as the president and
the founding member of the Mioritics Association. Mihai Dragomir is
also the organizer of the events as part of Transylvanian Brunch.
Brasov
County is a very diverse one, since, on one hand, we have a
mountainous area that comes with its own specificity, but there also
is an elevated plane area, Brasov county’s hilly area, which
already means another category of leisure and local values. Now were
I to very briefly provide an outline of the main tourist destinations
in Brașov County, apart from the city of Brașov, the metropolitan
area has a very good connection to the city, and here we include
Râșnov, Codlea, Zărnești and Predeal. Also very close is Vama
Buzăului, a renowned natural and culinary area.
Romania
has many mountain resorts, but Poiana Brașov is by far the most
popular. Ideal for winter sports lovers, it attracts tourists from
all over the world. While Râșnov and Codlea are known for their
mediaeval citadels and Zărnești is mostly popular for hiking,
Brașov is also a place full of tradition, says Mihai Dragomir:
Other
highlights are the Făgăraș
Country, a unique and very well-preserved ethnographic area, and the
Transylvanian hills, a destination that covers three different
counties, including the Brașov area. The village of Viscri is also
very well known, but there are other equally beautiful villages. Also
worth visiting is the Rupea-Cohalm area, together with the Perșani
Mountains area. The fortifications found in Brașov county are among
the most diverse, from the well-known fortified churches in Făgăraș,
Rupea, Feldioara and Râșnov, to Bran Castle. Each is different,
has it own story and offers visitors a different experience.
The
food is one of the most exciting things Brașov has to offer. Mihai
Dragomir, from Rosenau Turism Association, says this is also a way
of becoming better acquainted with the people and the story of the
place:
The
area known as Vama Buzăului is a very well-preserved natural area
and a place where the local cuisine has developed a lot of in recent
years. Besides, the area is home to the Bison Reserve. Vama Buzăului
is full of gastronomical attractions, to be found both in restaurants
and in the food locals make at home. Făgăraș Country is an
important destination, for the Făgăraș Mountains are spectacular,
located relatively close and are quite easily accessible in their
lower regions at this time of the year, unlike their higher regions.
The villages at the foot of the mountains have preserved many
authentic Romanian traditions.
Fabian
Roth, the manager of the Valea Zimbrilor bison reserve says
travellers to Brașov must also pay a visit to Vama Buzăului, which
is only a short distance away:
We
are not far from the city of Brașov, only about 40 km. Vama Buzăului
is a tourist resort of local interest, a special area, with clean air
and lots of nature, and which is also home to the Valea Zimbrilor
bison reserve. Apart from bison, visitors can also see here reindeer,
mouflon and peacocks. The place is also ideal for families with
children and it has a generous playground. The Urlătoarea waterfall,
at the foot of Mount Ciucaș, is also worth a visit. Vama Buzăului
is also an excellent place for trying out the local cuisine.
Mihai
Dragomir organises a series of events known as Transylvanian Brunch.
First developed in 2008, the project aims to put to the spotlight on
the people and the food of this area:
It’s
a culinary event that ‘travels’ from village to village. It’s
usually held in a beautiful farmstead with an orchard or large
garden, and which also has an old traditional oven where lots of
tasty traditional dishes are prepared. We’re always trying to find
new hosts who preserve old culinary traditions and who have access to
organic products, whether from their own gardens or farms or those of
their neighbours. The structure of the event is relatively simple.
People come together and spend three, four or five hours in a new
place each time. They will discover a village, a story, the people.
Some kind of activity is also usually included, such a walk up the
hill, visiting the fortified church in the village or taking part in
various workshops. It all depends on what the respective village has
to offer. Hearts open, and people become very relaxed. Children are
always welcome at these events, they can play freely in the garden
and their parents can relax.
So,
if you’re looking for a holiday where you are closer to nature,
Brașov county is the place to go.