The Great Church of the Monastery of Sinaia is a landmark on the mountain road to Transylvania from Bucharest, the Romanian capital. Though Romanians are ethnically Latin, the Orthodox faith is the dominant religion. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
Romania is one of the few surprises left in Europe, offering rich history at affordable prices.
In Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad Tepes, Bram Stoker’s Dracula character is the gift that keeps on giving for the souvenir vendors and other tourist-driven businesses. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
Viscri was built by German Saxon settlers who were invited to the region beginning in the 12th century to form a bulwark against the Ottoman Empire. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
The medieval village of Viscri was built around its fortified church, a place of worship that doubled as a stronghold against invaders. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
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Bran Castle remained a favorite residence of Romania’s kings and queens into the 1930s. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
Bran Castle’s history reflects the tumultuous history of Transylvania. It was variously a customs post, a bulwark against invaders and a protector of the trade route that ran through the gorge it overlooks. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
Vlad Tepes, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s fictional character Dracula, was a 15th-century warrior-prince who is still regarded as a national hero in Romania for his ferocious fights against foreign invaders. His bust marks the ruins of the palace in Bucharest from which he once ruled. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
Romania was a battleground for centuries, and the massive walls that protected inhabitants still survive in cities such as Sibiu, in Transylvania. Each of the city’s trade guilds was responsible for the upkeep of a section of the city walls. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
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Once you cross the Bucegi Mountains into Transylvania, you’ll search in vain for gloomy, foreboding woods. The rolling hills, lush green pastures and wide-open blue skies could just as easily be Wisconsin. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
Viscri is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Britain’s Prince Charles owns a B&B there, but the residents have not perfected the art of being touristy. On the day we visited, there was no coffee to be had at the cafe. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
When we visited Viscri, the main souvenir offerings were rustic felt slippers crafted by locals. (John Dowling / Chicago Tribune)
