Szekerland, one fine journey…

After leaving Bucharest in the morning, we make a long stop at Odorheiu Secuiesc. We juggle tea and cake from a locally renowned confectionery, a leisurely lunch, a stroll through the picturesque streets and a visit to a photography workshop as few know how! Preserved as it was 150 years ago, with hand-painted decorations, a magnificent collection of cameras, but also a history printed on glass negatives of events in the city. Just a step away, in the Szejke Baths, a gallery of Szekler gates awaits us, through whose triumphal arch we are invited to step. We spend the next 4 nights in Sovata, the chic resort with open-air villas, hiking trails and a Boulevard of Roses on which, the carriages with drivers with jackets, bring an extra charm. In the afternoon we enjoy the plethora of natural lakes.

A delicious breakfast and we knock on the doors of the small brewery, which made a fuss at one point, being compared to the biblical David in his fight with Goliath. But, although the journey from Csiki Sor was not easy, the horizon looks flourishing. We visit the factory and are invited to taste the artisanal range. Not to be missed are the beer with peppers, the remedy with 40 active plants, the one with blueberries or other combinations. After purchasing the favorite foam souvenir, we set off for the only lake in Europe formed in a volcanic crater. We taste his stories and legends while we share a kurtos coil and admire his waves from the shore. A unique training ground for ice hockey and the owner of a chemical formula close to that of distilled water, the lake forms an ecosystem enclosed by a special charm. And things are not different either regarding the Mohoș hill next to it, with its madness, the dwarf forest that seems to float and the Dew of Heaven, the attraction-diva. On the way back, we make a short stop in Băile Tușnad, for a rare image: the Harghita Mountains proudly mirrored in Ciucaş Lake.

We start the day with a visit to Rhédey Castle in Sângeorgiu de Pădure, the one that reopened its gates to visitors and discover the love story of the couple Claudia Rhédey – Prince Alexander von Würtemberg, close relatives of the British Royal Family. In Târgu-Mureș we invite you to a walk through the Citadel and the historic center, among beautiful buildings in secessionist style. We admire the brightly colored majolica on the roof of the Palace of Culture and enter for a guided tour of the stained glass rooms. There is enough time left to discover the collection of about 40,000 volumes, some very rare, collected by Count Samuel Teleki in the Bolyai-Teleki Library. The last stop: Reghin, the city of tuned violins, where a luthier’s workshop remains the most exciting of all. It’s more than a workshop. It’s alchemy! A passionate tandem between technique and aesthetics on their way to Harmony. So we find out how to create the perfect violin and what are the secrets that turn wood into a harmonious instrument.

Optional excursion to discover the Corund area. Different will be the watchword today, starting with special transport (weather permitting), a cart ride up to the volcanic plateau, through the enchanting landscape of the hamlets Fântâna Brazilor or Valea lui Pavel and to each of the stops in the area. Tinovul de la Fântâna Brazilor, part of the Natura 2000 site, hides along with the flora and fauna specific to the tundra, glacial relics and taiga elements. You have practically the chance to discover a favorite Siberia just a few steps away on a path. Then we indulge in tasting jams and syrups made exclusively from berries harvested from the region, at a household. Next is a visit to Corund, the largest craft center in the country, with over 1500 inhabitants involved in craft manufacturing. The three workshops (ceramics, pottery and weaving) included in the program will convince you of an unaltered universe, articulated in symbols, skill and grace. We end with a visit to the Praid Salt Mine.

We head to Dârjiu, a village in Harghita, with cobbled roads and cheerful houses, which has become a point of attraction for many tourists from the country and abroad, with the inclusion of the fortified church in the Unesco World Heritage List. We then set off for Predeal, but we do not leave the Szeklerland without trying to make contact with a real count. So we stop in Micloșoara, to admire his elegant noble residence and listen to his story of restoration, full of care. Brasov city tour, and accommodation and dinner in Predeal.

Breakfast at the hotel. This day is dedicated to visiting 2 beautiful castles. We will start with the legend of the dark prince, Dracula. We will try to find him in his Castle, the Bran Castle which is one of the most visited sightseeing in Romania. The romantic castle, which in the inter-war was the residence of the Romanian Queen Maria, is now a museum. After that we will remain in the royal spirit and visit the Peles Castle which is located in Sinaia, “the pearl of the Carpathians”, the private residence of the royal family of Romania. Check in and dinner in the hotel.

Breakfast. Visit or free time for shopping. Transfer for the airport (depending on the flight schedule).