Romania

Hidden behind the Iron Curtain for much of the 20th century, Romania was known simply for being the land of the legend of Dracula. Then following the demise of its communist regime, Romania, like a time-capsule opening up to the outside world, emerged as one of Europe’s most fascinating countries. 

Ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania - Romania’s green heart, is home to some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns, stunning castles and Saxon churches. Its thick forests are home to bears and wolves and its charming rural landscapes are dotted with small wooden villages where colourful, centuries-old traditions are still very much alive. Romania lies on the Black Sea and its warm climate and miles of sandy beaches have made its coastal resorts a popular holiday destination. Yet remnants of ancient Greek culture, which date back as far at the 7th century BC when seafarers were establishing trading colonies along the coast, are still being discovered. The nation’s capital is Bucharest. Once known as the ‘Paris of the East’ for its art nouveau palaces and elegant architecture, it is better known today as being home to the world’s second biggest parliamentary building, a monument to decades of communist rule.

The Danube River ends its European journey of almost 1,785 miles in south-eastern Romania. Beautiful and unspoilt, the Danube Delta is one of the least populated parts of Europe. The vast wetland is comprised of an intricate network of waterways and lakes divided between the three main estuary channels of the River Danube. This area of floating reed islands, forest, pastures and sand dunes is home to an incredible wildlife and more than 300 species of birds. An extraordinary natural world, it is, like the rest of Romania, which is waiting to be discovered.