Dracula's Castle - Bran Castle Romania

At the end of the 14th century, king Sigismund gave up the leadership of Bran Fortress in favor of Mircea cel Batran. The royal domain had been given to the Hungarian aristocracy, while the fortress passed under the rule of Mircea's faithful boyars. Few years later, the Hungarian king got back the fortress. Bran Fortress was subordinated to the authority of Szeklers Committee.

The Fortress had an essential role in protecting the Hungarian king from the Ottomans and Tartars' invasion, coming from Wallachia through Rucar Pass. That's the reason why the inhabitants of Brasov built the Castle on their own work and expenses.

Iancu de Hunedoara fortified Transylvania's borders and also the towers of the Bran Castle. He made sure the rights of the peasants were respected by the boyars who ruled the fortress. However, there were frequent fights between merchants and boyars.

In 1498 the fortress passed under the merchant's possession and it was used mainly for treading. You should also know that it was a time when in charge of the leadership was a judge called "Judele Brasovului". Responsible for the defense of the castle was the permanent garrison: 2 guards and 10 - 20 archers and ballisters.

The boyars. had the right to collect fees from visitors and peasants. The fortress had an extra income from: selling cheese, milk and muttons and from manufacturing wood. The peasants fought against the aristocracy for several times. In 1514 they refused to take action against Gheorghe Doja.

In the 18th century the fortress was the house of the Austrians frontier guards. In 1836 Bran became the official border and the defense role of the fortress was no longer a priority. In 1920, the Brasov Town council donated Bran Castle to Queen Maria of Great Romania, who lived there with the royal family till 1947. Since 1947 the Castle is opened as a museum.

Monastery of Horezu

Founded in 1690 by Prince Constantine Brancoveanu, the monastery of Horezu is a masterpiece of the 'Brancovenesti' style. Renown for the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religious compositions and its painted decorative works, the monastery houses precious collections of frescos and icons dating from the end of the 17th century and beginning of the 18th century. The Hurezi School of mural and icon painting established at the monastery in the 18th century had a profound influence on religious art and architecture in the Balkan region.
The monastery museum, housed in the princely residence, features masterpieces of Brancovenesti art: icons, books, embroideries, silver collections and an interesting library of old books containing approximately 4,000 volumes. Overnight accommodation available.

Transfagarasan Road - Fagaras Mountains

If we had to put it in just a few words, than the Transfagarasan (DN 7C) is just the road that passes through Fagaras Mountains (the highest mountains in Romania – Moldoveanu peak – 2544 meters) and that connects Walachia and Transylvania. But in fact Transfagarasan road is more than that. It is the road that climbs to the highest altitude in Romania, 2042 meters, in the Glacial Hollow Balea.

The road was built between 1970 and 1974, during the rule of Nicolae Ceauşescu, mainly with military forces. It was expensive not only from the financial point of view, but also 40 soldiers lost their lives during it's construction.

The bends of the Transfăgărăşan are also an attraction and a challenge for drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Even though some may be tempted to push the pedal, the recommended speed is 40 km per hour. The road is closed from the end of October until June, because of the snow.

Palace of Parliament - The house of the people

The Palace of Parliament (Romanian: Palatul Parlamentului), better known as "Casa Poporului" (The House of The People) is the largest building in Europe and the building that holds three records homologated by the Guinness Book of World Records: for the largest civilian administrative building in the world, the heaviest building in the world and the most expensive administrative building in the world.

The first largest building in the world is the Pentagon.

It was designed and almost finished by the Ceauşescu regime as the seat of political and administrative power. Its initial official name was House of the Republic (Casa Republicii), given on June 25, 1984 by Nicolae Ceauşescu, but the building it was best known as People's House (Casa Poporului),[2] a name still used by many Romanians.

It measures 270 m by 240 m, 86 m high, and 92 m under ground. It has 1,100 rooms and is 12 stories tall, with four additional underground levels currently available and in use, with another four in different stages of completion.