Small-Group 5-Day Haunted Halloween Tour in Transylvania

Day 1: Bucharest - Curtea de Arges Monastery - Poienari Castle - Cozia Monastery - Olt Valley Road - Sibiu

1. Curtea de Arges Monastery
   30m · Admission ticket included
   The church of the Curtea de Arges Monastery is one of the most beautiful religious monuments in Romania. Built in 1515-1517 by a rich and cultured prince, Neagoe Basarab, it is filled with decoration inspired by Byzantine, Ottoman, Georgian, and Armenian art and it offers a unique glimpse into the medieval past of Romania.
   The church has been chosen as the final resting place for the Romanian monarchs of the Hohenzollern dynasty at the beginning of the 20th century.
2. Poienari Castle
   2h · Admission ticket included
   The Poenari Castle (Cetatea Poenari) was once Vlad the Impaler's residence, and its location in the foothills of the Făgăraș Mountains makes for a wonderfully dramatic setting. It was to the citadel, that the survivors of Vlad the Impaler's massacre in Târgoviște were marched to start work on his castle.
   Our guide will help the visitor navigate the 1480 step climb to the top and will have water ready if needed. The climb usually takes about 30 minutes, up a concrete stairway equipped with safety railings and an electrified fence to guard against bears. The fortress sits at an altitude of 850 m (2800 ft) above sea level.
   After reaching the top we will access the fortress using a narrow wooden bridge and we will instantly come across the crumbling remains of the old keep. Our guide will offer many insights in regards to the history of the building, its many legends and stories.
3. Cozia Monastery
   30m
   The church of the Cozia Monastery is a splendid example of medieval architecture. It was built by Prince Mircea the Elder, Vlad the Impaler’s grandfather, in 1388. Mircea tried throughout his reign to fight the expanding Ottomans and succeeded in stopping for a while their advance towards Europe. He was a very pious ruler and commissioned the building of various churches and monasteries, of which Cozia was chosen as his final resting place.
   Let yourself be enchanted by the beautiful setting of the monastery, set on the banks of the Olt river, and by the rich painted decoration of the Cozia church.
4. Olt County
   Pass by
   The adventure continues with a scenic drive along the valley of the Olt river, which will take you from the southern Wallachia region towards Sibiu, in Transylvania. Before 1918, when all the three regions of Romania were united in a single country, this was one of the main passages on the other side of the mountains. Travellers and merchants used to cross the border to the north in order to sell their goods at the markets of the rich multicultural cities of Transylvania.

Day 2: Sibiu - Biertan fortified church - Sighisoara

1. Big Square (Piata Mare)
   30m
   This square has been the beating heart of the city since 1366. Here, the citizens would meet, talk, trade, buy and sell, listen to political speeches or gather to witness the executions. The UNESCO-listed Square gives a quick view of the history of the city, as it is lined with buildings from different ages, the oldest being the 13th century City Council Tower; the late medieval houses, as the Haller House and the Blue House, are among the oldest you can see in Romania. You can visit the Brukenthal Palace, an 18th century small jewel, inspired by Baroque Viennese architecture and home to the art collection of baron Samuel von Brukenthal.
2. Turnul Sfatului (The Tower of the Council)
   30m · Admission ticket included
   The Tower, which can be entered today from the Small Square, was originally part of a small fortification designed to protect the building the City Council. It was used as an observation point and as a last refuge in case of attack. It was restored in the 19th century, and you can climb the 141 steps of the interior staircase to observe the clock mechanism and to enjoy the panorama of the city.
3. Bridge of Lies
   15m
   The pedestrian bridge, sustained by four arches made of cast iron, links two small squares of the city and has been the source of a few legends that try to explain its name. The most popular one has it that the bridge is sure to collapse if someone who stands on it will tell a lie. Other legends state that liars were tossed over the bridge – either merchant who tried to fool their clients or young girls who lied to their lovers.
4. Lutheran Evangelical Cathedral & Tower
   Pass by
   Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the first church on this spot dates from the 12th century. The Gothic cathedral you see today, with the 73-meter-high steeple, was built in the 14th century as a Roman Catholic place of worship. After the Reformation, it began to be used by the Lutheran protestant community.
   You will observe four turrets around the central steeple – this was a sign that meant that the town of Sibiu had the judicial right to sentence to death.
   NB: The Cathedral is currently undergoing restoration, so it will not be possible to visit the interior. We will only be able to observe the exterior of the Cathedral.
5. Strada Cetatii / Fortress Street
   30m
   On this street you will admire three of the towers of the medieval city of Sibiu. These were part of the fortifications that kept invaders at bay. As in other Transylvanian towns, each tower was upkept and repaired by a guild (in this case, the potters, the carpenters and the arquebus-armed soldiers).
6. Biertan Fortified Church
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Biertan was founded as a commercial hub by Transylvanian Saxons living in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Their church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and built in Late Gothic style, with Renaissance elements. It was constructed between 1486 and 1524, on the site of an earlier Romanesque church.
   The inhabitants of Biertan began to fortify the church, instead of building a citadel, when Ottoman raids became a constant threat. This is how the church acquired three rows of exterior fortifications linked by gate towers.

Day 3: Sighisoara - Saschiz fortified church - Viscri village

1. Sighisoara Clock Tower
   45m · Admission ticket included
   The Old Town of Sighișoara is unmissable, dominating the newer quarters from a rocky massif whose slopes support a jumble of old, leaning houses. The Clock Tower aka The History Museum was raised in the 14th century when Sighișoara was controlled by craft guilds, each of which had to finance its tower and defend it during wartime. After paying the entrance fee our guide will accompany you inside the old clock tower with it old wooden, creaky steps.
   Inside you will be able to see Gothic furniture, pharmaceutical objects, gingerbread mounds, objects belonging to the trade guilds that once ruled the city and a very interesting display on Hermann Oberth, one of the forefathers of space travel... yes, you've heard that right!
   The main reason to climb the tower is for the marvelous views of the crooked lanes and houses below and the rolling hills in the distance. In addition to the tower our ticket will include access to the Collection of Medieval Arms.
   NOTE: The Tower is CLOSED on Mondays.
2. Casa Vlad Dracul
   30m · Admission ticket included
   A must-see for Halloween, this three-story house that sits in the shadow of the Clock Tower is where, according to legend, Vlad the Impaler was born in 1431 to a woman whose name is not known to posterity.
   Today the house is a restaurant, and we will get the chance to go upstairs in order to see the alleged birthplace of Vlad the Impaler.
3. Church on the Hill
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   The Church on the Hill, built between 1345 and 1525, has been beautifully restored, and contains faded murals, a vaulted ceiling and three Gothic altars. The church is massively buttressed and here our guide will take a moment to explain how these churches doubles as places of worship and fortified keeps in time of danger. Beyond the church our visitors will have the chance to explore the Saxon cemetery.
   To get to the church we will take the Scholars' Stairs, a steep, covered wooden staircase of 178 steps and 29 landings that dates from 1642.
4. Biserica Manastirii
   Pass by
   The Church of the Dominican Monastery is a 15th century Gothic church that became the Saxons' main Lutheran church in 1556.
5. St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church
   Pass by
   The St. Joseph Roman Catholic church was built in 1894, after the demolition of the Franciscan Convent. It is situated in the northeast of the citadel.
6. Piata Cetatii
   15m
   We will see the place where once upon a time wrongdoers would be hanged in plain sight for their crimes against the city of Sighișoara and where the witch trials were held.
7. Sighisoara
   45m
   Upon entering the city we will stop at the fresh produce market where locals sell their home-grown produse every day to the people of the city. Most of the fruits and vegetables sold here every day are in season and the array of smells, tastes and colors will surprise and delight you at the same time. There are many photo ops here and also a chance to buy and taste some of the produce there. There is everything from home made bread to locally made cheese, forest fruit picked from the actual forest and much more.
8. Saxon Church
   30m · Admission ticket included
   This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates from the 15th century. The church was built on the site of an older Romanesque basilica and was dedicated to Saint Stephen of Hungary.
   A 14th-century citadel was built 2 kilometers from the village, but the distance meant it did not offer an easy access. This is why the church was eventually fortified, so that the inhabitants would have readier access to a refuge.
9. Viscri Fortified Church
   2h · Admission ticket included
   The traditional Saxon village of Viscri has a traditional charm and an old world feeling. You will visit the main attraction of the area, the fortified church, and you will enjoy a traditional Romanian lunch, with hearty food and fiery spirits, like tuica and rachiu.
   At the end of the evening, you will relax in your room, in a traditional medieval Saxon house.

Day 4: Viscri village - Brasov - Bran

1. Black Church
   40m · Admission ticket included
   Brașov most famous landmark, the Black Church, dominates the square around it. Allegedly the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, it took almost a century to complete. The church contains one of the largest collections of Turkish prayer mats in Eastern Europe.
2. Piaka Sfatului
   20m
   The Council Square is the focus point in Brașov and it has changed very little from the 15th century when it was built. It is lined with sturdy merchant's houses with red-tiled roofs and shops. In the center stands the Council House built in 1420 topped by the Trumpeter's Tower in which town councilors would meet.
   The square is the place where reputedly the last witch burning in Europe took place.
3. Holy Trinity Church
   15m
   Also dubbed "the hidden church", it has brightly colored wall paintings and its courtyard is built against the wall that used to defend the city in medieval times.
4. Turnul Alb
   20m
   Facing Turkish attacks in the 15th century, Brașov built stringer fortifications, assigning each bastion to a particular guild.
   The White Tower in Brașov is unmistakable in its design and offers stunning views over the city on a clear day.
5. Rope Street - Strada Sforii
   10m
   Presumably the narrowest street in Eastern Europe this little passageway retains all the spirit of medieval Brașov and it makes for some nice photos to share with your family and friends.
6. Bran Castle
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Enjoy the best Halloween experience by visiting the famous Bran castle!
   Bran, 28 km (18 miles) southwest of Brașov, commands the entrance to the pass of the same name, the main route into Wallachia.
   The Saxons of Kronstadt (Brașov) built a castle in 1377 in order to safeguard the vital trade route. The connections of Vlad the Impaler are shrouded in myth. The castle may have housed Vlad for a few nights on his flight from the Turks in 1462, following their attack on the Poenari fortress. Another story tells of how he laid siege to the castle in 1460 when attacking the Burzenland.
   Perched on a rocky bluff and rising in tiers of towers and ramparts from the surrounding woodland Bran Castle still has many stories to tell.

Day 5: Bran -Sinaia - Bucharest

1. Peles Castle
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   As an optional stop, on your way back to Bucharest you can visit the Peles castle, in Sinaia. This castle was built for the first king of Romania, Charles I, between 1873 and 1914. The King was enchanted by the beautiful scenery and bought the land on which the castle was built.
   The building combines different features of classic European styles, mostly following Italian elegance and German aesthetics along Renaissance lines.

Pickup details

The tour leader will have a sign with the company logo and the name of all the passengers attending the tour. He/she can also be identified by the T-shirt bearing the company name.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness