A visit to picturesque Transylvania is akin to mystic extravaganza that takes place in reality. But laymen rarely know for sure what to visit in Romania aside from the famous Bran Castle, residence of Count Dracula. OUTLOOK solves the problem and offers an opportunity to personally choose an exciting route – its history may not just surprise but also stir your blood.
For your attention here come TOP-5 most amazing and mysterious places in Romania that you must see with your own eyes.
Black Church, Brașov
Being one of Transylvania’s major landmarks and considered a true giant of the country, the construction harbors history of seven centuries and makes every visitor feel breath of those times. Initially the church was named after Saint Mary and it acquired its current title during Great Turkish War when its major part collapsed under merciless attacks of Austrian troops. After living through numerous reconstructions and having combined trends of various architecture styles over years, nowadays the erection features a synthesis of gothic and baroque motives. While being a true treasure for aesthetic gourmands, the temple curdles blood with events that took place there. The word is that when it was under construction a German boy was bugging workmen and kept repeating that one of the walls of the future building was inclined. Unable to handle incessant reproaches, one of the builders decided to throw the child off a tower and later, to cover the tracks of the deed, immured the breathless body into the wall. Who knows, may be, the spirit of the boy still wanders corridors of the construction seeking either peace or revenge?...Photo archdesignfoto.com
Bridge of Lies, Sibiu
If you, like baron Munchausen, tend to embellish ambient reality, you should not go to the Bridge of Lies situated in Sibiu. Local legend has it that any lie can turn out a disaster for a traveler and a bridge will collapse under magic impact of untruth. The place used to be a retreat for impostors who would conclude dubious deals at nights – all that induced the name that has been preserved for 150 years.Photo files.wordpress.com
The castle fascinates the eye with its exquisite exterior. Located not far from cities of Sinaia and Brașov, it glorifies the name of local Peleș River and is rightfully considered a Pearl of the Carpathians. The construction does not hide a scary mystery in its grandeur, nor is it doomed due to ancient curses but it still evokes fabulous interest. The castle fits in fascinating image of the locality. It was there where in 1883 a power plant emerged to provide a palace of this kind with light for the first time and to give monarchs an opportunity to become first possessors of own elevator and cinema – and this only enhanced magnetism of the spot. Today it is one of Romania’s major landmarks. Every willing one can take a plunge into the atmosphere of royal luxury and enjoy refined apartments and interiors for merely 20 lei (5$).Photo win-tour.com
Dracula House, Sighişoara
Everyone has, probably, heard of Barn Castle, a place where Vlad Țepeș III a prototype of the famous Dracula, only spent one night to throw luster on the location for centuries. Magnetism of the spot has substantial grounds beneath it because according to the legend it was there where a woman gave the world the Lord of the Dark. Nowadays mystic spirit of the dweller isn’t so acutely sensed. On the first floor a restaurant is situated where one can explore local cuisine and on the second floor there is a small weapons museum. However uniqueness of the spot is that it is there where the world’s only fresco of Dracula is situated; it was made when he was still alive consequently it resembles the Count’s real appearance best. All wrapped in mystery, Dracula House attracts endless amount of visitors with its puzzles. Do you venture sensing indescribable energy of the place that lures people’s hearts from all over the globe?
Salt Mine, Praid (cover photo)
Those who love subterranean kingdoms will be impressed with the scale of Praid’s salt mine. Upon covering 120 meters depthward you will be illuminated with fascinating glitter of the rocks and will take a lungful of local curative air. Thousand years of the mine’s existence turned it into a recreational facility that not only offers its guests amazing sightseeing tours but also medicates away respiratory diseases. And even if you don’t need salt treatment, you shouldn’t deny yourself a pleasure of visiting the place! Contemplation of localities may become your personal Elysium. Photo ic.pics.livejournal.com
Ancient Fez medina is firmly holding time in a criss-crossing maze of tiny alleyways and picturesque shops. The medieval town of craftsmen does not recognize modern technology, however, it is not difficult to trace a full production of cute handbag with embossed lettering. The leather for souvenir is produced there, in courtyards, and at a reasonable cost a tannery owner would reveal details of folk art with a millennial history.
Kyrgyzstan is called Middle Asian Switzerland. Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, caves, cols and green meadows aren’t a speck inferior in terms of aesthetics to European ones yet travelers haven't duly appreciated this country so far. Across-the-board exploration of the land by the state’s guests has only just begun. And alongside hotels that are being swiftly erected, ordinary yurts are still offered for residence to feel local natural.
Six million years ago, in faraway Mongolia a deep crater of an extinct volcano was gradually filled to the brims with water, turning into a wonderful lake. Water ran high with gusts of wind, and sparkled in the sun like precious jewel, so no wonder that along with the official name of Hövsgöl Lake, this nature wonder has a more poetic name of the Dark Blue Pearl.
Finally, one of our favorite categories reached the city, where dollars are considered as the main currency. Thus, we will not have to go around exchange offices and constantly convert prices. So, we go to such a different and exciting New York to spend our 10 dollars.
A function of UNESCO World Heritage Committee is to work in the most careful manner year after year on studying objects that constitute outstanding culture civilizations and are unique in their origins. Under number 569 of an impressive list of the organization city of Gjirokastër, the one from the south of Albania, is located – it is it we are going to study today through the length and breadth.
Marina Orlova is a project manager in a cultural and public organization. Working on one of her international projects, she met her love - Wim, a guy from Belgium. She succeeded to visit his country only when Ukraine obtained visa-free regime and Marina shared with OUTLOOK her observations about how the Belgians live, what they eat for breakfast and how they relax.
Iceland is a ‘country of ice and fire’, ‘country of thousand rivers and lakes’, countless waterfalls and geysers. There, like in a fairy tale, again and again, you feel like pinching yourself to check if you are dreaming or does it all really exist…
Impressions of this city depend much on what you have visited before being introduced to it. After Los Angeles it may seem very business-like and culturally rich, after New York – provincial and old-fashioned somehow. In any case, it has a bright and memorable face of a gentleman from Massachusetts.
Someone compares Jaipur with lace tablecloth; others with a box of pink marshmallows; and some admirers claim this is a hive densely inhabited by bees. However, everyone agrees on one thing: there is the wonderful air full of freedom which cannot be found in Europe. It fills the lungs and breathing it a traveller loses count of hours and even centuries.
On this great holiday for all Christians of the Orthodox rite, we want to present you a video about the holy places of Palestine, namely the city of Bethlehem.
Icerink instead of heated floor. Bomber hat and a puffer jacket as an alternative to terry robe. Eco-hotels and cafes in Canada, Romania and even hot Dubai offer a possibility to have leisure time a-la North Pole. The exotic hotels are not only those near the ocean and tropic palms.
In the world there is an unusual place where the biggest number of twins are born. Although at first glance it looks like a mystical coincidence, statistics makes you believe in miracles. The Indian state of Kerala can boast of a village where unusual things happen. Kodhini is the place with more twins than anywhere else in the world. Actually, there is almost no explanation for this.
To visit three countries over one day – it is possible if you are in Aachen. Situated amid Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, small student town took in features of medieval culture that reflected in its astonishing architecture. Yelena Buravtsova visited the town for it to win her heart with its off-beat monuments, streets paved with stone blocks, cozy cafés, one of a kind printed spice cake, museums and spectacular races.
Experienced travelers tell that one could watch the ruins of ancient settlements in the Andes during several months, moving from one region to another. Particularly, the richest one in archaeological complexes of is the western coast of the Southern continent. A long time ago, some of them, such as Machu Picchu, have become popular with tourists, others are just beginning to open their doors to curious people.
When moving to a new country, more often than not people tend to get settled nearby emigrants like themselves. It is pretty convenient: accommodation isn’t expensive, job can be found right on the location and there is no need to study a new language – everyone around understands you. This is how national ghettos appear.
Judging by the reviews of the majority of tourists who visited Istanbul, many of them did not reach Asian part of the main Turkish metropolis, or did not have a proper walk there. The best case, they just saw SabihaGökçen International Airport and ferry docks, a destination of leisure cruses from Europe, where on the way one can feed with bread seagulls swooping overhead.
Prague... It is romantic, decadent, sad and cheerful, sublime and spiritual, reflected in the flapping wings of well-fed seagulls on the Charles Bridge, in the mirror pools of Vltava River... Prague is a very attractive and slightly strange European city. Creative copywriter Masha Goldman once spent several days there and told us about Prague charms.
Today OUTLOOK travels along the cities and countries that are considered as the most interesting from the point of view of geography and administrative management. Moreover, they are enclaves as they are located within the territories of other states.
Only an abandoned artificial archipelago with traces of extinct civilizations can better than a deserted island! Cadent splash of oars that plows blue dreams of the Pacific Ocean quells drumroll of ecstasy in your temples while preparing will and mind to the meeting with the greatest mystery of Micronesia. Nan Madol lies empty for more than one hundred years...
Photo archdesignfoto.com
Photo files.wordpress.com
Photo win-tour.com
Photo ic.pics.livejournal.com 
