By Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Romania blends a rich history, incredible natural beauty, and a deep cultural heritage that continues to fascinate people worldwide. Check out 10 facts you should know about Romania.
1. Home to Dracula’s Castle: Romania is famous for Bran Castle, often linked to the Dracula legend, thanks to Bram Stoker’s novel. However, the castle’s connection to Vlad the Impaler, the real-life figure who inspired Dracula, is mostly symbolic.
Image: bluebird666 via Pixabay
2. Decebalus Rock Sculpture: The Decebalus Rock Sculpture, located in the Iron Gates on the Danube River near the city of Orșova, is the tallest rock sculpture in Europe. It depicts Decebalus, the last Dacian king, sometimes referred to as Diurpaneus, who fought against the Roman Empire.
image: Mariana Vartaci via Pixabay
3. The Wooden Churches of Maramureș: The region of Maramureș in northern Romania is known for its traditional wooden churches, some of which date back to the 17th century. These churches are remarkable for their unique architecture and intricate wooden craftsmanship, and several of them are UNESCO-listed.
Monastery in Maramures. image: Ovi C via Pixabay
4. Birthplace of Gymnastics Legend Nadia Comăneci: Romania’s Nadia Comăneci scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics, a historic moment in sports.
5. Rich Folklore and Traditions: Romania is known for its rich folklore, which includes myths, legends, and customs passed down through generations. The country celebrates numerous traditional festivals like “Mărțișor,” a celebration of the arrival of spring.
6. The Carpathian Mountains: Romania is home to the Carpathian Mountains, which stretch across the country and are known for their stunning beauty and biodiversity, including brown bears, wolves, and lynx.
7. Peleș Castle: This fairy-tale castle, located in the Carpathian Mountains near Sinaia, is one of Romania’s most beautiful and well-preserved royal residences. It was built in the late 19th century and is now a museum.
Image: Walter Kärcher via Pixabay
8. The Danube Delta: The Danube Delta, located in Romania, is one of Europe’s most biodiverse regions, home to over 300 species of birds and numerous other wildlife. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Image: Albrecht Fietz via Pixabay
9. A Unique Language: Romanian is a Romance language, derived from Latin, and is the only Romance language spoken in Eastern Europe. It shares many similarities with Italian, French, and Spanish.
10. The Merry Cemetery: In the village of Săpânța, Romania, the Merry Cemetery is famous for its brightly colored tombstones, each depicting scenes from the lives of the deceased and accompanied by witty inscriptions.
11. Largest Administrative Building: The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is the second-largest administrative building in the world, after the Pentagon. It was built during the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu.
Image: Arvid Olson via Pixabay
12. Transfăgărășan Highway: Romania is home to the Transfăgărășan Highway, often referred to as one of the most spectacular roads in the world. This winding, high-altitude road cuts through the Carpathian Mountains, offering breathtaking views and connecting the regions of Transylvania and Wallachia. It’s a popular route for both tourists and car enthusiasts, featured in shows like Top Gear.
Beata Bruggeman-Sękowska is an award-winning international journalist, TV correspondent, media commentator, author, and sworn translator. She currently serves as the chief editor of the Central and Eastern Europe Centre and as the president of the European Institute on Communist Oppression. She holds degrees in American Culture Studies, translation and pedagogy, and journalism from Warsaw University, as well as from L’École Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Beata also has Armenian heritage and ancestral ties to Lviv (Lvov), Ukraine.
