Tourism Operation Licence no. 3854 / 2010
Romania as a destination
Transilvania as a destination

 
  Cluj-Napoca sightseeing tours
Sighisoara sightseing tour
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Scarisoara Ice Cave tour
Nicula Monastery and Sic village tour
Turda Salt Mine & Gorge
Hiking tour at Rimetea village
The Wind Cave tour
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Biertan & Sighisoara tour
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Tarnita and Belis lake tour
   
 
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Special Events and Fesivals Keep Romanian Traditions Very Much Alive
 

- Bucharest of Old - celebration of the city as it was 150-200 years ago, with traditional costumes, horse-drawn carriages, food, music and special performances. Bucharest, old section (every year, in June).
- Bucharest Festival of International Music - MultiSonic Fest - Featuring live performances of "Fusion-Music and Crossover-Art", this unique festival aims to fill the gap between contemporary music and jazz. Combining traditional Asian and African instruments with electronic sound generators and melting classic musical textures with world music grooves, the artists will stage for you original musical experiences (September 21st - 24th).
- Bucharest-International Jazz Festival - The festival is bringing to the capital city more than 33 bands for concerts and jam sessions every night, during the 10 days of the event. Musicians and jazz composers are holding workshops, along with disk and book releases (October 14th - 24th).

- Bucharest, Museum of the Romanian Peasant Saint Demeter Fair - The patron saint of Bucharest, Saint Demeter is celebrated every October with special church services, but also with the traditional fair at the Museum of the Romanian Peasant. Craftsmen from all over the country, dressed in beautiful traditional costumes, come and sell their handicrafts (October the 20tn - 22nd).
- The Traditional Crafts Fair - Crafts enthusiasts from all over Romania gather at the Village Museum in Bucharest to offer free demonstrations of traditional woodcarving, rug weaving, textile weaving and embroidering, pottery molding, glass blowing, egg painting and more (the month of June).
- George Enescu International Festival - Classical music festival dedicated to the Romanian composer George Enescu, presenting an international classical and modern repertoire. It takes place in Bucharest, usually in autumn. (for more infos www.festivalenescu.ro)
- The Golden Stag Festival - is an annual international music festival held in Brasov, Romania. The main organiser is Televiziunea Româna, Romania's state-run (and largest) television network. The festival has two main components: an international contest and guest performances by both Romanian and foreign stars. The Golden Stag was first held in 1968. Well-known artists have performed at the festival over the years, including Gilbert Becaud, Josephine Baker, Toto Cutugno, James Brown, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, UB 40, INXS, Scorpions, Ricky Martin, Pink, Sheryl Crow, Kelly Family, TATU and many others.
- The Jazz and Blues Festival - an international festival as well, hosted by "Sica Alexandrescu" Theatre, in autumn, in Brasov.
- The International Chamber Music Festival - held in September, it is organized by the Philharmonic Orchestra from Brasov;
- The Contemporary Drama Festival - held in Brasov yearly, regulary in November, it is host to Romania's most important theatre companies, together with those from countries like France, Italy, the USA, Belgium, Sweden, Brazil and many other;
- The National Lied Festival - was initiated in 2003 by the internationally famous soprano, Mariana Nicolesco. Young artists compete against each other, while well-known artists give recitals;
- The International Book Fair - hosted by the 'Transylvania' University, in March, it is an opportunity of finding out about the latest books and also to listen to quality music;
- The International Opera Festival - an annual event since 2003. The first edition marked 50 years since The Opera House in Brasov came into existence;
- The Beer Festival - a kind of local Oktober Fest. It is smaller and more popular with the locals and tourists. Usually held in the fall. Dozens of tents from several beer companies offer their products. Also, you will be able to get a taste of mici (Romanian grilled sausages) and other traditional foods. Local and national bands and artists of all persuasions take the stage;
- Etnovember - a cross between the words "ethnic" and "'November", the name of Brasov's Etnovember festival reflects both the cultural traditions of the communities present, and the month in which the festival is held.
- The Juni of Brasov - it takes place in Brasov at the end of May. Perhaps the largest and most colorful event in the city, the festival begins with a gathering of people at Unirii Square. From there, young men from the Schei neighborhood of Brasov (formerly a traditional Romanian village), dressed in folk costumes parade through the city on horseback followed by bands of musicians and crowds of participants, ending at Soloman's Rocks.Some of the costumes are over 150 years old, trimmed with up to 4,000 spangles weighing close to 88 pounds!
- Santilia - Santilia is an age-old feast of the shepherds connected to the celebration of the Sun and fire god. It takes place in the town of Sacele, July 23rd - 24th (first week-end after St. Elie's day) This pastoral day was tightly connected to the life and activities of the shepherds of Sacele who used to go across wide areas of land with their sheep herds. The pastoral specificity of Santilia from Sacele was preserved in the shepherd's tradition to make gifts to their beloved whom they would marry distaffs and green cheese patterns they had carved into wood during their tranquil solitude days in the mountains. Shepherds had yet another reason for waiting for the Santilia day- after going up in the mountains with the herds they no longer had the right to come back to the village or be visited by their wives or beloved. After a hard life of continuously fighting against beasts and weather conditions, isolated from those they loved, from the church and from the vilage the Santilia day arrives when people come to them. Over the years, Santilia has gained new features, especially those connected to barter and to getting young people acquainted to each other before marrying.
- The Holiday of the Csango - The Holiday of the Csango (hungarian people established in Bacau county area) is held on Saints Mihail and Gavril Day in Sacele, also called Harvest Day. This autumn feast takes place at the headquarters of the Association of the Csango in Sacele.
- Sinaia Forever Festival - "Sinaia Forever" is the main festival of the Sinaia resort, held for 2 days - 28th - 30th of September. During the weekend the city tries to recreate an old fashion atmosphere as it was before 1944. "Agentia de Vise", meaning the members of Vama Veche band, in collaboration with Sinaia City Hall is offering us three days and nights of fun in the Pearl of the Carpathian's, Sinaia! During the festival there will be five main areas of fun, which will differ through location and thematic. On the main boulevard we will taste special dishes, specific to different nationalities. The main garden of Peles Castle will be the main stage for folk music. In Ghica park, recently renovated, will be the main stage for rock, disco and latino concerts. While the Casino will offer us great movies, long and short projections. The three days of magic will end with a spectacular fireworks.
- The International Festival of Classic Guitar Sinaia - in May will join in its concert halls great artists, international highest level competition, master classes, guitar builders exhibitions and "aficionados" from all over the world. They will all be here, in Sinaia, which for a week will turn into the heart of the classical guitar world.
- The measuring of the milk festival - July 1st-2nd at Bran, Stâna Zanoaga. Measuring milk is the annual event marking the cattle and sheep herds departure to the mountains. Sheep breeders gather in every village to decide together where to set sheepfolds for the year, who the herdkeeper will be and whom they will hire to look for the sheep during the grazing hours. Mating sheep on specific criteria- neighbourhoods, families or on other agreements- and the herd departing to the folds, are significant moments in the rural Romanian comunities. In the morning of the set day all sheep masters set for the folds dressed in the festive clothes: men go first with buckets, women follow them with baskets and knapsacks full of tasty food and bottles of drinks. Apart from food, an ageold tradition states that women have to bring "the sheep's ointment" to the fold- a magic remedy against evil spirits that could attack nursing or even the animals. After having milked all ewes and having "measured" and "talled" the milk, under the close supervision of the entire community, shepherds bring the milk together ("gather it together") and harden it. According to the"measurement" owners will receive their share of diary products. This tradition of "Sâmbra Oilor" is known by all sheep breeders- with a few local variants and in various stages of evolution.
- The spreading of the sheep and the national cheese and pastrami festival - September, the 30th - October, the 1st, Bran, Plateau"Queen's Heart". The National Cheese and Pastrami Festival is organized by the Bran Town Hall, ANTREC Brasov, and The National Association of Cooks and Confectioners in Tourism (ANBTC). On this occasion the participants will have the opportunity to taste from the variety of local traditional cheese, as well as cheese from other parts of the country such as Rucar and Sibiu. Popular craftsmen from several areas of Romania will be present with handicraft products such as rugs from Oltenia (in the south of Romania), hand painted and beaded eggs, and popular costumes. This festival marks the return of the shepherds from the mountains and the time when farmers would get back their sheep and the cheese produced over the summer. The annual festival will be the best yet with over 20 types of cheese, plum brandy, fruit & vegetable growers and local barbequed pastrami! There will be live folk music throughout the day and local artisans exposing traditional objects at the arts & crafts fair.
- Summer Fair Moieciu - the village of Moeciu, July 29th - 30th. It is a festival when country people, tourists and craftsmen gather together. One of the attractions of the summer fair is the contest with prizes for the owner of the most beautiful animals in the garden - a sort of "Miss Cow contest", where competitors are scored according to their beauty and the quality of their milk. In the program: exhibition from where one can buy agricultural devices specific to the mountain area; animal and diary products exhibition, arts and crafts objects exhibition.
- Sumedru's Fire - the village of Moeciu, October, the 26th. Sumedru's Fire is a holiday with a strong funeral character, which is celebrated on the night of October the 25th to 26th in the area of Bran.The pre-Christian roots of this tradition are visible from the way death and rebirth are celebrated, through cremation. Nowadays, Christian elements add to the pre-Christian ones, one example being the reading of Saint Dimitrie's Prayer for the Dead in the church and attributing the name of the saint martyr to the sacrificed deity. The significance of this holiday is that of a death and annual rebirth scenario of a fitomorphic deity (represented in the form of a plant), a ceremony that involves violent death of the aged god at the end of the year by cutting down a tree from the woods, immediately followed by his rebirth by cremation of his inanimate body on the night of 25th- 26th of October. In this case the fire is purifying and regenerative. Ashes, embers and other scraps of the funeral pyre are taken by the villagers in order to fertilize their gardens and orchards. The remembrances as well as the blazing pyre and the ritual vigil make up a ceremony whose purpose is to win the benevolence of the ancestors who could, in this case, ensure good crops for the next year.
- Nedeia of the Mountains - commune Fundata, August 27th. This festival celebrates the homehoming of the shepherds who have been tending the sheep and cows in the mountains for the summer. Upon their return, the shepherds have stocks of cheese that they have made while in the mountains, and are eager to trade with others for fresh produce and other goods. As a result, area farmers and traders have been attracted to the event. The tradition continues with large numbers of traders of fruits, vegetables, pastrami, and shepherd cheese.
- Floare de colt (EDELWEISS) Festival - the city of Zarnesti, August, 20th (first Sunday after St Mary's day) This traditional Romanian music and dance festival takes place in Zarnesti on the first Sunday after the Assumption of the Virgin, around August 15, depending on the calendar. The purpose of the festival is to promote the young artists in Zarnesti who are keeping the musical traditions alive, and to showcase traditional costumes from the area. The festival starts with a young horse-rider's parade with riders wearing traditional costumes and the horses decorated with beautiful ornaments. There is then a traditional Romanian music and dance performance in front of the Town Hall in Zarnesti. All the performers and audience move then to a special place at " Tohan Blocuri" and continue their performances there. In addition to the music and dance, local artists present traditional crafts, most notably egg-painting and sheepskin clothing.
- Poiana Marului Autumn Fair - the village of Poiana Marului, September, the 15th. A traditional autumnal festival celebrating the harvest. Situated 9 miles from the town of Zarnesti, on the road to Sâmbata de Sus, the village of Poiana Marului is a place to learn about traditions of the typical southeastern Transylvanian village. German and Hungarian influences are still present here, especially in the traditional folk costume.
Poiana Marului is out of the way of most highways and roads, perched on a hill, amidst a picturesque landscape, and has been spared many of contemporary influence. In addition to tasting traditional Romanian food in an authentic atmosphere, visitors are welcome to participate in the rural activities, such as milking the cows, scything, sowing, plowing and harvesting - all using traditional methods.
- Prejmer harvest day - the village of Prejmer, October, 6th-7th. Harvest Day (Erntedankfest), which for the Germans is a religious holiday, the fortified church is adorned with fruit, food and wheat ears. A bread big as a car-wheel is placed on the altar. The big branch lights of the church and the inside walls of the fortress are adorned with grapes, pumpkins and branches of apple trees and golden clusters. After the religious ceremony, the villagers, dressed in their traditional costumes walk from house to house and give away fruit. The children, after leaving the church, climb up on the fortress and sing German songs with joy and devotin.
- The Farsang it takes place every mid February, before the Easter fast, in Apata, Prejmer and Bârsa Land. This Hungarian version of Mardi Gras is 200 years old, borrowed by the Hungarians from neighboring Saxons, marking the beginning of the Easter Fast. During the celebration, young men who are eligible for military service wear masks of bears, wolves, gypsies, chimney sweeps, bridegrooms, brides, doctors, fortune tellers or fantastic characters and ride through town on horseback. Then, they present a tableau vivant on which they put a miniature reed-roofed house, inside of which is a wheel with two puppets sitting on it - boy and girl - in traditional Hungarian costumes. Horses are trimmed with ribbons, sticks, and paper flowers, and the parade of men and horses goes through the village, knocking on gates and entering all houses to chase away the evil spirits.
The tradition has changed somewhat over the years, and today the gathering is mostly in the village square with, thin, crepe-like pancakes served, and ending with the 'Farsâng' Ball (a very scaled down version of Mardi Gras!).
- Shooting the rooster - first day of Easter in Apata, Barsa Land. The 'Shooting of the Rooster' is a tradition within the Hungarian community of Tara Bârsei performed on the first day of Easter. The origin of the tradition is based on a local legend of a Tartar invasion in the 14th Century that forced villagers to take refuge in the fortress. The invaders were retreating after having destroyed the village, but they heard the crowing of a rooster from the fortress. This gave away villagers hiding inside, and the fortress was attacked. The remaining villagers shot the rooster for his betrayal. Shooting the Rooster has become a symbol of the village's survival. Today, the custom continues after church on Easter Day with children dressed in folk costumes carrying a very specific style of hand carved bows and arrows. Gathering at a central point in the village, a brass band leads a parade through town, to the old fortress, about a 20 minute walk. The children recite a story about the occasion, and when given the signal, release their arrows at a target with a drawing of a rooster.
- The fortress festival at Rupea - September, the 24th /October, the 1st at Rupea, on the plateau nearby the Rupea Fortress. The Fortress Festival started in 1968 and became a tradition, having been celebrated by the town of Rupea every year ever since, except the first two years after the Revolution in 1989. In 2006, the 36th edition of the festival was held. Before the actual start of the festival, symposia and popular art exhibitions take place. In the morning of the first day of the festival a traditional costume parade takes place, parade of the songs and traditional customs from various regions of the country. The local folk hang traditional handmade towels at the windows. In the centre of the village a stage is placed for the show Ancient fortresses of Romania. After the parade, the representatives of the fortresses are received in the centre of the village by the mayor, each of them handing in, as a present, the marks of the fortress they represent (a key, traditional handmade tablecloths). The Festival of the Fortress is then declared open. Artistic ceremonies take place afterwards which include songs and popular dances performed by bands from different folkloric areas, representatives of other minorities included, (Germans, Hungarians, Gypsies). The festival ends with the march of all fortress representatives under torch light and fireworks.
- Fagaras days - Folk arts and crafts fair - August, 17th -20th, downtown Fagaras city. A folk arts and crafts fair at the Fagaras citadel featuring folklore and crafts from the area. Craftsmen from all over the country show a large range of products including pottery and icons, wooden tables and traditional costumes.
- "CASCAVEA" Festival - 16 -17 September at Doftana Valley Parish, Prahova County. Cascavea Festival is a rustic party where the authentic producers present their products and fill the wooden tables and the flowered towels counters with "cascavea" (a variety of smoked cheese whose recipe is known only by the inhabitants), cottage-cheese, soft cottage cheese, egg-cheese chunk, grills of mutton salt meat, grilled minced meat rolls, corn mush boiled in clay cast-iron kettles, snack jars, but also with traditional wines and plum brandy. In addition to the astounding flavors and fiddlers, the "cascavea" is celebrated with the professional contest of the dairy producers and the top of the most beautiful cows. This contest of bovine beauty is one of the festival's attractions.
- The Wine Festival in Valea Calugareasca, 29th - 30th September. The idea of organizing a Wine Festival at Valea Calugareasca is not fortuitous. The city is the most important national centre of production and research in viticulture field in Prahova, being situated in the middle of the viticulture region "Dealu Mare", also named "the land of red wines". This is where premium wines such as: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Feteasca Neagra, Pinot Noir are produced. The festival reunites, besides the grape vine growers from all over the country, other producers of fruits, vegetables, flowers, bee products and of course, the never failing popular craftsmen with wooden, willow, clay products. Famous Romanian interpreters of popular music, folkloric choirs, teams of popular, modern and even sport dance perform on the festival's scene.
- The Folk Artisans Fair, takes place yearly between the 6th and the 8th of September in Târgoviste, Dâmbovita county. Gathered in Targoviste, the folk artists from all the country present their merchandises manufactured in a traditional way. At the same time they perform live demonstrations in front of the public in order to present the work of their hands, unique products made of ceramics, wood, cloths, and forged iron. Also they paint icons on wood or glass and make pieces of willow knitting.
- The International Festival of Vineyard and Wine - Vrancea region is the first wine reservoir of Romania and that was the reason for establishing in 1992 a representative manifestation, designed to help exhibitors take advantage of the opportunities created by changes in market conditions. The competition has become increasingly popular each edition, over 252 sorts of wine from 28 producers competed in 1996.
In the framework of this festival there are several sections such as "The Show Room of Vineyard and Wine", "Specialized information session for wine producing and viticulture activities" and "Cultural events with vineyard theme" - painting exhibitions, folk concerts, launching of books, poetry and limericks contest.
- Stuffed Cabbage Festival - every month of September in Praid, Harghita county. The International Stuffed Cabbage Festival is a unique event, specifically connected to the locality. Praid is a small village,50 miles away from Sighisoara, located at the border of Harghita and Mures Counties, at the feet of Gurghiului Mountains. The Festival takes place in autumn, probably because of the harvesting of cabbages. The event has a 12 years background, starting with a conference focused on rural tourism, which took place on Praid; the idea of organizing a festival of cabbages was proposed by Mr. Alexandru Mironov, formal Youth and Sports Minister. He suggested founding a gastronomic event, where local and regional and foreign participants have the opportunity to compete on traditional cooking. The program includes performances of folk dance, folk musicians and a classical music concert, organized at the chapel of the famous salt mine in Praid.
- Sheep milking festival - every month of April, Maramures region. Families with sheep band together around their shepherd every spring for a festival they call a "Stîna" (pronounced stuh-nah). On the day of the stîna, the shepherds begin corralling their flock as they wait for the families to join them. Families take their children out of school for the day. It's a recognized holiday,though it's a different day for each shepherd. The head males of each family position themselves in front of the pens. Assistants wait inside the pens with the sheep. Each man carefully digs a hole for his bucket, then stakes it in place with specially whittled sticks. Spilling the milk would be a mini-disaster. When everyone is ready, and all the sheep are loaded, and the bleating has reached its highest pitch, someone gives the signal to go. The sheep leap forward, thinking they're finally free of those claustrophobic pens. But not so fast! Men grab their legs and haul them into position. After the first sheep get milked dry, the rest of them seem to get the idea, and things go more easily. The sheep seem to be mouthing: 'Ahhh, at last..." Each family has a different number of sheep in the flock, and each sheep gives their own amount of milk. When all their sheep are milked, they begin the weighing. They pour the milk in a wooden barrel, then stick a knife in a graduated stick. When the knife blade just shows above the surface of the milk, the measurement is called out. One community member is selected as a scribe, and he takes down each measurement. As the weighing continues, others start making cheese out of the milk. First rennet, the lining of sheep's stomachs, is added to begin coagulating the cheese.After time has passed, volunteers squish the curds together with their hands. They strain them into cheesecloth.(So that's why they call that stuff cheesecloth!) Then they hang the bundle up to dry. The whey will drip into a pot to feed their dogs. This will make what they call Cas (Kahsh): a dried sheep's milk cottage cheese. (Not like feta at all.)
But wait! It's not over yet.They pour the remaining whey into a cauldron and boil it. This will make 'Urda,' a even more fattening and yummy version of the sheep cottage cheese. Meanwhile, the priest is having a service to bless the sheep. The blessing is meant to help keep them safe from disease and wolves. Once the cheese is underway, and the service done, the women begin unfurling their carefully packed picnics. And as they'll tell you, all's well that ends in a party.
- Spring plowing festival in may at Hoteni in Maramures - The old-timers say every village used to have a First Plowman's festival, or Tanjaua (also spelled Tinjaua). But now only the village of Hoteni keeps up the tradition and reporters and tourists come from every corner of the world to watch the show.
- Sânziene - Midsummer Festival - In Maramures - in around June 24 "Sânzienele" are love fairies as well as fertility fairies. But there is also a species of yellow flowers bearing this name used in many occult rituals. Sânzinelor Celebration takes place on June 23, at night, just before midsummer. That day, people pick flowers and make circlets they use to adorn the gates, windows and the eaves of their houses. This practice is supposed to protect them against all evil. Unmarried girls use these flowers to be lucky in love - put under the pillow that very night, the flowers make any girl have a dream of her chosen one.
- Maramusical Festival in Botiza (July) - The town of Botiza is well known for their annual music festival. Up in the valley, away from the worst of the heat, lies the town of Botiza. It's a big place by village standards, but in many ways still retains a small village feel.Every summer they host what's been come to be known as the Maramusical Festival. The actual weekend changes from year to year, but it's published in the guidebooks and promoted by the local Agroturism houses (rural bed and breakfast establishments). True to their word, they had a festival this year, but sadly, the tourist musicians from France outnumbered the local musicians. It has become a sort of 'Maramusical Franchese.'
- Moisei Pilgrimage for Saint Mary (15-th of August) - Every year on the 15th of August, pilgrims come from all over Maramures to Moisei, the monastery choosen for Saint Mary's Pilgrimage. Virgin's pile out of transports and don their colors for the final leg of their journey.For over a day without let up the crowds streamed up the road toward the Moisei monastery. Inside the grounds, people stream past tables where monks and laypeople sell blessings and candles.And elsewhere families jockey for camping position on the ground. Prayers began in daylight by the wall of the old monastery. One table of candles are for the living, the other is for the dead. As the night wears on, women begin doing their 'penances' for bad deeds, or for large prayer, such as a cure for a loved one. The larger the prayer, the more humiliating the penance. Crawling had to be done on elbows and knees -- no hands allowed. When dawn finally came, people stirred and prepared for a second day. Sermons break out all over, and more blessings are asked for and received. Each village's virgins gather in the forest outside the gates, then their songs begin and don't stop... ... until they've marched three times round the monastery's church.
- Hora de la Prislop - traditional celebration of ties among Romania's three main regions: Transylvania, Moldavia and Maramures; villagers parade in traditional costume to Carpathian Mountains pass, then participate in traditional "hora" dances, singing and feasting.Prislop Pass (every year in August).
- Sighetu Marmatiei Artisan's Fair - a Maramures crafts extravaganza where you can admire the skills of local artisans and take home some of the hand-made traditional artifacts(September the 10th).
- Festival of Folk Music, Dance and Traditions in Dumbravita - Discover this region of the country with its unique way of life, where history is written more on wood than on paper and traditions carefully preserved along the years. Join in the folk celebrations and dance to the sounds of the "ceteras' (traditional violin player). Afterwards, enjoy delicious local foods prepared fresh in the village(November 12, in Dumbravita village, 7 km from Baia Mare).
- The Festival of Christmas Traditions in Targu Lapus - On the last Sunday before Christmas, the downtown area of the city comes alive with villagers from Tara Lapusului and Tara Chioarului parading in their traditional colorful costumes and caroling their way to the Performing Arts Center. There, more dances and staged performances will take place(December 18).
- Sighetu Marmatiei Festival of Christmas Traditions "Marmatia" - This festival is a celebration of the local winter customs and traditions. The city is hosting a series of Christmas-themed events: caroling, dance performances, fairground rides, costumes and masks parades. It is a wonderful, friendly, and fun way to immerse yourself in the local traditions(December 22nd - 28th).
- Sighetu Marmatiei, Maramures Craftsmen's Fair
- The Maramures Craftsmen's Fair is the region's most extensive and celebrated winter folk-arts event. Local craft makers will display their unique artifacts and will invite you to share the magic of craft making in several workshops(December the 27th).
- "The Chestnut Festival" - Rivers of wine, grape-must and beer flow in the town centre; numerous parties; and on this special occasion, the capital city of Maramures reveals its precious "treasure" of sweet chestnuts. (Baia Mare, 28 - 30 September 2007).
- The Harvest Day Festival in Râmeti - 15 miles away from Sighetu Marmatiei. Autumn harvesting is celebrated across the country with traditional festivals - many of them tracing their roots couple hundreds years ago. Remeti village, in the rich ethnographic region of Maramures, celebrates the harvest in October with folk dances and rituals. (October 17)
- Cluj Musical Autumn - every month of September in Cluj-Napoca. Founded in 1955, Cluj State Philharmonic is one of the most important symphonic orchestra in Romania and with a well established international renown. Has been successfully in tours around the Europe and has participated in very important festivals in Lucerna, Bucuresti, Torino, Varsovia, Istanbul, Santander, Strasbourg, Bratislava, Berlin and Interlaken.
From 1965 Cluj State Philharmonic is organizing every year, in September, his own festival "Toamna Muzicala Clujeana" who is one of the most significant musical events in Romania. Prestigious musicians around the Europe gladly participate in this event like The King's Consort, Schubert Ensemble, Philharmonic Quartet from Vienna, Russian conductor Misha Katz, etc.
- Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF), it starts on the last week end every month of May, in Cluj-Napoca. Romanian Film Promotion was founded in 2001 and wants to promote young filmmakers, organize a feature film festival, help distribution and promotion of the European cinema, organize seminars and conferences about film production and distribution, educate young generation's taste for good cinema. (for more infos click on www.tiff.ro)
- Mount Gaina Maidens Fair - In Sunset Mountains (Apuseni) - The closest Sunday to July 20. Climbing this mountain is a test.The Fair on Mount Gaina was a place where families who had marriageable girls and boys used to meet in order to arrange the weddings. Legend has it that fairies all over the world once decided to have a castle built in the Apuseni Mountains, so they brought along a magic hen that layed golden eggs. Once a year the fairies would give those eggs to couples who really loved each other.
This festival is an event that gathers craftsmen, traditional costumes, traditional dances and songs from four districts: Tara Motilor, Bihor, Arad and Hunedoara. Women playing the alpenhorn from Avram Iancu, renown all over Europe, launch the call to open the festival every year. You will see that, even if it appears a rather primitive instrument, a chopped piece of wood, the alpenhorn produces wonderful sounds, provided that you know how to handle it. You shall see by yourself that this is not an easy task at all.
- The Hayfest (Fanfest) every month of August in Rosia Montana. More than 40 artists representing the best bluegrass music from around the globe!
Fân Fest is the indoor music festival of the year featuring performances by the industry's top performers on four stages including the Fân Fest Main Stage, Master's Workshop Stage, Roots & Branches Stage, and the Grand Masters Fiddler Championship. A 100 + booth Exposition Hall, scores of jam sesions and more! The festival takes place in Apuseni Mountains, in a village called Rosia Montana and is a mass protest meeting against the international mining development projects, that will seriously affect the enviroment. (for more details regarding Hayfest click on www. fanfest.ro; for more infos on the mining projects click at www.povesteadevarata.ro).
- The Sighisoara Medieval Festival - You will discover today that an old medieval citadel is the ideal place for a festival! From Brasov we drive across the beautiful Saxon area with exquisite houses and fortified churches and arrive in Sighisoara, the most beautiful, best preserved and still inhabited Citadel in Europe. The medieval festival in Sighisoara is one of the largest in Romania, with more than 20 000 attendants. Stages are set in every plaza of the citadel. There are theatre shows, concerts on all stages. Amateurs set their on acts in every corner. Painters and sculptors expose their works on the ground, body painters offer their services and people wear fantastic costumes.The Citadel remained a 'magic shelter' for the lovers who want to protect themselves against the indiscreet eye and hide in the narrow streets or in the "Pupils' Covered Stairs". (29th to 31st of July)
- The medieval Festival in Sibiu - the last week end of August. The knights of Transylvania meet for tournaments, princesses and witches strive to charm them, actors, tumblers, musicians and dancers are trying to enchant the audience, each showing his/her own mastery. The city of Sibiu play its role medieval role very well, and this is why it was been chosen as the European Capital in 2007.
- ASTRA Film Festival, Sibiu - Held every two years, ASTRA Film Festival brings together documentary filmmakers from all over the world. Documentaries entered in the four sections of the competition - International, East European, Romanian, and Student Film - can be enjoyed along photography exhibitions and visual anthropology workshops (October 23rd -28th).
- ASTRA Museum - Annual Pottery Fair at Sibiu (Târgul Olarilor), 02-03th of September in Sibiu. The Fair is one of the most prestigious events of the town, and was created to preserve and perpetuate the culture and value of traditional ceramics. The goal of the event is to present the evolution and the preoccupations of the potters and ceramics craftsmen, as well as the new features of the pottery schools in Romania. We must mention schools like Horezu, Vladesti, Oboga, Slatina, Baia Mare, Radauti, Marginea, Neamt, Hunedoara, Corund, Caras-Severin, Bihor etc and Sibiu. Craftsmen from all the regions in Romania come to this fair to present and sell specific products such as earthen pots, wooden spoons and dishes, wooden sculptures… which are a living proof of the craftsmen's talent and dedication to traditional art. Most of them are recognized nationally and some internationally. During the fair you can see the masters at work by participating in the craft workshops or choose to peruse the work on display in the exhibition section.
- Sheperds Meeting on Mount Jina - From Sibiel we drive to Mount Jina to witness a more traditional festival. The shepherds around Sibiu are ready to party and have already put the "Balmos" on the fire (absolutely delicious traditional food). They have whistled the gathering on Mount Jina, where legend says that Romanians sheltered from invaders, guided by fairies and "haiduci" (outlaws). According to tradition, the shepherds meet on Mount Jina to organize contests of milking the sheep, clip the wool, making cheese and balmosh. You won't feel in a Romania medieval tour of but actually live medieval times! You're Romania travel will be well reworded. The most skilful leather dressers come to Jina. They are renowned for the doublets and sheepskin coats they make. Preserve the rustic atmosphere in the afternoon drive to Sibiu to visit the open-air Village Museum. Travel to Arad for accommodation.
- Cheese and Brandy Festival, 8-9th of September in Rasinari village.
The cheese & brandy are typical regional products. Villages as Rasinari, Poiana, Jina and Saliste are well-known for their "lamb growing" traditions. "Regional specialties made from local products - cheese & brandy for the gourmands", this is the main topic of the festival. The participants offer regional specialties listed in a separate menu, with an accent and focus on cheese and brandy products with a local origin. The note of origin of the products will be mentioned and the participants will guarantee for them.
The tourists and the visitors have the opportunity to see, taste or eat local products and local gastronomy surrounded by a unique landscape. They also have the opportunity to see how local dishes are being made, to listen to folk music and to see folk shows. The "Cheese and brandy festival" promotes the offer of our entire region. There are many producers in this area that is why this festival will boost economy and promote local products at the same time.
- Concert in the Cave - Românesti Cave - 40 miles away from Timisoara. Listening to Mozart, Vivaldi or Enescu in a concert hall is commonplace. Listening to a classical music concert in a cave is simply magical. Romania is one of the few countries in the world to organize such concerts. The fist one took place in 1984 and drew an audience of 600. Twenty two other concerts have been taking place since then. The Royal Danish Symphonic Orchestra, the Banat Philharmonic from Timisoara, and the State Philharmonic from Arad have performed here in the past. Entrance is free. (October the 23rd).
- Gura Humorului - 15 miles away from Suceava, National Film Festival (Toamna la Voronet).
This film festival got its name from the winning production of its first edition in 1981. Over time, more than 1000 short films have been screened during the event, some of the winning titles getting recognized at other major European film festivals(October 19-22).
- The International Film Festival in Constanta - Every first week in September, this festival brings together many famous national and international producers in its two sections: short film and movie. This event is organized by Constanta County Council and the Artis Foundation, in cooperation with the National Centre for Cinema and the European Movie Academy. The movies were watched in all the four halls of the Glandale multiplex cinema in Tomis Mall. This cinema has 700 seats and a high standards sound system. Another host for the film festival was Tomis Summer Theatre.
- Mamaia Pop Music Festival - This festival has a long tradition and is organized yearly, in the first days of September. It has three sections: performing, creation and songs (pop, pop-rock, dance and ethno-dance).
This event is broadcasted live on the National Television. It has a high budget (provided by its organizer Constanta County Council) and brings together the most important pop-music composers and artists. This Festival is considered to be one of the biggest cultural events in the country.
This festival is named after the resort of Mamaia, which is considered "the pearl of the Romanian coast". The beach of Mamaia resort has a length of 7 km and a width of 100-200 m, fine sand and the sun shines 10-12 hours/day. Near this resort there is a Holiday Center. This is a place that comprises traditions from all 40 Romanian counties. All the restaurants serve traditional dishes and fish. Other attraction points in Mamaia are: sailing on the Siutghiol Lake, swimming-pools, gardens, parks, cabarets, tele-gondola, Aqua Magic.
- Stufstock (Stuf - Romanian for reed - and stock from Woodstock) is a rock music festival that has taken place each year since 2003 in Vama Veche, Dobrogea, Romania, to protest against what some people may consider bad quality music (i.e. manele and Romanian pop music), and to call for the preservation of Vama Veche from the large scale development that has overtaken much of Romania's Black Sea coast.
These actually had the reverse effect: the village stopped being a small, clean and quiet place, as the festival and concerts attracted more than 40,000 people in 2005. The concert features bands from Romania and nearby countries.
- The Festival of Popular Traditions
The festival involves complex expressions, The Fair of Popular Artisans - the 30th edition, the pavilion exhibition "Oltenian Potery between history and evolution", folkloric performances sustained by groups of professionals and amateurs from Oltenia and from all over the country, other groups of pupils and pre-schools from the city and the county, suites of Romanian traditional costumes, the week of Oltenian cuisine and wine, as well as scientific demonstrations consecrated to the values of Oltenian ethno-cultural patrimony, meaning a session of dissertations, round tables, competitions on ethnographic themes.
The national character of this reunion of Romanian talent and spirit will be accomplished by an international participation through the presence of some popular artisans and folkloric groups from Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, The Republic of Moldavia, Greece, Italy.



















 
 
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Maramures - 2 days tour
Bucovina - 2 days tour
Maramures & Bucovina tour
Country life in Maramures
Dracula tour !!!
Brasov-Sinaia-Bran-Prejmer

  Outgoing - Excursii elevi
Circuite elevi in Cluj
Circuite elevi in tara
Hiking the Retezat Mountains
Hiking the Southern Carpathians
   
 

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