Romania - Eastern Europe - page 472

1 Getting to Know Romania
THE LAY OF THE LAND
Romania—just a bit smaller than the United Kingdom and roughly the size of the
state of Oregon—is situated in the southeastern part of central Europe, and is made
up, in roughly equal measures, of lowland, hilly, and mountainous terrain. It borders
Hungary and Serbia to the west, Moldova and the Ukraine to the north and east, and
Bulgaria to the south, with whom it shares, along with its northern neighbor Ukraine,
a slither of Black Sea coastline to the east. Forming much of the border with Bulgaria
and Serbia is the River Danube as it makes its way toward the Black Sea, where it
forms one of Europe's largest wetlands, the Danube Delta. Perpetually expanding, the
Delta is effectively increasing Romania's surface area; in the last 40 years, it has
expanded by almost 1,000 sq. km (390 sq. miles).
THE REGIONS IN BRIEF
About one-third of the country comprises the Carpathian Mountains, or “Transyl-
vanian Alps,” a soaring back-to-front Nike swish that separates Transylvania from the
country's two other main provinces, Wallachia, to the south, and Moldavia, to the
east. Through the centuries, these three historically distinct regions have been fought
over by invaders from all quarters, and they now make up the bulk of Romania, a uni-
fied nation for fewer than 100 years.
Transylvania has always been a great prize, ruled largely by the Hungarian Empire
and also settled by Saxon immigrants who came to protect it on behalf of the Hun-
garians. Here, along with splendid medieval villages centered on fortified churches, are
the country's most popular tourist destinations, located at the foothills of the
Carpathians. Wallachia was the first Romanian province to gain independence from
Hungary, and is known as the “Heart of Romania,” with the centrally located capital,
Bucharest, rapidly reestablishing itself in a bid to reclaim its former moniker as the
“Paris of the East.” Moldavia, which once included Bessarabia (which now makes up
parts of the Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova), was another former Hungarian
principality, which achieved independence in the mid-14th century. Known pri-
marily for its beautiful painted monasteries, Moldavia's sylvan scenery is a backdrop
for rural villages trapped in time and imbued with great folkloric traditions.
Even better known for its ancient village life is the small region of Maramure @ , in
the northern part of Transylvania on the border with the Ukraine. Here, the sublime,
unspoiled scenery shelters stunning wooden churches and a bucolic way of life. Occu-
pying the western fringe of the country are Cri @ ana and Banat, former Austro-Hun-
garian strongholds that now border Hungary and Serbia respectively. Overdevelopment
has blighted the Black Sea coastal resorts of the easternmost region of Northern
Dobrogea, so much so that vacation bookings fell by about 50% in 2006, many sun-
seekers heading instead to the pristine coast of Croatia. Visitors still seeking a coastal
sojourn should make for the Danube Delta where the unique wetland ecosystem is
emerging as an enchanting destination.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY: ROMANIA IN 10 TO 12 DAYS
The following itinerary can be adapted according to your preferences. For example,
you can skip the Delta, or Maramure @ , if you'd prefer just exploring Romania's cities