Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Raiffeisen Bank (B-dul Basarabilor 31; 8.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri) One of several
ATMs on B-dul Basarabilor. This one is next to the Hotel Posada, 100m south of the mon-
astery complex.
Getting There & Away
The main bus station is near the town centre, on a side street about 200m west of Pensiun-
ea Ruxi. Cities served include Bucharest (30 lei, two to three hours, four daily) and
Braşov (30 lei, three hours, one daily). Frequent maxitaxis to Arefu (4 lei, 40 minutes)
also leave from the main bus station. Other maxitaxis go to and from Piteşti (to the north-
ern suburb of Bascov) from an unofficial maxitaxi stop in front of the Princely Court en-
trance.
Rail services have been greatly curtailed and trains are not recommended.
THE 'REAL' DRACULA'S CASTLE
Many castles across Romania claim a connection (dubious or otherwise) to the notorious former Wallachian
prince Vlad Ţepeş (1431-76), aka 'Vlad the Impaler' or, better yet, 'Dracula'. But few claims are as legit and well
documented as this evocative pile of rocks standing atop a mighty crag just 30km north of Curtea de Argeş, near
the village of Căpăţânenii.
The Poienari Citadel (Cetatea Poienari; Poienari; adult/child 5/2 lei; 9am-6pm Jun-Aug, 9am-5pm May
& Oct; ) was once a powerful fortress guarding the entry to a strategic pass linking Wallachia with
Transylvania. The castle's vantage point was recognised as early as the 13th century, when Wallachian leaders
first built a tower to guard the pass. Two centuries later Vlad Ţepeş enlarged the castle, using it as both a fortress
and a prison. Legend has it most of the work was carried out by captured Turks.
These days there's not much of the castle left to see, but it's still worth the short trip north from Curtea de Argeş
to take in the spectacular setting and to make the invigorating climb (1480 steps) to the top. The entrance to the
citadel lies just at the start of the towering Transfăgărăşan Road ( Click here ), so it's an especially easy stopover
if you're planning on crossing the mountains here.
If you've got a few days, the area around the citadel is lovely. About 4km south of the citadel, the village of
Arefu retains a special untouched-by-time charm. It's allegedly inhabited by descendants of the minions who
served Vlad Ţepeş, a point of pride the villagers still boast about to this day. About 1km north of the fortress lies
the massive artificial Lake Vidraru, which was dammed in the 1960s to feed a hydroelectric power plant.
The surrounding villages are teeming with pensions and homes displaying cazare (accommodation) signs. In
Căpăţânenii, 1km south of Poienari, Pensiunea Dracula (
0745-473 381; www.pensiuneadracula.ro ;
Căpăţânenii 190; r 100 lei;
) is a clean and well-run pension, whose owners really get into the Dracula
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