Exploring the region

Transylvania - being part of the Hungarian Kingdom, independent later and part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 when it was integrated in Romania - was protecting Europe’s border from the Tatars and the Turks for centuries. It was the first country in the world to guarantee by law religious freedom (1568).

Due to the religious freedom, and the wars which have lessened its population Transylvania was an inviting environment for migration. Over history it has become a fascinating melting pot of nations and cultures. It has a rich Saxon, Hungarian (Szekler), Jewish, Armenian and Romanian cultural heritage.

Once visiting you will become fascinated by its true history, rich and diverse culture and the experience of being some kind of lost in time.

Depending on the season you might see „the cow parade” in the villages - the cows returning home from the meadows in the evening, see farmers working in the fields with traditional tools, horse carriages transporting hay on the streets and even attend a village festival ball.

Szekler Land
The eastern Carpathians is the traditional home of the Szekler (Székely), people who speak Hungarian and cherish a special historical identity in Transylvania. The Székely were considered the finest warriors of medieval Transylvania. The Székely have historically claimed descent from Attila's Huns, and feel that they played a special role in shaping the Hungarian Kingdom and Transylvania.

Explore the unspoiled woodlands of Szekler land, meet the woodcarvers and the village’s blacksmith, visit traditional workshops, see the totem poles in village graveyard, and visit ancient little churches with painted wooden ceilings, and discover the land of natural mineral waters.
Zabola is the oldest settlement of the Szekler Count Mikes family. This unique region offers medieval churches covered inside with frescoes, old manor houses of noblemen in ancient villages still throbbing with life.

Day 1

Lake St. Anna and surroundings

St. Ann’s lake is the only intact volcanic lake in Europe.  Enjoy a picnic at the lakeside and listen to the legend of St. Anna, a truly archaic tale about how the lake was filled with tears of virgin girls. The rare Mohos peat bog can be found right next to the lake.  Local guides will accompany you to explain the unique flora and fauna which has survived here since tens of thousands of years. There is also the possibility to visit the sulphur caves in the nearby forest which provide an unforgettable sensory experience. Just like the Mikes ponds – basins of cold mineral water hidden in a pine tree forest of the estate. Here you can also sit in a „Mofeta” - a hut where you can „sit” in natural gas. The bear watch of the estate is also in the area - you can see the bears coming for diner every evening (seasonal).

Torja (Turia) village
You can visit the Baron Apor manor house with its beautiful inside renaissance fresceos.

The church of Gelence (Gilinta)
The 13th century painted church of Gelence. The frescoes tell the legend of King St. László, one of the holy kings of the Hungarian Kingdom. The wooden ceiling’s painted boxes are one of the prettiest examples of this unique tradition.  If you go at the right hour you can hear the village women singing their centuries old religious songs at the church.

Day 2

Horse carriage tour in Zabola village, rowing on the lake, drawing the bows.

Day 3

Kommandó (Commandau) village - have  coffee the local pub in this picturesque mountain village which in winter might be isolated for weeks from the rest of the world. Hiking tour to the meteorological station in Lakóca.

Csernáton (Cernat) village
The largest open air museum where traditional houses and agricultural tools/equipments are give you an insight into rural life of the villages in the past – and where you can still see traditional pottery made by young artists.

Csíkdánfalva (Danesti) village
The village has workshop where traditional black and red pottery is still made and right next to it a sewing workshop.

Day 5

The land of Saxons

The colonization of Transylvania by Germans (Saxons) was begun by King Géza II of Hungary in the 12th century. For decades, the main task of the Saxon settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the Kingdom of Hungary. The colonization continued until the end of the 13th century. For much of their history, the Saxons held a privileged status with the Hungarians and Szeklers of Transylvania and have a very rich cultural and architectural heritage.

The Transylvanian Saxon population has decreased since World War II. Due to mass emigrations — primarily to Germany — there is only a handful of them living still in their ancestral towns and villages.

Brasov City is one of the seven major Saxon towns of Transylvania.  With its charming architecture, traditional main place surrounded with sheer mountains. Its famous black church hosts the largest collection of medieval Transylvanian carpets. You can take a   cable car to the top of the  mountain and have a coffee in the panoramic restaurant.  On the way to Brasov, you will be able to visit the amazing fortified church in

Tartlau (Prejmer) and Herman.  These fascinating fortified churches used to house the population of an entire village during wartime.

Viscri and Saschiz are some of the most impressive of the Transylvanian old Saxon villages with old fortified churches on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In Saschiz Fundatia Adept run by Englishmen passionate about preserving the biodiversity of the region and a handful of young ones - descendants of the few Saxon families still resident in Transylvania.

Day 6

Castle Bran is one of the fascinating Saxon fortresses but its name has become synonymous with Count Dracula due to Bram Stork’s world famous novel. Listen to the guide to sort fact from fiction while visiting. Nearby the castle there is a reconstructed village with traditional houses, providing an insight into medieval village life.

After Bran you can as well visit Râsnov, the ruined fort of the Teutonic Knights founded around 1200 and which has a spectacular view on its surroundings.