Transylvania comes from the Latin expression -Trans Silva- which means -Country beyond the forests- due to the dense forests that were covering the mountains that surrounded this area so important for Romania and even a part of Europe. It is one of the Romanian medieval provinces, with a difficult past, the formation point of the Romanian people, last but not least, an important cultural and economic center of the country. It is located inside the Carpathian Mountains and it represents an area rich in natural and historical objectives.
The history of the area dates from the Stone Age, together with the first discoveries of human remains and settlements.
Later, throughout the Middle Ages and in the modern period of the XIXth and XXth centuries, Transylvania continued to be a promoter of culture and a very important economic factor, both for itself, but most of all for the Romanians who lived in the other two Romanian provinces Wallachia and Moldova. Because of its economic importance and its natural riches, Transylvania has been, since the Middle Ages, when all these economic objectives had a great significance, a strategic objective for the neighbour populations. Thus, since the year 1000, the Hungarians entered Transylvania and conquered it after battles held with the Romanian population.
An important touristic attraction associated with Transylvania is the legend of Count Dracula. The legend speaks about the existence, in Transylvania at the beginning of the Middle Ages, of a prince – a bitter enemy of the Turks. Left for the battlefield, his enemies spread the news that he had been killed. His wife heard the news and, overcome by pain, committed suicide. Back from the battlefield, the prince found his wife dead and furious about God, he made a pact with the devil, becoming an immortal vampire, forever searching in every woman the figure and soul of his beloved wife.
This legend has its roots in old Romanian history where there was a prince named Vlad Dracul(the Devil), also called by the people Vlad Țepeș(the Impaler), because he used to punish his enemies or those who committed small crimes by impalement. This is why in a short time, travellers could walk safely on the roads of Wallachia without being afraid that they will be robbed by bandits. Vlad the Devil was also an irreconcilable enemy of the Turks and their fearsome opponent, many times preventing, both by his own forces and by military alliances, the entering of the Ottomans towards Central Europe.
Transylvania offers by the multitude and variety of the tourist recreational areas that it has, a highly attractive alternative to spend your holidays, being, at the same time, an amazing experience through which you will discover unique places in the world, legends and stories that will leave you breathless, delicious food and good wines, high mountains especially made for climbing, bungee-jumping or rafting, but above all you will have the privilege to travel through a legendary and famous land, not so much by Bram Stocker’s stories, as through the millennial history and beauty of these places that if you will not step on, you will never understand why those who came and stayed for a while never left or returned here regularly.
Transylvania is by far the most romantic Romanian province. Even its name evokes images of mountain peaks raising into the sky above the wooded valleys and crystal clear creeks, images of small wooden churches with high roofs, images of legendary castles and memories of a stormy history.
But here you can discover many more interesting places: winter sports resorts and treatment, paths for hiking in the mountains and the National Park Retezat, fascinating medieval cities, art museums and quality hotels.
