Transylvania Living Legends

One gaze on the stunning Carpathian Mountains tells you why Transylvania is the most magical and beautiful place to visit.The forests are home to bears, wolves and lynx as well as roe and red deer, wild boar and a myriad of smaller animals. Raptor birds such as owls, buzzards and eagles and beautiful woodpeckers and kingfishers, and the rare black storks are just some of the feathered inhabitants. From May onwards the meadows are ablaze with wild flowers and medicinal and culinary herbs, and from July the diverse mushrooms including chanterelles, and wild blue berries, raspberries and strawberries are abundant for harvest.

Transylvania is considered the heart of Romania, and its turbulent history is reflected in its wide range of architectural styles which include Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Byzantine, to name but a few. There are medieval towns, fortified churches where the entire town could shelter against invaders, castles and monasteries dating back to 14C. And of course the legendary castle at Bran which was the inspiration for the novel Dracula.

In Transylvania you will find many different cultural groups and a tapestry of costumes, celebrations and folk dances. There are festivals which mark the Christian calendar as well as older pastoral festivals such as the 'milk measuring', 'ploughmans festival', the gathering of medicinal herbs on 24 June, and celebrations of harvest and the return of the shepherds from the mountain pastures; there are seasonal fertility dances and also masked dances at New Year.

The gipsy groups contribute their fast moving intricate dances as well as talks on their history and customs. The moment you see two beech trees from the forest being planted outside a house, you know it is the house of the bride for a forthcoming wedding. Transylvania has something for everyone, both rural and city, both nature and culture. Above all it is stress free as you take time out in a new landscape with welcoming and hospitable people. Time just to be and to allow your life to transform itself. Time for creativity and inspiration.

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