Revolution Square, Bucharest

Timișoara

Timișoara: birthplace of the Revolution, Romania - May 2015

The Romanian Revolution started in the city of Timișoara and soon spread throughout the country,culminating in execution of longtime Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu, thus ending 42 years of Communist rule in Romania. It was also the last removal of a Communist regime in a Warsaw Pact country during the events of 1989, and the only one that violently overthrew a country's government and executed its leader.

The confrontations took place in what is now called Victory Plaza

Securitate sharpshooters took up position on top of the Opera House

Damage from the fighting

Memorial to the slain

Memorial to the slain

Maramureș

A cemetery famous for its colorful tombstones with naïve paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. Most of them are self-expanatory. It is quite the departure from the solemn cemeteries elsewhere.

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Bârsana is one of the bigger communes in Maramureş, and one of the most important villages in the valley of the Iza River. The church, which now stands on a small hill surrounded by an orchard, is one of the eight churches on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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An excellent, although sometimes difficult to see, memorial in the former political prison in center of the city of Sighetu Marmației. 

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Ethnography Museum, Sighetu Marmației

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Markets - Sighetu Marmației

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Săpânța Peri Monastery

The tallest wooden building in Romania

Bucovina

Perhaps the most famous and stunning of the painted monasteries is Voronet, founded in 1487 by Stephen the Great to celebrate a victory over the Turks. The composition of the paint continues to remain a mystery even now, more than 500 years after the church was built.

Portraits of ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato, are featured in the Tree of Jesus fresco.

Added in 1547, the frescoes of this church illustrate biblical scenes, prayers, episodes of sacred hymns and themes such as The Last Judgment and The Ladder of St. John, featuring colorful and imagery of apostles, evangelists, philosophers, martyrs, angels and demons.

Huneadoara

Hunedoara Castle in Hunedoara, Romania is one of the largest castles in Europe and dates to 1446. It was built mainly in Gothic style, but has Renaissance architectural elements. The castle is built on a rock above the river Zlaşti in southern Transylvania.

Ukraine Border

The border crossing at Sighetu Marmației, Romania and Solotvyno, Ukraine at the Tisa River.

Storks
Becicherecu Mic

Other places we visited...

Carpathian mountains

Dacian Roman Colony Ruins
Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa was the capital and the largest city of Roman Dacia. The city was destroyed by the Goths - today there is a partly preserved forum, an amphitheatre, and remnants of several temples.

Oravița-Anina Railway

The oldest railway in Romania, built in 1854 by the Austro-Hungarian empire to move anthracite coal. Although the train still runs daily, we were on a private open-air excursion - no way you could do this in the US.

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Rodnei mountains

Church in the Rodnei mountains

Church in the Rodnei mountains

Typical scenery

Bucharest

Parliament Building

Started by former dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu as the People's House, it has been renamed the Palace of the Parliament. It is the second largest building in the world (after the Pentagon). It now houses both chambers of the Romanian parliament. Many Romanians hate the building because of the relationship to Ceaușescu. Although it is hard to determine costs under the socialist accounting system, it is estimated to have cost the Romanian people over $3.5 billion. That said, it is quite impressive.

Click here for more of our photographs of the Romanian Parliament building

Revolution Square

Revolution Square (Romanian: Piaţa Revoluţiei) is located in central Bucharest on Calea Victoriei (Victory Street). Known as Palace Square until 1989, it was later renamed after the 1989 Romanian Revolution. The former Royal Palace (now the National Museum of Art of Romania), the Athenaeum, the Athénée Palace Hotel, the University of Bucharest Library and the Memorial of Rebirth are located here. The square also houses the building of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (from where Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife fled by helicopter on December 22, 1989). Having fought the Cold (and not so cold) War, it was nice to visit that spot.

University of Bucharest Library - statue of King Carol I, first king of Romania

The Athenaeum

Memorial of Rebirth

Former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party - the balcony above the flags is the venue of Ceauşescu's last speech

Click here for more of our photographs of Revolution Square

Palace of the Patriarchy

The Palace of the Patriarchy complex comprises the Palace of the Patriarchy, the Patriarchal Residence and the Patriarchal Cathedral. During the socialist years, it was used as the National Assembly.

The Palace

The Church of the Patriarch

The Church of the Patriarch

The Church of the Patriarch

The Church of the Patriarch

The Church of the Patriarch

The Church of the Patriarch

Residence of the Patriarch

Residence of the Patriarch

Residence of the Patriarch

Click here for more of our photographs of the Palace of the Patriarchy

Arcul de Triumf

Freedom of the Press Square - formerly the venue of the socialist propaganda office

Former Officers Club

Blending the new and old

Blending the new and old
This is the former Directia V Securitate (secret police) building - now the headquarters of the Romanian Architects’ Association

Art deco

Gypsies

Click here for more of our photographs of Bucharest

Transylvania

Carpathian Mountians

Carpathian Mountians

Carpathian Mountians

Brașov/Kronstadt

Brașov is the main city of Transylvania and probably the main destination for foreign tourists. It sits north of the Carpathian mountains and is home to some of Romania's cultural treasures. It was formerly home to a sizable German-speaking minority, the Transylvanian Saxons.

European Union, Romania, Transylvania, Brașov

The city name in Romanian, German and Hungarian

Standard Romanian kilometer marker

Entering Brașov - note wide clean streets, and the "socialist" architecture in this part of the city

Old town from Mount Tampa

Old city council square

What the locals call "the communist section"

Old city council hall

Old city council hall

Old city council hall

Old city council hall square

Old city council hall square - Mount Tampa in the background

Old city council hall square

Old city council hall square with the Black Church

The Black Church

The Black Church

The Black Church

The Black Church

The Black Church

The Black Church with the Citadel in the background, city walls in the foreground

City walls

The White Tower

The White Tower

The White Tower

The Caterina (Ecaterina) Gate

The Citadel above the city

The Citadel above the city

The Citadel above the city

City hall

City hall and the Post Office

Brasov county building on Revolution Square, honoring those who died in the 1989 overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu

County library

Church of Good News

Bank of Romania branch

Rector's Office

Former State Security (the dreaded "Securitate") branch

Synagogue

Czell Palace

Union Square and Saint Nicolae Cathedral (1495)

Union Square

Saint Nicolae Cathedral (1495)

Union Square and Saint Nicolae Cathedral

Saint Nicolae Cathedral

Saint Nicolae Cathedral

Saint Nicolae Cathedral cemetery

Saint Nicolae Cathedral cemetery

Saint Nicolae Cathedral cemetery

Saint Nicolae Cathedral cemetery

Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Council Square (1895)

Orthodox Church of the Assumption

Orthodox Church of the Assumption

Orthodox Church of the Assumption

Orthodox Church of the Assumption - baptism ceremony

Orthodox Church of the Assumption

Architecture

Pedestrian zone

Pedestrian zone

Click here for more of our photographs of Brașov/Kronstadt

Sighișoara/Schässburg

Sighiṣoara (German: Schässburg) dates back to the 13th century and is considered to be the most beautiful and well preserved inhabited citadel in Europe, with authentic medieval architecture.

Gate/tower

A photo for the Monterey paper - "Travels with Herald"

Tiled roof treatment

One of two clocks on the tower

One of two clocks on the tower

Another of the clocks on the tower

Another of the clocks on the tower

Another of the clocks on the tower

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral from the city hall

City hall

Citadel Square

Citadel Square

Citadel Square

Citadel Square

Citadel Square

Citadel Square

Tower on the citadel wall

City street

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral

Schnapps container

Click here for more of our photographs of Sighișoara/Schässburg

Sibiu/Hermannstadt

One of Transylvania's largest fortified cities, Sibiu was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania from 1849 to 1865, and was recently listed by Forbes as the 8th most idyllic place to live. It is located in the geographic center of Romania. The first official record referring to the Sibiu area comes from 1191, probably built near a Roman settlement. Sibiu became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German name Siebenbürgen (literally seven fortresses).

City hall and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church

Council tower

Council tower

Evangelical Cathedral of Saint Mary

Evangelical Cathedral of Saint Mary

Pedestrian zone

Lutsch Tower House (now a bank)

City coat of arms on the Lutsch Tower House

Hotel on the Large Square

Click here for more of our photographs of Sibiu/Hermannstadt

Prejmer/Tartlau

The Teutonic Knights constructed the fortress at Tartlau in 1212–1213 as part of their colonization of the Burzenland region. Prejmer was repeatedly invaded throughout the Middle Ages by various groups, including the Mongols, Tatars, Hungarians, Ottoman Turks, Cossacks, and Moldavians. The fortified church, one of the best preserved of its kind in Eastern Europe, is surrounded by a wall with four levels of granaries and rooms for the villagers. Tartlau was the easternmost settlement of the Transylvanian Saxons.

Four stories of family storerooms in case of seige/attack

Four stories of family storerooms in case of seige/attack

Church interior

As we were visiting, a group of young Germans from the former East Germany, part of a singing group that only sings religious works in English, broke into song in a church in the middle of Romania.

Folding altar

Interior of defense walls

Toilet in the wall

Click here for more of our photographs of Prejmer/Tartlau

Hărman/Honigberg

Another of the Transylvanian Saxon fortified churches, Honigberg dates back to the early 13th century. An unusual feature of this well-preserved fortification is the 15th-Century paintings in one of the defense towers/chapels.

Interior of defense walls

Church interior

Church interior

Family storerooms in case of siege/attack

Family storerooms in case of siege/attack

Storks

Paintings in one of the towers

Paintings in one of the towers

Paintings in one of the towers

Paintings in one of the towers

Paintings in one of the towers

Paintings in one of the towers

Click here for more of our photographs of Hărman/Honigberg

Râșnov/Rosenau

Râșnov (German/Saxon: Rosenau) is a citadel built around 1215 by the Teutonic Knights to defend the church and town below. It is located in Transylvania about 10 miles west of Brașov. In 2002, the Râșnov Citadel and surroundings were used during the shooting of several scenes from the American movie "Cold Mountain."

The "post card" photograph

Fortress seen from below

Defense tower

View south to the Carpathians

Defense tower and walls

Defense towers and walls

Click here to see more of our photographs of Râșnov/Rosenau

Bran/Törzburg Castle

Forget the Dracula fiction - the castle at Bran (German: Törzburg) was to protect the main toll collection station between Wallachia and Transylvania provinces.

Church in town

Click here to see more of our photographs of Bran/Törzburg Castle

Rupea/Reps

Rupea/Reps, Romania - a hilltop fortress built by the German Saxons in the 14th Century, in addition to the numerous fortified churches in the area. Rupea is on the highway between Brasov/Kronstadt and Sighisoara/Schassburg.

Saschiz/Keisd

Saschiz (German: Keisd) is a community of several villages in Transylvania, including Cloașterf (Klosdorf), Mihai Viteazu (Zoltendorf), Criţ (Deutschkreuz) and Saschiz (Keisd). The fortress on the hill served as common protection for all of them. The Keisd church (shown here) was built in 1493-1525, and the fortress was built starting in 1347 on the site of a Roman fortress protecting a road from Reps (Rupea) to Schassburg (Sighisoara).

Fortress

Defense tower beside church

Defense tower

Defense tower

Clock ringer on defense tower

Click here for more of our photographs of Saschiz/Keisd

Biertan/Birthälm

Biertan is one of the most important Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania. The village dates back as far as 1283, while the fortified church was built starting in 1468. It was the see of the Lutheran Evangelical Bishop in Transylvania between 1572 and 1867.

Note exterior and interior walls

Church tower

Defense tower

Defense tower

Defense tower view from the walls

Church interior

Church interior

Paintings in one of the towers

Click here for more of our photographs of Biertan/Birthälm

Ghimbav Orthodox Church

This is a new Orthodox church in Ghimbav, about five miles outside Brașov, Transylvania. Normally it is hard to photograph inside the churches, but when the caretaker saw my camera, he immediately showed me all the artwork and the best places to stand.

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church

The two saints over the front door

The old Orthodox Church and cemetery

The new Orthodox Church and cemetery

Click here for more of our photographs of the Ghimbav Orthodox Church

Poiana Braşov

Poiana Braşov is Romania's most popular ski resort, only about 10 miles outside Braşov. It is also home to the Romanian Olympic ski team training camp. In the summer, it is a cool alternative to Bucharest. So, in contrast to fortified churches, we visited a great resort.

This translates to "Outlaws' Hut" - a great restaurant and resort

Some bread

Canned vegetables - note carved vegetables

More canned vegetables - note carved vegetables

Even more canned vegetables - note carved vegetables

Lunch

Dessert

Click here for more of our photographs of Poiana Braşov

Peleș Castle, Sinaia

Peleș Castle is the palace of King Carol I of Romania, who was brought to Romania to be the King in 1866 - he was a Hohenzollern and brought his money with him. He financed the construction, valued at $125 million in today's dollars. It has 34,000 square feet and 170 rooms. The palace remained a royal family residence until King Michael was forced to abdicate by the Communists in 1947. The property was returned to him in 2006 - he has leased it to the government as a tourist attraction. It sits at the feet of the Carpathian mountains between Wallachia and Transylvania.

Statue of King Caol I - builder of the castle

The Carpathian mountains are to the north of the palace

Murals in the inner courtyard

The King's private study

Music room

Music room

Music room

Music room

Dining room

Click here for more of our photographs of Peleș Castle

Danube River

The Iron Gates Gorge on the Danube River forms part of the boundary between Romania to the north and Serbia to the south. It contains two hydroelectric dams and sets of locks, and separates the southern Carpathian Mountains from the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains.

Sunset on the Danube River where Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria meet

Fortress on the Serbian side at the north end of the Iron Gates

Remains of fortifications on the Serbian side

Iron Gates

The largest rock sculpture in Europe represents Decebalus, the last king of the Dacians,
who, according to legend, committed suicide after his defeat by the Romans in 106AD

The "Tabula Traiana" - a Roman memorial plaque four meters high and almost two meters wide, commemorating the completion of Trajan's military road is located on the Serbian side facing Romania near Ogradina. There bridge was destroyed later the prevent attacks from the north.

Locks and dam on the Danube River near Drobeta Turnu Severin

Click here for more of our photographs of the Iron Gates Gorge on the Danube River

Antonov AN-2 (COLT)

The Antonov An-2, named the COLT by NATO, but called the "Annushka" by the Russians, is a legendary aircraft - a huge fabric-covered biplane. This AN-2T, Romanian registration YR-PBU (c/n 1G215-22) was built in Poland and is used primarily to drop sport parachutists. It was also the star of an airshow in Ghimbav, the site of a former Romanian aircraft industries factory that built the venerable MiG-21 for the Warsaw Pact. How often do you get this close to a legend? 

Click here for more of our photographs of the legendary Antonov An-2

Rick with two Romanian lovelies at the Ghimbav airshow

Ploesti

Pronounced ploy-ESHT - founded in 1596. The world's first large refinery opened at Ploieşti in 1856-1857, with US investment. Since the refineries here provided a signigicant amount of oil products to the German military, it was bombed by the US Army Air Forces repeatedly from 1942 to 1944.

Refinery

Pipelines in the sunflower fields

Pipelines in the sunflower fields

Click here for more of our photographs of Ploesti