The Fagaras Mountains, in the centre of Romania, form part of the Carpathians and stretch for some 75km (47mi) south of the main Brasov-Sibiu road.
May 5, 2006 (Press Release) --
Fagaras Mountains
The Fagaras Mountains, in the centre of Romania, form part of the Carpathians and stretch for some 75km (47mi) south of the main Brasov-Sibiu road. The mountains are peppered with more than 40 glacial lakes, the highest of which is Lake Mioarele at 2282m (7484ft). The famed Trans-Fagarasan Highway cuts through the Balea Valley across the mountains from north to south, a mountain pass which is said to be the highest road in Europe. The Balea tunnel, cutting between Romania's highest mountains - Mount Negoiu (2535m; 8314ft) and Mount Moldoveanu (2543m; 8341ft) - is 845m (2771ft) long. The Fagaras Mountains offer the most spectacular hiking in the country, with well marked trails and an abundance of wildlife. The main drawback is the difficulty in getting there. The trailheads are 8km (5mi) to 15km (9mi) south of most train stations along the Brasov-Sibiu line, and the region is poorly serviced by bus. The main access point to the trails is Victoria, which you reach by getting off at the train halt 7km (4mi) north at Ucea. If you have a car, follow the Trans-Fagarasan Highway to Poienari Castle, just over the border in Wallachia. This was built for Vlad Tepes, and is regarded by Dracula buffs as the real McCoy. You climb 1480 steps to reach it from the side of a hydroelectric power plant below.
Scornicesti
Welcome to Nicolae Ceausescu's birthplace. Here in Wallachia, the dictator's Romania-wide systemisation scheme began in 1988, when villagers' homes were bulldozed and replaced by 10-families-to-a-kitchen apartment blocks. Afterwards, a gigantic football stadium was added to the concrete montage - a present from the president to his home town. Gee, thanks, Mr President! Amazingly enough, the bulldozers did not make their way to Ceausescu's childhood home which is now the main attraction here. It's at the northernmost end of the village and is not officially open to visitors - but the women in the kiosk opposite will sell you a 50 cents ticket, escort you down the path, and leave you to face the wrath of Ceausescu's sister who lives opposite. Act humble, and she'll invite you inside the two-room house where Ceausescu lived until the age of 11, when he moved to Bucharest to become an apprentice cobbler. Scornicesti is accessible only by car, west of the Pitesti-Craiova road.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
The Fagaras Mountains, in the centre of Romania, form part of the Carpathians and stretch for some 75km (47mi) south of the main Brasov-Sibiu road. The mountains are peppered with more than 40 glacial lakes, the highest of which is Lake Mioarele at 2282m (7484ft). The famed Trans-Fagarasan Highway cuts through the Balea Valley across the mountains from north to south, a mountain pass which is said to be the highest road in Europe. The Balea tunnel, cutting between Romania's highest mountains - Mount Negoiu (2535m; 8314ft) and Mount Moldoveanu (2543m; 8341ft) - is 845m (2771ft) long. The Fagaras Mountains offer the most spectacular hiking in the country, with well marked trails and an abundance of wildlife. The main drawback is the difficulty in getting there. The trailheads are 8km (5mi) to 15km (9mi) south of most train stations along the Brasov-Sibiu line, and the region is poorly serviced by bus. The main access point to the trails is Victoria, which you reach by getting off at the train halt 7km (4mi) north at Ucea. If you have a car, follow the Trans-Fagarasan Highway to Poienari Castle, just over the border in Wallachia. This was built for Vlad Tepes, and is regarded by Dracula buffs as the real McCoy. You climb 1480 steps to reach it from the side of a hydroelectric power plant below.
Scornicesti
Welcome to Nicolae Ceausescu's birthplace. Here in Wallachia, the dictator's Romania-wide systemisation scheme began in 1988, when villagers' homes were bulldozed and replaced by 10-families-to-a-kitchen apartment blocks. Afterwards, a gigantic football stadium was added to the concrete montage - a present from the president to his home town. Gee, thanks, Mr President! Amazingly enough, the bulldozers did not make their way to Ceausescu's childhood home which is now the main attraction here. It's at the northernmost end of the village and is not officially open to visitors - but the women in the kiosk opposite will sell you a 50 cents ticket, escort you down the path, and leave you to face the wrath of Ceausescu's sister who lives opposite. Act humble, and she'll invite you inside the two-room house where Ceausescu lived until the age of 11, when he moved to Bucharest to become an apprentice cobbler. Scornicesti is accessible only by car, west of the Pitesti-Craiova road.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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