They may not celebrate Halloween in Romania, but it seemed
appropriate to mention the home of Count Dracula this month.
Transylvania is known for its “beyond the forest”
mystery and medieval castles. There are still plenty of
Halloween
tours in the
region, but as this
Guardian article reveals,
many Romanians have come to dread the D-word.
Bram Stoker said the region was “one of the wildest and least known parts of Europe”, which may very well still be
true, but there is more to Transylvania than vampires and spooky castles.
The Real Transylvania is full of historical buildings, fortresses,
churches and ancient architectural wonders, reminders of the Middle
Age invasions and conflicts that battered the area. This ethnically diverse region is also home to
Sibiu, the first Eastern European city to be declared a European
Capital of Culture (for 2007). There may be more ski resorts, health spas and art museums than in the past, but I’m
sure some of the mystique will always remain.