In the footsteps of Queen Marie of Romania A 12 night escorted tour of Romania & Bulgaria 4th June to 16th June 2018 Fortress, Alba Iulia Monastery, Curtea de Arges Veliko Tarnovo Sibiu

e are delighted to offer this new escorted tour through Romania and Bulgaria which has been devised Wby our popular Tour Manager, and Romanian native, Rodica Ghiserel. Rodica is thrilled to be leading this tour and looks forward to sharing with you the history and culture of this fascinating region as well as her insights into the life of British born Queen Marie of Romania. This promises to be a unique journey through areas relatively untouched by mass tourism and we will stay in the best available hotels in the region.

Foreword by Tour Manager, Rodica Ghiserel “I was barely 17 when I came to you. I was young and ignorant, but very proud of my native country, and even now I am proud to have been born an English woman… but I bless you, dear Romania, country of my joy and grief, the beautiful country which has lived in my heart” (Queen Marie of Romania) “Listening often to talks about Sissy, Emperor Franz Joseph’s wife I could not help thinking about the impressive, unique woman that Marie was and, whilst guiding tours around Romania, I came to realise that people are very interested in the powerful, beautiful women of this world. As a Romanian, I have known since my childhood about our beloved queen and, in my heart and mind, she has always been present. She was called Missy. Queen, mother, lover, writer, warrior, the strong woman behind the throne. Her awareness and love for the two countries, her native - England - and her adoptive – Romania, developed her above her own expectations and destiny brought her from Britain to Romania, a country she devoted her heart to. She became the leading light during World War I and after. She took charge of improvised hospitals and cholera camps and was called the “people’s queen” and “mother of the wounded”. Her diplomatic skills made her a valued negotiator in internal politics and she lobbied internationally for Romania after the war. Her missions were important – to persuade the leaders of international conferences and impress upon them the validity of Romania’s claims. She returned with the Grand Cordon of the Legion d’Honneur from President Poincare. She was a strong, determined, independent woman in a male dominated court and Romanians still love her today. Hers is a long story, full of love, tragedies and politics. The last king of Romania – Michael (Maria’s grandson) is still alive, his wife – Anne of Bourbon – SLOVAKIA died on 1st August 2016 and was buried in the royal necropolis from Curtea de Arges Monastery which we will visit on our tour.” Melk WACHAU VALLEY Budapest HUNGARY the Brukenthal Museum and the Lutheran Michael’s Cathedral and a visit inside the Alba Kalocsa Pecs ROMANIA Cathedral of Saint Mary, the most famous Carolina Citadel and Unification Museum. After Villany Alba Iulia Cristian Brasov Gothic-style cathedral in Sibiu. After lunch in a lunch in a local restaurant enjoy the afternoon at Sibiu Bran Osijek Sibiel local restaurant enjoy some free time to explore leisure. Return to Sibiu and this evening we will CROATIA Sinaia Curtea de Arges the Old Town which retains the grandeur of enjoy dinner at the hotel. Novi Sad its earlier days when rich and powerful guilds Bucharest dominated regional trade. Queen Marie and Day 4 Sinaia & Brasov. Known as the most Rousse BLACK King Ferdinand I came here in May 1919 to charismatic Queen of Romania, Queen Marie Danube SEA Arbanasi boost the self-confidence of their people in earned fond nicknames such as ‘the mother Veliko Tarnovo Balchik Varna coping with the stringent needs of a land of all the wounded soldiers’ and ‘the soldier Sofia BULGARIA soon to be known as the Greater Kingdom of queen’. Continuing through Transylvania towards Romania. This afternoon visit Sibiel, stopping Sinaia, we begin to discover more about the en-route in Cristian to visit the old fortified Queens personal life. But first we visit Halewood church. Sibiel is a beautifully preserved village Winery for a tour and tasting of the locally which maintains many age-old traditions within produced sparkling wine that is made using the The Itinerary its community. Here we enjoy a traditional dinner traditional Champagne method, followed by Day 1 London to Sibiu, Romania. Fly by in a local guesthouse. lunch. This afternoon we visit fairytale Pelisor scheduled indirect flight. On arrival, transfer Castle in Sinaia, the Royal summer residence of to the Silva Hotel for a three night stay. This Day 3 Alba Iulia. This morning drive to Alba Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I. Marie, who evening enjoy a welcome drink and dinner in Iulia, a city of great importance for Transylvanian was an accomplished artist, personally styled the hotel. Saxons as it is one of the seven walled cities many of the rooms in her signature Art-Nouveau of Transylvania. It is the city where on 1st Byzantine and Celtic style including the ‘golden Day 2 Sibiu, Cristian & Sibiel. This morning we December 1918 many gathered to proclaim room’ where she eventually passed away and will explore the city of Sibiu, formally named the union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of her soldier heart is now kept. Continue through Hermannstadt and one of the seven walled cities Romania and the place where Queen Marie the scenic Carpathian Mountain range, often founded by the Saxons. During our walking and King Ferdinand I were crowned on the 15th referred to as the ‘Romanian Alps’, to Brasov for tour see such sights as Great Square, Small October 1922. Our panoramic walking tour will a two night stay at the Aro Palace Hotel. Enjoy Square, Liars Bridge, the Orthodox Cathedral, include Coronation Cathedral, the Union Hall, St dinner tonight in a local restaurant.

www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Sibiu Sinaia

Day 5 Brasov & Bran. Brasov exudes a distinct ground and eight underground. Alternatively, perched on top of each other rise up the steep Medieval ambiance and has been used as enjoy an afternoon at leisure. This evening we river bank. This is Arbanasi, a village rich in a backdrop in many period films. The three will enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. history with a large number of cultural and mingling cultures of Romanian, Saxon and spiritual monuments and examples of Bulgarian Hungarian can be noticed at every turn during Day 8 Rousse & Varna, Bulgaria. After a morning National Revival architecture. It rose quickly our panoramic tour. We then continue on the at leisure, depart towards Bulgaria’s Black Sea, in the 13th century due to its proximity to the trail of the Transylvanian Saxons towards Bran. driving through the southern Romanian Plain. As capital of the second Bulgarian Empire but Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend we cross the Danube River and border, we will eventually fell in the early 19th century after a and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, stop en-route in the charming town of Rousse, series of planned raids and disease outbreak. Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers birthplace of Noble Prize winner for literature, Arbanasi has been officially declared as a and turrets as well as the myth created around Elias Canetti and home to stunning 19th and national historical monument. Our walking Bram Stocker’s ‘Dracula’. Built on the site of a 20th century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo tour will include the highlights of this open-air Teutonic Knights stronghold dating from 1212, architecture. We will enjoy lunch here in a local museum that consists of 144 old fortified houses, the castle was first documented in an act issued restaurant. Continue south east and arrive in five churches and two monasteries. Enjoy by Louis I of Hungary on November 19, 1377, the seaside town of Varna in the late afternoon lunch in a local restaurant before continuing giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the and check in to the Golden Tulip Hotel for a two to Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. The second Balkan privilege of building the Citadel. After World night stay. Dinner is in the hotel this evening. War caused an outbreak of Cholera among War I, Queen Marie won a lobby in Paris to the soldiers and Queen Marie spent time in reunite all historic provinces of Romania and Day 9 Balchik & Varna. Depart this morning for Sofia assisting the sick and wounded Romanian have all historical rights recognised by the treaty Balchik, a picturesque small town on the hilly soldiers, despite risk to her own health. Arrive in of Versailles. On 1st December 1920, as a thank shores of the Black Sea close to the Bulgarian the late afternoon at Arena Di Serdica Hotel for you for the Queens efforts, the city of Brasov border with Romania. Queen Marie had a a two night stay and enjoy dinner in the hotel gave the fortress of Bran to her as a gift. After summer palace here that was a gift from her this evening. lunch at a local restaurant in Bran we return to husband King Ferdinand I. Built between 1926 Brasov for some time to explore at leisure. Enjoy and 1937 the palace, officially called ‘The Quiet Day 12 Sofia. Today we explore the city of dinner and a folklore performance this evening. Nest’, is surrounded by a beautiful park with a Sofia. On a panoramic tour we will see the rose garden, tiny ponds and small waterfalls, main highlights including Central Market Hall, Day 6 Curtea de Arges & Bucharest. This along with a water mill, several villas and a the National Palace of Culture, Tsarigradsko morning we cross the stunning Carpathian chapel. We will explore the palace on foot shoes boulevard and Eagle’s bridge. During Mountain range leaving the misty and mystical before making our way to the Botanical Gardens a walking tour of Sofia, visit the impressive Transylvania behind as we travel south towards nearby. Spend time wandering the extensive Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, built to Curtea de Arges. The striking Monastery in grounds that host 2000 plant species including commemorate the Russian soldiers who fought the town is of great holy significance for many, an impressive display of cacti, whilst taking in and died in Bulgaria’s war of independence in and is the final resting place of Queen Marie, the ocean views. After lunch in a local restaurant, 1877-78, the Saint Sofia Church dating from the who died on 18th July 1938. She lies in the return to Varna for a panoramic tour of the city late Roman and early Byzantine period, and Royal Necropolis alongside her husband King and some free time to enjoy at your own pace. the remains of Serdika Ancient Fortress. After Ferdinand I. Lunch will be served in a local Dinner is in the hotel this evening. lunch in a local restaurant enjoy the afternoon at restaurant in Curtea de Arges. Continue to leisure. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner of Bucharest and check in to the Pullman Hotel for Day 10 Veliko Tarnovo. This morning continue traditional cuisine in a local restaurant. a two night stay. Dinner is at our hotel tonight. through the Balkan Hills leading to the city of Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the second Day 13 Sofia to London. Transfer to the airport Day 7 Bucharest. Today we explore the city Bulgarian Kingdom from 1187 to 1393. The for our return scheduled indirect flight to London. of Bucharest. Our tour will include the main city formed a natural fortress, located on three highlights such as the Former Royal Palace, hills surrounding the Yantra River. A palace, Revolution Square, the Town Hall, the Opera fortification and churches were built into the House, the National Military Academy, the terrain. Following lunch at a local restaurant enjoy Prices per person Metropolitan Church, University Square, The a panoramic tour of the town and visit inside Based on double occupancy Arch of Triumph, Scanteia Printing House, Tsarevets Fortress, one of Bulgaria’s most beloved Twin: £2995 Single: £3895 Kiseleff Boulevard and Cotroceni Palace. The monuments, an inescapable symbol of Veliko Palace was built between 1893 and 1895 to Tarnovo that dominates the town’s skyline. See Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air accommodate the future heirs to the throne, the Royal Palace Ruins, Holy Forty Martyrs Church travel, 12 nights hotel accommodation as Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I, and now and Execution Rock. Arrive at Bolyarski Hotel described (or similar) on bed and breakfast basis, all meals, wine, beer, and soft drinks is the official residence of the President of for an overnight stay. Dinner is in the hotel this with dinner, excursions as described, entrance Romania. After lunch in a local restaurant there evening. fees, Noble Caledonia Tour Manager, English will be an inside visit of the Palace of Parliament, speaking local guide, gratuities, transfers, one of the largest buildings in the world, with an Day 11 Arbanasi & Sofia. Across the river from airport taxes. Not Included: Travel insurance. impressive 1100 rooms over 20 levels, 12 above Veliko Tarnovo, ancient stone houses seemingly

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