ESCORTED TOUR : EXPLORING HUNGARIAN AND SAXON WITH GILLIAN CRAIG 4 – 1 1 MAY 2020

Miercurea Ciuc, Hungarian Transylvania

THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL COMPANY ESCORTED TOURS

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

ROMANIA: EXPLORING HUNGARIAN A N D SAXON TRANSYLVANIA

W I T H GILLIAN CRAIG 4 – 11 MAY 2020

CONTACT Shefali D’Costa Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant DIRECT LINE 020 7386 4697 TELEPHONE 020 7386 4620 EMAIL [email protected]

GILLIAN CRAIG Gillian’s family and professional life has led to worldwide travel. Born in Rome and educated in Italy, Switzerland and England, Gillian is bilingual in Italian, fluent in French and speaks some Spanish. After stepping down as Founder and Director of the BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair London, Gillian now lives between London and Italy. She is particularly fascinated with Eastern Europe and has organised and led tours to Macedonia, St. Petersburg, Dresden, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco, and Italy. As well as studying the history, art and architecture, she enjoys exploring the culture, traditions and local life and getting to know the character of a country.

QUALITY OF SERVICE We like to think that our success has been built on a simple formula - to deliver a high standard of service before, during and after each holiday, a duty of care and commitment to you, and value for money. We aim to be totally flexible in our approach, as this allows us to create the holiday that you want and one that is easy and enjoyable to plan.

However, if you feel that there are areas in which we could improve our service to you, please do not hesitate to contact either our Managing Director Nick Van Gruisen, or Executive Director Rowan Paterson, on 020 7386 4646. You can also email them: [email protected] [email protected]

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 2

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

DETAILED ITINERARY

This captivating tour to Romania focuses on Transylvania, at the crossroad of Central and Eastern Europe, where horses still work the fields in the landscape largely unchanged by time, a region rich in history and known for its beautiful Carpathian landscape.

We will visit Szekely Land, an autonomous region from Medieval times until 1876, inhabited by the Szekely, Hungarian people leading a traditional way of life in the valleys and hills of the Eastern Carpathians. Their villages are distinctive, with houses set apart from each other and defended by huge oak-carved gates, and small, whitewashed churches. We will also visit Saxon villages, inhabited by people of German ethnicity who settled here from the 12th century. The Saxons formed distinct communities, maintained ethnic traditions, their villages dominated by fortified churches and characterised by a specific, compact settlement pattern for protection.

We will explore the beautiful countryside of one of Romania’s least known and largely unspoiled regions and taste a variety of regional dishes and wines. We begin in Saxon Brasov founded in the 12th century, and go on to visit the Szekely frescoes at the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Dajiu, and the wooden Szekely gates at Satu Mare. We continue to the beautifully preserved Medieval Saxon town of Sighisoara with its ancient crooked houses and alleyways, followed by the gypsy village of Brateiu, ending in Bucharest, once known as ‘Little Paris’ due to its charming fin de siècle buildings and boulevards.

Brasov – The Council Square, Saxon Transylvania Brasov – Black Church, Saxon Transylvania

DAY 1: MONDAY, 4 MAY LONDON / BUCHAREST

Suggested flights (not included in the cost of the tour) British Airways BA886 departing London Heathrow at 11.40 hrs arriving Bucharest at 17.00.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 3

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

On arrival, transfer along Prahova valley into Transylvania to the town of Brasov and check into the charming 4-star Belvedere Hotel where one night is spent. Dinner at the hotel.

Talisoara -Hungarian Transylvania making ‘Chimney cakes’ Talisoara -The Blacksmith

DAY 2: TUESDAY, 5 MAY BRASOV / TALISOARA

This morning depart (with luggage) and explore Brasov in the foothills of Mount Tampa. Brasov is one of the seven cities founded by the Saxons in Transylvania in the 12th century to guard the mountain passes. Stroll through the medieval streets, visit the Black Church, Europe’s most eastern Gothic church, and its famous Council Square which is part of the legend of the Pied Piper. The Black Church houses of an impressive collection of Ottoman rugs which arrived in Transylvania through trade with the Turks. Today there are 380 Ottoman ‘classical’ carpets in Transylvania from 15th – 17th century. Together they comprise the most important corpus of Turkish textile art still surviving in Eastern Europe. Then travel to the eastern part of Transylvania into Szekely Land. The Szekely are a Hungarian-speaking people. Their most important duty was to defend the borders of Transylvania from Turks. In return they enjoyed the privilege of self- government like Russia’s Cossaks, free from serfdom and foreign military services.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue your journey to the village of Talisoara and check into Hotel Castel Daniel where three nights are spent. Some of the rooms in this beautiful restored manor house still preserve 17th century old frescoes. At dinner. enjoy a cooking demonstration where a local lady will cook the famous Kurtos Kolacs – the ‘chimney cakes’.

DAY 3: WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY TALISOARA / / ARJIU / TALISOARA

This morning visit a local blacksmith in the village and his amazing workshop. An artist who restores much of the hardware of the nearby churches, including the Black Church in Brasov. Travel north along the spectacular Ocland Pass at 800m with a stop en-route to the reformed Calvinist church with beautiful architecture in the village of Varghis. The church was built in 1997 by the Hungarian architect Imre Makovecz on the site of an older 13th century church. Continue driving towards the town of Odorheiu, settled on an

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 4

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

ancient Roman military camp. The town developed as a small craft town during the reigns of the Hungarian Arpad kings. In the 15th century King Mathias Corvinus granted Odorheiu Secuiesc ‘free royal town’ status enabling its many different craft guilds to host commercial fares. See one of the oldest architectural monuments in Transylvania – The Chapel of Jesus - from the 13th century. The little chapel gained its name from the war cries of Szekely warriors who built a chapel on the battlefield to commemorate their victory.

Lunch at a traditional restaurant. Continue exploring Szekely churches at Mugeni and Darjiu – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Calvinist church at Mugeni is famous for its 14th century frescoes. Some of the frescoes illustrate the Saint Laszlo legend, the king’s battle with the Cumanian chieftain. Darjiu is one of the only two Szekely historical sites under UNESCO World Heritage. This UNESCO status was granted mainly because of the fresco of the legend of Saint Laszlo showing scenes of the battle with the Cumanian chieftain to save a Hungarian maiden. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Ocland pass – Hungarian Transylvania Calvinist church – Hungarian Transylvania

DAY 4: THURSDAY, 7 MAY TALISOARA / / RACUL / CARTA / TALISOARA

This morning head eastwards to the small village of Satu Mare to admire the beautiful wooden Szekely gates. Cross Vlahita Pass at 987m altitude and head to the town of Miercurea Ciuc, where 82% of the population is Hungarian, and which is considered to be the unofficial capital of Szekely Land. Visit the late Renaissance-style Miko Castle with its four corner bastions. The original castle, which was far more ornate than today’s building, was built by an advisor to Transylvanian ruler Bethlen Gabor in the first half of the 17th century. The castle was largely destroyed by the Tatar raids of 1661, and it was only at the beginning of the 18th century that it was rebuilt by an Austrian general in the simple style seen today. Now it is the home to the Csiki Szekely Museum that also has a lavish folk exhibition. In the grounds of the castle there is an open-air exhibition, which consists of Csik style wooden gates and some Csik houses.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 5

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive north to visit two fortified churches in Racul and Carta. Racul has unusual 15th century frescoes covering the walls of the church tower that shows scenes from the everyday folk life and they were restored in 2004. Carta is the best-preserved fortified church in Csik region from the 15th century. The Catholic church is surrounded by an eight-metre-high defensive wall, complete with arrow slits and a wooden balcony. The chancel is Gothic, while the main nave has been remodeled in Baroque style and it has beautiful stained-glass windows that date from 1912. Return to Talisoara village. Dinner at the hotel.

Satu Mare – Gates – Hungarian Transylvania Racul – Hungarian Transylvania

DAY 5: FRIDAY, 8 MAY TALISOARA / GHEORGHNI / BRANCOVENESTI / TARGU MURES

This morning depart (with luggage) and drive to the town of Odorheiu Secuiesc and continue the journey towards the north to a small village of where the age-old craft of pottery remains the mainstay of the village today. Local potters sell their wares which today embrace everything from handwoven rugs to sheepskin jerkins and knitted sweaters, from open-air stalls set up in the centre of the village. The village is famous especially for its blue and white pottery delicately designed with flowers and birds. Crossing , a seasonal resort of local importance at the foot of the Gurghiu Mountain, climb over the pretty Bucin Pass at 1287 metres. Head to the town of , considered to be the coldest town of Romania. Explore the small town of Gheorgheni, the home to the largest Armenian community in Transylvania. Visit the Armenian Catholic church, built in 1733. Travel south-west towards the town of Targu Mures passing the impressive gorges of the Mures river. Visit, along the route, Kemeny Castle, in the village of Brancovenesti. Time permitting, make a short stop along the way to the village of Gurghiu to visit the derelict 18th century Bornemisza Castle. Also. explore the botanical garden behind the castle to see the old-world elegance of the beautifully carved wooden pavilions and the memorial stone to Franz Joseph’s wife Sissi.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue heading south to the village of Gornesti. Visit Teleki Castle, which was recently given back to its owners. Gornesti was the seat of the Teleki family and their castle, set in the middle of parkland, is among the most beautiful examples of Transylvanian Baroque architecture. Time permitting,

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 6

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

continue to a countryside to see the belfry in Ceuasu de Campie, considered one of the most beautiful in Transylvania. Szekely Land has numerous wooden belfries built separately from their churches, but this particular one is believed to have existed since 1570, making it the oldest wooden structure in the region. It has a lovely iron clock, dating back to 1830. Arrive late afternoon in the town of Targu Mures, Szekely Land’s most important town in terms of culture and trade. Check into Hotel Haller Castle where one night is spent. Dinner at the hotel.

Gornesti – Teleki Castle Fagaras fortress, Saxon Transylvania

DAY 6: SATURDAY, 9 MAY TARGU MURES / MEDIAS / SIGHISORA

This morning enjoy a short stroll in the city. The town is famous for the Art Nouveau buildings in the main Roses square. The Old Town Hall and the Palace of Culture are the best-known buildings of the town. Both were built as part of mayor Gyorgy Bernady’s town development project at the beginning of the 20th century and they were designed by the era’s top architects, Marcell Komor and Dezso Jakab, in a distinctive folk- influenced Art Nouveau style. Visit the Palace of Culture and the Teleki library.

Lunch in Targu Mures. Continue the journey back into Saxon Transylvania. Travel southwards to visit the town of Medias. See the Evangelic Church "St. Margaret", or the "Castle" which represented the core around which the citadel gradually developed. See the medieval centre of the city which has a particular charm, with narrow winding lanes, centuries-old houses and a large square towards which converge the main streets of the town. Visit the Furriers' Bastion (1641), the Blacksmiths' Tower (1641), the Wheelwrights' Tower (17th century), the Knife-Makers' Bastion (15th century), the Gate’s Tower (16th century). Travel eastwards to the village of Brateiu, founded by the Saxon colonists in 1283. The Romanians, Germans and , Gypsies have also settled there. They are of the ‘caldararii’ cast specialising as coppersmiths and will have an opportunity to see their craft. Continue to the Saxon town of Sighisoara (Schaβburg), one of the best preserved mediaeval citadels in Europe where you will have the only opportunity in Europe to walk the streets of a genuine still inhabited medieval town. Visit the old town to see the Clock Tower which is considered to be the symbol of Sighisoara, the house where Vlad the Impaler was born and which is considered to be the oldest civilian stone building and is now used as a restaurant. Church on the Hill, a

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 7

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

gothic Lutheran church dedicated to Saint Nicholas and dating from the 14th century. Check into the 5-star hotel Fronius where one night is spent. Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 7: SUNDAY, 10 MAY SIGHISOARA / FAGARAS / SINAIA / BUCHAREST

This morning depart (with luggage) across the heart of the Saxon Land, via the town of Agnita and then heading south close to the town of Fagaras. If time permits, visit briefly the Fagaras Fortress. Built in 1310 on the site of a former 12th century wooden fortress (burned by the Tartars in 1241), Fagaras was enlarged between the 15th and 17th centuries and was considered one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania.

Sighisoara -The Clock Tower, Saxon Transylvania Sinaia - Peles Castle

Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue travelling southwards to Bucharest. En route stop in Sinaia to visit Romania’s most exquisite castle – Peles Castle, a royal palace built as a summer residence for the first king of Romania, Carol I. Perched upon a rolling green hill and set against the stark beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, this magnificent castle appears to be extracted directly from a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale. The castle was built in 1875 in German Renaissance style. Each room was furnished to reflect a different European country. The edifice is surrounded by a terraced garden. The terraces of the castle, conceived in late Italian Renaissance style, are decorated with statues, vessels, columns and fountains. Check into the 4 star Residence Dominii Plaza hotel, where one night is spent. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 8: FRIDAY, 11 MAY BUCHAREST / LONDON

Morning tour of Bucharest including Victoriei Street, the main and most popular street in Bucharest, with its period buildings, many with a strong French neo-classical imprint, which gave the city the name of “Little Paris”. These include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Museum of History, the Royal Palace, the central University Library. Visit Revolution Square and the 18th century Cretulescu church. Walk through the Lipscani area, Bucharest’s oldest commercial district. Explore on foot this old part of Bucharest. Lipscani gets its name from the Leipziger merchants who once brought their goods to sell here. It is fascinating to wander around and enjoy the areas exotic atmosphere.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 8

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to Bucharest Airport. Suggested flights (not included in the cost of the tour) British Airways BA887 departing Bucharest at 17.55 hrs arriving London Heathrow at 19.25 hrs.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 9

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 10

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

T O U R P R I C E

COST £2,385 P E R P E R S O N

Single Supplement £260 per person Please note we have not included the cost of the international flights in the tour price. Please contact us for prices should you wish to book them through us.

PRICE INCLUDES • accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary • breakfast daily; 7 lunches; 7 dinners • all entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation as per the itinerary • gratuities in restaurants for included meals; gratuities to driver/s; porterage • gratuities to guide/s • local English-speaking guide/s • the services of your tour leader throughout

P R I C E EXCLUDES • international flights • travel insurance • items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.) • government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 12/09/19

AIRLINE TICKETS As a tour operator we have access to special airfares. While these offers good value, they do carry certain restrictions applied by the airline. Please ask us for details.

Note: If you are thinking about using air miles to upgrade to a premium cabin on the flights, please check with us first as fare restrictions might not permit this.

AIRLINE SEATING The rules governing the pre-booking of seats vary from airline to airline. Some allow us to pre-book seats immediately and without charge, some only once the tickets are issued but with charge, and others only when you check in either on line or at the airport.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 11

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

We will clarify the rules for your specific carrier(s) with our confirmation documents. In the event that seating cannot be arranged until tickets are issued (normally six weeks prior to departure) and you prefer not to wait, we can issue your tickets earlier provided you are happy to pay in advance for the flight costs in addition to the required deposit for the holiday.

However, please be mindful that the majority of our discounted fare tickets, once issued, are non-refundable and will attract fees should you wish to make any date changes. Nor will you be allowed to change the actual flight routing.

PEACE OF MIND You will probably be aware of the difficulties many travellers faced with obtaining refunds when their holidays were disrupted or cancelled as a result of such events as ash cloud, strike, snow and political unrest. By booking both your flights and land arrangements with us, not only are you guaranteed the peace of mind that comes with full financial protection but also all the round the clock assistance we are able to offer, should the need arise.

CHANGES TO THE ITINE RARY Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control

FITNESS TO TRAVEL Whilst we do not impose any age limitations on joining a tour, participants must be reasonably fit. The very nature of the sightseeing involved in our tours (and the difficulties of direct access by coach in various places) means that a considerable amount of walking and standing is unavoidable on almost all tours. We regret that our tours are not suitable for people who have difficulty in walking, may require wheelchair assistance at any time, or are unable to keep pace with the group. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of a tour, please make this known to us before you book and we will advise you accordingly. The Ultimate Travel Company reserves the right to decline a reservation without necessarily giving a reason. Your tour leader may also refuse to take participants on particular excursions if they feel that the rest of the group will be held up.

ACCOMMODATION Hotels are chosen on the basis of category, character and location. The majority will be at least 4 star, otherwise the best available. The projected size of the group will often rule out the use of luxury boutique hotels. Sometimes the style of hotel will mean that not all rooms are of the same size or have the same outlook.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS There are no mandatory health requirements for visitors to Romania and no inoculations are required. Please consult your local GP or Travel Clinic for more information.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 12

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

PASSPORT AND VISA IN FORMATION Passengers should hold a full passport. British passport holders do not require a visa to visit Romania for visits less than 3 months. Passport holders of other countries should consult their local Romanian Consulate.

Currently entry requirements for British citizens are that your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. However, the rules for travel to most countries in Europe change if the UK leaves the European Union (EU) with no deal. Romania is listed as one of the countries affected.

1. You should have at least 6 months left on your passport from your date of arrival. 2. If you renewed a passport before it expired, up to 9 extra months may have been added to your new passport’s expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months that should be remaining for travel to most countries in Europe. There is a tool provided on the link where you can check specific passport validity: https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/check-a-passport

F C O A D V I C E We recommend that you periodically review the travel advice issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, which relates to all aspects of your destination, at www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 13

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

WHY CHOOSE US ?

We have been organising bespoke, tailor-made holidays and escorted group tours around the world since the early 1990s. The opportunity that we identified then was for a travel company with the knowledge and enthusiasm of a smaller specialist, but with the range and buying power of a much larger organisation, and we like to think that we have maintained this balance over the years.

More importantly, we try to be an easy and friendly company to deal with, and because most of us have had the good fortune to work abroad, we are able to approach travel in a sensitive and intelligent way.

W H A T W E O FFER? First-hand knowledge and personal service is at the core of what we offer. Our consultants travel to all the destinations that we feature on a very regular basis, so that the advice you receive is accurate and up-to- date. They will also look after you from the outset and assume full responsibility for ensuring that your travel plans are designed and delivered as requested.

Planning a holiday should be an enjoyable and effortless experience, and we will do all that we can to ensure that this is the case.

O U R R EPUTATION We have grown largely through personal recommendation and repeat business, and so we treat our reputation with care. The directors and owners of the company, led by Nick Van Gruisen, are very much ‘hands on’ so immediate decisions can be taken to ensure the standard of service that our clients have come to expect is maintained.

L O C A L R EPRESENTATION Equally crucial is the quality of our local associates and suppliers. It is they who look after you on holiday and it is their guides, vehicles and general support service that will determine your enjoyment of it. We therefore take great care to ensure that our ground handlers have the requisite expertise, efficiency and creativity, and also the ability to deal sensitively and swiftly with any situation that might arise. The fact that we have worked together for many years and know each other well is a further bonus.

RESPONSIBLE T RAVEL As a company with a passion for travel, we understand the vital support that tourism can provide to communities and fragile habitats throughout the world. At the same time, we are aware that tourism can have a negative impact and are committed to doing what we can to minimise this risk.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 14

Escorted Tour Romania: Exploring Hungarian and Saxon Transylvania

In 2007, an independent body completed an Environmental Audit on all aspects of The Ultimate Travel Company. This covered not only our own practices but those of our worldwide suppliers, thereby ensuring that we all met the necessary environmental and employment criteria.

The audit also measured the carbon footprint produced by our London office and by our international travel, and we now offset this with an annual donation to Social Change and Development, a small but dynamic tree planting initiative in India.

Further initiatives include a ‘charity donation’ scheme, whereby we ask clients for a voluntary contribution of £10 which we then match. As a result of this initiative, a handful of small overseas charities, and the healthcare, environmental and educational projects that they run, now share an annual donation of more than $100,000.

If you want further details of these initiatives, please ring Nick Van Gruisen on 02073864646.

E X T R A V ALUE It can be difficult at times to recognise the extra value promised by travel companies. Generally speaking, we all offer the same flight, the same hotel, the same excursion, the same excursion, the same sunset, and at similar prices indeed in many ways, the same holiday experience!

Here, at The Ultimate Travel Company, we strive to go further. While we believe that the diversity of destination, intimate product knowledge and personal service we offer already sets us apart, we supply all our clients with detailed information on all aspects of their forthcoming journey, a 10% discount voucher at Daunt Books (described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘the most beautiful bookshop in London – designed for travellers who like reading’) and a welcome home ‘surprise’.

Honeymooners can also look forward to a wedding gift on arrival at their chosen destination.

Moreover, we continually monitor your movements while you are away so that we can offer any assistance that might be required, effectively and without delay. And if genuine problems do arise as a result of any error on our part (few as these may be!), we will not shy away from our own responsibilities and our commitment to you.

Contact Shefali DCosta Pednekar – Escorted Tours Consultant Direct Line 020 7386 4697 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Email [email protected] 15