Rupea-Romania | Former Saxon Stronghold in the Inspiring Transylvania.

Rupea is a very interesting and enchanting tourist destination in Romania, a historic former Saxon stronghold in the inspiring Transylvania, that scenic, mysterious land so famous worldwide for its unforgettable and captivating landscapes so suggestive at first sight,  highlighted by an incomparable magic aura able to enchant with its suggestive appeal the imagination of a multitude of people transmitting special feelings as a jump in the past but living a great experience in the present.

 Situated in a privileged geographic position on a captivating hilly plateau at 460,0 metres of altitude at 253,0 kilometres north of the capital Bucharest on the road leading to the historic town of Sighișoara via Bunești and Saschiz, that centre of approximately 5,800 inhabitants is located at just 65, 0 kilometres from the beautiful capital of the County Brașov, a very important city boasting a relevant patrimony.

That emblematic land extremely loved by some of the most inspired, eminent literary minds, rich of narrations, stories, very famous legends linked to monasteries, fortresses, manors and castles is the place in which born the myth of that notorious figure,  Count Dracula, that Wallachian General and Prince named Vlad III member of the House of Drăculești in the 15th century main protagonist of Bram Stocker's 1897 Gothic horror novel which was probably the greatest success of that talented Irish author.

That outstanding masterpiece of literature was fruit of a great imagination because that prominent novelist from Clontarf, Dublin created that sort of legend after a visit of  Whitby in 1890,a seaside port of North Yorkshire in England.

That British centre was a reality totally different than Transylvania but that genius had there a divine inspiration composing that work which later conquered other kinds of arts, including the Film Industry could not resist to the suggestive appeal of that outstanding novel.

Rupea with its remote and mystical image could be an appropriate scene of that story because it resembles to a  a site belonging to another world, one of those iconic places which transmits in a while special sensations, as something living the past in a new era encircled by something of extremely suggestive.
  
It is enough to take a look to the silhouette of the height dominating its boundaries highlighted by its legendary fortress to notice that place is very different than many others.

Apart that it is definitely a destination which is a great open gateway to discover an endless list of beautiful sites also in its proximity boasting a secular captivating historic past with in addition a natural environment as frame absolutely wonderful.

That land is simply perfect for tourists who want to discover a country with many centuries of history, ideal for visitors who desire to admire a territory in which picturesque hills and large green meadows form a fantastic scenery admiring at a short distance high peaks which fill with their stunning images a horizon more than fascinating.

For all that is a great site for fervent photographers who can immortalise something of extremely enchanting at first sight and why not for landscape painters who can do the same not using a camera but brushes and painting boards.

Many are the chances for varied kinds of niches of tourism, trekkers can find there a multitude of scenic routes and if you love that kind of activity I suggest you to explore the wild and picturesque area of the Carpathian mountains, especially the Postavarul Massif, where you can admire places you will probably remember forever for a marvellous mix of art, nature with an architectural patrimony simply outstanding.

In that concrete area furthermore for those who are fervent winter sport lovers a notorious ski resort called Poiana  Brașov is a stunning sites offering great slopes with in addition stunning panoramic views from the summit of towering peaks, beautiful green virgin valleys in its immediate proximity, ideal to create a giant poster to fix at home without hesitations.

Very recommended are other several visits in its immediate surroundings with places conserving ancient and medieval wonders as  Bunești boasting a Religious fortified complex simply wonderful declared in 1993 a World Heritage Site by UNESCO  part of a group of villages and villages with Churches of that kind as Homorod, another place I recommend you.

The Transylvania is a diamond with cities as the enchanting Sibiu with a superb patrimony selected as European Capital of Culture in 2007 which also inspired a great of literature as the master from Nantes Jules Verne and in that city you will admire superb monuments dated the Middle Ages of extreme beauty just like the mentioned  Brașov, another shining gem, well known to host the Golden Stag International Musical Festival.

A stay in Rupea is a perfect choice to organise a more than interesting plan of visits with radial excursions, the entire county is a diamond of medieval art very suitable for every Tour Operators searching to enlarge a product with many itineraries very attractive, combining that place in special routes around Transylvania but also connected to Bucharest and extremely simple to combine with the inviting Black Sea.

 For individual tourists can be certainly something of superb for the same reasons planning a tailor made Tour with different stops inserting that town as stage of a Fly & Drive of considerable relevance also in a specific itinerary planned towards the northern territories of the country on the road leading to Hungary because that is another indicated option to admire a further multitude of marvellous sites.

 That vast region is also highlighted by its well known  folklore with a secular tradition in music and dances and hosting several events and festivals and the mentioned  Brașov, another shining gem is well known to host the Golden Stag International Musical Festival.

Handcraft is another highlight with many towns offering the chance to visit exhibitions and museums displaying handmade products such as carpets, embroidery, works simply wonderful.

 An uncontaminated nature, good accommodations located in strategic points with an easy access to the most important territorial attractions next to a local cuisine simply excellent with a varied offer boasting several delicious delights influenced due to historic links by the nearest Hungary, Turkey and also Slavic countries.

All that is part of a vast fan of magnificent details which are all together an incentive more than captivating with a further because you will be in a land of excellent wines with the chance to plan wine tasting routes in a geographic points which was a considerable cross point of cultures and civilisations who developed the cultivation of superb grapes.

That Eastern European region boats a very important history rich of events with protagonist a tumultuous past narrating interesting chronological stages which changed culturally the country keeping influences absorbed by different rulers and all those special cultural marks nowadays form all together an outstanding mosaic of attractions.

That astonishing corner of the Carpathian basin was originally inhabited by the Dacian, a population related to the ancient Thracian civilisation establishing in those lands and in the Danube Delta important settlements before the Roman colonisation of those territories. (If you are interested I wrote a post regarding Tulcea linked that ancient population)

The Roman Empire started a long campaign endured several centuries despite at the beginning the operations to assimilate the locals was not pretty easy due their belligerent and warrior spirit but they were defeated after the sending of the most organised legions from Rome an operation culminated in the 1st century with the conquest of the entire Dacia by Emperor Trajan.

The name Rupea is closely linked to that civilisation probably deriving from the Latin word Rupes meaning rock left by that Italic Empire which had as official that language, a denomination took by the presence of a local formation of a basalt rocky outcrop.

Those rulers established in the current centre a relevant base with a fortress elevated on the remnants of a previous camp founded by the Dacian settlers.

The strategic geographic position of the town located along the road leading to the valley of the Oltea River, Brașov, and the upper Transylvania was highly considered by the Imperial governors as an important cross point perfect to reach in a  comfortable way the city of Sighișoara.

The location of Rupea was also excellent for the transit towards to the important town of Târgu Mureș a historic gateway offering a very easy access to Cluj-Napoca, an important trade centre and market place since a long time ago often visited by merchants coming from many points of Central Europe especially during the times of Emperor Hadran who granted it the status of Municipium.

Naturally those important connections had to be defended and for that Rome decided to establish on the hill of Rupea a fortified check point on the highest of the local boundaries controlling the transits from that hilly plateau.

In addition the Romans established all around the country several Castrum consisting in fortified camps able to host the legions during the Balkan campaigns and one of them was also elevated on that height partially re-using the former foundations of the predecessors.

In the course of the following centuries the former Rupes after the fall of Rome suffered several invasions  by Huns, Avars and other populations coming from Asia who reached and ravaged that place despite they never established important or relevant settlements in that area because much more concentrated in their raids with priority to looting and plunders.

All that happened before the arrival of the mentioned Magyars or Ungri, tribes who originally lived in the Eastern steppes of Eastern Europe, ancestors of the current Hungarians, settlers who established their domains in those territories playing an important role in the new renaissance of Rupea. 

That population had a less nomadic attitude of the previous invaders, they were mainly devoted to agriculture, small trades organising a social life in developed villages starting to occupy many territories in the current Transylvania.

After numerous invasions that centre in medieval times was pretty depopulated and those new rulers who had completely settled the current Hungarian lands with also a large area of Romania in the 14th century invited a Saxon colony coming from Northern Germany.

That numerous Germanic group was mainly composed by traders, farmers, a large number of families and once established in that territory they obtained by the local governors some lands to cultivate in change of a peaceful coexistence.

That was a sort of donation by the former Kingdom of Hungary to those new neighbours considering that hilly area which was practically uninhabited pretty irrelevant and marginal because the Hungarian rulers had focused their efforts to develop agricultural activities on the large plain at the foot of that high plateau.
 
That sort of "present" historically had a pact because that population had to defend the territories under Hungarian influence by possible invasions.


Accepting those conditions the Saxons could stay on that height in a regime of tax-free, without any exterior feudal governor ruling their activities, practically all that created a sort of island apart with a large autonomy as a sort of enclave totally independent by a consolidated Reign.

The presence of those inhabitants at the beginning was very welcomed by the locals especially to block belligerent tribes mainly coming from east and south from the current Turkish territories.

The Saxons once received the authorisation found on the rest of the former Roman Castrum a citadel re-using some of the Imperial foundations making it furthermore an important inhabited centre populated by the entire community which became multi-functional nucleus elevated later as a fortified structure which also had  defencive and military purposes. 

It was since that time that  centre started to be called in German, Reps and year by year that stronghold was not only a simply fortress but it it was transformed as a town inside a bigger one.

The other community mainly composed by Hungarians living in the outskirts of that hill was totally excluded by the political, social life of those new settlers remembering that old pact.

That citadel according to historic documents was already present in the Hungarian Royal maps since 1324 during the times of King Karoly I and a further relevant detail is that it hosted one of the major Saxon communities in Eastern Europe much more than other centres, including cities with much more inhabitants than Rupea.
 

That site including was historically recorded as the most important non Hungarian or non native of the entire County of Brașov, furthermore that population kept its ancient traditions, culture, costumes and language.

The construction of that fortress, the development of that large community changed the local history in that period because if at the beginning there was tolerance the  relationships between those two communities started to be very tense.

The Magyars felt themselves threatened facing that imposing bastion dominating their territory causing intimidation, troubles in addition arose other problems due to intrusions with conflicts in trade activities, all events which generated a clash.

The disputes between those two groups endured long time when King Charles I totally destroyed with a massive attack the citadel. 

Historically when the former Saxon community left that site for a period that place was frequented by numerous bandits, that isolated hill was considered an unsafe place to live, abandoned and reoccupied by some Saxons once again in the late 17th century but in that occasion without to organise an impenetrable stronghold as in the past.

Historic documentations confirmed all that is an episode linked to an operation led by Austrian troops who once reached that site penetrated in what remained of that old fortress without difficulties easily occupying the entire hill and the structure never had a further defencive restoration for military use.

That historic place since then had not anymore a relevant importance, in the early 18th century it was mainly a refuge for people escaping by plagues while at the end of the same century after a terrible storm that old fortified construction suffered several damages falling in total disrepair.
 
After all that the myth of that iconic Saxon centre in the heart of Romania continued to be alive, something unique in that time and despite centuries of difference that population partially re-embraced a new re-birth which linked the the destiny of the entire country with a Royal Family related to them as the renowned Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen House who governed that Nation from the late 19th century until the end of the 2nd World War.

Rupea as very strategic geographic point in the heart of the European Continent becoming soon a strong desire of conquest by the Ottomans and Austro-Hungarian Empires.

The Hungarians who were the most important local community also started an intense activity to claim the rights of that land when they were linked to the House of Habsburg sphere due to the secular history which related that site to their heritage roots with claims especially when Transylvania became for a historic period an Independent Principality vassal of the Turkish Empire.

That population always claimed those territories including after the Turkish occupation frequently mentioning the settlers who lived in that region for centuries continuing to call villages, towns and localities with the former Hungarian names and Rupea was for them simply Köhalom.

The 19th and 20th centuries for that and more were periods pretty tumultuous with several episodes highlighted by diatribes, fights, diplomatic accidents, almost insignificant truces with ideas of treaties never developed, continuous changes of rulers under Hungary influence, later as an independent territory and finally incorporated in the new Kingdom of Romania.

That Monarchy was supported by the local Saxon community linked to the ancient settlers,  a dynasty of relevant importance, the family Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a Senior Swabian Branch related to the former Kingdom of Prussia who took the crown constantly contrary and hostile to an Austrian or Hungarian domain or influence in Transylvania for a historic, secular rivalry which saw infinite disputes, diplomatic troubles and wars.

The history of the current town will continue with the famous Balkan and the two World Wars until contemporary times as part of the Romanian Republic, a country which lived many years with a Communist Regime during that notorious period linked to the Cold War as part of the disappeared Pact of Warsaw signed in 1955 related to the Soviet sphere.

 

Those times ended in 1989 with the collapse of the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu,  strongly influenced by the fall of the Berlin wall as detonator of the dissolutions of all the Socialist Regimes in Eastern Europe.


All those stages have undoubtedly left marks in that beautiful Romanian territory which boasts an immense, unique patrimony offering the visitor many chances to admire masterpieces of fine architecture, notable monuments, culture and traditions very diversified and varied.

The town is mainly arranged between two main roads as Strada Republicli situated at north bordering the municipality as a sort of ring connected at south to another avenue named Bulevardul Matei Basarab consisting in the main road linking Transylvania Autostrada to Rupea Gara the local railway station.

Another important street is Strada 1 Decembrie 1918 which entirely crosses the town from east to west while at north is situated Strada Cetatii, the main axis directly leading to the Cetatea Rupea, the iconic Saxon fortress dominating the town and the urban extra radius.

That centre of Transylvania is today mainly inhabited by Romanian people while in the past apart the times of the Hungarian and Saxons communities the most important ethnic group was formed by German colonists established in its boundaries in the 17th century who were in particular merchants and artisans. 

Nowadays there are some descendants of the first Saxon settlers who continued to live there keeping the roots and traditions of the ancestors, linked to that you will notice that the Gara, the local railway station still has the name the German inhabitants gave it; Repser.   

All that because in the period in which the town was also called in German Reps since the time the old settlers used that language which was the predominant also to denominate urban points.

The iconic fortress is undoubtedly the main highlight of Rupea and it has a long and fascinating history. 

 Cetatea Rupea as it is currently denominated was erected on that suggestive hill dominating the inhabited centre at over 500, 0 metres of altitude in a place which was originally settled by Dacian tribes who erected a sort of simple and rudimentary defencive camp with annexed a small village called Rumidava, later occupied by the Romans.

You will notice once there how it is large and wide the view towards many lands, that high plateau seems born for those purposes as a natural watchtower, all from there is totally under  control and furthermore in some points the climb is pretty steep. 

Due to the several invasions the Roman Castrum was abandoned for many centuries until the time in which it became the famous Saxon Citadel but you can see around its perimeter traces of the former foundations.

It is pretty difficult to establish a virtual original reconstruction of the former plan of the first fortress but according to historic documentations it originally had a simple wooden defencive section similar the current for size and length later partially mutated replacing an original timber side with a high stone bastion.

In occasion of the first attacks led by King Carol of Hungary, the Saxons decided to fortify their stronghold with stone walls which surrounded the entire fortress also adding some towers.

In that time apart to defend the inhabitants of the community inside the walled nucleus was also established a well to collect drinking water which after all those centuries is still working, in addition they also erected a sort of a small Chapel and all that is visible today.

Many original elements not visible nowadays were totally destroyed when that complex  was furthermore attacked in different periods by the other assaults of the Hungarian troops but much more in the 15th century when it was victim of a large devastation due to a siege by the Ottoman army. 

The old fortress you can admire today was elevated on a wide irregular rectangular plan highlighted by a series of three rings totally surrounded by strong walls with some high polygonal towers erected in different periods in every strategic cardinal point overlooking Rupea and the valley.

The interior was arranged with a network of structures which included stables, guard’s houses, stores and rooms apart the previously mentioned well and Chapel. In addition there were a couple of courtyards used by the merchants with a further space consisting in a square which hosted social meetings and speeches of the community.

The entrance was developed along a narrow passage directly leading to the core of the construction and it was the only access to the centre of that fortress consisting in a narrow passage with three well defined marked arched points. 

In some rests of the walls you can see the frames of some windows, doors and in a couple of sections the crenellated highest points of the walled perimeter.In other walls you will notice some slots and the remnant of the main tower which lies on the last spur of the hill. 

Another highlight is a strong square tower with slots situated in a corner with a peculiar establishment with a notable inclination as falling from the slope of the height. 

Today you can see that place pretty well conserved despite the last restoration was made in 1954 during the period of the Socialist Republic ruled in that year by Gheorghe Apostol.

That site before that year in which was started that work of conservation was totally abandoned, left in conditions of extreme decay due to a lack of interest at that time to preserve historic monuments at the expense of other activities dedicated to develop a new era with different social and political objectives which bind new architectural projects but not related to the preservation of the historic, monumental heritage patrimony.

According to historic information in that period linked to that regime also existed a project by the State to demolish that secular complex to use the rock basalt existing in that specific area but thanks to the opposition and prays of the locals Cetatea Rupea was saved. 

Apart that emblematic highlight which historically marked the history of the community, the town also has other historic attractions,one of them is certainly the most important local Religious construction erected in the town called Biserica Evanghelica well known as the Gothic Church of the Saxons. 

It is a Protestant Religious temple built in the Middle Ages between the 14th and the 15th centuries, it had several restorations in different periods and today it shows a clear Baroque aspect.

The Church was erected on a long rectangular plan, highlighted by a long red brick sloping roof with an exterior layout pretty sober. The main highlights are in its interior where you can admire beautiful frescoes depicting scenes of life and several human figures as protagonists painted in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, well preserved walls and a beautiful choir.

The bell tower was elevated on a big square plan, it has an ochre colour with light outlines, ample windows with a square roof topped by a cylindrical element surmounted by a small turret fixed on a hexagonal pedestal surmounted with a pinnacle as terminal on the top all the structure.

Also that architectural element of the Ecclesiastic complex  is loyal to a pretty austere Baroque style in vogue in the 19th century which was largely different than that developed in other countries of central Europe as Austria or Hungary, all that because the local artistic school privileged the functionality than the use of exterior decorations or refined sinuous lines.

That Sacred building is today the main Religious centre of the Protestant Saxons of Transylvania in a country as Romania in which the predominant Religion is nowadays the Christian Orthodox. 

That community is in major part formed by far descendants of the former Saxons with some others who had as ancestors the German merchants who populated Rupea in the 17th century consisting in approximately 80 people with a municipal population of approximately 5,800 inhabitants.  

According to archaeological excavations not far from the hill  were found different objects dated the Neolithic period confirming that the local area was inhabited over 5000 years BC.

In addition were found artifacts related to the ancient Dacian and Roman civilisations who settled the territory consisting in some utensils, tools, fragments of jars, signals of an active life during those historic periods linked important populations.

The town also has a small but very interesting Ethnographic Museum introducing the visitor to the history related to the local daily life displaying objects, documentations about the professions, lifestyle of the settlers with an ample illustration of folklore, costumes and traditions.That is an exhibition which represents a sort of Educational, excellent to learn more about the culture developed in more recent times and it worth a visit.

In the area surrounding the town you can discover other very interesting places in a very attractive, green natural environment with splendid forests, picturesque hills on basalt rocks, places highly inspiring with many surprises.

Bunești is not far and it is a very suggested place to visit because that place boasts in its boundaries the beautiful fortified Church of Viscri  declared Patrimony heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.

Erected in 1100 by the Székelis, a Hungarian population originally coming from the province of Bukovina in the area of the Carpathians and modified by the Saxons approximately 75 years later. In the 14th century that building had a notable architectural mutation and much more in the 15th century when it was totally rebuilt. 

The complex consists in a group of strong square towers with slots and sloping polygonal roofs with a light walled perimeter adjacent to them and as main entrances an arched gate and once inside  you can see an indoor corridor developed in the 18th century used as storage space for corn and harvest products. 

In the Church you can admire an altar established in the 19th century with a painting depicting the blessing of the children, a work by a local Baroque painter of German origin called Paukratz.

In the village of Viscri you can also see the Case Sașesti, the Saxon houses which are another mark left in Transylvania by those Germanic settlers. 

It is a group of aligned buildings dated the 18th century characterised by white high facades covered by long red brick gable roofs, painted doors and symmetrical windows inserted on their front sides.

Those structures are very famous for a special episode dated 2006 when Prince of Wales purchased some of them to preserve that historic patrimony, they were totally restored and some are today guesthouses.

I suggest you in addition to visit Homorod, it is a small centre bu  you can admire there the Evangelical Church, another fortified Sacred temple erected in the 13th century, a a large white building largely restored in the 18th century. 

Developed on a long rectangular plan that construction has three towers one them with a pretty big clock on its facade and you will notice a series of windows on one side beneath a long brick roof.

Inside lies a fine Baroque altar with painted sculptures among them a crucifix in the centre of the altarpiece and worth a mention a beautiful niche with two big mullioned windows which transmit luminosity to a beautiful spacious apse. Other relevant works are a series of splendid sinuous vaults and some refined stuccoes on the ceiling.  

In Hoghiz, another site pretty close you can see a large esplanade in the countryside, that place according to archaeological excavations was a Roman Imperial camp, one of the famous Castrum established in that area of Transylvania in the 2nd century.

Also that small rural centre totally surrounded by a verdant countryside was a Saxon settlement, you can see there a couple of buildings, one practically in disrepair ruins and another totally restored which was originally a small castle.  

Today that structure hosts a local school, visible are two circular towers of the former structure both covered by a long conical roof elevated on the sides of that construction.

You can visit other interesting places  the immediate proximity of that centre discovering other important rests dating back the Dacian and Roman periods.I added some links in the case you have a plan for future holidays in Transylvania and in that specific area of Romania.

In the County of Brașov, another highlight is the presence of salt springs discovered centuries ago during the Roman period which also created a kind of niche of tourism linked to Spa and thermal therapies.

The Ottoman occupation transmitted the locals the handicraft and manufacture of carpets and in that Romanian area there are excellent artisans making authentic masterpiece while apart that and tourism other activities are mainly devoted to agriculture and farmers.

The gastronomy in that geographic area offers a vast great culinary panorama loyal to the most traditional Balkan cuisine but with Turkish, Slavic, Hungarian and also German influences.

The local culinary art in addition is highlighted by spicy and sour flavours, a tradition inherited during the times of the Ottoman Empire which also transmitted a large use of spices seasoning different plates such as cumin, sesame, Kekik consisting in dry oregano, coriander, bay leaves and Sumak among others. 

The Sarmale is one of the most typical dishes, pretty popular all around the country very similar to the Sarma prepared in Serbia and Croatia, the local consists in cabbage or raisin leaves wrapping meat, vegetables, rice with an addition of some of those mentioned spices.

The Bulz is also a very popular plate, it is a sort of polenta often combined with cheese and cream. Very common and famous is the Ciorba, a kind of soup prepared using carrots, leek, celery, garlic, onion cooked with meat, potatoes and depending of the local traditions there is also an addition of sauerkraut sauce.

That plate is well known for its clear Turkish influences and there are several variants of Ciorbas made with beef, chicken, fish or pork meats but also one made with fresh vegetables.  Another traditional soup is the iconic Transylvania Supa prepared with cured ham, garlic, tomatoes, peas, parsley and salt.

The Mititei is another typical local speciality consisting in delicious meat rolls made with grilled pork, lamb meats adding spices such as black pepper, thyme, garlic, a bit of cumin and coriander, generally served with potatoes and mustard. 

The famous Fasoli cu Carnati is another very common plate,  a stew of beans with a soft tomato sauce combined with smoked sausages, there are variants replacing the sausages with pieces of different kinds of meat. 

 Of strong Hungarian influence is the Gulas Bocraci, a local replica of the famous and renowned Goulash which has as main ingredients pork meat, paprika, smoked ham and vegetables. 

Another one with the same heritage is the Paprikas, a spicy casserole which includes in its preparation chicken, pork, veal meats cooked slow all together adding a big quantity of paprika, red pepper, celery, leek and carrots.

Some desserts traditional of Transylvania which worth a mention are the famous Cocorada and the Gomboti, there is in addition a very interesting production of cakes using as main ingredient jams, prunes, pears yogurt and sweet cream.

About traditional beverages a popular local spirit is the Socata produced with extracts of elder flowers with a strong and aromatic taste, the local Palinca is very similar to the famous you can find in Hungary and pretty notorious is  the Tuica, a  liquor as the previous made with prunes.

In that land you can find an excellent presence of fine wines as a local Riesling not very different for taste, colour and texture to others produced in Central Europe and also of good quality is a fine Fetesca. 

Very recommended are some smooth wines of the Tarnava Valley and excellent is a sweet Muscat Ottonel, a kind of local soft Moscatel superb to accompany desserts.

There are different options to reach Rupea. The first one is from the Transylvania Airport Aeroportul Târgu Mureș situated 107, 0 kilometres away while another solution could be landing on International Aeroportul Sibiu located at 129, 0 kilometres of distance, from there in approximately one hour and half driving you will be at destination.

Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca have two other important International Airports providing several flight connections and further choices in the case you are thinking to visit in future that more than interesting destination planning a Fly & Drive in a tailor made tour with many interesting stages also starting from those cities. 

If you are organising a trip to Romania with the intention to visit the inspiring Transylvania is always a great idea. That historic land offers the chance to admire stunning places absolutely unforgettable and Rupea is highly inspiring, extremely captivating, packed by several pleasant surprises in all its surroundings.

For its splendid natural environment is also something of unique for all those who love to be delighted by a suggestive scenery, that former Saxon stronghold is definitely a  relevant attraction surrounded by many beautiful things, certainly a place you will appreciate very much in an exciting experience in that enchanting place of the Carpathian Basin.

Francesco Mari

Recommended Accommodations in the area of Rupea

Hotel Dumbrava

Motel Restaurant Liliana

Useful links  

www.rupeaturistica.ro
www.hotel-dumbrava.ro
www.motel-liliana.ro
www.uncover-romania.com/attractions/culture/castles-fortresses/rupea-transylvanias-top-medieval-fortresses 

www.visittransilvania.ro 

romaniatourism.com