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Welcome to Romania
For most visitors Romania is a pleasant surprise. It's a country
where mass tourism hasn't taken hold yet, where horse-drawn carts
still rumble along rural streets and where there's so much to see
and do that one could easily spend an entire month here without
being bored.
From the gigantic 12-story Palace of Parliament in the capital of
Bucarest, which is the second largest building in the world (after
the Pentagon) to the untouched valleys of the Maramures - there's a
lot to explore. The country is full of medieval towns and castles
surrounded by the majestic Carpathian Mountains. Western Romania
shows remnants of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while eastern Romania
bears imprints of Roman and Turkish influences.
Truly unique and among the most picturesque treasures of Romania are
the painted monasteries of southern Bucovina in the northeastern
part of the country. Their exterior walls were painted in the 16th
century and illustrate entire biblical stories in colorful pictures,
which are considered masterpieces of Byzantine art.
Romania's 13 national parks provide plenty of room for outdoor
adventures. The Carpathian Mountains make up about 30 percent of the
country and are now home to a variety of wildlife, including more
than half of Europe's bear population. It's a hiker's wonderland.
And in winter there are skiing opportunities galore. The Fagaras
Mountains, which are part of the Carpathians, are dotted with more
than 40 glacial lakes. The Trans-Fagarasan Highway at 6,673 feet
(2,034 m) above sea level is said to be the highest road in Europe.
A spectacular sight is the Danube Delta on the Black Sea Coast. This
is where Europe's second longest river, the Danube, ends its
1,775-mile (2,857 km) long journey through nine countries. The delta
comprises a 3,603-square mile (5,800 sq. km) wetland of marches,
sandbars and reed islets, which are home to 300 species of birds,
including Europe's largest pelican colony. The Danube Delta has the
biggest unbroken reed bed on Earth.
The beaches on the Black Sea Coast are a main visitor's draw as
well. More and more resorts are being built here to accommodate the
increasing numbers of visitors. Romania is also known for its
mineral and thermal springs. You'll find plenty of natural spas,
which make efficient use of these healing waters.
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