A group of Wallachian noblemen bringing with them a princely sceptre made most people living in Nurnberg, the city of imperial diets, defy the cold weather and take part, on February 8, 1431 in an important historic event: emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg conceded the ruler-ship in Wallachia to Vlad who had been living at his court for eight years. That very day, emperor Sigismund gave his favourite a necklace and a golden medallion with a dragon engraved on it. The badge of the knights of the Order bearing the name of the mystical animal. Waiting for the coronation Vlad and his family went to Sighisoara , Transylvania, where he set up a mint. For the first two monetary emissions, Vlad used his signet emblem, the dragon. Therefore, the Romanians whose word stock is mainly Latin, nicknamed him Dracul – Dracula( from the Latin DRACO-ONIS).In Romanian “Drac” means Devil. This nickname turned into a surname for his descendants, Vlad, his second son being known as such. He spent his childhood in Sighisoara, was taken hostage by the Turks, then went to his uncle in Moldavia, and to the Hungarian regent’s court Iancu de Hunedoara, a Romanian noblemen (whose daughter Vlad later married) becoming prince of Wallachia on August 22, 1456. Known as one of the most dreaded enemies of the Ottoman Empire, Vlad Dracula started organizing the state, the army, the law, applying death penalty by impaling all those he considered enemies: highwaymen, robbers, beggars, cunning priests, treacherous noblemen, usurper Saxons, who tried to replace him either by his natural brother Vlad the Monk. His tumultuous life as well as the harshness of his punishments entered long lasting legends that were immediately spread all over Europe, first in Romanian and Slavonic and then in German, the latter being the most exaggerated. Tour schedule Day 1 Arrival in Bucharest. Transfer by coach to the hotel. Accommodation in 3*hotel; 3 hours guided city-tour with sight-seeing and visit of The Palace of Parliament, Village Museum, Museum of Arts, Museum of Romanian Peasant. In the afternoon, time at leisure.Dinner & overnight
Departure to Sighisoara along the Prahova Valley. Tour of the perfectly preserved medieval city. Visit the History Museum and the Clock Tower. The actual 15th century house where Prince Vlad Dracula was born has turned into a restaurant and museum full of interesting flavors and artifacts. Drive to Targu Mures. Overnight and dinner at Continental Hotel***. Day 3 Short sightseeing tour of Tg. Mures, followed by a visit to Corund Village. Leave for Tihuta , passing through the ever beautiful hills and forest of the Transylvania Plain. After dinner the quests are invited to a carnival at the castle. Dracula Show.Overnight. Day 4 Return trip to Brasov along the Bistrita Valley and passing through Bicaz Gorges, one of the most impressive monuments of nature in Romania. Overnight in Brasov where one of the hotels Aro Palace or Capitol will host you. Day 5 City tour of Brasov visiting the Black Church, Square of Advise, Fortress from Schei. Departure Brasov – Bran Castle. Visit the legendary castle – defense tower and landmark during the times of Count Vlad Tepes, mentioned in the fairytales as Dracula. Return to Bucharest. Overnight or transfer to the airport Otopeni. Services included:
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