Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Dracula's castle;
Transylvania’s name derives from a Latin term meaning ‘beyond the forest’, but it’s the destination’s gothic links most people have a hard time looking past. Over 125 years after Bram Stoker’s Dracula was first published, this region in central Romania still haunts the imagination as the homeland of the world’s most famous vampire. There are certainly enough impervious woods and forbidding fortresses to persuade the visitor that the whispers might be true; this is a mysterious land, where legends come alive and predators stalk in the darkness.
But come, and you’ll soon realise the medieval citadels in the shadow of the Carpathian Mountains are more fairytale than horror story. There’s a new wave of cafes, craft shops and galleries, while cultural projects are breathing life back into rural settlements. They’re home to a mix of Romanians, Roma, Hungarians and Saxons, and some preserve customs that are much as they have been since the Middle Ages.
There are other changes afoot, too. An airport in the local hub of Brașov opened in 2023, making the region more accessible to international travellers. A thrice-weekly direct flight from London soon followed. So, as Count Dracula famously said to his guests, enter freely. With its ancient culture and newfound energy, Transylvania is sure to draw anyone under its spell.
The Black Church of Braşov, named after the scorch marks from a fire
DAY ONE CASTLES & COPPERSMITHS
Morning
Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Dianne Whelan
THOUGH NOT A SEASONED HIKER TO BEGIN WITH, THE FILMMAKER BECAME THE FIRST PERSON TO COMPLETE THE WORLD'S LONGEST TRAIL NETWORK
NIGERIA
The country's many communities come together over hearty meals with plenty of heat
Katie Hale
A VOYAGE TO THE GREAT WHITE CONTINENT IS BOTH A DREAM COME TRUE AND A CALL TO ARMS, TO PROTECT OUR ICY POLES AND, IN TURN, OUR PLANET
WILTSHIRE
BEYOND THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF STONEHENGE, WILTSHIRE HAS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE ANCIENT SITES, GIANT CHALK HORSES AND COSY PUBS IN HISTORIC VILLAGES
GRANADA
In this Andalucian city, flamenco is an art form as well as a way of life not just for traditional dancers and singers but also for hip-hop stars, classical guitar legends and street artists
India's Golden Triangle
LINKING DELHI, THE TAJ MAHAL AND THE PINK CITY OF JAIPUR, WITH DETOURS FOR TEMPLES AND TIGERS, THIS IS THE PERFECT ROUTE FOR FIRST-TIMERS. WORDS: POOJA NAIK
FORGED BY FIRE
A SUBTROPICAL ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC, MADEIRA HAS RUGGED VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS THAT RISE ABOVE THE CLOUDS, NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS DOWN AT SEA LEVEL AND MORE THAN 1,900 MILES OF HISTORIC AQUEDUCTS TRACING THE LANDSCAPES IN BETWEEN
ADRIFT IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
A KAYAKING EXPEDITION THROUGH NORWAY'S LOFOTEN ISLANDS OFFERS WHITE-SAND BEACHES, ROYAL ENCOUNTERS AND THE CHANCE TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER VIKING
the RETURN
ON A PRIVATE GAME RESERVE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, AN UNLIKELY CREATURE IS MAKING A TENTATIVE COMEBACK - AND VISITORS ARE OFFERED A GLIMPSE INTO THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO SAVE IT AND OTHER NATIVE WILDLIFE
ARUBA
Dutch and Portuguese flavours bring international flair to local seafood on this Caribbean island, from freshly grilled mahi mahi to citrussy fried shrimp. But save room for clay pot stews and cheese-stuffed pastries
