Discover Romania: 9 Fascinating Fun Facts to Spark Your Wanderlust

1. Merry Cemetery's Comical Tombstones

If you thought Transylvania was the spookiest thing about Romania, you're dead wrong: The charming little village of Săpânța hosts the Merry Cemetery, a vibrant graveyard known for its comically painted wooden crosses that come with witty poems as epitaphs. The local artist behind this unique macabre masterpiece, Stan Ioan Pătraș, started carving tombstones in 1935 and ended up creating over 800 of these lively grave markers, making the Merry Cemetery a national tourist attraction and one of the Seven Wonders of Romania.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Hollywood's Transylvanian Affair

Who needs Hollywood when you've got Transylvania? With its enchanting landscapes and old-world charm, it's no wonder American filmmakers have a Dracula-like infatuation with Romania's scenic corners: Numerous big-budget movies like the 2003 epic Cold Mountain have been shot in the Saxon old towns of Brașov and Râșnov, utilizing the Carpathian Mountains as their stunning backdrop. To celebrate their cinematic love affair, both towns have erected Hollywood-esque signs on their picturesque hills, ensuring that Hollywood's Romanian rendezvous isn't soon forgotten.
Source => atlasobscura.com

Discover the fragrant world of Bulgaria's Rose Valley, where roses turn into oil for France's perfumes! Experience the colorful Rose Festival in the town of Kazanlak and let your senses be captivated. 🌹🇧🇬✨

=> Fun Facts about Bulgaria

3. Romania's Electric Street Light Struggles

While "let there be light!" declared the world's first electric street illumination to conquer the darkness in Romania's Timisoara, the light seemed a little too shy to reach every corner: Back in 1884, the city set up over 700 incandescent lamps using coal along 59 kilometers of its roads, becoming the first in Europe to have electric street lights. Yet, nearly half a million Romanians are still living in the dark, with around 100,000 households lacking access to electricity. To add to the dim scenario, more than 30,000 light bulbs are thrown away yearly without proper recycling, burying 55 kilograms of toxic mercury into the ground every year.
Source => theblacksea.eu

4. Eastern Europe's Sistine Chapel

If Michelangelo had a medieval Romanian cousin, they'd surely be the proud painter of the Voronet Monastery: A majestic church dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of the East," featuring stunning frescoes dating back to 1488, including the awe-inspiring Last Judgment that spans the entire western wall and dabbles in contemporary politics by depicting Jews and Turks as sinners.
Source => uncover-romania.com

5. The Origin of Transylvania's Chimney Cake

Rumor has it that Dracula's favorite dessert started as a simple chimney sweep's inspiration: Transylvania, a Romanian region, is the heart from which chimney cake, or kürtőskalács, sprouted into the world. This delightfully bizarre confection spirals around a rotating wooden spit to roast over hot coals, morphing into a crispy, cylindrical masterpiece. Crafted since the 18th century, the sugar-dusted dough caramelizes into a supernatural snack now beloved across Central and Eastern Europe – so sink your fangs into this tantalizing treat on your next visit to Romania or its environs!
Source => atlasobscura.com

6. Castel Film Studios: Romania's Hollywood Connection

Roll out the red carpet and let the Carpathians be your backdrop: Castel Film Studios in Romania is the largest full-service studio and production company in the country, boasting over 300 features, TV series, mini series, and commercials under its cinematic belt in its 30-year history. Extra! Extra! Romania's picture-perfect landscapes - from the Black Sea to the Danube Delta - have been wowing Hollywood studios, producers, and talents, much to their reel delight!
Source => castelfilm.ro

7. The Black Church's Musical and Historic Riches

Step right up to the pipe organ extravaganza, where Baroque meets bell towers and carpets steal the show, all under the roof of Romania's very own Black Church: Boasting nearly 4,000 pipes, a six-ton bell rated as the third-largest in the country, and the second-largest collection of oriental carpets in Europe, this vibrant and storied sanctuary brings the bountiful harmonics and historical riches that make it a must-see attraction in Romania.
Source => gpsmycity.com

8. The Eco-friendly Clay Castle of Transylvania

Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away—that is, if Transylvania counts as "far, far away"—an eco-friendlier Hogwarts emerges as if by magic, complete with a vegetarian Great Hall and truly "plate-lickingly" good meals: The Clay Castle of the Valley of Fairies in Porumbacu de Sus, Romania, stands as an environmentally sustainable architectural marvel handcrafted from clay, stone, straw, and undoubtedly plenty of fairy dust, featuring an organic restaurant serving meals on entirely edible plates, a magical playground, and a bazaar filled with quaint, handmade treasures, all accessible for a mere 15 lei (3 Euros) of your realm's currency.
Source => romaniaexperience.com

9. Dracula's Castle Serving Red Beer

Where do vampires go to unwind and crack open a cold one? Why, at the famed Bran Castle, of course: Nestled in Romania, this spectacular Gothic structure, also known as Dracula's Castle, not only enthralls tourists with its rich history and stunning architecture, but also tickles their taste buds with a 'Dracula Red Beer' by Heineken Romania – though one must note, the beer is merely a promotional venture and not a tribute to the notorious fanged count himself.
Source => untappd.com