Diversity and charm of Romania, through pictures (country, place, people)

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Originally Posted by Sean Connery's Eyes

I just came in here to say Romanian women are the most beautiful in all of Europe.

Thank you! Nevertheless, as "beauty" in this context always is something sensual, I consider it a superficial and depersonalising perception of women.




Clay model of a wheeled cow from Cucuteni Neolithic Culture, carbon dated to 3950-3650 BCE. Is the oldest representation of wheel in the world, the previously known representations being two artefacts from Poland and Slovenia.


Carro by ubi|solitudinem, on Flickr

Wheel appears to have been an European invention, from here being exported through cultural migration in Near East. There is also linguistical evidence in that sense, the Near East early civilisations using for wheel words rtesembling the Proto-Indo-European ones:
Proto-Indo-European speakers of the Late Tripolye culture as the inventors of wheeled vehicles | Mathilda's Anthropology Blog.




Cucuteni, developed between 4800-3000 BCE, was the most remarkable Neolithic Culture in Europe, building the first big cities in the word (with population up to 15,000 people) and creating an amazing material culture, manifested especially in pottery.

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Târgoviște

The city was capital of Wallachia between tre 1396-1714 (toward the last period alternating with Bucharest).





The Princely Court includes:


- the ruins of the Princely Palace (1400-1584)
- Chindia Tower, built by Vlad Țepeș in 1460
- the Small Princely Church, ~ 1450
- the Great Princely Church, 1584





. by fusion-of-horizons, on Flickr







Targoviste by Bogdan Morar, on Flickr




Targoviste,Romania by rusty1452, on Flickr








Stelea Monastery - interior of the church from 1645



Stelea by fusion-of-horizons, on Flickr

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Three cave sketes in Argeș County





Cetățeni Skete is located in a cave on top of a rock at 881 m elevation above sea level and ~ 150 m above the road level, in the spectacular defile of Dâmbovița River. In Antiquity, here was one of the biggest and most important Dacian cities, that had its acropolis on the top of the same rock and the civil settlement at its foot.


The skete was established in 13th century in the cave that was of natural origin or carved by Dacians.




Cetatuia - biserica in stanca by Bogdan Morar, on Flickr






Rugatorul by Bogdan Morar, on Flickr





Cavalerul Trac de la Cetatuia by Bogdan Morar, on Flickr











Corbii de Piatră Skete - it is not known when was established. Radiocarbon analysis of the paintings (which are applied directly on rock) found they were created in 1290-1330.



The church from the rock by Bogdan Morar, on Flickr





The stairs to history by Bogdan Morar, on Flickr









Nămăești Monastery - certified in 1386 but older



IMG_9966-11.jpg by ruxandraale, on Flickr






Namaiesti Church by nicubunu.photo, on Flickr

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Transalpina Highway




The highest paved road in Romania, was for decades a dirt road. It was paved in 2007-2013. The lenght is 148 km and maximum height reached is 2,145 m. It crosses the entire width of Carpathians, linking Oltenia and Transylvania.


The origins are in 18-19th century, when is said was built by the local people, though is possible that some works to have been done as early as during the Roman times. It was rebuilt in the 1930s, being inaugurated in 1938.


By those who drove on both Transfăgărășan and Transalpina, the opinion is that Transalpina is more beautiful. It passes through very spectacular landscapes, through the endless forests of Parâng, Șureanu and Cindrel Mountains and over the high alipine plateaux.





transalpina by paul bica, on Flickr








Drumul Regelui/ Transalpina by wendlisoara, on Flickr









Transalpina by eaglex, on Flickr







Red horse by shoricelu♂♫☼☺, on Flickr











Rânca Ski Resort - situated at 1,600 m elevation toward the southern end of Transalpina, has appeared in last years and is continuously growing


Ranca de pe dn67c by shoricelu♂♫☼☺, on Flickr

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Iași, again




Iasi, Romania by kaliphoto, on Flickr








Sfântu Sava Church, 16th century



Iasi, Romania, Biserica Sf Sava by kaliphoto, on Flickr









Trei Ierarhi Monastery



Iasi, Romania, Trei Ierarhi by kaliphoto, on Flickr

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Lăzarea / Gyergyószárhegy, Székely Land, Transylvania



The village is beautifuly situated in the Gheorgheni Depression, one of the depressions in Eastern Carpathians inhabited by Székely Hungarians, each such depression corresponding to a historical Székely Seat or comitatus.


Lăzarea is most famous for its castle, the finest in Székely Land. It was built in 16th century - the nobleman's residence - and 17th century - the surrounding fortified courtyard. The crenels of the front side of the courtyard are decorated with fine Renaissance stuccos and paintings.





The Residence seen from the gate of the courtyard


The Lázár castle at Gyergyószárhegy (RO: Lăzarea) ID: P1030462 by Rimager, on Flickr








A part of the courtyard with the building of the gate


Lazarea: view from castle by Marilynn Taylor, on Flickr








Castle's chapel, built around 1558



Kápolna by csaga, on Flickr









A 17th century Franciscan monastery



Ferences kolostor by csaga, on Flickr

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Vlădeasa Mountains


Vlădeasa are different from the other ranges in Western Carpathians (or Apuseni) in that they are of volcanic origin. Their southern part includes some areas protected inside the Apuseni Nature Park.




Tura bicicleta: Sacuieu - cab, Vladeasa - cab Meteo - Rachitele - SacuieuCoborarea spre Pietrele Albe by Olivian Daniel Tofan, on Flickr





pines by Robert Sarkozi, on Flickr





hiding behind the trees by Robert Sarkozi, on Flickr





hiking with friends by Robert Sarkozi, on Flickr





whenever you are thirsty by Robert Sarkozi, on Flickr

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Băile Tușnad Spa


Băile Tușnad / Tusnádfürdő is a spa at the southern limit of Harghita Mountains, in the Székely Land,the Hungarian enclave in Eastern Transylvania. It has a population of 1,617 (90% Hungarians). It is situated in the pass between the Ciuc and Sfântu Gheorghe depresssions and surrounded by thick forests where live a great number of bears and other wild animals. The landscape around are spectacular, with cliffs piercing the forests and the mountains surrounding the resort which is situated in a sort of amphiteater. The baths were founded in 1842




IMG_3032 by gpetrea, on Flickr







Tusnad Avenue by Speedliner, on Flickr





Smoke City by nyuhuhuu, on Flickr

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Ciuc / Csíki Mountains

Is range in Eastern Carpathians, situated between Ciuc Depression in Transylvania and Comănești Depression in Moldavia. The lenght is ~50 km and the widht ~40 km, the total surface being 1,250 km². the maximum height is 1,553 m. The specific of mountains in Székely Land is the alternance between forested lots and vast pastures and like in all the southeast Carpathians, here is a high density of bears, over two thousands living in the area of Székely Land and their number growing ech year. Because of high number of bear attacks on households, recently, a politician from the area asked for the intervention of the army to control the bear population:


Romanian politician calls for the army to help control bear population | Environment | The Guardian


Next photos are taken in the area of Ghimeș Pass, one of the passes across the Eastern Carpathians, between Transylvania and Moldavia.







IMG_5790 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr








IMG_6136 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr






IMG_6143 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr







IMG_6449 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr







IMG_6166 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr






IMG_5604 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr






IMG_5663 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr






IMG_5721 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr








IMG_5764 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr







IMG_6375 by kertesztancegylet, on Flickr

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Danube in Mehedinți County


Downstream Turnu Severin




Starcul Mare (Cenusiu) - Ardea Cinerea by shoricelu♂♫☼☺, on Flickr








Danube cruisers 800x533 by shoricelu♂♫☼☺, on Flickr







sunset at the Iron Gates II 800x533 by shoricelu♂♫☼☺, on Flickr