Romania’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

by Manuela Timofte

In 2011, Leif Pettersen was writing “Romania’s Top 5 World Heritage sites”. The article was published by www.bbc.com in partnership with Lonely Planet. In my previous post about Romania, I was sharing with you 10 Misconceptions about Romania. Today, I decided to share Romania’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

So far, UNESCO has inscribed eight sites in Romania on the list of World Heritage Sites. It is a range from natural sites as Danube Delta and the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians to cultural landmarks.

In my opinion, whoever sees any of them at least once in his lifetime will love Romania.

Let virtually visit them:

Cultural Sites (6)

1.Churches of Moldavia

The region of Moldavia as part of Romania is scattered with painted monasteries. Many of them have been founded by Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) as a gratitude for his victories over the Ottomans. Many monasteries have murals painted on both inside and outside. However, exterior murals have survived even after centuries of exposure to the elements.

There are eight UNESCO protected Churches of Moldavia:

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin of the former Monastery in Humor
Church of the Annunciation Monastery in Vatra Moldovitei
Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist in Arbore
Church of St Nicolas and the catholic of the Monastery in Probota
Church of the Holy Rood in Patrauti
Church of the Resurrection of the Monastery in Sucevita
Church of St George of the Former Monastery in Voronet
Church of St George in Suceava

2. Dacian Fortress of the Orăștie Mountains

This site is filled with mystical and positive energy and mystery.

There are six Dacian Fortresses located in Transilvania, in Hunedoara and Alba counties, in a wonderful mountain area. Fortresses were once the nucleus of the Dacian Kingdom. People’s bravery from that kingdom made Herodot, the Greek father of history name them “the bravest among the Thracians”.

3. Historic Center of Sighişoara

The Chinese made copies of different famous cities like Venice, Paris, and Austrian Village. For Transylvania for sure, they have to make a copy of Sighișoara. The spirit of the medieval age is in every stone.
MAEVETHEOBRIEN

Sighișoara is a small medieval town with cobbled and narrow streets, well preserved historical buildings, and small squares. It looks like a real fairy tale.

Visiting Sighișoara, you breathe its history. Therefore, it is difficult not to fall in love with the town.

4. Monastery of Horezi

It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage in 1993, due to its beauty, and cultural significance.

It dates from the end of the 17th century and was founded by Prince of Wallachia Constantin Brancoveanu. It is a beautiful church with extremely well-preserved paintings over the centuries. It is also considered a stunning architectural masterpiece.

5. Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania

The villages with fortified Churches in Transylvania are another cultural heritage of Romania. Why fortified churches? Being exposed to invaders who were searching for grains and valuable goods, locals built the churches in the middle of the villages and fortified them. Consequently, they built protective walls and special chambers for hosting a large number of villagers and their goods.

Beside their beauty, the fortified churches are a way of teaching visitors about the architecture of the 13th-16th centuries.

The spectacular villages are:

Biertan,
Viscri (the village where Prince Charles has purchased and restored houses)
Prejmer
Valea Viilor
Câlnic
Dârjiu
Saschiz

6. The Wooden Churches of Maramureş

The county of Maramures is situated in the northern part of Romania. According to Lonely Planet, “Maramureş is home to some of Europe’s last peasant villages, strewn among rolling hills and steeped in local customs and history”.

You can choose to visit the ancient church in Ieud dating from 1364, or one of the tallest wooden structures in Europe, a huge steeple of 72 m of the church in Surdești. Visiting Maramureș, probably you will want to visit the all eight wooden churches that are World Heritage Sites.

Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the temple in Bârsana
Church of St Nicholas in Budești
Church of the Holy Parascheva in Desești
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Ieud
Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Plopiș
Church of the Holy Parascheva in Poienile Izei
Church of the Holy Archangels in Rogoz
Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Șurdești

According to www. telegraph.co.uk “Visiting Maramures is an extraordinary experience, like walking into a fairy tale or stepping back into medieval Europe.” – Sarah Shuckburgh

Natural Sites (2)

7. Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is one of the largest and best-preserved of Europe’s deltas. It is located in Dobrogea, Romania and is Unesco World Heritage and also, Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

8. Ancient and Primeval Beech Forest of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

This is a shared site and is spanning over 12 European countries. It shows the importance of the beech forest as natural heritage. It is also a legacy of the forest spread across Europe in a few thousand years.

Romania has nine locations where the European beech is protected by Unesco

Lotru Mountains
Țibleș Mountains
Șinca Secular Forest
Slătioara Secular Forest
Cozia Massif
Domogled- Valea Cernei
Cheile Nerei-Beușnița
Izvoarele Nerei
Strimbu Băiuț

Taking a tour of Romania’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites you love each of them. Your tour becomes a cultural journey in time in this beautiful country, for all sites are places you Never forget. This is Romania

Photo by jacqueline macou from Pixabay