|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAST UPDATED 28 / 7 / 2010 |
![]() www.beyondtheforest.com provides everything you need to plan your holiday - unbiased travel information based on extensive, personal travel and an unparallelled network of local specialists. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Follow in the footsteps of Jonathan Harker to Count Dracula's castle in the "Borgo Pass" ... or, discover that fact can be stranger than fiction on the trail of the real-life Dracula |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We organise a wide range of tailormade tours, themed around the fictional Count Dracula, and the history of the real Dracula - Vlad the Impaler, either as tailormade arrangements which can be fitted into any Romania holiday, or stand alone Dracula tours for groups and societies. Whether you are a serious Dracula enthusiast or you just want to discover the truth about Dracula these are the tours for YOU - researched in great depth, tried and tested and escorted by professional experts in the field; these are the tours that will bring you closest to unravelling the truth - and they are also great fun! Please scroll down to a summary of the types of holidays available or click on the categories to the left for further details. HALLOWEEN 2010: we are organising a selection of tailor-made options plus Halloween Dracula themed short breaks with Count Kalnoky, and near Sighisoara. Email for details. "Just returned from the Ultimate Halloween tour and would just like to thank you for a wonderful experience. Special mention must go to the guide Ramona, one could have not wished for a better, more professional, well informed FUN guide, She is a truly wonderful person and a joy to be around!" D.&J.K. (Derbyshire) "We loved Hotel Castel Dracula, it was great fun, and in a stunning location, but the horse and cart ride up through the forest was an attraction worth selling in itself. A beautiful ride and a great experience. We loved turning up to the door to the amzement of the other tourists in their cars!" D.& A.O. (East Sussex) Click here for further testimonials from our GUEST BOOK |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
To book your perfect holiday we recommend: 0800 074 7800 www.travelcounsellors.co.uk A quaity, personal service by travel experts in your local area |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Superstitions, myths and legend are rife in this part of Transylvania - a fear of the unknown in this remote corner of Europe |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
"Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road - a long, agonized wailing as if from fear. The sound was taken up by another dog, then another and another, till, borne on the wind which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began which seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night. ... Then, far off in the distance, from the mountains on each side of us began a louder and sharper howling - that of wolves!"
[ Bram Stoker "Dracula", 1897 ] |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tekephone: 01539 531 258 (UK) 0044 1539 513258 (Int.) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dracula: the Vampire Count |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The well-known Dracula, a vampire count, subject of hundreds of horror films, was created by an Irishman, Bram Stoker, in 1897. The novel begins with the journey of Jonathan Harker, a naive English lawyer dispatched to Transylvania to finalise the deeds on the sale of a property in London for the Count. He journeys from Budapest to Cluj, then onwards to Bistritz (Bistrita) by train. There, he stays at the Golden Krone Hotel before travelling up the "Borgo Pass" to Castle Dracula despite warnings to the contrary. Although Stoker had never been to Transylvania the locations used are real and his discriptions surprisingly accurate. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stoker describes the orchards of Bistritz then "beyond the green swelling hills of the Mittel Land rose mighty slopes of forest up to the lofty peaks of the Carpathians themselves". In our opinion the remote "Borgo" Pass is one of the most beautiful places in Romania - the dark forests, the peaks of the Bargau, Caliman, Suhard and Rodnei mountains and yes, in the autumn and winter the night air is filled with the chilling howls of the wolves, and in winter the snow is betrays their tracks! We offer you the unique experience of travelling up the pass by horse and cart, a four hour journey following cart tracks through wolf-infested forest up to the plateau of the Borgo Pass. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Views of the Borgo Pass and Caliman Mountains | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dracula: Vlad the Impaler - Prince of Wallachia |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stoker drew his inspiration from a number of sources but following his discovery of a pamphlet about the 15th century Prince of Wallachia - Vlad Dracula - his vampire count gained an identity. Vlad was born in Sighisoara in Transylvania in 1431 - the house where he was allegedly born still stands today and now contains a restaurant. He lived during a time of great conflict. Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire of the Turks in 1453 and his father joined the Order of Dragon - a union of eastern and central European rulers - to repel further expansion. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years were spent as a hostage of the Turks before Vlad took the throne of Wallachia in Targoviste and attempted to rid his country of subservience to the Turks. Knowledge gained from captivity enabled him to use terror tactics against wayward landlords to gain obedience and against the Turks who attempted to invade Wallachia and capture him. Dracula means "Son of the Devil", and this nickname, in addition to "the Impaler", were soon applied to Vlad. On one occasion they were repulsed by the sight of a forest of the victims of a previous invasion impaled outside the capital Targoviste. He was later deposed by his brother, who sided with the Turks and he fled from his castle in the gorge of the Arges at Poienari, aided by the villagers of Arefu, across the mountains to Transylvania, where he was sheltered for while in the mountain castle of "Königstein"(Piatra Craiului), now a ruin above the Rucar Pass Vlad returned to the throne of Wallachia only to be murdered a few months later. His decapitated remains were buried at Snagov Monastery near Bucharest, which he had once partly converted into a prison. The capital itself was first recorded during the time of his first reign when he built a citadel there. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dracula: Nicolae Ceausescu - the Dictator |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vlad the Impaler fell from grace and was largely ignored by history until the regime of the late Communist Dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu used his exploits against 'foreign enemies' in their patriotic propaganda to promote their Nationalist ideals. meanwhile, Ceausescu himself was increasingly vilified and likened to both Vlad and the fictional Count Dracula due to his horrendous abuse of human rights during his so called 'Epoque of Light'. Click here to find out more about CEAUSESCU and the repressive Communist regime in Romania. Transylvania: Superstition and Supernatural Inspiration There is far more to Transylvania than Dracula, but the reason for this fascination and the association of the name Transylvania with horror, is perhaps not surprising. The image many people have when they think of 'Transylvaania' is of a remote mountainous land of rugged mountains, dark forests, and perhaps a few castles or mediaeval towns of gingerbread houses, cobbled squares, towers and turrets. It s a romantic image but one which is based on truth. Transylvania is a far way, almost mythical, place for many of us. It is a region or high mountains and immense forests, a region with a great history of invasions and settlement, or fortified towns and villages, castles and caves. And it has those archetypal mediaeval towns like Sighisoara and Sibiu, places which are reminiscent of the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. Add to this the mix of peasant superstitions, legends from the crusades such as the story of Vlad the Impaler, gold mines, and a healthy population of wolves and bears and you have the perfect mix. It is therefore little wonder that writers such as Bram Stoker, who researched Transylvania from the confort of the British Museum, were inspired to write stories such as Dracula. Here we have listed a selection of places that have been settngs in stories, that have inspired them, or that are simply spooky Baile Herculane: The Roman Baths of Hercules, sometimes said to be the origin of the Golden Fleece (The Iron Gates of the Danube were the 'clashing rocks') Balea Lac: this lake, high in the Fagaras Mountains, is supposed to be the home of the Scholomancers, the Devils' students. Bargau Mountains: Liviu Rebreanu's 'Hanging Forest' Bistrita (Bistritz): the location of the Golden Krone Inn - the opening of Stoker's Novel Borgo (Bargau) Pass: the wolf-infested plateau that is the setting for Count Dracula's Castle; the frontier between Transylvania and Moldova Ceahlau: the Magic Mountain of the Dacian Gods Colt Castle: this ruin in the Retezat Mountains, near Hateg, was the setting of "Caste in the Carpathians" by Jules Verne Durau: the ruins of the 'Palace of the Princes' at the foot of Mt Ceahlau ('Magic Mountain') was the inspiration for several ghost stories by Alexandre Dumas, such as the 'Pale Lady' Ghencea Cemetery (Bucharest): not for the faint hearted after dark Lugoj: home of Bela Lugosi, the actor who first made Dracula famous on the silver screen Poienari: the castle of Vlad the Impaler, high above the Arges Gorge Sighisoara: the perfect fairytale Transylvanian town, and birthplace of the real Dracula Snagov: the island monastery where the headless corpse of Dracula is said to be buried Varghis Canyon - Vargyas (Hungarian) or Almasch (German): a series of bat-infested caves north-east of Sighisoara from which the Pied Piper emerged with the children of Hamelin Transylvania also has a fascinating folklore of local superstitions, perpetuated by the peaqsants in mountain villages. Beliefs include Strigoi (corporeal ghosts which can transform into animals or fireflies), Zine (spirits), Forest Maidens (beautiful spirits which seduce woodsmen and shepherds and steal their souls in the forests of northern Transylvania and Maramures, and even Werewolves! For more information try to find a copy of Andrew Mackenzie's 'Dracula Country'. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
WARNING ABOUT BOOKING DRACULA TOURS ON THE INTERNET If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! We strongly recommend that you book your travel arrangements through a reliable, fully licensed travel agent or tour operator. You should always check ATOL licenses and bonding arrangements or travel trust schemes before booking, and you should take out adequate travel insurance. We recommend TRAVEL COUNSELLORS in the UK, Netherlands, USA, and Australia because they have unparalleled financial protection, work with a wide range of quality, fully licensed tour operators such as Cox & Kings and Sunvil, in addition to local ground operators. Their consultants also provide a superb personal service. However, there are, of course, plenty of reliable alternatives. Please take care if booking directly with hotels or operators in Romania advertising on the web. Some of them are unlicensed or uninsured. Travel is a unique commodity because you part with your money before you receive the service. This is why it is strictly regulated and legitimate agents and operators invest heavily in licenses, bonding schemes and trust accounts where monies are held back from suppliers until you have completed your holiday. Therefore, you as a traveller are protected. It is also important to note that ATOL licenses, unlike travel trust schemes, will only cover full packages booked under one licence. For example, if you book your flights direct on the internet, then book your accommodation through a travel agency, you would not be covered under their ATOL license. By booking direct over the internet you are always taking a risk unless you have a personal recommendation or are able to check out the operator or hotel in question. Check for a registered address, evidence of licenses and financial protection, bank account details (not only PayPal), and a fixed, rather than mobile telephone number, and for independent reviews or recommendations. We have highlighted specific problems where we have come across them. Common complaints are hotels (especially on the Black Sea) which take reservations but cancel them if a higher paying client or group comes along. Other complaints include surcharges levied on arrival, hotels that have been overbooked, transfers in unroadworthy vehicles or with dangerous drivers, and tours that so not turn out to be as advertised. Remember, Romania is a huge country. One Romanian internet company is currently advertising a Dracula Tour which finishes with a day driving from Bucovina to Bucharest via the Danube Delta and the Black Sea ... impossible, even with the fastest, most dangerous driver! So please take time to research before booking to avoid disappointment. If you are concerned about a particuar tour or operator, you can check with the Romanian Embassy or Tourist Office to find out if they are genuine. NOTE: If you have more than a passing interest in Dracula and Transylvania, there are several Dracula Societies in the UK and USA, including the Dracula Society, London Vampyre Society and the Ghost Club. They often organise excellent Dracula themed holidays for their members in Transylvania, and beyond. For example to the castles of the Czech Republic and Slovakia including that of the infamous Elizabeth Bathori, the 'Blood Countess' at Cachtice.
Dracula Collection: Holiday Suggestions 2010 The following short breaks have been designed to be incorporated into your Romania holiday or can be taken as stand alone holidays. Prices are guidelines, based on prices from reputable agents, and have been quoted without flights. many of these ideas can be adapted for incentives or treasure trails for clubs or businesses. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]()
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright © 2010 BeyondtheForest - the Romania Travel Specialists
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dracula Tours Trips Holidays Trail Flights Transylvania Uncovered Count Dracula Vlad Tepes The Impaler Jonathan Harker Van Helsing Vampire Ball Halloween Ball Midsummer Ball Bucharest Bistrita BistritzSighisoara Borgo Pass Sibiu Poienari Dracula Castle Targoviste Arefu Brasov Bran Snagov Horse and Carriage Rides Witch Trial weekend breaks Transylvanian Society of Dracula Spooky Castles Haunted Ruins Legends Folklore Superstitions Dracula Tours Trips Holidays Trail Flights Transylvania Uncovered Count Dracula Vlad Tepes The Impaler Jonathan Harker Van Helsing Vampire Ball Halloween Ball Midsummer Ball Bucharest Bistrita BistritzSighisoara Borgo Pass Sibiu Poienari Dracula Castle Targoviste Arefu Brasov Bran Snagov Horse and Carriage Rides Witch Trial weekend breaks Transylvanian Society of Dracula Spooky Castles Haunted Ruins Legends Folklore Superstitions Dracula Tours Trips Holidays Trail Flights Transylvania Uncovered Count Dracula Vlad Tepes The Impaler Jonathan Harker Van Helsing Vampire Ball Halloween Ball Midsummer Ball Bucharest Bistrita BistritzSighisoara Borgo Pass Sibiu Poienari Dracula Castle Targoviste Arefu Brasov Bran Snagov Horse and Carriage Rides Witch Trial weekend breaks Transylvanian Society of Dracula Spooky Castles Haunted Ruins Legends Folklore Superstitions Dracula Tours Trips Holidays Trail Flights Transylvania Uncovered | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||