Top 10 interesting places in Romania

I decided to do a small top of the places to see in Romania, after some friends asked me what's cool about Romania. This came few days after buying the book "1000 places to see before you die". Well, the book is very subjective, and sometimes it gives no real reason for seeing that place.

My top is subjective too, but I'll try to give a short reason for each place. Also, I while that book presents mainly hotels or well-known tourist places, I try to address all kind of places, from natural landscapes to middle-ages history, from life-style to modern age. While, for example, speleology is definitely a place Romania is very suitable for, I'll stick with the places that are easily accessible without special equipment or permissions.

10) Sibiu City - the old town. European Capital of culture in 2007, Sibiu inherited a diversity of culture (Romanians, Germans and Hungarians have been living here together for a long time). Interesting buildings and middle-age atmosphere.
If you go in the area, don't miss Astra Museum of Traditional Technique - open all summer and presenting households from allover Romania - Europe's largest open-air museum.

9) Parliament House in Bucharest. Ceauşescu's project was finished after the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Second largest administrative building in the World, after the pentagon, third by volume. One million cube meters of marble, 1400 rooms (offices, big halls). Romania's Parliament is occupying one part of the building. Guided visits daily. Someone might argue about including this in a top of places to see in Romania, but is part of Romania's modern history and we just cannot ignore it.
If you go to Bucharest, also visit the Village museum. A small village in the middle of Bucharest, with houses brought here at the beginning of the last century.

7) Râmeţi Gorge in Western Carpathians. This wild, narrow gorge, with tall walls and interesting rocks can be seen in a one day hiking trip. Be prepared to pass through the river because in some places this is the only to go on. That's why when the waters are very high, like April, it cannot be done.
If you go in the area, also visit Cetaţile Ponorului, a citadel sculpted in stone by the Nature itself.

6) Maramureş County - the wooden churches, of which some are build in the XII-th century are still used today for religious ceremony. They are the tallest wooden buildings in Europe. I also recommend Maramureş for its rich lifestyle, that you can still observe nowadays. People dressed in old costumes, going to the church on Sunday is a normal thing here.
If you go in the area, visit Săpânţa Merry Cemetery, unique in the world, with fully colored funeral crosses and small satiric poems about the defunct life.

5) Muddy Volcanoes in Buzău County.

Unique phenomena, the muddy volcanoes are a nature curiosity that you won't see in many places of the word. With a moon-like landscape, this geological and botanical reservation is a great place for photography. Gas coming from 3000 m deep push up water together with soil, forming the "boiling mud".
If you go in the area, go also visit the living fire in Lopătari. Natural gas emerge from the underground, so it ignites during the summer and fires can be seen on the hill. Photo by bitsofreality

5) Sighişoara Medieval Town.

The town has been continuously inhabited since its first attestation in 1291, under the name Castrum Sex or Castrum Seg (meaning the town on the hill). the historic center being part of UNESCO world heritage, the houses cannot be modified by current owners, so they still conserve the atmosphere of the late middle-ages. Go there during the week and, if possible off the tourist season, when it is less crowded and you'll still see the kids going to the school on the hill, climbing the covered snow that was intended to protect them from heavy snow and rain. (OK, Sighişoara is the birth place of Vlad III Dracula, the Walachia’s ruler that was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. But that's not the main interesting things about Sighişoara).
If you go in the area go visit the fortified citadel in Biertan.

4) Fortified Churches in South-Eastern Transylvania.

As you probably know, Transylvania has a rich history, with a lot of events going on since the XII-th century until the end of WW I. In the middle ages, people was building defending fortifications in each village in order to protect themselves, the families and the goods from the invaders. The majority of the fortifications are built in the XII-th - XIV-th century and are well preserved.
If you go in the area, try not to miss Râşnov citadel, that has recently been restored and is one of the most beautiful in South-Eastern Europe.

3) The wild Carpathian Mountains.

Unlike some other mountains in Europe, the Carpathians have many spots where men still didn't reach. Or meadows where only shepherds with a flock of ships wander around all summer. But as one cannot visit all the Carpathians range, I'll chose one place for this top: Făgăraş Mountains - Romania's highest mountains, with one of Europe's longest continuous ridge over 2000 m. Caution should be taken due to unstable weather over 2000 m. Hey, but wait, that's just mountain weather, isn't it ?

2) Painted Monasteries in Moldova - The Voroneţ Blue, for example is famous worldwide. It seldom happens that a place gives a name to a color. But here in Bucovina, the blue is not a normal one. What makes the painted monasteries part of UNESCO World Heritage is the exterior painting kept intact since the XV-th Century. Piece of mind, relax, learn a lot of history, that's why I would go there anytime.Moldoviţa, Suceviţa or Gura Humorului definitely deserve a visit.
If you go in the area, you might consider a rafting and horse-riding trip in Rodnei and Bistriţa Mountains.

1) Danube Delta - UNESCO reservation of biosphere, it's the Europe's newest

land and the biggest delta in Europe, except Volga's one. Over 315 species of birds, some of them very rare, like the Dalmatian Pelican or the red crested duck, a fantastic landscape of reed and water, an unique lifestyle based of fishing and a great opportunity for outdoor sports, that’s why I choose it as the number one place. While you can go by yourself, presence of a specialised guide is highly recommended, to help you travel on the channels (eventually in a canoe or kayak), show you the birds, animals and plants.
If you go in the area, don't split your time going elsewhere, spend quality time in the Danube Delta. OK, Ok :) ... you might consider the full Dobrudja, with a rich history, like the Christian martyrs of the 4-th century and Măcin Mountains, part of the very old hercinic mt. range and preserving a very rich biodiversity.

As mentioned, this top only reflects my personal opinion, my preference based on the way I like to travel, the things I'm interested in (nature, history, architecture). If you disagree with the presence in top 10 of some places, if you have something to add or would like other places to be included (but then I would have to declassify some of the a.m. places so let us know also which one you'd drop out), if you have something to ask or just something to comment, please don't hesitate to do this.