Tour into accessible travel and leisure Romania
Romania is a land of wonders and there is no doubt about this. Nature, culture, traditions, rural authentic architecture, activities, all can be found within the borders of this amazing country.
As Romanian infrastructure has improved significantly, including accessible tours and options for low mobility tourists needs and it carries on developing into an attractable manner, let’s step into a journey through local attractions and leisure facilities.
The historical center of Bucharest – access into the old fashioned side of the city
The historical center of Bucharest became friendlier for any tourist since it was transformed into a car-free area. The cobbled streets are history, now the entire pedestrian area, with its narrow streets jammed with clubs and restaurants show you the face of what once used to be the craftsmen’s neighborhood. The streets with name of trades and artisans have a unique color.
One of the pieces of resistance on Lipscani area remains the Romanian National Bank (1880), which is really imposing with its majestic walls built in French Renaissance Style. Vilacrosse passage offers a bohemian air of this area and an enchanting gate to the Victoriei Avenue.
But there is no Bucharest tour without the Palace of Parliament. It is intriguing enough that the building some tourists name it as Ceausescu’s Palace was never inhabited by Communist leaders. Known as second administrative building in the world, this massive piece of architecture shows off as opulent and imposing. What is less acknowledged that the entire building was constructed with Romanian materials (marble, cement, etc.), decorated with Romanian manufactured furnishes (furniture, carpets, etc.) and employed only Romanian labors.
The Palace of Parliament also developed a wheelchair accessible tour of the Palace. We highly recommend taking this tour and seeing the grandeur within.
Village Museum Bucharest – wheelchair friendly alleys into rural Romania
At the Village Museum in Bucharest you will find out how simplicity combines with practical aspects to offer the local peasant the most comfort for his family. You will step in a deeper local knowledge by learning the specifics of regional architecture, which developed according the geography of the region and adapted to the local culture. You will find out that Wallachian houses are low and wagon-like and always have a porch by the entrance, while houses of Saxon Transylvania are taller, with high brick fences, fortress like and the roofs of Danube Delta are made out of reeds, while the buildings on hilly area are constructed from briquette.
The museum’s alleys are large and well maintained, allowing wheelchair travelers to enjoy a tour into rural Romania right in the center of Bucharest. A trip along the outdoor museum paths, even if you cannot access the houses, challenges tourists to really feel how Romanian Villages look like.
And if you are lucky enough to take this journey during traditional fairs or celebrations, you will definitely want to see the real countryside!
Peles Castle – wish to be here feeling and… you have special accessible tour of the attraction
Peles Castle is one of the most attractive touristic landmarks of Romania and also in Europe. The fairy-like aspect, the natural setting at the base of Carpathians, the story of Romanian Royal family, and the fact it was world’s first castle fully powered by locally produced electricity make it unique and a “must see” in Romania.
The first King of Romania, Carol I-st Of Romania, asked for this palace to be built. Johannes Schultz, Carol Benesch and Karel Liman were the architects and constructors who transformed the wish into an amazing edifice between 1866 and 1914. A beautiful mixture of Bavarian and Romanian styles, the thematic Rooms (like Arms and Coats, Mirror, Moresque), ample, green gardens, the mountainous setting transforms Peles in a “wish to be here” feeling.
In case you travel in a wheelchair, we can set arrangements for you to have a special tour of the castle using mobile ramps. Please let us know if you would like to have an accessible tour.
Sighisoara – access into inhabited citadel
If we were to describe Sighisoara in three words, they are “timeless inhabited citadel”. Located in the beautiful hilly Transylvania and part of UNESCO World Heritage, the colorful citadel brings the effervescence of contemporary vibe, while the nine towers watch over the life of the citadel and tourists animating it. The Clock Tower, the most imposing one, oversees the life of Sighisoara inhabitants since the 14th century, and still does take good care to freeze the time for the tourists visiting the small town.
Right in the center of the citadel square is Vlad Dracul House, the place where the character known by overseas tourists as “Dracula” was born. We must thank Bram Stoker for the worldwide promotion of this land as the playground of Vlad the Impaler, an actual Wallachian fearless prince and hero turned into Dracula, a fictional Transylvanian vampire! The house is not accessible; still you are there on the right place!
Parts of the cobbled streets of Sighisoara citadel were replaced by smoother dales, making them more accessible for wheelchair travelers. An aspect to consider is that the old citadel is placed on a hilly landscape and there is an inclined, still at a low angle.
Cluj Napoca – Union Square, Union for all
Perhaps the title is not quite fair, as Cluj Napoca is one of oldest municipalities in Romania (124 AD!) and it is a profound multi-cultural city, with interesting and diverse architecture, welcoming locals, offering experiences of all sorts, addressing to music, visual arts lover or simple curious tourists.
But the most acknowledged landmark of Cluj Napoca is by far Union Square (Piata Unirii in Romanian). This is the spot where, wherever one turns around is touched by the beautiful buildings in varied architectural styles, from baroque, passing through gothic and Renaissance and reaching neoclassical. Banffy Palace and St. Michael’s Church patronize the square whereat the statue of Matthias Corvinus overlooks the area.
We also speak about is this area for its friendliness for all. Its large banquettes, wide and smooth, are suitable for wheelchair travelers. The edges of the pathways are considerate mild, allowing good access for low mobility passersby.
For visually impaired it is available, upon request, a tour covering the most representatives tourist spots, monuments and churches in the city, as the expression of its multi-culturalism and multi-ethnicity.
This is the beginning of a virtual journey into Romanian accessible travel and leisure. Follow us for our next writing trips into tours for low mobility and special needs travelers.