Romania

Basic information and historical facts about Romania

Romania’s History

The territory of present-day Romania used to be inhabited by the Dacia tribes. The Romans defeated the Dacians in 106 AD, and the land came under the rule of the Roman Empire; this ruling lasted for almost 200 years, and resulted in a distinctive Latin language and culture.

The early part of the Middle Ages saw Hungarians as well as Germans settling into the location of Transylvania of today; to protect themselves from frequent Turkish and Tartar invasions, the people residing in the area started to build fortresses and castles.

During the 14th century, the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia were created; the 15th century saw both of these principalities falling under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. A movement for national revival slowly but surely formed during the early 18th century, paving the way for Moldavia and Wallachia to unite – forming modern-day Romania. A Communist people’s republic was created after the Second World War in 1947, which ended in a bloody Romanian revolution in 1989; this event had a significant impact on the democracy that the country is currently enjoying.

Getting Into Romania

Getting into Romania should pose no problems whatever country you’re coming from due to its central location in Europe. Romania is a member of the Schengen Agreement; depending on the country of your origin, you may need to get a Schengen Visa before finalizing your travel arrangements. It’s best to check online or with your local Romanian embassy if you will need a visa to get into Romania.

Romania has several international airports that offer services to major airlines; it is best to check which airport your airline carrier will land on, so you can plan on your land transportation arrangements from thereon.
The country’s largest and busiest airport is the one located in the capital city of Bucharest –
the Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport; the capital city has another airport for major low cost airlines –the Aurel Vlaicu (Baneasa) Airport.

With Romania’s central location, it is also quite easy to travel by train to and from different parts of Europe. The country is well-connected to the European rail network, and international trains depart and arrive to and from European destinations on a daily basis. Reaching destinations in central and western Romania can also be done by train, which can also give you more opportunities to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

If you’d like to go into Romania while enjoying the beauty of the Danube Delta, you can go on a cruise that will most likely start from Passau, Germany or Vienna, Austria. These cruises are a great way to appreciate the beauty of the River Danube; these will stop at major ports in Hungary, Serbia, Austria and, of course, Romania. Just be reminded, though, that traveling by cruise will be a costly option;
however, if your budget will allow you to, this is an option worth choosing.

---