Carpathian Castles & Spas: A 3-Day Loop
Peleș, Bran, Râșnov, Brașov and the mineral springs of Băile Tușnad
Three days through the most photographed castles in southern Transylvania, ending in a small spa town in the Eastern Carpathians.
The Prahova Valley and the Brașov basin hold the densest cluster of castles in Romania. This three-day loop strings together the four most-visited — Peleș, Bran, Râșnov, and Brașov's old town — and then climbs east into the Eastern Carpathians for a night in Băile Tușnad, a small spa town built around natural mineral springs.
Mostly easy driving on well-maintained roads. Spa towels are optional but welcome on the third day.
The route, stop by stop
Built by King Carol I starting 1875 as the royal summer residence. Neo-Renaissance, lavish interiors, the first European castle wired for electricity. Pelișor (the smaller one) sits next door.
The famous one. Saxon fortress on the old border, later the summer home of Queen Marie. The Dracula association is mostly fiction — see the article in the Journal.
Saxon hill fortress, less touristed than Bran. Excellent views over the Bârsa plain and the Bucegi mountains in the distance.
Old town for the evening. Council Square, the Black Church (largest Gothic church in SE Europe), the Rope Street (the narrowest in the country).
Small spa town in the Eastern Carpathians, built around natural carbonated mineral springs. Sankt Anna crater lake is a 30-minute drive away — one of the few crater lakes in central Europe.