1. GUIDE FOR VISITORS TO ROMANIA

2. Did You Know ?  » The Palace of Parliament, located in Bucharest, ranks as the biggest office building in Europe and second-largest in the world, after the U.S. Pentagon?  » Voronet Monastery, located in northeastern Romania, is also known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the East’?

3.  »The city of Brasov (Transylvania) is home to the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul ? – The Black Church built between 1385 – 1477  The meaning of the word “Transylvania” is the land beyond the forest?

4.  » Romania has the second-largest outdoor museum in the world? - Astra Museum in Sibiu has more than 300 buildings, windmills, watermills, etc.  » The Romanian city of Timisoara was the first in Europe to have electric street- lighting? – it’s the first European city to introduce horse-drawn trams (in 1869) and electrical street lighting (in 1889).

5.  » The first fountain pen was invented by Craiova-born Petrache Poenaru (1799-1875)?  » Insulin was discovered by a Romanian physiologist ? Nicolai Paulescu  » The jet engine used by modern airplanes was invented by Bucharest- born inventor Henri Coanda ?

6.  » Romania features the youngest continental land (Danube Delta) in Europe ?  » Brasov is home to what is said to be the narrowest street in Europe ? - The Rope Street (Strada Sforii) is approximately four feet wide. The street was initially used as an access route by firefighters.  » Romania has the second largest underground glacier in Europe? Scarisoara

7. Quick facts about ROMANIA  Location: (Southeastern) Central Europe  Time Zone: GMT + 2  Area: 91,725 sq. miles (237,502 sq. km)  Flag of Romania: Three vertical stripes: red, yellow and blue.  Population: 21,400,000 (2009 mid-year estimate)  Ethnic Groups: Romanian 89%, Hungarian 7.5%, Gipsy 1.9%, German, Other 1.6%  Religions: Christian Orthodox 87%, Roman Catholic 5%, Protestant 5%, Jewish  Official Language: Romanian (a Romance language)  Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)  Climate: Temperate, four distinct seasons  Capital: Bucharest (Bucuresti)

8. Main attractions  What travel guides say about Romania: "Few regions offer a more dazzling display of cultural and artistic treasures than Romania." (Smithsonian Journeys) "No journey to Eastern Europe would be complete without paying a visit to Romania… Outstanding landscapes, a huge diversity of wildlife…" (The Rough Guide) "Romania has majestic castles, medieval towns, great hiking and wildlife…" (The Lonely Planet)

9. Castles & Fortresses  Bran Castle in Transylvania – famous for the myth created around Bram Stocker’s ‘Dracula’  Peles Castle in Sinaia – a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture  Biertan Fortified Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) 15 th century  Rasnov Fortress - built by Teutonic Knights to protect against invading Tartars

10. Medieval Towns  SIBIU - designated European Capital of Culture in 2007  SIGHISOARA - birthplace of Vlad Draculea (Wallachian ruler), who inspired Bram Stoker, home to the Medieval Festival each year  CLUJ NAPOCA

11. TRADITIONS  The “Living Fire” is a Romanian tradition of making fire just by lighting the wood with the bare hands, no source of fire involved. The “Living Fire” The “Living Fire”  The Girl Fair of Mount Gaina The Girl Fair of Mount Gaina The Girl Fair of Mount Gaina  Easter – The Most Important Christian Holiday Easter – The Most Important Christian Holiday Easter – The Most Important Christian Holiday  Dragobete – The Lost Romanian God of Love and Lovers (celebrated on February 24) Dragobete – The Lost Romanian God of Love and Lovers Dragobete – The Lost Romanian God of Love and Lovers  Romanian Spring Traditions (Martisor is a sort of lucky charm that symbolizes the spring season given to women on March 1) Romanian Spring Traditions Romanian Spring Traditions

12. SPORTS  Oina – traditional Romanian sport (similar to baseball)  Nadia Comaneci – The Mark of Perfection in the Summer Olympics in Montreal 1976  Ilie Nastase – won the French Open in 1973, the US Open in 1972