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Excursions

For a Half Day

Cernica:
Fourteen kilometres (nine miles) east of Bucharest, on an island in the middle of a lake, lies the beautiful seventeenth-century Cernica monastery (tel: (01) 255 7595). Within its walls are two nineteenth-century churches, a cemetery, chapels, a seminary and a museum of religious art and typography (a school of religious painting flourished here in the nineteenth century). The monastery was shut down at the end of World War II, but reopened in 1995 and is now occupied by 80 monks. The lake is excellent for swimming. Trains to Cernica leave from Gara Obor (journey time - 30 minutes).

For a Whole Day

Sinaia:
Visitors should follow the royal precedent and head for Sinaia, Romanian royalty's historic summer residence. King Carol I fell in love with Sinaia's sublime location at the foot of Mount Furnica while visiting the monastery there in 1868 and built Pele? Castle. This impressive German Renaissance-style castle with soaring Gothic spires is now a museum displaying furniture, weapons, paintings and other royal possessions (opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday 0900-1600; admission: US$3). Nearby is Peli?orul, King Ferdinand's palace, decorated in striking Art Deco style (admission: US$2).

Sinaia became a fashionable resort for the rich and famous; George Enescu, famous composer of Romanian Rhapsodies, had his summer villa here (now a memorial house). Yet Sinaia's breathtaking scenery has attracted visitors for centuries, from those drawn to the clean mountain air and mineral springs for health reasons, to hikers seeking spectacular views along the mountain trails. Skiing and bobsleighing are popular in winter. Sinaia's tourist office can provide further information (tel: (094) 655 003 (mobile phone); fax: (044) 315 385). Trains to Sinaia leave from Gara de Nord (journey time - 2 hours).



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