Romania: Of Sports, Spooks And Scenery

Romania is one of those romantic countries that I have always dreamt of seeing. I have visions of rolling hills, leading into flower-filled valleys that watch over the crystal clear Danube River. The town of Brasov is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns in Romania, with its terracotta roofs overlooked by the towering Tampa Mountains.

Mystery and intrigue also surround this area, and you can almost feel a prickle against the back of your neck as you step back into Transylvania and ponder whether Dracula passed through this region. The fire-damaged Black Church in Brasov holds weekly organ concerts on one of the largest instruments in Europe. Listening to the haunting tunes of this church organ, you may just feel a little spooked about the presence of vampires in the area.

This year Brasov is host to the European Youth Olympic Festival, run by the European Olympic Committee; it is a great place to see up and coming athletes battle it out against their peers.  Essentially, it is like watching a mini Olympics for the stars of the tomorrow.  It is about motivating the sports stars of our future, and of course providing great entertainment to those who attend. It is easy to forget that you are not actually at a formal Olympics, with the Olympic flame burning bright as it oversees the events and the traditional opening and closing ceremonies showcasing the talents of the Romanian people.

The winter edition of this European Festival will include all the thrills of the Winter Olympics, with alpine skiing, snowboarding and ski jumping.  There is also the opportunity to see graceful figure skating, with athletes moving like swans effortlessly across the ice.  For the team sport enthusiasts, ice hockey provides enough adrenaline to get the heart racing. With over 1,300 participants in the winter sports there are plenty of opportunities to see some great sports. You might even catch a glimpse of royalty, with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Albert of Monaco as regular visitors to the event.

Visiting this great sporting event in Europe also offers you the opportunity to get out and explore some of the undiscovered history of Eastern Europe. From the Old City Hall with its imposing Watch tower from the 15^th century, to the brilliant blend of Gothic and Roman styles of St Bartholomew Church which is 800 years old. For a bit of fun, walk down Rope Street and touch the side-walls of this old lane at the same time. It is after all the narrowest street in Eastern Europe, and has been carefully restored to bring back its true glory from the 13^th century.

So if you’re looking for a bit of romance, some great sport and a little bit of horror, maybe it is time to head into the hills of Transylvania.

Want to see the Olympians of tomorrow? MakeMyTrip offers convenient flights to Bucharest and Brasov is a short train or bus ride from there.