Romania may not be as well known as other European countries, but that doesn’t mean it’s a tiny part of the world. The country is culturally rich and has a historical significance that most people are unaware of. Here are some interesting facts about Romania:
1. The oldest cave drawings in Central and Eastern Europe were recently found in the Romanian Coliboaia Cave. Discovered by chance during a routine excursion in the very remote area of Apuseni National Park, 13 drawings of animals such as rhinoceros, buffalos, horses and cats are around thousands of years old.
2. During the Middle Ages, Romanians were also known as Wallachians, a common term of Germanic origin, from Walesa, used by ancient Germanic peoples to refer to their Romantic-lingual and Celtic neighbors.
3. Located in eastern Romania, a four-hour drive from the capital city of Bucharest, the Danube Delta is the second largest delta in Europe and the best preserved on the continent. With 300 species of birds and 160 species of fish, it is a real bird paradise and a dream destination for nature lovers.
4. Romania is home to the second largest underground glacier in Europe. Scărișoara Cave, located at an altitude of 1,165 meters in the picturesque Apuseni Mountains, is protected by the Scărișoara Glacier.
5. Romanian gymnast Nadia Elena Comaneci immediately became a sports icon when she scored her first perfect score in gymnastics. The history of its activity dates back to 1976, when she won a total of 3 gold medals at the Olympic Games in Montreal.
6. Romania has many active volcanoes. They may be only six meters high and cannot start a fire, but Romanian volcanoes are very photogenic.
7. During the Crimean War in 1854, the Russian troops finally evacuated Wallachia and Moldavia, and the Congress of Paris (1856) at the end of the war re-established them as principalities under Turkish rule. Transylvania is still part of Hungary. The election of Cuza as the prince of both countries prepared the way for the official union of Moldavia and Wallachia into Romania (1861-62). The first prime minister was Constantin Maruzi.
8. King Charles I became ruler in 1866 after Cuza was overthrown in a coup d’état. During his reign, the country founded the Air Force and the first oil refinery, and Bram Stoker published “Dracula” based on Vlad Tepes. Behind him is the nephew of King Ferdinand I.
9. Inside the old Turda Salt Mine in Transylvania, Romania, is the world’s largest salt mine museum.
10. The population living in the area of modern Romania was called by the Greeks “Getae” (Geti), and by the Romans called “Dacians” (Dacians).
11. The Romanian banknote issued in 1917 is the smallest paper money ever printed.
12. About 1,350 species of flowering plants have been recorded in the Romanian Carpathians, including yellow poppy, Transylvanian columbine, saxophrage and edelweiss.
13. With an area of 238,391 km2, Romania is the largest country in Southeast Europe. It is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom.
14. After World War I, Romania conquered the territory of Transylvania, but changed sides of World War II, joining Nazi Germany. In 1944, the government was overthrown in a coup d’état by King Mihaj. Romania then changed sides to join the allies against Germany.
15. Romania has the tallest wooden church in Europe. In a small village north of Romania, the people of Maramureșa carved a series of old churches into wood
16. In Săpânța-Peri, the 78-meter high church is the tallest wooden church in Europe.
17. The Black Church in Brașov is the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul.
18. The 60-hectare botanical and geological reserve in which they are located is unique in Europe and divided into two parts: Pâclele Mari and Pâclele Mici. For spectacular volcanoes, head to Berca in Buzău County, 22 kilometers from the city of Buzău and 122 kilometers from the Romanian capital, Bucharest.
19. Romania was settled in 200 BC by the Thracian tribe called the Daducians. In 106 CE The Dacians were conquered by the Romans and the Emperor Trajan. The region became a Roman province. About 160 years later, the Romans left the area, making Romania the first province that the Romans left. Over the next several hundred years, this area was attacked, among others, by by Bulgarians.
20. The Bucharest public transport network is the fourth largest in Europe.
21. With the start of World War I, Romania joined Great Britain, Russia and France against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
22. In 1927, King Ferdinand died, and King Mihaj I became his grandson. A fascist group was also formed – the iron guard. The 1930s were a decade of political change and unrest as the Nazis rose to power in Germany and the Bolsheviks revolted in Russia. During World War II, Romania was bombed by the Allies and Germany.
23. The most famous Romanian-inspired novels are Jules Verne’s Castle in the Carpathians and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
24. Romania is the ninth largest wine producer in the world.
25. After the war, the Soviet Union occupied Romania for several years and transformed the country into a communist state under the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. However, in 1996 the communists were stripped of power, which allowed Romania to join the European Union in 2007.
26. Romania is home to no less than seven World Heritage Sites. Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, the old city center of Sighișoara, the ruins of Sarmizegetusa Regia, the former capital of Dadu in the Oraștie Mountains, Horezu Monastery, wooden churches in Maramureș, painted churches in Moldova including Voroneț, and, for its great variety, the Danube Delta.
27. Romania boasts the heaviest building in the world. The Palace of Parliament, dominating the skyline of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, is the heaviest and most expensive administrative building in the world.
28. In the Middle Ages, two main principalities emerged from this area: the Principality of Moldavia and the Principality of Wallachia. In 1500 they were conquered by the Ottoman Empire, and in 1859 they were reunited under the leadership of Alexander Cuza. The country gained full independence in 1878 under the Treaty of Berlin.
29. Romania is a country of captivating stories, unique places, beautiful landscapes and amazing personalities. It is a surprising land. From the best-preserved delta in Europe to the largest open-air museum, the country is full of treasures of nature, architecture and art.
30. The Romanian Merry Cemetery, located in Săpânța, Maramureş County, is the most colorful cemetery in the world. One day, talented local artisan Stan Ioan Pătraş began to use his creativity to produce colorful wooden crosses that he painted and wrote poems about the lives of his customers.
31. Romanian is similar to French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, although it has many Slavic words in its vocabulary. For example, Romanians say “Da” for “Yes.” However, when it comes to grammar, Romanian is the language closest to Latin.
32. The Romanian Parliament consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The members of both committees are elected by elections every four years.
33. Ethnically, the Romanian population is 90% Romanians and 7% are Hungarians. Romanian, like many other languages in southern Europe, is directly derived from Latin, although Romania is separated from other Romance countries by Slavic-speaking languages.
34. Romania has significant natural resources – crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron, copper and bauxite. The metal, petrochemical and machinery industries are the main industries.
35. The fairy tale of Dracula was inspired by the 15th century Romanian count Vlad Dracul.
