Poiana Brașov- Ski gem near Dracula’s Castle

It’s high time to choose a place for winter vacation, especially if you are a passionate skier! For all of you who can’t find a suitable place for a winter vacation in Serbia, we present a luxurious mountain resort in the “neighborhood”, which is in the same category as the most famous European ski centers, in France, Switzerland or Italy, but it is much more affordable than them! We are taking you to Romania this winter! Poiana Brașov is the most famous winter center in that country and is located 170 km from Bucharest. It is one of the most preserved mountain areas in Eastern Europe. The winter center is located at the foot of the Postăvarul Massif at the altitude of 1050 meters, and the ski fields are located at 1800 meters above sea level. This gem of Romanian and European tourism can be reached by different routes, it is accessible from all sides.

This mountain resort was founded in 1895, and in 1906 it became a winter resort. Three years later, the first ski competition in Romania was held here. In the middle of the 20th century, Poiana Brașov hosted the World University Games, which are actually the forerunner of the Winter Universiade. Today, this is a small town with numerous luxury hotels, apartments and restaurants.

In this area, snow falls already in mid-November and stays until the end of March. The thickness of the snow is approximately 50-60 centimeters. The ski season lasts from December to April. The ski slopes are 17 kilometers long and there are a ten of them. There is also a slope for night skiing. The slopes are of different difficulties (blue, red, black), so that both experienced skiers and beginners can enjoy themselves here. Transportation of skiers is provided by gondolas and 8 ski lifts. In this mountain oasis, in addition to winter sports, you can also enjoy other activities – there are sports fields, a swimming pool with warm water, a cinema, an ice skating rink, etc. And the nightlife? Partygoers will certainly have a good time in one of the numerous restaurants and clubs. You can also enjoy walks in the fresh air, which have been proven to have a positive effect on physical and mental exhaustion, anemia and diseases of the respiratory system. From the highest slope of this ski center, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the mountains of Transylvania.

The nearest city is Brașov, about 12 km away from the resort. Brașov is a medieval town that today represents the cultural, educational and economic center of Southern Transylvania. Thanks to the well-preserved old town center with numerous churches, squares, palaces and parks, Brașov is a major tourist attraction in this part of Romania. The biggest landmark of the city is the so-called The Black Church (Biserica Neagră), the largest Gothic church in the area between Constantinople and Vienna. It was built between 1383 and 1480, and got its name after a fire in 1689, when it burned down and got its current color.

If you decide to spend the winter in Poiana Brașov, another nearby attraction is the famous Dracula’s Castle or Bran Castle. It is only twenty kilometers from the place and is a cultural monument of national importance. Today, the castle is a museum with various settings – art objects, various folk handicrafts, furniture from the collection of Queen Mary of Edinburgh who lived there… At the foot of the hill where the castle is located, an open museum of rural architecture and a fair of traditional folk crafts are organized. Also in the district of Brașov, 14 kilometers from the city, there is the Râșnov Fortress, also known as the “peasant fortress”. It is located on the trade route which connects the provinces of Wallachia and Transylvania, and it differs from other forts that it was built as a shelter for refugees during different historical periods. It was restored in 2010 and it is now an important tourist attraction not only for foreigners, but also for local tourists. Many people decide to find accommodation in the Râșnov Fortress because it is much cheaper than Poiana Brașov, and the ski centers and other attractions are certainly in the immediate proximity.