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Prahova Valley - Culture and leasure
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Prahova Valley is one of the most important tourist areas in Romania,
covering the territory of two counties, Prahova and Brasov and three levels of relief:
mountains, hills and plain.
The most attractive for the tourists are without doubt the mountains. The "Bucegi" Mountains
stretch out on the territory of Prahova and Brasov counties and offer from their peaks
with altitudes over 2000 m an amazing scenery. At their foot and along the defile
of Prahova River formed between the Bucegi Mountains and the Baiului Mountains lie the
most famous mountain resorts in the country: Predeal, Azuga, Busteni,
Sinaia. If you are looking for mountain adventures,
if you want to practice winter sports or if you would just like to have a really
relaxing vacation enjoying the wonderful landscapes and the pure mountain air,
any of these resorts is the right destination for you.
Toward the south of the Prahova county the relief changes, first into hills in the
area of Comarnic city, farther into plain, in the area
of Ploiesti city.
The traveller will discover on Prahova Valley not only nature beauties, but also
outstanding historical and architectural monuments, part of the cultural heritage of the Romanian people.
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Busteni - cable car
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Peles Castle
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The most visited cultural attraction on the Prahova Valley is the
"Peles" architectural complex in Sinaia, built by the king Carol I at the end
of 19th century along the Peles stream in a very picturesque place.
The main monuments of the complex are the 2 castles, Peles and Pelisor.
The first one, an impressive construction with 160 rooms, was built as a summer residence
for the royal family, in the German Renaissance style in the outer side and in a combination
of styles in the inner side. Pelisor is smaller than Peles, with "only" 70 rooms, but still a
veritable castle. Both of them are nowadays museums, revealing to the visitors their
numberless outstanding works of art. Sinaia shelters also the "Sinaia" monastery,
from which the settlement took its name. After more than 300 years of existence the
Monastery is still on its place, in a very good condition, enchanting the travelers
through the beautiful architecture and exquisite art objects to be admired here.
The Monastery includes the Small church, the one built by M. Cantacuzino at
the end of the 17th century, the Big church, erected in the mid 19th
century and the Clock Tower.
The "Caraiman Cross", a monument built in the memory of the Romanian soldiers
who died during the World War I dominates the valley from the top of the mountains.
The Cross can be admired from distance in Busteni, but if you want to see it closer
you can make a trip to the "Caraiman" Peak.
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Prahova Valley is the veritable paradise for the mountaineers. The Bucegi Mountains
are a nature reserve, sheltering a great variety of plants and trees species,
many of them protected by law, as for example the edelweiss,
the wild carnation and the yellow gentian. During your hiking
routes you will have the unique occasion to admire the rich vegetation and to encounter
the chamois, if you choose less walked trails. If you aren't a mountaineer
but you would like to experience the sensation of being on the top of the mountains you
can reach by cable car from Sinaia the Bucegi Plateau. Here you will have the opportunity
to admire strangely wind and water shaped rocks: "Babele" (The Hags) and the Sphinx.
The impressive calcareous walls in "Valea Alba" (the White Valley) are the biggest
attraction for alpinists, who can prove here their ability on routes of different
level difficulty. The place took its name from the snow that can be encounter here even
during summertime and can be reached from Busteni.
The four enchanting resorts on the Prahova Valley - Predeal, Azuga, Busteni, Sinaia -
invite to spend a wonderful holiday in the heart of the mountains. You will find here
excellent accommodation services, modern sport utilities and modern equipped skiing slopes,
where you can during winter practice skiing or sleighing.
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Bucegi - Sphinx
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Vacations |
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Accommodations |
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