Roll on Romania: Tripping in Transylvania

Transylvania, a region situated in central and western Romania is most famous for its mysterious and spooky fictional resident: Dracula.

Though Dracula is a work of fiction, written by the Irishman Bram Stoker, its lead character was based in part on a real life figure: the Transylvanian-born Vlad III Dracula of Wallachia. Vlad ruled parts of Romania during the 1400s and remains a heroic historical character for Romanians due to his defence of the common people against foreign aggressors.

However, amongst the English speaking nations of the world, Vlad is most famed for his exceedingly cruel methods of punishment that he administered during his reign. Often referred to as 'Vlad The Impaler', as the name suggests, his preferred method of execution was impalement; victims would be forced on to oiled spikes or have stakes driven into them slowly, to cause an excruciating, prolonged death which could take several days.

Dracula has caused much interest in Romania and in Transylvania in particular, and it is possible to take part in a Dracula tour; but there is much more to this region than vampires. Transylvania is also now attracting tourists who are interested in visiting remote Transylvanian villages in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The area is characterised by medieval villages that have remained the same for hundreds of years, and have avoided the blight of new development seen in other parts of Eastern Europe.

Winters are long in Transylvania, lasting from October till the beginning of April, and are known for being the most beautiful season to visit the region. Sports-minded visitors can ski at the Poiana Brasov resort, situated at 1900m, with 13 trails ranging in difficulty and served by 3 cable cars and 8 drag lifts. It also has an ice rink for slightly more sedate winter pursuits.

Animal lovers can indulge in tracking activities where a local wildlife guide will take you out and teach you how to identify various animal species from their tracks in the snow. The is also the option to go for a horse drawn sleigh ride, or if you'd prefer to do the walking, then there are plenty of snow shoeing trails that will allow you to the explore the enchanted forests of the area.

The entire Transylvania region is very picturesque, and often likened to a land of fairly tales, on account of the many turreted castles, and châteaus that dot the landscape. Plus of course the area will also satisfy history and culture enthusiasts, especially those interested in the medieval period. Accommodation varies from rustic holiday rentals to small hotels and guest houses and tends to be inexpensive.

Horror, Gothic and Vampire fans are likely to continue to be drawn to Transylvania as the blood thirst for Dracula shows little sign of slowing. However, the beautiful, largely untouched nature of the region is also attracting a growing legion of visitors, so if you want to see Vlad's birth land before the crowds arrive, now is the time to take a trip to Transylvania.