Mist across rural Transylvania, in Romania

© Alex Robciuc/REX/Shutterstock

Mist across rural Transylvania, in Romania

Sure we’re visiting Transylvania—a region in central Romania probably best known to many of us from Bram Stoker’s book ‘Dracula’ or the many film adaptations of the story. And sure, it’s a few days before Halloween to boot. But let’s take this opportunity to clarify that there’s much more to ‘The Land Beyond the Forest’ than all those vampire movies have shown.

Transylvanian culture and customs reflect influences from Hungary, Austria, and historically, Celtic and Roman cultures, among others. And if the Gothic architecture preserved in many of the cities and villages doesn’t draw you in, the lush mountain wilderness of the Carpathian range is a beacon for nature lovers.