Spending a 3-day vacation in Mureș County
Summer is here, the clear sky and sunny days are more and more inviting so the thought of a holiday creeps into the minds of many of us. If you choose Mureş County as your destination for a 3-day getaway, then the following recommendations will come in as useful.
You can discover the beauty and charm of this area through a series of locations and various activities, from the county seat municipality and the villages that preserve traditions born of multi-ethnic richness to famous historical places. Nature and hiking enthusiasts have plenty of possibilities to indulge in the slower flow of time in order to (re)connect with everything around them, away from the busy modern life.
The gastronomy of Mureș county can be quite attractive, as well, due to the multiculturality of the region, inviting the visitors to a real treat for the senses, through all its colours and flavours.
Depending on where you enter the county, you can start your holiday by visiting the main tourist attractions in cities such as Târgu Mureș, Reghin, Sovata, Sighişoara or Luduş. If you opt for Târgu Mureş, a walk through the centre is the perfect opportunity to discover the cultural and historical abundance that characterizes this place of confluence of various ethnicities. A visit to the Palace of Culture, a glance from the Prefecture Tower to capture the city from above, the two cathedrals guarding the Roses’ Square, the Synagogue, the Roman Catholic Church, the Teleki Library, the Unitarian Church, the Medieval Citadel and the Reformed Church within its precincts are just some of the arguments that will convince you of the richness and multicultural characteristic of the "market" on Mureș River. Don't leave out the green areas of the city, such as Cornești Plateau, with the Zoo, Weekend Leisure Complex or the Bank of Mureş River. If you are looking for some peace and quiet, you can relax at the salt baths at the Apollo Wellness Club in the neighboring town of Sângeorgiu de Mureș.
If you start your adventure from Reghin, you have the opportunity to see how violins are made and find out that these exact instruments are shipped around the world and used in great concert halls. The historic centre reveals the beauty emanated by the Eclectic, Secessionist, Neoclassical and Baroque buildings that revolve around the park in the central square. The Evangelic Church, the oldest monument of the city, "Anton Badea" Ethnographic Museum, the Round Forest (the highest point) and the geographical position make Reghin an excellent starting point for exploring the natural, cultural and architectural beauties around that area. You can venture on one or more hikes in Călimani and Gurghiu mountains, following the various tourist trails, such as those leading to the God's Chair Peak or visit the fabulous mold caves in Andreneasa. Or you can choose to enjoy the fairy-tale landscapes of the Upper Mureş River Defile.
Other places to visit in the area:
- the Secular Oaks Reserve in Mociar Forest
- the Hunting Castle in Lăpușna,
- the Ráckóczi Bornemisza Castle in Gurghiu
- the Kendy-Kemény castle in Brâncovenești
- the Teleki Castle in Gornești
Should you start your visit from Sighişoara, you will discover, among others, where Dracula was supposedly born. Cycling enthusiasts can bike around more than 100 km of biking trails, connecting the Saxon villages around Sighişoara, like Cloaşterf, Saschiz or Viscri, on the ADEPT Bike Trail. Not very far from the county limit between Braşov and Mureş, in the village of Cloaşterf, you can visit the fortified church and then start with the bikes on the trails in the area that can take you to Sighişoara. Regardless if you choose to travel to Sighişoara by bike, car or in any other way, we recommend you to make a stop in Saschiz, where you can taste the delicious cakes, pancakes or even ice cream with rhubarb, watched over by the ruins of the Peasant Citadel dating back to the 14th century. The Evangelical Church, one of the many fortified Saxon churches included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage can also be found here. The Secular Oaks Nature Reserve on the Breite Plateau, the best preserved wooded meadow habitat in Central and Eastern Europe, is also worth a stop. In Sighişoara you can discover the medieval fortress that offers a delightful view of the city and its surroundings, both by day and by night. Everywhere you look the old buildings around the citadel are waiting for their stories to be discovered. Before leaving Sighişoara, you can also make a stop in Daneş and Seleuș to visit the Gothic fortified evangelical churches, as well as one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Transylvania, Bethlen Castle in Criş village. Riding enthusiasts also have the opportunity to ride or take riding lessons at the manege of a hotel in the area.
Once you leave Sighişoara, you can continue to Sovata. Here you can cool off in the Bear Lake, visit the resort and the other sweet and salt water lakes. You can even take a steam train to the next village to fish for trout or indulge in various treatments offered by the spa resort. But before you get to this new destination, we have some suggestions to help you to make the most of the possibilities offered by Mureş County’s territory. At the entrance of the village of Hetiur, on the hillside on the edge of the European road, there is a small Gothic church, built in the 15th century. Continuing towards Sovata, after the crossroads in Bălăușeri, the Rhédey Castle in the town of Sângeorgiu de Pădure, a Neo-Baroque castle, the birthplace of the great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, the Hungarian-born Countess Claudia Rhédey, could be the next stop. Across from the castle is the Reformed Church built in the late 1200s where, in a lead coffin in the crypt beneath the church, the countess's body rests. At a distance of about 5 km from the small town, there is Bezidul Nou Lake, an artificial lake, which attracts numerous tourists, especially during the summer. The lake has an interesting story due to the fact that there was a village here before, which was deliberately flooded, in order to create the dam and the lake.
Câmpul Cetăţii and Călugăreni are also two villages worth considering during the few days spent in the county of Mureş. Nature lovers, seeking for fresh air and keen on fishing would appreciate a stop in Câmpul Cetăţii village, located just over 15 km from Sovata, a village surrounded by green hills that hosts a hot air balloon festival every year in September. Gourmets can enjoy freshly caught trout, in the specially designed ponds, at the Fisherman's Inn, considered to be the largest trout farm in the country.
Although there is much more to be said, we will conclude our suggestions with the settlement in Călugăreni, where history enthusiasts can enjoy visiting sights such as the 15th century Roman Catholic Church, the Pottery Center, the Barn Theater, the ruins of the Vityal Fortress, the Church of the former Franciscan Monastery and, of course, the Roman Castrum in the Archaeological Park that hides traces of the Roman civilization in Călugăreni.
Tasting the best local wines could be a unique way to say goodbye, thus celebrating the wonderful discoveries and experiences you had the opportunity to savor during your vacation in the welcoming county of Mureş. And what other locations could be more suitable for this than the vineyards of the Villa Vinèa Winery in the commune of Mica, where, in addition to the exceptional wines made from the 12 local and international grape varieties, you can enjoy a unique view of the Târnave Valley or the vineyards from Batoş, belonging to the Liliac Winery, where the secular landscape embraces modern techniques to allow you to enjoy the precious local wines.
We hope that our suggestions were helpful... Enjoy your getaway in our county and let others know, as well, what a wonderful time they can have here.
