Bizarre and Interesting Things To See and do in Eastern Europe Part 3

Prague Ghost and Medieval Mysteries Walking Tour 

This is a walking tour that meets in the center of Old Town in Prague.

Learn old secrets of Prague, like how its kings were members of secret brotherhoods. Prague walking tours are performed in English by licensed tour guides.

Transnistria

If you ever wondered what it was like to live in Soviet era Communist Russia, then Transnistria is a place you will want to visit. It is striving to be an autonomous country of its own since separating from Soviet Russia after its fall. Transnistria retains the old Soviet style Communism. There are strict rules upon entering and leaving the country, but can be worth the trouble if this is what you are interested in.

Cosauti, Moldova

Cosauti is a village that dates back to the Paleolithic age. Let the village and surrounding Stanca-Jeloboc forest take you back more than a thousand years. There are ruins and 2 to 3 meter fortress walls remaining from its original settlement.

Eger, Hungary

Eger is a fortified town that lies within castle walls. It has been inhabited since the Stone Age. In 1552 the people of Eger were able to fight back 80,000 Turkish invaders successfully. A famous account of this is in the book “Eclipse of the Crescent Moon” by 19th century Hungarian author Gardonyi Geza.

Bucharest, Romania- The Old Court (Curtea Veche)

In the oldest part of the city of Bucharest lies The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche). It is thought to have been inhabited well before the 14th century, but it saw its glory in the 15th century when the prince of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler built his fortress on these grounds. All that is left of it today are pieces of walls and arcade. A museum has been operating here since 1972.

Tatul, Bulgaria

Tatul is the site of an original settlement dating back to 4000 BC. The area was a Thracian tomb and is also linked back to the cult of Orpheus. It is considered a major early religious find. It was Christianized in the late 4th or early 5th centuries AD. It has developed greatly as a tourist complex.

Kosice, Slovakia- Miklus Prison

This 16th century prison contains houses with an underground medieval torture chamber, devices, and cells. You can sit within the chamber and see what it was like for the unfortunate souls who were once tortured here.

Wieliczka, Poland- Wieliczka Salt Mine

This was an operating salt mine since the 13th century, but production stopped here in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding. Today it is a very popular historical attraction within Poland’s Krakow Metropolitan Area. To reach the mine, you must traverse 400 wooden steps down the shaft. You will then be greeted by amazing works of art made purely out of rock salt.

Losiny Ostrov National Park (Elk Island), Russian Federation

Losiny Ostrov is a primeval forest that was a strictly guarded hunting ground for Russian grand princes and tsars. It was set aside for that specific use in 1799. Large areas within this forest were cut down during World War II for depleting resources. It was officially set aside as a national park in 1983.

Sighisoara, Romania

Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) otherwise known as Dracula. Born in 1431, Tepes is considered a local hero and there are many monuments erected in his honor. Sighisoara is known as the Vampire Capital of The World. Here you can visit Dracula’s grave, and drink from his personal well.