Almost 25 miles north of Bucharest, in Romania, Snagov is a small village that attracts tourists as well as locals. With its forests and freshwater lakes, well-preserved monasteries and vibrant summer parties, Snagov has something for any type of traveler, and the fact that it's so close to Bucharest makes it an interesting choice for those who want to escape the urban setting for a while.
A Boat Ride
- Lake Snagov is an example of Romanian biodiversity that can be experienced by boat or canoe. More than 4,200 species of plants and animals call this lake home, of which 120 are endangered species. In this lush environment, human intervention is subtle but noticeable, with leisure activities available all along the coastline, from kayaking and scuba diving to fishing and swimming.
In Search of Dracula
- Boats on Lake Snagov can also take tourists to a tiny island up north on which a lonely and mysterious 600-year old monastery sits. This medieval monument is rumored to be the burial place of Vlad Tepes "The Impaler," the real-life source of inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. It is said that after Vlad the Implaler died in battle against the Turks in 1476, his body was stolen by monks and a secret funeral was held so the former ruler could have a Christian ceremony.
- A Walk Through the Forest
- A vestige of Codrii Vlasiei, the historical woods that once surrounded Bucharest, Snagov forest is now a popular park where picnics, hiking, mountain biking and bird-watching are a common sight during spring and summer. For nature lovers this place can be of particular interest, because the forests have fallow deer, wildcats, pheasants and partridges, as well as endangered or rare plants and flowers such as snowdrops, lilies and crocuses.
Foray Into the Past
- Resting on the shore of Snagov Lake is an early 20th century palace that can give you a bit of Romanian historical insight. Snagov Palace, with its distinct Wallachian Renaissance architectural style, has witnessed the rise and fall of political regimes and also had a small part in the Romanian Revolution of 1989, when dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife found brief refuge here before eventually being captured, in the city of Pitesti. The palace can be visited, but an online or telephone reservation is required.
Art Break
- Snagov might be a small town, but it curates interesting collections of historical art, documents from the village's past, patrimony pieces and photography, with relics of international, national and regional relevance that originate from the first century to present time. The main collections cover local archaeology, numismatics, maps, ethnography, local historical figures, monasteries and churches, ecotourism and water sports.
