Fact 1: Home of the World's Heaviest Building
One lesser-known but interesting fact about Romania is that it is home to the world's heaviest building. The People’s Palace or The Palace of the Parliament located in Bucharest, its capital, holds this impressive title. Made from 700,000 tonnes of steel and bronze, million square feet of marble, 3,500 tonnes of crystal and 900,000 square metres of wood, it tips the scales at a whopping 4,098,500,000 kgs!
Fact 2: Romania: The Land of Unique Wildlife
Romania is home to Europe’s densest population of brown bears, with approximately 60% of the continent’s bear population residing in the country’s Carpathian Mountains. Other sizable populations of wild animals such as wolves and lynx also call Romania their home.
Fact 3: Music in the Roses
In a small village in Romania named Clejani, roses aren't just admired for their beauty and scent; here, some believe music grows in roses. According to local legend, Django Reinhardt, a jazz legend, visited the village and played music so hauntingly beautiful that it got absorbed by the roses. And thus, it is believed, the roses in Clejani bloom with music in their hearts.
Fact 4: The Merry Cemetery
A cemetery might not be the place where you'd expect to find merriment, but that's exactly what you'll find at the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, Romania. Here, the tombstones are painted in lively blues and adorned with colorful illustrations and poems revealing entertaining elements of the deceased’s life and cause of death, reflecting the belief in death as a moment filled with joy and anticipation for a better life.
Fact 5: A Word Invented in Romania
The word “dracula” was coined in Romania. Derived from the Romanian word "dracul", meaning dragon or devil, it was used to name the famous Bram Stoker's vampire character after the infamous Prince Vlad "Dracul" Tepes, whose cruel actions became a legend in the country.
Fact 6: The Home of The Highest Wooden Church
Located in the Maramures County in Sapanta-Peri, Romania is home to the highest wooden church in the world, the Sapanta Peri Monastery, which reaches a height of 78 meters (including its cross). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fact 7: A Gold Museum Underneath the Earth
In Rosia Montana, Carlos I Gallery is a unique museum located almost a hundred feet beneath the Earth's surface in the tunnels of a gold mine, showcasing the historical importance of gold mining in the region and a rare collection of artefacts and archaeological riches.
Fact 8: Europe's Last True Wilderness
The Danube Delta is part of UNESCO World Heritage and is considered Europe’s last true wilderness. It’s the continent’s best-preserved delta and houses wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Fact 9: The Inventor of Insulin was Born Here
Nicolae Paulescu, the Romanian who discovered insulin, was born in Bucharest in 1869. Although ignored during his lifetime, his work after death was recognized by the Nobel Committee who acknowledged his contribution to the discovery of this vital hormone.
Fact 10: World's Best Driving Road is in Romania
The Transfagarasan highway is proclaimed by the television show Top Gear as the world's best driving road. It stretches more than 150 kilometers through the mesmerizing Carpathian Mountains and offers beautiful views along the way.
Fact 11: Blue Is the Favorite Color of Romanians
If you visit Romanian villages, you will find blue houses at every corner. Green is considered a cursed color in Romania. That's why most houses are painted blue, known as the 'holy color,' symbolizing freedom and spirituality.
Fact 12: Home to a Living Fossil
Romania's Iron Gates Natural Park houses Oxalis Pes Caprae, a species of wood sorrel that has been around since the ice age - often referred to as a living fossil.
Fact 13: Countless Castles
Romania is home to numerous historical castles and forts, with over thirty-five castles and over two hundred and fifty fortified churches, each with its own unique history and architectural style.
Fact 14: The Romanian Language’s Latin Roots
The Romanian language is 1,700 years old and is the only Latin language that has survived in Eastern Europe. Of all Roman languages, it's closest to Italian.
Fact 15: One of the Happiest Cemeteries in the World
The Merry Cemetery in Romania is famous for its bright blue crosses and charming carvings, which depict scenes from the deceased's life in a humorous way, manifesting a unique cultural interpretation of life and death.
Fact 16: The Largest Population of Gypsies in Europe
Romania has the largest population of gypsies in Europe. These roaming people contribute significantly to the cultural diversity and richness of Romania with their unique customs, vibrant music, and colorful traditional attire.
Fact 17: A Unique Merry Christmas Tradition
Romanians love their Christmas traditions. One such tradition is called "Capra", where people perform a highly choreographed dance with a goat’s mask and skin. It is believed to ward off evil spirits.
Fact 18: Home to Europe’s Second Largest Outdoor Museum
The Village Museum in Bucharest is the second largest outdoor museum in Europe. It showcases traditional Romanian village life and has over 200 buildings from all across the country.
Fact 19: Land of World-Class Gymnasts
Romania is the birthland of world-class gymnasts. Nadia Comaneci, the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in an Olympic event, hails from Romania.
Fact 20: Romania’s Ghosts, Witches, and Werewolves
Romania is rich in folklore with tales of ghosts, witches, and werewolves. Many Romanian superstitions and traditions are based on pagan beliefs. Even today, mysticism and superstition are a part of everyday life in some Romanian regions.