The monetary unit of Romania stands out among European currencies for its quality. Banknotes are made not from paper, but from polymer, which has a number of advantages. Polymer money is difficult to counterfeit or spoil. Banknotes do not sink, do not deteriorate from washing, do not wrinkle or tear. Many incredulously check this themselves with small bills, crumpling them in their hands and watching how the banknote straightens out, taking its previous shape.

The history of the emergence of modern currency

The modern name “lei” remains from the currency introduced in the spring of 1867 as a counterweight to the French franc. Before this, the money of Byzantium and the Roman Empire was used in the territory of present-day Romania; since the fourteenth century, coins of neighboring states were in use: Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, as well as Venetian and Genoese banknotes.

The Romanians printed the first banknotes (ducats) in 1853, and the leu appeared in April 1867. At the same time, it was decided to introduce its fractional part - baths, with 100 baths in each lei. For more than two decades, new lei were used along with francs. It was only in 1890 that it was decided that the lei was the only currency unit Romania.

The ups and downs of the Romanian leu

During the conquest of the territory of Romania by other states, they often tried to replace the leu with other banknotes. For example, after the First World War, the leu was adjacent to the crowns, and its rate was pegged in a ratio of 1:2.

Another scourge that has repeatedly overtaken the Romanian leu is depreciation. During the currency reforms, the leu lost 2-4 zeros, but this did not stop it from falling. This continued until 2005: on the first day of July, new polymer banknotes were introduced into circulation, exchanging each new leu at a rate of 1:10,000. More than ten years have passed, and the Romanian currency exchange rate is quite stable. After the latest reform, the international abbreviation of the leu has also changed: the old ROL has replaced RON.

Euro and other currencies in Romania: what to bring and where to change

Despite the fact that the country joined the European Union back in 2007, only lei are officially used in the territory. On the road, it is most profitable to take euros or dollars, a little best course in the European monetary unit. Another advantage of euros is that they are rare, but accepted in tourist places. For example, European banknotes can be accepted as payment for hotels and in some souvenir shops. You shouldn’t count on this too much; it’s better to exchange the brought currency for local Romanian currency.

Buy lei ( National currency Romania) is possible in banks, exchange kiosks (AMANET), hotels. The most reliable way is a bank. It is also worth considering that in the city center, especially near popular tourist routes, the exchange rate may be underestimated. And be sure to inquire about the availability and size of the exchange commission.

Romanian leu exchange rate

In mid-spring 2016, the Romanian monetary unit has the following relationship with other currencies:

• 1 USD = 3.96 RON (for each Romanian leu they give 0.25 US dollars);
• 1 EUR = 4.48 RON (for each Romanian leu they give 0.22 euros);
• 1 GBP = 5.62 RON (for each Romanian leu you get 0.18 pounds sterling);
• 1 BGN = 2.29 RON (for each Romanian leu they give 0.44 Bulgarian leva);
• 1 RUB = 0.06 RON (for each Romanian leu they give 16.85 Russian rubles);
• 1 UAH = 0.16 RON (for each Romanian leu they give 6.42 Ukrainian hryvnia).

This official rate, the figure will differ by several percent, depending on the place of exchange and the commission.

What does the currency of Romania look like?

Currently, Romanians use banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Romanian lei. Banknotes have an unusual appearance and feel significantly different from other banknotes due to the fact that they are made on a polymer basis. The Romanian currency is well protected from counterfeiting. This includes relief printing, microtext, metallized thread, and microperforation. When you change the viewing angle and transillumination, patterns with compatible colors will become visible, additional images will appear, the colors of some inscriptions and the degree of gloss will change.

The banknotes themselves are very interesting: on the obverse, images of famous Romanians in science and art are combined with flowers. The reverse shows landmarks or cultural assets, often associated with the figure depicted on the obverse. Sometimes there are additional elements indicating the type of activity of the person indicated in the portrait. For example, the 5 lei depicts the composer Enescu and the Bucharest concert hall, and both sides of the bill are supplemented with notes. On 10 lei, the artist Grigorescu and one of his paintings are immortalized; a brush is drawn next to the portrait.

The design of Romanian coins is very laconic. On one side the denomination is indicated, on the second the coat of arms and the name of the country, plus the year of minting. Initially, 1, 5, 10 and 50 bani were issued, but prices are often rounded up to 0.1 lei, so coins in denominations of 1 and 5 bani have almost gone out of circulation.

Romania's transition to the euro is planned, but delayed until at least 2019.

The new Romanian leu is the national currency of Romania, introduced on July 1, 2005 by exchanging old lei for new ones in a ratio of 10,000: 1. Bank code: RON, written as L or lei. One leu is equal to 100 bani. Denominations of banknotes in circulation: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 lei. Coin denominations: 1, 5, 10, 50 bani.

Formally, the leu as a monetary unit appeared on the territory of the future Romania in 1856, when the Bank of Moldova issued banknotes denominated in both lei and piastres (in Romanian and French). However, they are not widely used. Domnitor (Prince) Carol I (formerly known as Karl Eitel Friedrich Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen), who came to power in Romania in 1866, introduced a new monetary system in the country a year later, based on a bimetallic standard and its own currency called “leu.” . However, until 1878, the main currency in the country remained Russian ruble, the French franc was also in circulation. It was only in 1890 that the leu became the only legal national currency on Romanian territory. Since 1914, Romania has untied the leu from the gold standard. During the period between the world wars, the leu exchange rate was pegged to American dollar(consistently decreasing). During the alliance with Nazi Germany, the leu was pegged to the German Reichsmark, and during the Soviet occupation, to the ruble.

In 1947, a confiscation was carried out currency reform, during which 20,000 old lei were exchanged for 1 new one within narrow limits: for different categories of citizens the limit ranged from 1.5 million old lei per person to 7.5 million old lei per person peasant farm(With additional conditions). Legal entities could get new currency in exchange for the old one in the amount of one month's salary fund. In 1952, a second confiscation reform took place, during which various amounts in 1947 lei were exchanged for new lei at different rates. The 1952 lei lasted until 2005 (the banknotes changed appearance over time).

In the period from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s, Romania experienced severe inflation, as a result of which the leu became significantly cheaper: in 1999, a 1 million lei note was introduced into circulation. To simplify settlements, between July 2005 and the end of December 2006, Romania redenominated the national currency with the introduction of the “new leu” at an exchange rate of 10,000:1.

The front side of Romanian banknotes depicts scientific and cultural figures of the 19th–20th centuries:

1 lei – Nicolae Iorga, historian, writer, politician;

5 lei – George Enescu, composer;

10 lei – Nicolae Grigorescu, artist;

50 lei – Aurel Vlaicu, aviator;

100 lei – Ion Luca Caragiale, writer, playwright;

200 lei – Lucian Blaga, philosopher, translator, playwright;

500 lei – Mihai Eminescu, poet.

On back side The banknotes depict various buildings and monuments related to the respective cultural figures, except for the 50 lei banknote, which depicts a drawing of an airplane and the head of an eagle.

Romanian "paper" money is actually made of plastic. Interesting feature: all banknotes have a transparent “window” in the form of a symbol related to the field of activity of the people whose portraits are depicted on the front side (sequentially from the lowest denomination to the highest): heraldic sign, musical key, brushes and palette, eagle, theatrical mask, fountain pen and hourglass. The banknotes are exactly the same size as Euro banknotes. This was done deliberately so that when Romania switches to the euro in 2015, it would be easier to reconfigure banknote counters.

From the beginning of 2009 to April 2013, the leu to euro exchange rate remained in the range of 4–4.5 lei per euro, inflation in the country is relatively low – 4–8% per year.

Official currency in Romania: lei. In some cases, you can pay in euros (€).

As in Romania, in neighboring Moldova the local currency is also called lei, but differs in appearance. Often in conversation they say “Romanian lei” for the sake of distinction.

Currency in Romania

Prices for many services and goods are indicated in euros. The use of this currency is especially common in Bucharest and resort towns. In addition to the euro, US dollars ($), Moldovan lei, Ukrainian hryvnia and Bulgarian leva are unofficially accepted for payment in Romania, but, with the exception of the dollar, only in areas bordering these countries.

How much money to take to Romania

Romania is a country where you can have an inexpensive holiday. You won’t be able to spend a lot of money in Romania; people don’t come here for shopping or for an exotic or “luxury” vacation.

The most expensive in Romania are Bucharest, the popular seaside resort of Constanta, and Transylvania.

To understand how much money to take to Romania, you need to plan your trip before your trip and roughly calculate your expenses.

Approximate prices in Romania

• Lunch in an inexpensive cafe: 20-30 lei (230-350 rubles)
• Loaf of bread: 2-3 lei (25-35 rub.)
• Bottle of wine: 12-20 lei (140-230 rub.)
• A package of milk: 4 lei (45 rub.)
• Cheese at the market (1 kg): 16-20 lei (180-230 rub.)
• A pack of cigarettes: 11-15 lei (125-180 rubles)
• A liter of gasoline: 5-6 lei (60-70 rubles)

Bank cards in Romania

Bank cards in Romania are accepted in major cities and tourist areas with virtually no restrictions. This applies to large stores, shopping centers and supermarkets. In small shops, even in Budapest, credit cards are generally not accepted. The most common cards are American Express, MasterCard, Dinners Club and Visa.

It is reasonable enough to put part of the money on bank card before your trip, and pay for large purchases. Cash withdrawals from ATMs and bank branches are subject to a bank-specific fee.

Currency exchange in Romania

You can change currency in Romania at exchange offices and banks located at airports, train stations, large stores, hotels and popular tourist places. In Romanian exchange offices called casa de schimb. It is better to save receipts for exchange and other money transactions until leaving the country.

In addition to official exchange offices, there are “money changers” on the streets; it is strictly not recommended to exchange money with them, in order to avoid fraud.

Opening hours of currency exchange offices: 09:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00

In the city center and in tourist areas, the opening hours of exchange offices can be extended until 16:00.

Banks in Romania

Banks in Romania are mostly private, and most banks in the country are foreign - Austrian Erste, Raiffeisen, Volksbank, Greek - Alpha, Piraeus. Societe Generale and UniCredit also operate in Romania.

The Central Bank of Romania - Banca Națională a României is not involved banking activities, but only regulates it within the country.

Banking hours in Romania: Mon-Fri 09:00-12:00

As a rule, Saturday and Sunday are non-working days for most banks, with the exception of a large number of offices opened in tourist areas and central city streets.

Traveler's checks in Romania

Traveler's checks in Romania are accepted only in large bank branches; preference is given to those issued in euros. In many banks, employees do not have experience in exchanging such checks, so refusals to carry out such operations are possible.

Tipping in Romania

It is not customary to leave a tip in Romania. However, due to the large influx of tourists who are unaware of this, tips are increasingly accepted in cafes, restaurants, hotels and taxis.

You can leave 5-10% of the cost of service in a good restaurant or hotel; rounding up the bill is also allowed. Tipping in taxis is not required, but will be gratefully received.

Democratic Republic of Romania.

Country Summary

Capital Bucharest. Founded Independence declared on May 9, 1877. Political system According to the constitution, Romania is a democratic republic. Romania is located in southeastern Europe.
Borders: In the north and east, the country borders on Ukraine, in the northeast - on Moldova, in the south - on Bulgaria (the border mainly runs along the Danube River), in the west - on Serbia and Hungary.
Washed by the seas In the southeast, Romania is washed by the Black Sea. The largest cities are Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Constanta, Craiova, Galati, Brasov, Ploiesti, Braila, Oradea. Time zone UTC+3. Flight time from Moscow Total flight time 2 hours 35 minutes. Territory The territory of Romania is 237.5 thousand square meters. km. Population The population of Romania is about 22.7 million people. The vast majority of the population are Romanians - 90%, the rest are Hungarians, Germans, Gypsies, Turks, Serbs, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Russians. Language The official language is Romanian, akin to Latin. Alphabet - Latin. You cannot do without knowledge of a foreign language when traveling to Romania. Mostly at resorts it is possible to communicate in English, French and German.

The main religions of Romania are, perhaps, the only country with a Romance language, in which the Roman Catholic Church does not play a big role. 70% of the population professes Romanian Orthodoxy, 6% Protestantism, 6% Catholicism and 3% Greek Orthodoxy.

There are also Muslim and Jewish communities.

The official currency of Romania as the national one, official currency has leu, or Romanian new leu. One leu consists of 100 bans. Code RON. Introduced in 1867 as a national unit monetary system and circulated in Romania along with the French franc. Since 1890 the only national currency. Today's currency replaced the previous leu as a result of a reform on July 1, 2005, which provided for a denomination of 10,000 times. Paper banknotes participating in money turnover, have denominations of 1 lei, 5 lei, 10 lei, 50 lei, 100 lei, 120 lei, 500 lei. Please note that Romanian banknotes are not paper, but made of a polymer that does not float in water. They are also difficult to deform, they are difficult to bend, but they bend easily and quickly return to their original state. The presence of these properties makes it difficult to counterfeit Romanian banknotes. Coins also take part in circulation: coins in denominations of 1 ban, 5 bans, 10 bans and 50 bans participate. Mains voltage 220 V, 50 Hz. Climate The climate of Romania is temperate continental. There are significant regional climate differences between various areas Romania. The country experiences hot summers with many sunny days and moderate rainfall and cold winters with heavy snowfall in the mountains and fog.

Showers and thunderstorms are possible in summer. Snow in the Carpathians lies from December to April. Precipitation is 300 - 700 mm per year, in the mountains - up to 1500 mm. The average temperature in January in Bucharest is 3° C, in July + 23° C. On the plains the average January temperatures are from 0° C to - 5° C, in the mountains up to -10° C, in July - from + 20° C to + 23° WITH.

Summers are cooler in the upper parts of the Transylvanian basins, and winters are very cold and snowy. In Wallachia, Moldavia and Dobruzha, summers are warmer and winters are not so cold. The plains of Moldova and Dobruja are subject to strong winds that blow from the East European Plain. Droughts occur on the Lower Danube Plain. The swimming season on the Black Sea coast lasts from the end of June to the end of September.

Finance

What money to take with you: Dollars, euros. All payments in Romania are only in local currency. Where to change Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, in Romanian banks, hotels and exchange offices. The rate is usually better at exchange offices.

You definitely need to find an exchange office with a poster “Comision = 0”, “No commission” or some other variations on the theme, otherwise commissions will be charged on the amount. Moreover, a notice about this may be posted in small, small print somewhere in the upper left corner of the window. Many exchange offices close early and are closed on weekends and holidays.

It is necessary to keep exchange receipts to prove that the money was exchanged legally and when exchanging leu back into hard currency before leaving Romania.
Credit Cards Most major hotels and restaurants accept American Express, MasterCard, Dinners Club and Visa credit cards. IN large banks In the capital, you can cash traveler's checks (preference is given to checks in euros).

It is almost impossible to pay by bank transfer in the provinces (with the exception of coastal resorts and ski resorts). ATMs are so far found only in the capital and large resort areas.
Shopping Prices for wines produced in Romania are very low (on average, a bottle of good wine is 3-5 US dollars), and therefore wine is the most common souvenir.

Plum tincture, embroidered blouses and handicrafts, unique Romanian drugs that slow down the aging process, and cosmetics made on their basis - all this is in constant demand.

You can also bring porcelain or glass products from the country.

Porcelain is considered one of the main Romanian souvenirs. You can buy braids and figurines. Wickerwork can be white or blue and consists of plates, baskets, vases and vases, the edges of which are intertwined porcelain strips of different thicknesses and different sizes, a kind of porcelain lace. The cost of wicker is from 2-3 dollars for a small basket to 20-25 dollars for a large vase for fruit. Sometimes you can find very cute wicker bells. The best choice in the department store "Obor" (far from the center, metro station "Obor"), also quite a lot in "Unirya" and in shops on the street. Shelari (next to Unirea, across the road towards the Palace of Parliament, crosses Lipscani street).

Along with porcelain, glass is also one of the main Romanian souvenirs. Here you can buy glasses, glasses, glasses, vases, salad bowls and candlesticks. A special type of glass is Gall?, produced under a French license. Gall products? - these are vases, chandeliers and table lamps, distinguished by a characteristic floral pattern and a combination of two colors - a light background and a darker pattern. They are expensive, a small vase can cost you $50. You can buy it at Unirya (expensive) and in shops on the street. Shelari (large selection and cheaper).

You can purchase national costumes (lots of embroidered blouses) and dolls of various sizes in national clothes (from $5). Original handmade dolls in the Village Museum - from 20 dollars. You can buy it in almost all souvenir shops.

Shops are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00 with an hour break for lunch. Some shops close during the day for a siesta. Large cities have 24-hour stores. In tourist areas, prices in shops and markets are often quoted in both lei and euros.
Tipping In Romania, it is not customary to leave a tip, but the bill is usually rounded up to the nearest 500 lei. The only thing is, if you wish, you can leave 5-10% in the restaurant. You can bargain in markets and in taxis.

Cost of food Cost of food per day - from $10, a hearty lunch at a fast food restaurant - $5-6, dinner at a resort restaurant with wine - up to $10, dinner at a fish restaurant - from $15.
Taxi services The preferred mode of transport around the city is a taxi. The fare depends on the type of taxi, car brand, time of day, service areas, etc. All taxis are usually equipped with meters; if they are not, the price should be agreed upon in advance. State taxis can be identified by the checkered marks on their sides. Private taxis are marked with the letters "P" and "RO" on the roof. They work without meters and are more expensive, but they are easier to catch.

Taxi drivers are far from polyglots; they usually speak and understand only Romanian. Public transport In large and medium-sized cities public transport well organized, but often crowded (it usually works from 5:00 to 23:00). Tickets are sold at specialized or tobacco kiosks, and are composted after boarding. Controllers often work along the routes. To travel on an express bus, you will need to buy a special magnetic card at the RATB kiosk.

Public transport in Bucharest is represented by modern buses, trolleybuses, trams and metro (three lines). Magnetic metro cards are sold at kiosks at the entrance. The metro operates from 5:00 to 23:30. Metro trains run every 8-10 minutes. The names of Bucharest metro stations are not always clearly visible - they are usually written on a separate sign and placed rather inconveniently. Car rental Almost all major international car rental companies have their offices in the capital of the country and major cities; car rental is provided under the same conditions as in most European countries. You can order a car directly at the airport or a large hotel. To rent, you must be over 21 years old, have an international license and an international credit card. The daily insurance fee is usually paid separately. When paying in cash, a deposit is required.

Traffic in the country is on the right, all roads are marked according to international standards. But the quality of the road surface, as a rule, leaves much to be desired, even in Bucharest.

customs control

When importing more than the equivalent of $5,000 US dollars into Romania, you must fill out a declaration and go through the “red” corridor.

Duty-free import of items and things is allowed within the limits of personal needs, necessary for the period of stay in the country and not intended for sale or transfer.

It is also allowed to import duty-free photo, audio and video equipment (one item of each item), up to 4 liters of wine, up to a liter of spirits, up to 200 cigarettes or up to 200 g of other tobacco products, up to 200 g of coffee or cocoa for personal use .

The import and export of firearms, ammunition and explosives, drugs, radioactive, psychotropic and toxic substances, pornography, uncanned meat and dairy products is prohibited.

Transport

Air transportation, due to relatively small in size countries and low level life, are quite rare. The airports (26 in total) serve mainly international flights.

The railways are quite extensive (there are about 11.4 thousand km of railways in the country), but are outdated both in terms of rolling stock and traffic organization. But this is the main and most convenient form of transport for long trips in the country. Intercity trains Sageti Albatsre ("Blue Arrow") connect most of the country's major cities and are relatively comfortable. However, there are few such trains. There are currently four types of trains operating in Romania, each with 1st and 2nd class carriages. P ("Personal" - passenger), travel over distances of up to 300 km, stopping at all stations. Moreover, this is the cheapest, but slow and overcrowded type of train. A (“Acelerat” - fast) - travel long distances and are somewhat faster than passenger ones. R ("Rapid" - fast) - almost the same speed as express trains, but noticeably cleaner and more expensive (they stop only in main cities). I (“InterCity” - intercity, including “VA” and “Blue Arrow”) - the fastest and modern type trains in the country. Even those that do not fall under the Blue Arrow category are still noticeably faster and more modern than other types. Intercity trains serve only the main cities.

Bus service between the cities is very well developed - the bus fleet is modern and comfortable. IN rural areas It is better to travel by bus (autobuz) if there are no trains. Most bus routes only have a few trips a day, and even those don't stick to a particularly good schedule. They are competing with new intercity minibuses, which usually depart from train stations on a strict schedule or when they are filled with passengers. The fare is half the cost of a train ticket.

Telecommunications

Telephone communication The communication system is quite archaic, but in Lately undergoing intensive modernization. Most street payphones in the capital of Romania and in resort areas use telephone cards to pay for the connection (sold in newsstands and tobacco kiosks, as well as at train stations and post offices) and allow you to contact anywhere in the world. In the provinces you can still find "coin" phones, but their number is rapidly declining. Many provincial settlements do not have telephone communication with the outside world.

The easiest way to call abroad is from specialized call centers, which are located at almost every post office, from a hotel (prices are 10-20% more expensive than from a post office) or from a specialized pay phone (these are usually installed at bank offices and supermarkets in the capital and resort areas).

Internet access is planned to be organized in the McDonald's restaurant chain. Of the dozen Bucharest Internet cafes, a couple or three provide round-the-clock access, including Sweet Internet Cafe. And another Internet cafe in the capital, Flamingo Lahovari, has a Wi-Fi access point.

Mobile communications use the GSM-900/1800 standard. Operators Cosmorom, Orange and Connex for last years provided almost complete coverage of the country's territory, with the exception of mountainous areas, where cellular is still practically inaccessible.

Major Russian operators have roaming. Calls to Russia To call from Romania to Russia you need to dial 00 - 7 - city code - number of the called subscriber. A minute of conversation with Moscow costs approximately $05.-0.7. Calls from Russia In order to call from Russia to Romania, you need to dial 8 - 10 - 40 (Romania code) - area code - subscriber number. Bucharest code - 1. Long-distance calls To call from one city in Romania to another from a landline phone, you need to dial: 8 - 10 - 40 - [city code] - [subscriber number]. City codes Main city codes: Bucharest - 1 (or 21), Suceava - 30, Botosani - 31, Iasi - 32, Roman - 33, Bacau, Moineşti - 34, Galati - 36, Tulcea - 40, Constanta, Mangalia, Neptune, Olimp - 41, Fetesti - 43, Campina, Ploiesti - 44, Targovishte - 45, Pitesti, Stefanesti - 48, Slatina - 49, Craiova - 51, Targu Jiu - 53, Deva, Hunedoara - 54, Resita - 55, Lugozh, Timisoara - 56, Arad, Lipova, Sebis - 57, Alba Iulia - 58, Oradea - 59, Satu Mare - 61, Dej, Cluj-Napoca, Floresti - 64, Sighisoara, Targu Mures - 65, Brasov, Fagaras - 68 (or 268), Sibiu - 69.

The international country code is 40. Useful phone numbers Useful phone numbers:

Ambulance - 961
Emergency Hospital - 962
Police - 955
Fire assistance - 981
Taxi - 953
Information - 951
Exact time - 958
Information railway - 952
International orders - 971
Intercity orders - 991
Subscriber information ( individuals and institutions) - 931

National cuisine

Most restaurants offer a wide selection of dishes, both international cuisine and national Romanian cuisine. The most famous dishes are “mamalyga” (porridge made from crushed corn – an analogue of thick semolina – served as a side dish or dessert), “chorba” (rich clear soup made from lamb, beef, pork, fish, chicken), various homemade sausages and other dishes from meat. The cost of lunch in a restaurant with wine or beer is about $15-20. There are a large number of fast food eateries at low prices in resort areas. Lunch with beer costs approximately $8-10.

Romanian cuisine is very original. It is based on meat, poultry, all kinds of vegetables and corn. Very popular are “mititei” or “michi”, spicy sausages made from three types of meat fried over an open fire. They are served "hot" or with beer. The only negative of Romanian cuisine is the small number of national restaurants. In cities it is easier to find Italian cuisine with good pasta or pizza than Romanian cuisine.

The restaurants are good, but not fast service: the service staff logically believes that since a person has come to rest, it means there is nowhere for him to rush. If a tourist is in a hurry somewhere and wants to be served quickly, he should definitely warn the waiter about this.

Finding a cafe that serves good coffee is not difficult. But black tea is a big problem. For Romanians, tea is usually an herbal infusion: most often fruity. So, when ordering tea, you should make sure that it is “black”.

Romanian wines and local brandies “vinars” are famous for their excellent quality, among which “Vasconi”, “Pietroasa”, “Jidvei”, “Dorobants” and “Murfatlar” are considered the best. The country also produces good strong drinks, including the traditional Romanian plum moonshine “tsuica” (55-60°) and the Hungarian “palinka”. Local beer also has an excellent reputation; Ursus is considered its best variety. Also quite good: “Timishoreana”, “Chiuk”, “Bergenbier”. Romanians themselves prefer local Heineken. By the way, draft beer in bars is very rare. Here, as a rule, all beer is served in bottles.

The most famous Romanian wines are dry reds: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Feteasca, dry whites - Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat.

Work of institutions

Banks are open on weekdays from 9 am to noon. Some shops close during the day for a siesta. Theater performances usually start at 7 pm, except on Mondays and summer. Almost all museums are closed on Mondays.

Holidays and non-working days

January 1, 2 - New Year
February 14 - Valentine's Day
Orthodox Easter
March 8 - International Women's Day
May 1 - Labor Day
Day of the Holy Trinity
Pentecost
June 26 - Romanian Flag Day
July 29 - Romanian National Anthem Day
November 1 - All Saints' Day
December 1 - National Unity Day of Romania
December 8 - Constitution Day
December 25, 26 - Catholic Christmas.

In summer, a large number of festivals take place on the coast. One of the most famous is the August festival in Tulcea. In the fall, numerous music festivals are held in Transylvania: Cibinium in Sibiu (September), Cerbu de Aur in Brasov (September), "Musical Autumn" in Cluj-Napoca (October).

Customs and orders

Getting acquainted with Romanian traditions should begin with a description of ordinary village courtyards. Yards of various types exist both in the area where agriculture predominates and in the mountainous and hilly part of Romania, where pastoralism predominates.

They sometimes look like open and unconnected buildings, or like closed courtyards with utility rooms that are brought under one roof. Only one building in all peasant houses has a constant appearance, this is a summer kitchen with an open hearth, above which a boiler is traditionally suspended on a chain. This is where food is prepared so as not to light the stove in the room on hot summer days. As for residential buildings, they are usually located in the very depths of the yard and face the street.

The houses have differences, both in external design and in building material. If we consider the steppe regions in the south of Romania, the oldest multi-room and three-part dugouts, covered with straw, reeds or even boards, survived almost until the beginning of the second half of our century, which in itself is very surprising. Very often, the internal walls of such dugouts were lined with planks or massive oak logs. Their characteristic feature is considered to be that they had a central location of warm vestibules, with the mouth of a bread oven and a hearth. The body of such a stove was located in an adjacent living room.

In the old days, regardless social affiliation owner, such a dugout was considered a universal dwelling in the south of Romania. A little later, during the class divisions of society, wealthier peasants began to install land residential buildings. This process began to develop very widely at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.

As for the rest of Romania, most of them were characterized by a log house. Very often in the old days, houses were built from wattle fence, which was previously coated with clay, unbaked brick or adobe. Burnt brick and stone began to be used only in the second half of the 19th century. Almost all houses, which were dominated by hipped rafter roofs, were covered with straw, shingles, and sometimes shingles. Today they are covered with tiles.

If we look at the mountainous areas, from the mid-19th century they began to build houses on basements. In such houses, living rooms were located upstairs, and everything below was occupied by utility rooms. It was this basement that contributed to the appearance of the now famous upper gallery. The wooden parts of such a gallery were carefully decorated with various carvings. Arched vaults along the entire length of the gallery were installed if the house was stone or brick.

The interior of a traditional home in Romania has always been considered varied and colorful. Blind benches are always located along the walls, in one of the corners of the room, diagonally from the stove or hearth. And in front of the benches there is a table. Very interesting fact is that Romanians practically do not have such a concept as a “red corner”. The eastern wall of the house, on which most believers hang icons, is considered the most honorable.

The beds and walls of houses are always decorated with homespun colored rugs and carpets. Embroidered towels, which are hung on almost all the walls, and amazing decorative ceramics are very popular and highly important in decorating such rooms. Very often, all the furniture present in such houses is decorated with carved ornaments. Small tables are also in demand among Romanians, at which they can eat while sitting on the floor or on a miniature bench. These tables play the role of a mobile kitchen, because after the meal they are cleaned. However, guests are not seated at such tables; they are mostly consumed in a narrow family circle.

In any Romanian house, there must be a painted or carved chest in which the dowry is stored. Decorative fabrics or carpets are usually placed on top of it, thereby giving this home an amazing originality.

As for the folk costume, which is highly artistic traditional clothing, today peasants prefer to wear it exclusively for holidays.

The traditional costume of Romania has retained two of its features to this day. Men's traditional clothing consists of white pants made of canvas or woolen material, and a linen shirt. A mandatory attribute is a wide leather or wool belt, as well as a sleeveless vest made of cloth or sheepskin decorated with appliqué or embroidery.

An important attribute of the traditional costume are Romanian headdresses. For men, such clothing is felt or felt hats or pointed smushka hats.

As for the traditional women's costume, it also consists of two main parts. This is an unstitched waist garment and shirt. The first is held on a very narrow ornamented belt. Very often, under such clothing, a woman’s waist, just like a man’s, is girded with a very wide woven belt, but it is absolutely not visible from under an unstitched skirt.

Women, like men, most often wear fur vests or a variety of sleeveless vests made of velvet or cloth. The heads of Romanian women are always covered with helmets, scarves or blankets.

Traditionally, women and men wore rawhide stoles on their feet, which were worn with white woolen socks or foot wraps. Today, they have almost completely been replaced by store-bought shoes.

In the old peasant life, children usually stayed with their parents until marriage. According to Romanian customs, after marriage, the youngest son continued to live in his parents’ house and took on the responsibility of caring for them. Until recently, rural communities of groups of related families with ancient norms of collective life remained. Among the folk holidays, of which there are many, an interesting ritual is “plugoshor”, timed to coincide with the first day of the New Year and aimed at bewitching a good harvest. According to custom, guys with a plow walked around the courtyards and narrated in song form about the upcoming agricultural work.

The applied arts of Romania are associated with the long-standing development of crafts. First of all, this is rich cross-stitching, often decorating fabric products. Carpet weaving is developed in almost all areas. The ancient craft of pottery is experiencing a rebirth these days. There are three types of ceramics: black unglazed, red unglazed and red glazed.

The richest area of ​​Romanian folklore is the lyrical doina song and epic ballad songs. The folk dances of the choir (round dance) and brau, when the dancers stand in a row, are masterful. The lively and cheerful male dance Fechioryaska is distinguished by high jumps and clapping on the tops of boots. The best folk traditions has incorporated modern professional culture.

Precautionary measures

Romania is the calmest of the countries of the former socialist bloc. The people here are friendly, sociable and very patriotic. They are always happy to tell and show how healthy and beautiful their country is.

As for Bucharest, it is also noticeably safer than most other European capitals. Petty theft and fraud, although they do occur, usually thrive away from the main attractions and the eyes of the police, whose powers in this country are very wide.

Checks on the streets are infrequent, but they are carried out very carefully. In this case, you must always have a copy of your passport or driver's license with you. It is also necessary to remember that photographing military installations, bridges and ports is prohibited.

Tap water is usually thoroughly chlorinated and therefore relatively safe, but on its own it can cause stomach upsets - due to excess bleach. So it is better to drink bottled or boiled water.

Just in case, try not to go into areas far from the usual tourist trails - there is still a chance of running into crooks. Typical Romanian honest taking of money from the population: on the street you are stopped by people in uniform, introducing themselves as police or something else like that. They check your documents and, with their backs to you, count your money. Subsequently, it turns out that not all the money was returned to you. In the spring of 2003, a representative of our Chamber of Commerce was “shod” in this way for a tidy sum of dollars. There are also a lot of pickpockets in Romania.

Therefore: do not carry a lot of money with you, in response to all requests from real or fake police, say that you are a foreigner, if problems arise, ask for contact with our embassy (“Ruse Federation embassy”).

Also, do not carry your passport with you; it is better to take a photocopy of it.