The Liteni Fortress

The Liteni Fortress (or Geczy Citadel, or Lita Citadel), is a medieval fortress built 3 km southwest of the present village of Liteni (Hungarian: Magyarléta), Cluj County, on a cliff above the Iara River Valley. The ruins (some of the most picturesque ruins of medieval Transylvania) are located in Apuseni Mountains (Western Carpathians), about 30 km southwest of Cluj-Napoca and about 30 km north-west of Turda, on the road between Luna de Sus and Buru, near the Muntele Băişorii resort.

It seems that here was a citadel in 1241, where the authorities of Cluj County fled during the Mongol invasion. Attested since 1324 as "Castrum Leta", the fortress had a very troubled past. In 1405 King Sigismund of Luxembourg (1368-1437) gave the citadel to the city of Cluj, and later the municipality shared the lands into three parts and gave them to Jakcs Janos, to judge Vana, and to Laszlo, voivod of Beiuş. After the death of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, the fortress was first the property Losonczi Dezsö, and later (after year 1441) was owned by Herepei Márk.

In 1456, Ioan de Hunedoara (Ioan Corvin, Hunyadi Janos) gave the fortress to Csolnokosi Klara, a cousin of Pongracz Janos. Then, it has successively passed to several owners (Perényi Orsolya, Corvin Janos, Balassa Ferenc, Artanhazi Bornemissza Boldizsar etc.). It was badly damaged following the explosion of the powder warehouse in the underground on 12 February 1562, during a siege. In 1569, the ruins and the surrounding forests were given to Geczy Janos, who renovated the fortress, and his descendants lived here for a century (until approximately the second half of 17th century). There are no precise data on the causes of the definitive abandonment of the city, but seems that it happened during the Kuruts' war led by Francisc II Rákóczi in the early 18th century.

The Dietrich-Sukowsky Castle

Pâncota is a little town located in Arad County, Western Romania. A Catholic monastery belonging to the Benedictine Order is attested here since 1177; famous handicraft center of the nineteenth century, Pâncota was known for its fairs since the eighteenth century.

The estate belonged to the Losonczy, Gyulay, Rajnáld noblemen, then to the Prince Rinaldo of Modena. The Pâncota estate, that included several villages, was bought in 1822 by the German baron Joszef Dietrich, whose family was ennobled for its military services to the Austrian Empire. He established in Pâncota, and began the construction of a castle using stones taken from the ruins of the Benedictine monastery.

The castle was completed in 1840 and at the time was the most representative Baroque castle in Arad County. It has the U shape, with three wings, one central and two lateral. The main wing facade is richly decorated and the roof with colored tiles has the shape of scales. The castle includes spacious rooms and a large living room, very interesting and with great artistic value being the wrought iron doors and the grilles on the windows. The baron Dietrich was not only a good manager, but also an arts lover, the castle being visited by Franz Liszt and the famous Hungarian writer Jokai Mor. Dietrich bought four Sequoia trees during a visit to the United States in 1835, that he planted in his wineyard, two of them surviving until today.

The prosperity of the Dietrich estate ended up after the death of the baron; the domain was inherited by the Polish Prince József Schulkowschi (or Sukowski), the baron's son-in-law since 1855. After the untimely death of his wife, the prince married an actress from Budapest, very fond of parties and spending, so the family need for money has increased to meet the insatiable spending appetite of the wife and the prince began to sell his properties. In the years 1919-1920, the surviving wife had great debts and sold the rest of the estate and castle to some Jewish merchants who have managed it through an anonymous company.

After the Second World War, the castle was nationalized. It was renovated between 1967-1968 and became the siege of Pâncota Town Hall, but the owner company claimed and obtained the castle in court.

Photos: Dream Destinations.

Tia Peltz

Tia Peltz (January 30, 1923, Bucharest - March 5, 1999, Bucharest) was a Romanian graphic artist, painter and writer of Jewish origin, a member of Union of Artists of Romania and of Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. She was the daughter of writer and journalist Isaac Peltz.

He studied fine arts at the Institute of Fine Arts "Nicolae Grigorescu" in Bucharest. His artistic work includes paintings, graphics, drawing and book illustration. Prolific artist, Tia Peltz has had numerous solo exhibitions and participation in collective exhibitions both in Romania and abroad (Berlin, Köln). Some of his works are exhibited in museums such as the National Art Museum in Bucharest and the Craiova Art Museum, other works being in private collections.

Images from here, here, here, here.

Crina Popescu (again)

The 16 years old Romanian alpinist Crina "Coco" Popescu is the first climber to complete the "Seven Volcanoes" circuit. The circuit includes the highest volcanoes on the seven continents:

• Elbrus (5.642 m) – Russia, Europe
• Kilimanjaro (5.895 m) – Tanzania, Africa
• Damavand (5.671 m) – Iran, Asia
• Giluwe (4,368 m) – Papua New Guinea, Australia and Oceania
• Ojos del Salado (6,891 m) – Chile / Argentina.  South America
• Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m) – Mexico, North America
• Mount Sidley (4,285 m) – Antarctica

Photo from here

She is also the first woman who conquered Mt. Sidley and the youngest woman who climbed Mt. Vinson. Crina Coco Popescu climbed already six of the Seven Summits and wants to complete the circuit before 18yo.

Bohodei Waterfall

The Bohodei Waterfall (Romanian: Săritoarea Bohodei, En. approx. Bohodei Jump) is the highest waterfall in Apuseni Mountains (Western Carpathians).

The waterfall is located at 15 km from Stâna de Vale Resort; the access is difficult, 8-9 hours with adequate equipment. The water falls from over 80 m on a very inclined slope, a nearly vertical wall. At its base there is a cave-like niche hanged between suspended rocks above the Bohodei Valley.

Photos from here.

Harry Tavitian

Harry Tavitian, considered by International Herald Tribune "the most interesting contemporary Romanian jazz-man", was born in 1952 in Constanţa in an Armenian family.

Tavitian started classical piano at the age of 6 and graduated the Academy of Music in Bucharest. In 1970 he saw bluesman Memphis Slim live in Braşov and this was a major influence in his future career. After this event, he started singing and playing the blues and soon he made his first steps in jazz, and in 1976 he gave up classical music completely for jazz. He came to prominence in 1978-1987, when he set up a jazz club, organizing recordings and listening sessions where he presented albums by some of the world's most prominent jazz-men. The club was hosted by Constanţa Library, where he was working at that time.



Harry Tavitian is jazz pianist and singer, whose style covers free-jazz, blues, ethno-jazz and avant-garde. He has a style of his own, well defined in East European new jazz, through his incessant artistic experiences. His sound is a melting pot of American jazz, folklore of the Balkans, contemporary chamber music, blues, old music. Also, his Armenian roots are obvious. His music has a strong ethnic character. The Romanian spiritual area, where he has developed is a synthesis between the cultural traditions of Orient and Occident. In this area archaic convictions are still preserved and Tavitian's music is full of myth. Harry Tavitian is also concerned about the syncretism of the arts. In his performances he uses elements of instrumental theatre and costumes.



Harry Tavitian performed concerts and attended important jazz festivals in Romania, Russia, Lithuania, France, Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Yugoslavia, Poland, Scotland, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Netherlands, USA, Armenia (as a personal guest of the president of Armenia), Slovakia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria.

Harry Tavitian - Old Balkan Ballad


Harry Tavitian - At Levant's Gates


Harry Tavitian - Tanarica

Sir Blues

Valerian "Sir Blues" Răcilă is a Romanian actor, psychologist, and musician. After a career of 22 years as actor at "Mihai Eminescu" Theater in Botoşani, Vali Răcilă worked as psychologist for children with special needs in Răcăciuni, Bacău County. Now, he lives in Sighişoara.

Vali Răcilă is not a star, but he is a legend among music connoisseurs. The non-conformist singer plays almost all forms of Blues, has an amazing technique and a special feeling for this kind of music.