Tran-syl-vania. The name itself is enough to send shivers reverberating through the spine, bringing to mind visions of vampires, werewolves, and dark brooding forests you dare not enter. Of course, these associations belong to the world of fantasy and fiction, but what of Transylvania itself?

Contrary to popular belief, Transylvania actually does exist, but it’s nothing like what it’s been made out to be.

Instead of lip-smacking plasma guzzlers, hairy mythological creatures with a penchant for human flesh, and foreboding woodlands, this vast swathe of land in central Romania, flanked by the Carpathian Mountains in the east, is actually home to immaculately preserved medieval towns, a dynamic university city, boundless hiking trails, and the largest concentration of bears and wolves in Europe.

Here’s a guide on where to go, what to do, and what kind of garlic to buy in Transylvania.

Continue reading…