If you are planning your summer vacation and are looking for a place where your favourite bands might have a show, where the beer is outrageously cheap and the landscape is awesome, you might want to try the lands of Transylvania!
We’re talking about a particular place from this region – Rasnov city, placed in the heart of Romania, near the legendary Castle of Dracula.
Here, an international extreme metal festival is held in August, the 12th – 15th 2015. It’s called Rockstadt Extreme Fest and lots of big names from the international metal scene or younger, but interesting, acts gather on its stages to share their music experience with a very passionate public.
This year’s line-up could make you seriously think about paying it a visit, as a full pass costs only EUR 45 and even less if you buy the ticket in advance, it will sum-up over 45 bands and things already started to look interesting: MOONSPELL (staging “The Vintage Set” show), AT THE GATES (Sweden), MARDUK (Sweeden), COMBICHRIST (SUA), ENSIFERUM (Finland), KATAKLYSM (Canada), CARNIFEX (SUA), TAAKE (Norway), CATTLE DECAPITATION (SUA), WHITE WALLS (Romania), KRISIUN (Brazil), BE'LAKOR (Australia), SUICIDAL ANGELS (Greece), VULTURE INDUSTRIES (Norway, staging a special show, “The Babylon Spiral”), DIRTY SHIRT (Romania), DOWNFALL OF GAIA (Germany), HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY (Austria), JINJER (Ukraine), MINDTHREAT (Greece), FLESHWORLD (Poland), TACIT FURY (Russia), CARONTE (Italy), ABIGAIL (Romania), TIARRA (Romania), HOLY MOTORS (Romania), TRANSCEATLA (Romania), PINHOLES (Romania), SCARS OF A STORY (Romania), CLITGORE (Romania) or CRIMENA (Romania).
Besides good music and friendly people, you’ll be able to enjoy urban sports in a special area inside the festival site – the Adventure Metal Park, see movies in the dedicated outdoor cinema, set-up in collaboration with “Dracula Film Fest”, enjoy tasty food at low prices and surpass your personal drinking records with good beer worth only approx. EUR 1/ glass (for 1 glass of 400 ml. – shockingly isn’t it?!)! After recovering from your perseverant hydration processes carried on together with your friends, if you want to enjoy nature, you can admire the impressive wild landscape (it’s a mountainous area with beautiful wild woods, perfectly preserved) and check-out some unique touristic objectives, like: the Rasnov medieval fortress, the “Valley of the Citadel” Cave, the “LiBEARty” bear reservation from Zarnesti, a “Dinosaurs’ Theme Park” and Dracula’s Castle, of course.
The Rasnov medieval fortress which guards the festival site (placed right at the foot of the mountain) is considered to be built between 1211 and 1225, during the rule of Teutonic Knights in Burzenland. This citadel was part of a defence system for the Transylvanian villages exposed to outside invasions, but archaeological research revealed the existence of other fortification traces on the citadel hill, which date back to prehistoric and Dacian times (dated before Christ). So, those passionate about history, battles and legends will surely find this place beautiful and interesting.
Things will get even more breathtaking, as one may witness “live” fights and competitions between fierce medieval knights, which will take place in the valley of the festival, right next to everyone’s eyes. Those strong enough to challenge these valiant warriors will be warmly invited to show their bravery!
The “Valley of the Citadel” Cave might be the place to visit for those interested in finding unique natural structures. This cave is one of the most beautiful ones in Europe and it is illuminated with LEDS, has Lucian Blaga Street, no. 13, Brasov city, Romania glass fiber stairs, banister, stairs and protection bars. The Big Hall here has various secondary galleries and, during summers and autumns, concerts and special visual events are organized inside (as it has an amazing acoustic and beautiful natural light). Another interesting aspect about this cave is related to its ceiling, which remained intact and there are a lot of impressive stalactites and stalagmites and other stone formations (good for taking and showing spectacular photos to your friends).
The “LiBEARty” bear natural reservation from Zarnesti, a town near Rasnov, is a good sightseeing place for those in love with wilderness, animals, forests and mountains. Having a 69 ha of springs, rivers and perfectly preserved forests, the reservation hosts around 80 mature bears (formerly injured in the wilderness or rescued from poor conditions). So, if you’re the type who prefers enjoying the mysterious shadows and depths of the Carpathian forests, this is the place to go before the concerts start!
If you’d rather see long extinct animals, you can surely visit the “Dinosaurs’ Theme Park”, which, on a 3 ha surface, hosts various large replicas of these famous reptiles, some of them in real size and also has a cinema hall where video materials about dinosaurs are aired.
Last, but not least, the Dracula’s Castle awaits all those who want to go closer to the home of this legendary vampire. The Bran fortress (a Turkish name meaning “gate”), on its real name, started to be erected in 1211, by The Teutonic Knights (Ordo domus Mariae Sanctae Theutonicorum Hierosolimitanorum” – a catholic religious order formed in Palestine during the late 12th century by German crusaders) and was completed in 1388. The castle was built on a steep cliff as it had some strategic roles: to guard the commercial road passing by (it was also an important Transylvanian custom point – one of the important entering gates of Transylvania) and to protect the Eastern border of this region, in an attempt to stop the Ottoman Empire’s expansion. In short, this castle is the place to be for those willing to experience the history, the intrigue and the magic of this area filled with myths.
As you don’t have to believe to believe these words, you can come in person to convince yourself!
Festival passes can be purchased online at: www.myticket.ro, www.eventim.ro & www.bilete.ro.
Weblinks:
www.rockstadtextremefest.ro
www.facebook.com/rockstadtextremefest
We’re talking about a particular place from this region – Rasnov city, placed in the heart of Romania, near the legendary Castle of Dracula.
Here, an international extreme metal festival is held in August, the 12th – 15th 2015. It’s called Rockstadt Extreme Fest and lots of big names from the international metal scene or younger, but interesting, acts gather on its stages to share their music experience with a very passionate public.
This year’s line-up could make you seriously think about paying it a visit, as a full pass costs only EUR 45 and even less if you buy the ticket in advance, it will sum-up over 45 bands and things already started to look interesting: MOONSPELL (staging “The Vintage Set” show), AT THE GATES (Sweden), MARDUK (Sweeden), COMBICHRIST (SUA), ENSIFERUM (Finland), KATAKLYSM (Canada), CARNIFEX (SUA), TAAKE (Norway), CATTLE DECAPITATION (SUA), WHITE WALLS (Romania), KRISIUN (Brazil), BE'LAKOR (Australia), SUICIDAL ANGELS (Greece), VULTURE INDUSTRIES (Norway, staging a special show, “The Babylon Spiral”), DIRTY SHIRT (Romania), DOWNFALL OF GAIA (Germany), HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY (Austria), JINJER (Ukraine), MINDTHREAT (Greece), FLESHWORLD (Poland), TACIT FURY (Russia), CARONTE (Italy), ABIGAIL (Romania), TIARRA (Romania), HOLY MOTORS (Romania), TRANSCEATLA (Romania), PINHOLES (Romania), SCARS OF A STORY (Romania), CLITGORE (Romania) or CRIMENA (Romania).
Besides good music and friendly people, you’ll be able to enjoy urban sports in a special area inside the festival site – the Adventure Metal Park, see movies in the dedicated outdoor cinema, set-up in collaboration with “Dracula Film Fest”, enjoy tasty food at low prices and surpass your personal drinking records with good beer worth only approx. EUR 1/ glass (for 1 glass of 400 ml. – shockingly isn’t it?!)! After recovering from your perseverant hydration processes carried on together with your friends, if you want to enjoy nature, you can admire the impressive wild landscape (it’s a mountainous area with beautiful wild woods, perfectly preserved) and check-out some unique touristic objectives, like: the Rasnov medieval fortress, the “Valley of the Citadel” Cave, the “LiBEARty” bear reservation from Zarnesti, a “Dinosaurs’ Theme Park” and Dracula’s Castle, of course.
The Rasnov medieval fortress which guards the festival site (placed right at the foot of the mountain) is considered to be built between 1211 and 1225, during the rule of Teutonic Knights in Burzenland. This citadel was part of a defence system for the Transylvanian villages exposed to outside invasions, but archaeological research revealed the existence of other fortification traces on the citadel hill, which date back to prehistoric and Dacian times (dated before Christ). So, those passionate about history, battles and legends will surely find this place beautiful and interesting.
Things will get even more breathtaking, as one may witness “live” fights and competitions between fierce medieval knights, which will take place in the valley of the festival, right next to everyone’s eyes. Those strong enough to challenge these valiant warriors will be warmly invited to show their bravery!
The “Valley of the Citadel” Cave might be the place to visit for those interested in finding unique natural structures. This cave is one of the most beautiful ones in Europe and it is illuminated with LEDS, has Lucian Blaga Street, no. 13, Brasov city, Romania glass fiber stairs, banister, stairs and protection bars. The Big Hall here has various secondary galleries and, during summers and autumns, concerts and special visual events are organized inside (as it has an amazing acoustic and beautiful natural light). Another interesting aspect about this cave is related to its ceiling, which remained intact and there are a lot of impressive stalactites and stalagmites and other stone formations (good for taking and showing spectacular photos to your friends).
The “LiBEARty” bear natural reservation from Zarnesti, a town near Rasnov, is a good sightseeing place for those in love with wilderness, animals, forests and mountains. Having a 69 ha of springs, rivers and perfectly preserved forests, the reservation hosts around 80 mature bears (formerly injured in the wilderness or rescued from poor conditions). So, if you’re the type who prefers enjoying the mysterious shadows and depths of the Carpathian forests, this is the place to go before the concerts start!
If you’d rather see long extinct animals, you can surely visit the “Dinosaurs’ Theme Park”, which, on a 3 ha surface, hosts various large replicas of these famous reptiles, some of them in real size and also has a cinema hall where video materials about dinosaurs are aired.
Last, but not least, the Dracula’s Castle awaits all those who want to go closer to the home of this legendary vampire. The Bran fortress (a Turkish name meaning “gate”), on its real name, started to be erected in 1211, by The Teutonic Knights (Ordo domus Mariae Sanctae Theutonicorum Hierosolimitanorum” – a catholic religious order formed in Palestine during the late 12th century by German crusaders) and was completed in 1388. The castle was built on a steep cliff as it had some strategic roles: to guard the commercial road passing by (it was also an important Transylvanian custom point – one of the important entering gates of Transylvania) and to protect the Eastern border of this region, in an attempt to stop the Ottoman Empire’s expansion. In short, this castle is the place to be for those willing to experience the history, the intrigue and the magic of this area filled with myths.
As you don’t have to believe to believe these words, you can come in person to convince yourself!
Festival passes can be purchased online at: www.myticket.ro, www.eventim.ro & www.bilete.ro.
Weblinks:
www.rockstadtextremefest.ro
www.facebook.com/rockstadtextremefest