Visiting Breaza
Breaza is a small spa town in Romania, situated on the edge of the Prahova Valley. The town's name is thought to come from the Slavic word Breza, meaning birch. It sits surrounded by dense forests ideal for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Known for its clean mountain air and numerous sulfur-rich mineral springs, the area developed a thriving wellness and therapeutic industry. In 1928, it was officially designated a spa resort, and in 1952 it became a town through the merger of two older villages, Podu Vadului and Breaza de Sus. Several prominent Romanian figures have maintained vacation homes here. More recently, the town opened the Lac de Verde nature golf course, drawing upscale travelers.
A Spa Town in Romania
Breaza features several spa treatment centers focused on nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular conditions. Historically, it drew notable visitors like Grigore Alexandrescu, Ion Ghica, and the Franco-Romanian poet Anna de Noailles. The princely Wallachian family of the Brâncoveanus, who owned the land, drove its development in the nineteenth century. They built several residences and palaces alongside an English-style landscape garden that survives today as the Brâncoveanu Park, featuring numerous centuries-old trees.
Breaza exemplifies the traditional architecture of the Prahova Valley, featuring homes adorned with carved porches and elegant wooden pillars, such as the Alexandru Bondoc House. You can also visit the charming Sfântul Nicolae church, built in 1777 and covered with interior frescoes. Breaza preserves local craft traditions, with some pieces displayed in the town's small folk art museum, which exhibits period costumes alongside various regional objects and customs.
The Castles of the Prahova Valley
Breaza makes a practical base for exploring the famous castles of the Prahova Valley, which marks the historic border between Wallachia and Transylvania. You can tour the Peles Castle in Sinaia, commissioned by King Carol I in a German Renaissance style and boasting 160 different rooms. A bit higher up in the alpine resort town of Busteni stands the heavily ornamented, neo-Romanian Cantacuzino Castle, which is open to visitors. Do not confuse it with the Cantacuzino Palace in Bucharest, which now houses the George Enescu Museum.
Farther north, cross over the Bucegi mountain range into the village of Bran. Perched on a hilltop here is Bran Castle, universally promoted as the home of Dracula, even though Bram Stoker never actually visited Romania.
When to Go
The best time to visit Breaza, explore the Prahova Valley, and go hiking in the Carpathian Mountains runs from May to September.
How to Get There
Breaza sits right along the DN1 highway connecting Bucharest to Brasov. It is also accessible by train in about 2 hours from Bucharest.
It is a small town near Bucharest located in the Prahova Valley where you can experience healthy Romanian cuisine, you can relax, and you can also visit the two most beautiful castles in Romania, Peles and Bran. Here you can go for health walks, bike rides, or go to the spa.