Premjer … a Fortified Church

Omlett was so sunny …

… and proved a perfect start to the day, with their range of delicious eggy treats – Chris had eggs scrambled with spinach, spring onion, parsley and dill served with Burduf Romanian Cheese and I chose Cocotte eggs with spinach, béchamel & Grana Padano. 

Once on the road, our first stop was at Premjer fortified church, entered through a 30m tunnel with a portcullis in the middle!

The church was initially cross shaped, but was enlarged by the Cistercians in early Gothic style in 1240.

In the C15th it was surrounded by a 12m defensive wall …

… and we walked all the way round on the inside, looking out of various defensive openings …

… and then later it was fitted with four tiers of storerooms all the way round!

It was the most unusual building reminding us strangely enough of a football stadium, and here’s an aerial shot to make it clearer!

We then set off on a long drive across flat agricultural land, studded with villages. The road was good and pretty empty, but we got held up behind lorries with few chances to overtake. The speed limit dipped as we reached every town which made it easier to see the storks nesting on top of telegraph poles in huge nests, many with chicks.

Eventually we started climbing into the mountains and the mild hairpin bends helped Chris get in training for the Transfagarasan later in the trip!

We stopped for coffee and chips at a cafe before reaching Red Lake.

The road then entered the Bicaz Gorge, a scenic canyon between the provinces of Moldova and Transylvania. 

The limestone rocks towered above with a sheer drop on the other side.

Next up was the impressive dam built on the river Bistrița …

… forming Lake Bicaz, the largest artificial lake in Romania. It took most of the afternoon to drive the length of it.

Tonight’s stay was at the family run Pensiunae Orizont …

… where our room overlooked the mountains and hay drying in the field.

The garden had been made with much care with separate sitting spots surrounded by hedges and we sat there to eat. I had Tochitură bucovina made with pork, finished with eggs and Chris had a pizza and the bottle of local wine was very good, and only £6!

An early night and swift start and we have a lot to fit in tomorrow.

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