Plastic money and stray dogs: what surprises foreigners in Romania, the birthplace of Dracula

The mysterious and beautiful country is shrouded in legends of vampires and werewolves. However, people come here not only to experience this incredible atmosphere. Romania is full of interesting places, historical buildings, and luxurious palaces. What else surprises foreigners in the country is published in the OBOZREVATEL's selection.

1. Romania has the largest parliament building in Europe. It was built during the reign of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. The building impresses not only with its size but also with incredible architectural solutions, luxurious interior and exterior design.

2. Many people have probably heard of the famous Mount Rushmore in the United States, with portraits of four American presidents carved on one side of it, 18.6 meters high. In Romania, there is a similar creation: a 55-meter-high mountain sculpture of the last king of Dacia. You can see it by going down the Danube near the town of Orșova.

3. In Bucharest, there is one stray dog for every 30 people. There are indeed a lot of them here, but special services monitor their health and make sure they are microchipped.

4. A popular region, Transylvania, is considered the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, known in literature as Count Dracula. However, there are no facts that would confirm the cruelty and ruthlessness of this person, which are attributed to him in the novels. However, it is definitely proven that he never lived in the castle, which now houses a museum dedicated to him.

5. Despite the presence of a huge number of historical and cultural sites, only 7 of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. For comparison, there are 34 in the UK, 51 in Germany, and 58 in Italy.

6. Romania has a national sport that is virtually unknown to foreigners. It is oina, a game that is somewhat similar to baseball. However, the most popular sport in the country is soccer.

7. The country has many nature reserves and protected areas. It is also home to the largest population of brown bears in Europe. Thus, there's a good chance you'll come across these giants by chance.

8. The Romanian city of Breda is home to Europe's only gold museum. It was founded more than 100 years ago. Today, the exposition includes more than 2 thousand different exhibits made of precious metal.

9. Most Romanians are Orthodox Christians. However, in remote villages, there are Old Believers and Old Faithful, who are called Lipovans. By the way, there are also representatives of this religious community in Ukraine. Most of them live in the Danube Delta, namely in the cities of Vylkove, Kiliia, and Myrne.

10. After joining the EU, the country did not switch to the euro. It uses the national currency, the lei. The money here is made of thin plastic, not paper, and can even be washed if necessary. This practice is also used in Mexico, Canada, and Australia.