A luxury villa on the edge of Transylvania

About Maria

We are a British-Russian couple who are currently living and working in Romania. Since our arrival in the country several years ago, we have had the good fortune to travel all across Romania, and experience the wonderful variety, warmth, culture, history and landscapes that the country has to offer. Romania is simply unique – a heady mixture of the Latin, Slavic, Greek, Roman, Turkish… goes some way to understanding how fascinating and yet difficult to define the country is. After settling in Romania, and falling in love with the mountain area - in particular the delights of Prahova and Translyvania - we decided to buy a holiday home here. We settled upon Azuga because of its traquiilty, and proximity to both the ski-slopes as well as all the brilliant sights the region has to offer. Our family – 2 young daughters as well as our relatives from the UK and Russia – have spend many a fantastic holiday at the villa, which is a wonderful base for exploring the Carpathians and Translyvania, for walking, skiiing or just relaxing in the hot tub and admiring the amazing view! We believe that our villa, situated in one of Europe’s last great wildernesses, has a unique homely feel, together with the quality and ameneties that are unmatched in the region. We hope that you enjoy Casa Ferica as much as we have.

Why Maria chose Prahova County

The villa is a 4 double bedroomed, 3 storey property offering spectacular views of the Carpathian landscape. Located high on one of the many forested valley slopes, it is far enough away from the local town of Azuga to feel the tranquillity of nature, while still affording easy walking access to the local amenities. Whether it's a warm fire and a glass of mulled wine after a day's skiing on the pistes in Azuga or a sun-drenched barbecue on the spacious terrace, Casa Ferica is an ideal sanctuary. Alternatively, you could take the time to enjoy a glass of the local Romanian wine and ponder what you might explore in the days that follow. You have much from which to choose. Whether it's sports (skiing, hiking, horse-riding, climbing or ATV riding), history (fortified Saxon churches or, at the other extreme, Dracula's castle), culture (the medieval town of Brasov, or the distinctive Soviet architecture) or just exploring one of the last truly wild European landscapes, Casa Ferica is a gateway to adventure.

What makes this Villa unique

The area around Azuga offers a huge array of activities. Skiing, sledging, snowboarding and Nordic walking are all on offer. The Bucegi Mountains are the centre of Romanian rock-climbing. Mountain biking, ATV riding, Bungee jumping (Rasnoava Gorges is the second highest bungee jump in Europe), caving, camping and golfing are all readily accessible. Alternatively, there's horseback/carriage riding. Romania manifests a wonderful array of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Gothic to indigenous forms such as Brancovenesc, and communist-style structures. In Azuga itself (as there are everywhere), exist examples of the brutal soviet architecture, which are well worth viewing as they provide a fascinating counterpoint to the truly remarkable and diverse older architecture. Close to 'home', in Sinaia, is the intriguing Peles Castle, built in the German Renaissance style. However, the whole of South-eastern Transylvania is dotted with places of historic and cultural interest. Crowning the fir covered hills that overlook Râsnov is a ruined 13th Century fort. It provides glorious mountain views across to the Piatra Craiului. In Viscri , set, gleaming white, upon a small hill and screened by trees, is a Saxon fortified church, one of Romania’s most impressive. A forbidding silhouette of battlements and needle spires looms over Sighisoara; it seems a fitting birthplace for Vlad Tepes, “The Impaler” – the man known to so many as Dracula. In the small town of Bran the Saxons built a castle in 1377. It's now known as 'Dracula's Castle' and, indeed, looks like a vampire counts residence, perched on a rocky bluff and rising in tiers of towers and ramparts from the woods against a glorious mountain backdrop. The villa is located about a 20 minute drive from the medieval Saxon town of Brasov, known for the largely Baroque Old Town, coiled beneath Mount Tâmpa and Mount the Postavaru. It offers outstanding restaurants, shops and entertainment.