Explore Romania

Location:
Romania

Currency:
leu (ROL) is being phased out in 2006;
"new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005 due to currency revaluation: 10,000 ROL = 1 RON

Communications:
The telephone code for Romania: + 40

About:
Romania (Land of the Romans) was conquered by the Romans in 106 AD, and became the Roman province of Dacia.

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania.

The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict.

In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king.

The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989.

Since then, Romania has taken a bold step toward a free-market economy. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Although Romania completed accession talks with the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue to address rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms - to fulfill the requirements for EU accession, scheduled to take place in 2007 or 2008. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004.

Black Sea resorts, hiking and skiing in the Carpathian Mountains, and the Transylvania region (of Count Dracula legend) are international tourist favorites.