At the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains

The house sits right in the valley, with the river a few steps away. Easy walking trails, fresh air and sheep flocks passing by on the road.

Spectacular mountain trails, with rhododendron meadows in June and snowy ridges until late summer.

Ninety kilometres of hairpins through the Făgăraș Mountains, the road Top Gear called the best in the world. Drive up from Cârțișoara, stopping at viewpoints, waterfalls and the lake at the top. The full road opens in summer, usually from 1 July to 31 October.

A 3.5 hectare theme park a few minutes from the house. Life size dinosaurs among the trees, a Viking village with workshops for kids, a bird farm with peacocks and emus and a zipline for the brave. A good half day out for families.

Six hectares of outdoor fun, with the star of the place, the Upside Down House. 200 square metres and ten rooms turned completely upside down, made for photos. Beyond that, slope tubing, a mini zoo and creative workshops for kids.

A building of earth, straw, clay and sand that looks straight out of a hobbit tale, set on the riverbank at Porumbacu de Sus. You can climb the turrets, step inside the rooms and have a coffee on the terrace by the water.

The first deer farm in the area, at 706 metres altitude, right on the valley road. The guided tour takes 15–20 minutes and the deer come to eat from your hand. Kids never want to leave.

The summer residence of Baron Samuel von Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, built between 1778 and 1788. Home to the only baroque garden in Romania, a glass museum, a hotel and a restaurant. Avrig is also the nearest town, with shops and restaurants.

The only Cistercian monastery in Romania and the oldest Gothic building in Transylvania, founded in 1202. The ruined church walls and the quiet courtyard are worth a stop on the way to the Transfăgărășan.

European Capital of Culture in 2007, under an hour away. The Grand Square, the Bridge of Lies, the Evangelical Cathedral and the Stairs Passage can all be walked in an afternoon, with a break at one of the terraces in the centre.

The waterfall is one of the tallest in the country, a stepped drop of almost 68 metres at 1,234 metres altitude. Drive to Cabana Bâlea Cascadă, then follow the red dot trail up, an easy route for families too. Higher up, at 2,034 metres, lies the Bâlea glacier lake, reached by car in summer and by cable car in winter.

An Orthodox monastery founded by Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1696, at the foot of the Făgăraș. Sculpted columns, elegant arcades and Byzantine frescoes, plus a library of over 65,000 volumes. A peaceful place, an hour away along the road under the mountains.