One of the most valuable initiatives to promote Europe’s cultural heritage is the Historic Cafes Route. It is a network of historic cafés operating under the aegis of the Council of Europe.
Basically, Council of Europe officials have endorsed the formation of cultural routes that connect people, ideas, institutions, initiatives, organisations and entities that promote sustainable tourism. Romania has been put on the Historic Cafes Route map through the work of the ambassador of this prestigious organisation, Arnold Klingeis.
There are currently 11 historic cafes in Romania included in this prestigious network. These cafes are the Brukenthal Palace in Avrig, Cabana Bâlea Lac, Pardon Café in Sibiu, La Vatra Ardealului, Inspiratio and Casa Chitic in Brasov, Hotel Transilvania and Chios Social Lounge in Cluj, Boutique Hotel Le Baron in Târgu-Mureș, Bran Castle and Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni.
Each of these cafes has an extraordinary story, showing the richness of Romania’s cultural heritage and the country’s historical diversity. For example, the Brukenthal Palace in Avrig is representative of the history of the Transylvanian Saxons and belonged to the governor of Transylvania, Baron Samuel von Brukenthal. In the case of Cluj, the Hotel Transylvania is featured in Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula. At the time, it was called the Hotel Royal and was where the British lawyer Jonathan Harker, employed by Count Dracula, would have stayed. Chios Social Lounge honours the memory of the great Hungarian architect Lajos Pakey, who radically transformed the centre of Cluj for the better. The restaurant in Cluj’s Central Park was the meeting place of the Transylvanian aristocracy at the end of the 19th century, says restaurant manager Stefan Gadola.
Read more about Historic Cafes Route and Chios Social Lounge in the podcast moderated by Ambassador Arnold Klingeis, at Via Cluj TV.
