Nine centuries-old fortresses guard the walls of this medieval Romanian city.

This enormous abandoned prison was once dubbed the "Bastille of Romania."

A celebration of all things tacky, garish, and bizarrely creative in the Romanian capital.

Romania's only crater lake with water as pure as if distilled.

This once-derelict building is now one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

Conspiracy theories and occult legends surround this mysterious natural rock formation.

The romantic botanic tunnel feels like a well-kept secret.

Once an opulent Art Nouveau hotspot, the Constanța Casino is one of Romania's most beautiful abandoned buildings.

The legendary cliffside castle of three-time Voivode of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler.

This solitary monastery may hold the remains of Vlad the Impaler (but probably not).

A small town Romanian cemetery filled with darkly humorous gravestones.

The possible imprisonment of Vlad the Impaler here earned the medieval castle its nickname, "Dracula's Castle."

This elaborately decorated, fairytale-like Romanian royal palace is one of the most striking castles in Europe.

This massive underground salt mine now holds a sci-fi theme park in its depths.

Moss and stone turn this waterfall into an otherworldly liquid veil.

This fairy-tale castle would make Dracula (who is said to have been imprisoned there) jealous.

At less than four inches in height, this iconic fictional character is the smallest public statue in all of Moldova.

The largest wine cellar in the world is a 150-mile network of underground caves near the capital of Moldova.

This abandoned Soviet circus is slowly being restored to its Communist-era glory.

A forgotten remnant of the Soviet Union, Transnistria is an unrecognized country hidden behind a heavily militarized border between Moldova and Ukraine.

Dive for drinks at Croatia's first and only underwater winery.

This military tunnel dates back to World War II and provides visitors with a little wartime adrenaline.

Built as an anti-fascist tribute, this surreal Yugoslav memorial became an unwelcome symbol after the Croatian war for independence.

This abandoned Croatian stronghold never saw a great deal of conflict but it is still a beloved relic nonetheless.