Want to take a trip to Romania? First, let’s learn a bit about the country.

Romania is on Europe’s Balkan peninsula. Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia are other countries in the Balkans.

Can you guess what language most Romanians speak? That’s right—Romanian. It is a Romance language. That doesn’t have to do with mushy, gushy love. French, Spanish, and Italian are also part of the Romance family. They all come from Latin, which the Romans spoke.

Romanians say they are descended from Dacians and Romans. The Dacians lived in what is now part of Romania. The Romans conquered them in A.D. 106.

Romania’s population has shrunk in the last few decades. Fewer couples have babies. People can’t always get good healthcare. And many Romanians leave to look for better jobs.

Most Romanians were farmers until after World War II. Farmers still grow lots of corn, wheat, and sunflowers. But now there are many factories and mines too. The country exports cars, electronics, and chemicals.

It’s time for a snack, Romanian style. Chow down on stuffed cabbage rolls called sarmale (SAR-mall-eh). Fermented leaves are stuffed with a filling usually made of pork, rice, and vegetables. For dessert, taste plăcintă (pluh-CHEEN-ta). This thin pastry is usually filled with apples or soft cheese.

Want to have some fun? You can ski or explore caves in the Carpathian Mountains. Mamaia and Vama Veche are two popular beaches on the Black Sea. Visit the old Bran Castle or the medieval town of Sighişoara (sih-gee-SCHWAR-ah).