Romania was an interesting trip. Our timing was perfect all around, which biases my impression some. We stuck to the smaller towns and countryside, with the exception of Iasi, and skipped the capital Bucharest. (we flew in and out of Sofia, Bulgaria). Very rare for us to skip the capital/major city, and we even drove right around it. But I think it was the right call, as Romanians really favor their countryside roots.
There are some lovely Germanic founded towns in the Transylvanian Mountains, such as Brasov where we caught a special mass for the 500th anniversary of Lutheranism at the medieval Black Church, and the charming small town of Sibiu.
Even when we hit the impressive but over-touristed and somewhat dull Peles Castle, there was a large country fair going on across the street, so lots of music, dancing, traditional costumes and huge balls of fried cheese and assorted foods and wine.
Besides the interesting and varied roofs of Romania, we passed through one or two country towns where some of the house gates were rather ornate and elaborate. So must be a metal working tradition. There's also the Merry Cemetery famous for its painted wooden crosses and light verse epitaphs, but that was in the northwest near Ukraine/Hungary where we didn't venture. A lot of folk traditions and countryside life celebrated in Romania. It's a lovely country, with a big wine culture, but it was a shame a lot of folks were depressed and felt like poor Euros and wanted to get out and experience Western Europe.
