Located in southern Transylvania, you will find the fantastically quaint city of Sibiu. By far one of the prettiest cities in this region. Sibiu is the largest medieval site in Romania. The city was named as the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2007, a great honor to be bestowed upon a city – and well-deserved too!
Get yourself a Romania Pass and have access to the national rail network of Romania. You can easily travel between cities and experience a country like no other. If you’re looking for a new and exciting destination to visit, give Romania a try, it’s sure to be a trip like NO other!
For many years, Sibiu has served as a foundation for all those with
interests in cultural and commercial trade. Back in the 17th century, it was believed by many that the old walled town was the easternmost in the European sphere; interestingly enough, it was also the eastern terminal of postal routes and was the farthest place where mail from across Europe was delivered.
Sibiu’s Old Town still holds the prestige of its earlier days, days when rich and powerful guilds dominated regional trade. Much like Sighisoara and Brasov, Sibiu has a distinctly Germanic feeling. Visitors can see portions of the medieval wall which serve as a guard the historic area. In this area you can find narrow streets which pave the way for steep-roofed 17th century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into vast, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square.
The Great Square first appears in 1411. Its primary use was to serve as a grain market. This square remains today, as the city’s largest. It has provided the setting for many events held in the city, from street fairs to public executions. With its location right in the heart of the city, this square was named an architectural monument by UNESCO and is privileged to hold some of the most impressive buildings within Sibiu. Definitely make a point of walking through and around this square.
From the Great Square you can walk to the Little Square. The walk involves going through one of the two tunnels under the arches of the Council Tower. This square was once the home of the town’s master craftsmen. Only the most prestigious craters were found here, living in rows of arcaded houses along the north and east sides. Nowadays you will find small shops, lovely cafes and businesses lining the square. A great place to spend a few hours in the early afternoon, people watching!
The Roman-Catholic Church overtakes the northern side of the Great Square. The church is a magnificent Baroque structure. Originally built between 1726 and 1738, the structure has endured few renovations from that time. The interior of the church is just as spectacular as the outside with its gold-laced walls and colorful ceiling frescoes. Be sure to add a visit to this church to your SIbiu to-do list!
Brukenthal Palace is another stop you’ll want to make on your trip. The palace was built by Baron Samuel von Brukenthal between 1778 and 1785. It was built to serve as his residence as well as to house his collection of Romania art, religious sculptures, coins, stamps as well as a very impressive library. Today, the palace is home to the Brukenthal Museum which is the oldest and quite frankly, one of the finest art museums in the country!
Moving on to the Council Tower, built way back in the 13th century. This tower served as the entrance gate to the second row of fortified walls found around Sibiu. This tower has a lengthy history however. It once was used to store grain, served as a fire watchtower, a temporary prison as well as housing the Museum of Botany. Today visitors can visit the observation deck which allows a bird’s-eye view of Sibiu and the Fagaras Mountains beyond the city.
Our last place of interest for this issue of Explorer is the Bridge of Lies. Built in 1859 by Fredericus Hutte, the Bridge of Lies was the first wrought-iron bridge in Romania. This bridge unites the city’s two distinct halves, the upper city and the lower city. You can draw parallels between Sibiu and cities such as Budapest and Istanbul, as cities that contain a unifying bridge. Back in the day, when young lovers used to date, they would tell each other the innocent lies of love. However, another legend, warns citizens not to tell lies on the bridge, if one does tell a lie whilst standing on it, it is said that the bridge will collapse. We urge you NOT to test this legend!
There is so much more to see and do in this amazing city, you should plan a trip to see for yourself! Sibiu is one of those places you visit in your life and when you come home, you long to go back. The city pulls you in and holds you there with its folklore, history, culture as well as its people. It truly is a Transylvanian treasure!
Tags: eastern Europe, rail travel, romania, transylvania
