City Breaks - Brasov & Sibiu

Brasov & Sibiu City Breaks

Brasov, one of the most visited places in Romania

Founded on an ancient Dacian site by the Teutonic Knights, in 1211, Brasov was settled by

the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels exuding a distinct medieval ambiance.

The location of Brasov, at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and

western Europe, together with certain tax exemptions, allowed Saxon merchants to obtain

considerable wealth and exert a strong political influence in the region. This was reflected in

the city's German name, Kronstadt, as well as in its Latin name, Corona, meaning Crown City

(hence, the coat of arms of the city which is a crown with oak roots). Fortifications were

erected around the city and continually expanded, with several towers maintained by different craft guilds, according to medieval custom.

Around the old Town Hall Square (Piata Sfatului) you can admire colorfully painted and

ornately trimmed baroque structures. The Black Church (Biserica Neagra) cannot be missed

as has a very impressive interior and houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe.

A walking tour through Brasov's medieval section will allow you discovering the largest

Gothic church east of Vienna, the Town Council Square and the city's 14th Century

fortifications. Such a tour will end with a general view of the Old Town from one of

Brasov's medieval towers. The core of the city is this beautiful medieval destination but

walk five minutes out in any direction and you start to see modern glass buildings, malls,

and wide streets. Brasov is small enough that it can be navigated by foot.

To summarize the main things to see:

Council Square (Piata Sfatului), known as the Marktplatz, is one of the most beautiful main squares

of Romania. Fully pedestrianised, the square was refurbished in 1988 and agin a couple of years ago.

It has never looked better.

All around the square are sturdy houses with high lofts for storing goods. Elsewhere in Piata Sfatului

you will find a number of places to eat and drink (all of which have terraces in summer), and the

startling Romanian Orthodox Cathedral.

The square hosts the annual Carpathian Stag Music Festival (the city's biggest annual event) and there

is usally some kind of craft market too. Plenty of good souvenir fodder....

Bang in the centre of the old town is a beautiful square, you get great views of both the black church

and the Brasov ‘Hollywood sign’ from here. Also, there are lots of beer gardens dotted around the

square ($1.30 per pint!) as well as some

pretty tasty restaurants. Great, great, great place to spend your evening in Brasov.

In the middle of the square is the Old City Hall, dating from 1420 (Open Summer 10:00-18:00,

Winter 09:00-17:00. Closed Mon; Admission 7 lei adults, 1.50 lei children). Today, the old city hall houses the Brasov History

Museum. The city hall's tower is in fact much older than the building itself, and was once a watchtower for approaching

barbarians before being incorporated into the main building. What you see today is largely the result of an 81-year

renovation after a great fire hit Brasov in 1689. On top of the building sits the Trumpeter's Tower, used during the Middle

Ages as a watchtower for warning the citadel inhabitants of approaching danger.

Brasov's most important landmark, the Black Church is apparently the largest church

between Vienna and Istanbul and towers over Piata Sfatului and the old town.

Built between 1385 and 1477 on the site of an earlier church (destroyed by Mongol

invasions in 1242), the construction of the Marienkirche was hampered by extensive

damage caused by Turkish raids in 1421. The church was given its new name after

disaster stuck again in 1689, when the 'Great Fire' levelled most of the town, blackening

the walls of the church. Restoration took almost 100 years. Of two towers planned, only

one (65.6m high) was finished. The original Gothic interior has suffered under the

restorations, and the lofty, light space you see nowadays is mostly Baroque.

Listen to the impressive 4000-pipe organ dating from 1839 during the concerts held at least once a week. Best of all however

are the 119 fabulous Anatolian carpets on display. The rugs were donated by German merchants in the 17th and 18th

century, thankful to have survived their shopping trips into the barbaric lands south and east of the Carpathians.

The collection is the largest of its kind in Europe. During the summer the church holds organ concerts every Tuesday at18:00.

Brasov's Defensive Fortifications

Ever since the Saxon settlers arrived in the early 12th century, invading Mongols, Turks

and others gave them a tough time, repeatedly destroying the old settlements of

Bartholoma and Corona. Thereafter, the Saxons set themselves to building fortifications

around their town. Most work was done between 1400 and 1650, when outer and inner

walls were erected, together with massive defence towers and gates.

Part of the defensive wall, once 40 feet high, seven feet thick and two miles long, can

still be seen today, though most was taken down in the 19th century to make room for

the city's expansion.

Of the original seven bastions, only a few have survived, including the newly renovated

Graft Bastion, located in the middle of the citadel's northwest wing.

On the west side of the wall, walk along picturesque Dupa Ziduri Street (Dupa Ziduri means Behind the Walls) to catch a glimpse of the 15th century White and Black Towers. You can climb up to the White Tower via some very steep steps but do not try it unless

you are feeling extremely fit and agile. There are more steps when you actually get to the tower, but the views from the top are

fantastic. The White Tower is open 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Monday. The Black Tower is closed during Summer.

The Blacksmiths' Bastion, one of the original seven built and guarded by the city's guilds, is located at the southern end of Dupa Ziduri Street. Follow the city wall southeast to the fairy-tale Catherine's Gate.

Built in 1559 and once the main entrance to medieval Kronstadt, it is the only original

city gate to have survived the test of time. Nearby is the classicist Schei Gate, built in

1827.

The Weavers' Bastion can be admired on George Cosbuc Street.

The bastion houses a small but impressive museum (with some English captions)

showing photographs of long-gone bastions, impressive weapons decorated with Arabic

inscriptions (once used by the Turks to bash Saxons) and some huge guns.

Most impressive of all is the large model of Brasov in 1600, made in 1896 for the

Millenium Exhibition in Budapest (in those days Brasso was part of Hungary).

When Nicolae Ceausescu visited the museum in 1968, a bright and shiny model of the Schei district was added to the old, depicting Schei circa 1850. The bastion is open 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Monday. Admission 7 lei; children, students 1.50 lei.

Tampa Mountain (Muntele Tampa)

Brasov is often referred to as the city at the foot of Mount Tampa.

Above the Weavers' Bastion, along the southeastern side of the fortress walls, is a very

romantic alley (Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu), shaded by old trees and dotted with many

benches. From here, you can hike to the top of Tampa Mountain, where the original

defensive fortress was built.

When Vlad Tepes attacked Brasov in 1458-60, the citadel was destroyed and 40

merchants were impaled on top of the mountain. Walking to the top takes about an

hour. You also could elect to take the Tampa cable car to the peak (3,000 feet) for the

best views of the old town.The cable car up to the top of the Tampa is found a short

walk uphill from the Turnul Vanatorilor; next to it is the Casa Padurarilor restaurant.

A number of walking routes up the Tampa also begin here. The newest construction is the area is theTampa complex, which has a

great terrace and an indoor swimming pool (open 08:00-21:00, day tickets 40 lei adults, 20 lei children) which really does offer a

swim with a view.

The other unmistakeable point of interest on the Tampa mountain is the Hollywood-style sign which bears the name of the

town. Copied by many other Romanian cities, but never bettered, the Brasov sign is an excellent photo opportunity that

should not be missed.

The Schei District

You shouldn’t leave Brasov without a stroll through Schei, the district where from the

13th to the 17th century, Romanians were forced to live, as only Saxons could live

within the city walls. Romanians could only enter the town at certain times and had to

pay a toll at the gate for the privilege of selling their produce inside the citadel.

Walk up Strada Prundului to Piata Unirii and the beautiful Sf. Nicolae church and

wander around the small curving streets that gradually slope upwards against the hill.

Note the many different iron door handles and knockers adorning the pretty houses.
The church (at Piata Unirii 1-2) was originally built in 1521 in Romanian-Byzantine style

and considerably expanded in the 18th century, the church with its slender tower and

four corner towers now looks more like a Transylvanian German church.

Behind the church you’ll find the grave of Nicolae Titulescu (1882-1941), finance

minister, foreign minister and president of the League of Nations. He died in exile in Switzerland, was buried in Cannes and

was only reburied in Romania in 1990. The monument near his grave quotes a line from his will: ‘I wish to be buried in

Transylvania. My friends will know to find a place according to my wish.’

On the same site is the First Romanian School Museum (Piata Unirii 2-3; open 09:00-17:00, Admission 5.00 lei, children 3.00

lei), for centuries a centre for Romanian teaching and book printing. The small museum houses countless Romanian ‘firsts’:

the oldest Romanian bible (printed on goats’ skin), the oldest letter written in Romanian using the Latin alphabet (previously,

Romanian was written with Cyrillic letters), a page from an 11th century schoolbook and much more. The printing press itself

printed only 39 books, taking 20 workers and eight translators months to finish just one book. No wonder a book was worth

12 oxen in those days. Also here is the tiny Museum of the Junii (Muzeul Junilor), showing the seven different traditional

costumes the Schei men wore; Schei women had only one.

The Rope Street

Heading into Brasov through Poarta Schei, the third street on your right is the Rope Street

(Strada Sforii), allegedly the narrowest street in Europe. It dates from the 18th century and, less than

a metre wide, is perhaps the only street in Romania where you can touch both sides with your hands

at the same time. Other than being really tiny, there’s nothing really special about the street but it

does make for some good photos.

Museum lovers are not left out in the cold when it comes to Brasov as there are a number of

interesting collections to be viewed. The city has an actual museum, which is located in Piata Sfatului.

Documenting the history of the town and the region, many artifacts are displayed that date back to

the stone age. The Brasov Art Museum on Bulevardul Eroilor also merits an hour or two for anyone that wants to see the signature style of Romanian artists. The collection, which is primarily made up of paintings, features the work of many well known artists

from the country and shows dramatically how art in the country has changed over the past centuries.

While the city of Brasov itself is a great tourist attraction with its many sights and museums, the real value in the city is in its close proximity to many other spectacular locations. As such, many travelers use Brasov as a home base to explore areas like Sinaia and the Peles Castle, Rasnov, and the famous castle at Bran. In the winter months, Brasov can also be a cheaper alternative to staying at Poiana Brasov or another of the more expensive ski resorts. Public transportation connections between the areas are excellent and a visitor can ski during the days and also enjoy the nightlife of a real city as well.

Romania can quickly become one of your favourite countries, and Brasov is an absolute must-see when you make it here. Happy travels!

SIBIU - (Si'biw)- a very diverse and interesting city

A medieval city with 900 years’ worth of history, Sibiu preserved many testimonies of the past which present a special interest for tourists. The walls of the old fortification belts, the towers named after the guilds of Sibiu, the central squares with their rich history, the old buildings abounding in stories which occurred throughout time, many of them having hosted the city’s personalities, the city’s museums and everything representing the cultural life of a historic city which breathes the air of modernity and Europeanism – all these create an advantage for Sibiu, due to which it inevitably attracts tourists of all ages.

Sibiu impresses due to the history of a well-known medieval center, the assets of a city which takes pride in premieres in the field of innovation, engineering, education and culture, the dynamism of a city oriented towards Europe and the values it upholds, offering the diversity sought by tourists in the locations they choose to visit.

Like Sighisoara and Brasov, it has a distinctly Germanic feeling. Sections of the medieval wall still guard the historic area, where narrow streets pass steep-roofed 17th century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into vast, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square.

Sibiu is a pedestrian-friendly city with two easily accessible levels: the Upper town, home to most of Sibiu's historic sights, and the Lower town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin.

The Council Tower

It is one of the most famous monuments of Sibiu.

It bears this name because it used to defend the entrance gate into the second

precinct, situated in the immediate vicinity of the building which once hosted the

City Hall of Sibiu, mentioned in the documents for the first time in 1324.

The access in the interior of the tower is made through a narrow door and by means

of a spiraled stairway one can reach the superior floors. The mechanism of the clock

may be observed on the penultimate floor, and the last floor represents an observation

deck for the old city.

The tower had various uses over time, from a granary to an observation deck for fires,

a location for temporary arrest and even a museum of natural sciences at the middle of

the 18th century. Between 1962 and 1998, the tower hosted a section of the Brukenthal

Museum displaying medieval exhibits.
The tower can be visited daily between 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Price: 2 RON

Brukenthal Museum

After his return to Sibiu as the Governor of the Great Principality of Transylvania

(1777-1787), the Baron Samuel von Brukenthal brought along his collections, and

Hochmeister’s Calendar for the year 1790 mentions among the attractions of the city

the painting collections including 800 paintings divided in 13 halls of the Brukenthal

Palace. Over time the collections enriched both through acquisitions and donations.

At the present, exhibits from the National Art Gallery can be found at the first and

second floor of the Brukenthal Palace, which became a genuine Museum of Art.

The Lier’s Bridge

The pedestrian bridge is placed on a gate bridge belonging to the 2nd fortification wall,

connecting the two parts of the Small square and allowing the link between the Lower

Town and the Upper Town.
The legend says that the bridge will collapse if someone will sit on it and tell a lie.

In the local oral tradition circulates various legends about this bridge, legends about

the lovers lies or those of the merchants that sold in the area.

The Defense Towers and Walls

One next to another, the old stronghold towers gather round the heart of the city like

a girdle of unflinching sentries. “The Red City” – that’s how they called Sibiu because

of its red clay brick walls that kept the foes at bay. The fortifications watched over the

whole history of Hermannstadt and these walls carry the city’s 823 years of attested

history carved deep within them.

Although the entire network is remarkably well-preserved, the best-maintained section

is the southeastern side which has been reinforced several times throughout the

centuries since attacks most often came from that direction.

The Great Square

First mentioned in 1411 as a grain market, the Great Square –the largest square in the

city, has been throughout the centuries a quiet witness to the town's lively merchant

activity, assemblies and even public executions.

Located in the heart of the old walled city, the square was designated an architectural

monument by UNESCO and features some of the most impressive buildings in Sibiu.

Roman-Catholic Church

The north side of the Great Square is dominated by the Roman-Catholic Church

(Biserica Romano-Catolica). This beautiful baroque structure with classical decorations

was built between 1726 and 1738. The tower was attached to the nave in 1738 and

one year later, a cross was seated on the top. The completely renovated interior is

magnificent with gold-laced walls and colorful ceiling frescoes. The fresco behind the

altar was painted in 1777 by Anton Steinwald. Inside the church is the stone grave of

Otto Ferdinand de Abensberg, commander of Transylvania between 1744-1747.

Organ recitals are usually held once a week.

Huet Square

Huet Square is home to a mix of gothic buildings dominated by the Evangelical

Cathedral (Biserica Evangelica). This impressive structure, featuring five pointed towers,

was built in 1520 on the site of an old Roman basilica. With a height of 73.34 meters,

the tower is the tallest in Transylvania. On the south side, the choir loft boasts a

beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling, home to a baroque organ designed by a German master

in 1671. Six thousand pipes were installed in 1914, making it the largest organ in

Romania. Here, you can also find the city's only fully German school, the Samuel von

Brukenthal Gymnasium, which exemplifies the city's proud German heritage.

The Stairs Passage

The 13th century Passage of Steps, an architectural masterpiece with twin staircases

and archways, connects the Upper Town to the Lower Town. Built in the 13th century,

it is one of the most picturesque places in Sibiu. At one end of the passage stands the

city's oldest building which now hosts the oldest restaurant in Romania, The Golden

Barrel (Butoiul de Aur).

ASTRA Open-air Museum

The ASTRA Museum of Folkloric Traditional Civilization is situated in the Dumbrava Forest, at a distance of 4 kilometers from

the city. Located in the middle of a dense forest and surrounded by a beautiful lake, ASTRA features more than 300 buildings

as well as watermills and windmills, gigantic presses for wine, fruit and oil, hydraulic forges and structures representing

village architectural styles from many parts of Romania. There is a wonderful collection of wooden farmhouses, a cherhana (a

traditional collecting and storage point for fish) and sheepfolds, as well as a wooden church and two traditional inns. A nice option

is a visit by horse-drawn carriages (ladies, the driver will kiss your hand in greeting, an old Romanian custom).

Paltinis Resort

Touristic resort situated at 32 km North - West from Sibiu, Paltinis is the highest (1440 m altitude), and

the oldest resort in Romania.

It was founded by the Transylvanian Carpathian Society (S.K.V.) in 1894. From the initial nucleus of villas,

the resort still preservs Casa turistilor (The House of the Tourists, 1894), Casa medicilor (The House of the

Doctors, 1895), Sala Monaco (Monaco Hall, 1898) and another villa, historic monuments.

Its beautiful location, fresh air, and numerous hiking opportunities, have made Paltinis a favorite for

everyone. The resort includes hotels, chalets and villas, many restaurants, bars and shops.

A large residential area was developed in the last couple of years.

Clay Castle of the Valley of Fairies

Locatea in a village 24 miles (40 km) from the city of Sibiu, this "fairytale castle" is made of "100% organic"

clay, straw and sand, with all wooden pillars and not a lick of modern paint or varnish.

You may think of a hobbits’ house from Lord Of The Rings. The towers are of river stone, built with lime and sand. It has 10 rooms, with 6 doubles and 4 apartments, all different and each room having its own separate entrance. Even though it’s not finished yet an you can’t stay the night, you can still visit it for a few pictures and a picnic. The unusual construction, with the river behind the castle make it the picture-perfect fairytale that it will be worth staying in.

Sibiu offers a lot more touristic attractions! Just come to discover it!