Unseen Romania

Sibiu - modernity with a German touch

The city of Sibiu, residence of the Transylvania country, settled over the river Cibin, is one of the larges in Romania, gathering a population of around 160.000 inhabitants. Along time Sibiu, or Hermannstadt how was called by Saxons, developed to by one important asset on the Romanian and European map as well. Its unique site, the German touch, the feeing of traveling in time makes Sibiu something different, another region totally different from the rest of Romania.

Brief historical data for Sibiu

Sibiu dates from 1190 when the Saxons settlers came and it is believed to have established the city near a Roman colony. Since than until WWII, Sibiu was the center of the Transylvania Saxons, latter on gaining the name of Universitas Saxorum, the home of all Germans in Transylvania.

Sibiu did not have a major importance only to Germans, but to Romanians as well. It is here that the first Romanian- owned bank opened (Albina Bank) as well as the association ASTRA. It is the country’s third most important Orthodox center, between 1848 and 1867 was the meeting place for the Transylvanian Diet, and after the first World War it became a part of Romania gathering an important German and Hungarian minority.
Key points in Sibiu
 

The Fortifications

Although the old city walls and the towers are around 800 year, the fortifications and some other unique sites are preserved in an incredible manner. One can see there the Arquebusier Tower (15th century), the Carpenter Tower (15th century) and some other key defensive points. As I have mentioned, all the towers had a defensive role, they were used for firearms and holes had been made in the walls with a strategic purpose as well. The city of Sibiu was one of the most important fortified cities in Southeastern Europe; its structures were connected via a labyrinth of tunnels and passageways, used to ensure access between the city and lines of defense.

The Lower City

The city of Sibiu consists of two districts that are known as the Lower City, used especially as a manufacturing are, and the Upper City developed especially as commercial are. The Lower City side of the city proudly holds the oldest church dating from 1386. Unfortunately the major part of this are has been lost in favor of industrial development, keeping nevertheless an ancient touch. Two-storey houses with tall roofs and gates opening passages to inner courts give you the impression of entering directly into immemorial times.

The Upper City

It is the place containing most of Sibiu’s interesting sites, being developed around three city squares: the Large Square, the Small Square, and the Huet Square.

The Large Square

The Large Square is the largest of the three in Sibiu.  Representing also the center of Sibiu, the Square is the home of some key building of the city like the Brukenthal Museum, the Jesuit Church, an Art Nouveau building nowadays representing the City Hall, the Council’s Tower- one of the symbols of the Square and the city as well- everything being surrounded by Baroques style buildings, especially houses.

 

The ASTRA National Museum

Is also a king of complex having different branches:  the Traditional Folk Civilization Museum, the Universal Ethnography Museum, a Museum of Transylvanian Civilization, and Museum of Saxon Ethnography and Folk Art.

The Brukenthal National Museum

The Brukenthal Museum is what we could call a “complex” museum, being structured in six major categories: the Art Gallery, the Old Books Library, the History Museum, the Pharmacy Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Arms and Hunting Trophies. Some of them are found in the actual museum while other are opened in different buildings around Sibiu.

 

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