Romania

The Fortified Church of Viscri

The Fortified Church of Biertan

We started our trip with two days at Sighisoara. We spent the first day visiting many UNESCO World Heritage Sites here. The first was the Viscri Fortified Church, built in 1100AD. The Medieval architecture is still intact – a testament to the craftsmanship of the ancient population.Our next visit was to the Biertan Fortified Church, just as beautiful and exuding immense peace. Then, we went to the Holy Trinity Church, which is the youngest Church in architecture in the city. The tempera paintings by Anastase Demian grace the frescoes here. We ended the first day at Church on the Hill in the Old Town. It was an immensely peaceful tree-lined neighborhood where we walked, looking at the architecture and local stores.

Exploring the heritage sites at Sighisoara

Clock Tower

Covered Staircase

Our first stop for the day was the Sighisoara Historic Center, which is the preserved medieval section of the city that mimics life from previous centuries. It was wonderful to ride horse-drawn carts, walk on cobblestone alleyways and walk past the ancient fortresses that protected this town from invaders all those centuries ago.Next, we walked down to see the Sighisoara Clock Tower, which is a gorgeous Insta-worthy monument. In the Clock Tower, you will find two museums - the History Museum and the Torture Room - both of which showcase key artefacts, paintings and mock-ups of the city's past. Next, we found ourselves heading to Citadel Square, which was the heart of medieval Sighisoara. Here you'll be able to see the 17th Century Stag House. We then walked up the less-known Scara Acoperita-Covered Stairway. The enigmatic staircase was an experience unto itself.We checked out of the hotel in the evening and drove to Sibiu.

Taking a trip to the medieval times in Sighisoara

Muzeul ASTRA

Council Tower of Sibiu

We started exploring Sibiu with the Turnul Sfatului, which is The Tower of the Council and a well-known landmark in Sibiu. Next, we visited the Big Square and Small Square, whose creation stems from the 13th Century and where Farmers markets used to be organized. From here we walked over the Bridge of Lies, whose thick ironwork contains Neo-Gothic motifs.Next, we visited the Brukenthal National Museum, which is a collection of six different museum blocks. Its collection stems from the late 1700s and onwards. The architecture of the building is itself worth admiring. Finally, we visited Romania’s most important ethnographic institute, the Muzeul ASTRA. You can explore the ancient and rich culture of Romania here, buy ethnic souvenirs, and even take a subscription to their annual magazine.We were told by locals that if we visit Sibiu during winter, we can drive up to the oldest ski resort here, called Păltiniș, in the Cindrel Mountains.&nbsp;

Visiting the beautiful and culture-rich city of Sibiu

Peleș Castle

Sinaia Orthodox Monastery Museum Collection

Since we finished our Sibiu trip earlier than anticipated, we made an impromptu visit to nearby Brasov as well, home to my favorite Gothic character, Count Dracula. Our first visit was Count Dracula’s castle (Bran Castle). We took a guided tour of the entire castle and learned about the true history which inspired Count Dracula’s character. When here, be sure to visit The Castle Of Horror, which is a short and interactive walking tour that you can play. (We recommend only those with a strong heart to visit this, since it is scary).After lunch, we visited Peles Castle, another gorgeous Gothic architecture steeped in Romanian history. We explored the turn-of-the-century Viennese furniture collection and Lalique &amp; Tiffany glassware. The Sinaia Monastery, with its gentle, welcoming and calming environment was our final stop in the tour before heading to Brasov.&nbsp;

A day of castles and Counts 

I’ve been fascinated with Transylvania ever since I read Dracula as a child. So, when we had a long weekend off from work, my friends and I decided to visit some of the important sites in Transylvania, such as Sibiu and Sighisoara. All these places are extremely child and elderly-friendly. They don’t involve much walking, and you can explore these places in a slow stroll. The weather can be a tad cold. So, pack warm clothes with you.

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Exploring the heritage sites at Sighisoara

Taking a trip to the medieval times in Sighisoara

Visiting the beautiful and culture-rich city of Sibiu

A day of castles and Counts

Off-beaten Tour of the Historical Cities of Sibiu and Sighisoara in Romania

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Areas of Travel:

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Exploring the heritage sites at Sighisoara

Taking a trip to the medieval times in Sighisoara

Visiting the beautiful and culture-rich city of Sibiu

A day of castles and Counts