Sibiu
Being first documentary certified in 1192 and being situated on the shore of the river Cibin, the city of Sibiu is wanted to play its role as European Capital in 2007.
Its old name was Hermanstadt, and a population of German origin founded it, just like Braşov was. It obviously has its own pride and this is the real reason why it tries hard to “save” the old buildings, walls and monuments. In the so-called Upper Town, everything is disposed around the three Central Squares: Big Square, Small Square and Huet Square. There are three different religions in the Upper Town, not so far one from another, through the three huge churches: Evangelical Church, Catholic Church and Orthodox Church. And, as for making creating a truly fairy tale atmosphere, here is The Palace. Created in the baroque style, it belonged to a baron called Samuel von Brukental and it is now an impressive museum, which dominates The Big Square.
But we wouldn’t be wrong if we said that the whole old center of the town represents, by itself, a true museum in the open air, in which almost every building is an unique monument, with its own, magical story. This is why Price Charles himself decided to support, through his foundation, the restoration of this town. And it would be very unfair for it and for us if monuments like the old wall of the citadel, the towers or the Bridge of the Liars were ruined and lost forever.
Some famous old times personalities were hosted by the hotel called The Romans’ Emperor, like the Emperor Franz Josef the composers Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms.
In the neighborhood, are other monuments, too: The Museum of the Folk Civilization, Dumbrava, Marginimea Sibiului – an original ethnographical area of shepherds, which contains villages, like Sibiel, Poiana Sibiului, Jina.
Of all these, the village of Sibiel, one of the most famous Romanian tourist areas, shelters the biggest museum of old icons painted on glass in our country. Thousands of tourists come to Sibiel every year, admire the naive painting and the pure colors of these icons, in order to be prepared to get in touch with these peasants’ life style. The people who ended by enjoying some good Romanian meal served by the peasants of Sibiel, came back to their country and inferred: “I had the most tasteful food, but the atmosphere was even better!” |
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