hog_Tourist guide Sibiu and whereabouts by Florin Curavale

Tourist guide

Sibiu and Whereabouts

Editor:

Oana Bicå

Corector:

Daniel Voicea

Art director:

Daniela Nae

Layout:

Florin Curåvale

Translation:

Cåtålin Pena

Cover photo:

Romeo Huidu

Publishing house specialized in thematic and tourist guides with a special graphic. All the titles benefit of expert counseling.

The guide was made with the support of Ministry of Tourism, Sibiu Municipality, ASTRA National Museum Complex and Faculty of Geography of Bucharest. Coworkers: Lect. univ. dr. Daniel Peptenatu Asist. univ. Cristian Dråghici Asist. univ. George Muråtoreanu Asist. univ. Radu Pintilii Claudiu Spiridon Sorin Slavu Cåtålin Constantinescu Adrian Georgescu, Brukenthal Museum – History Museum Claudiu Munteanu, Brukenthal Museum – History Museum

ISBN: 978-606-513-143-9

Table of Contents Top 3 Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sibiu â&#x20AC;&#x201C; historical city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Useful Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Pages of history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 The Ancientry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Middle Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Modern Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 The land and its people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Top 3 Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Top 3 Natural Wonders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Top 3 Activities in nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Top 3 Historical Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Top 3 Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Top 3 Scientists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Etnography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Top 3 Symbols of Sibiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Top 3 Fortifications of Sibiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Top 3 Historic Buildings in Sibiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Top 3 Squares in Sibiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Top 3 Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Top 3 Places of worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Top 3 Museums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Top 3 Settlements in MĂĽrginimea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Top 3 Fortified churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Top 3 Fortresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Top 3 Monasteries and hermitages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Top 3 Natural reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Walking trough the City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 I. The Large Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 II. The Small Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 III. The Huet Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 IV. Places of worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 V. Bastions and Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 VI. Dumbrava Sibiului . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Sibiu’s Whereabouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Traditions in the villages of Mårginimea Sibiului . . . . .72 History and Culture in old castles and churches . . . . . .76 Sport and relaxation in Påltini¿ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Ocna Sibiului . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Where to stay, where to eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Highlights 1. Sibiu Citadel

emaining almost intact for centuries, Sibiu’s medieval fortress retains a unique architecture, recalling the atmosphere of times long gone. Surrounded by walls, fortified by towers and bastions, the old fortress is bearing its inheritance into the present. Its towers watch ever quiet, the squares boast with the architectural beauty of buildings, the streets wind staggering. Together, they invite the traveler to discover an immortal city.

2. Mårginimea Sibiului

he beauty of the nature and the hospitality of the people, the numerous places to visit, the richness and diversity of the cultural heritage, all make Mårginimea Sibiului a highly attractive area for the tourists. The entire region is unique to Romania, being a spectacular patch of land where folk traditions merged with a great natural landscape. Here, at the foot of the mountains, time is at a

standstill for the villages in Mårginimea still keep intact the calm spirit of life in nature.

3. Påltini¿

ne of the most important ski resorts in the country lies only 35 km from Sibiu. Located in the Cindrel Mountains at 1442 m hight, in a rich pine forest, the resort takes pride in being “The resort located at the highest altitude in Romania.” And the accolades do not stop there. Founded

in 1894 by the Transylvanian Carpathian Society of Tourists, Påltini¿ is the oldest resort in Romania. In over a century of existence, the resort took advantage of the exceptional natural environment, becoming a winter sports paradise, but also a unique recreational area.

Sibiu and Whereabouts

Sibiu – historical city Placed in the heart of the country at a crossroad, the city of Sibiu is landlocked between the southern Transylvanian mountains, like a fortress untouched by time. Sibiu’s beginnings are lost in the mists of time. Fact remains that the first pages of the city’s chronicle is closely linked to the Saxon colonists. When the Saxons came to these lands, in the XIIth century, they brought new standards of civilization that they seeded in an essentially rural area. They persistently promoted craftsmanship and commerce which in terms led to prosperity of the whole community. The sharp and steady development transformed Sibiu, for three centuries, into the most important city of Transylvania and one of the most thriving and prosperous towns in this part of Europe.

oday, Sibiu attracts tourists not only by its medieval beauty or the irresistible charm of its cultural life, but also by the refined culinary arts that seams like a real mystery pot of millenary Daco-Roman gastronomic tradition and influences exercised over

the centuries by the people who settled or passed through these lands. And last but not least there are the local traditions that, like a “time machine”, transport the tourists in an almost forgotten past.

The Large Square – view from the Council Tower 8

The Council Tower

SIBIU ’ S COAT OF ARMS According to medieval traditions, the crossed swords pointing down meant the right of possession of land, the will of the inhabitants to defend the city and the civic rights of its citizens. The mural crown with seven towers, a reminder of the old name of Transylvania (Siebenburgen = seven cities), indicates Sibiu’s heritage as a county seat.

In 2007, Sibiu was presented with the honor of being the European Capital of Culture as proof for its historical, cultural and architectural importance. Under the slogan “City of Culture – City of cultures”, Sibiu had shown the entire continent that he meets the European standards for a top tourist destination. 9

Here there is some information about the city such as accommodation, eating, transport arrangements or other useful links that could help the tourists visiting for the first time the old city of Hermann. In the following pages you will find a small guide that will present the old city the way it welcomes you from the fortress gate.

Useful information

What you should know before starting our journey

ibiu lays an area of 120 sq km area encompassing in its administrative area, to the old town (Upper Town), the Lower City, divided into several neighbourhoods, industrial areas and Pådurea Dumbrava (the Grove Forest), located in the south of the city. Like any historical city, Sibiu has a busy centre, with medieval squares filling up with tourists on weekends.

The Sibiu area can be visited all year round. In each season, Sibiu puts on its holiday clothes, expecting its visitors. In winter, the ski slops of Påltini¿ open; in the spring, like nature itself the villages of Mårginime revive their traditions. In the summer and autumn, Sibiu runs festivals that suit all tastes.

How do we get around By Road Access to city is provided by the following roads: • E68 (Hungary) – Nådlac – Arad – Deva – Sebe¿ – Miercurea Sibiului – 12

Sibiu – Bra¿ov • E81 (Ukraine) – Halmeu – Orchard – Satu Mare – Zalåu – Cluj Napoca – Turda – Sebe¿ – Miercurea Sibiului – Sibiu – Pite¿ti – Bucharest – Constan¡a

• DN 1 Bucharest – Ploie¿ti – Bra¿ov – Fågåra¿ – Sibiu – Alba Iulia – Turda – Cluj – Oradea – Bor¿ • DN 7 Bucharest – Gåe¿ti – Pite¿ti – Râmnicu Vâlcea – Sibiu – Deva – Arad – Nådlac • DN 14 Sighisoara – Dumbråveni – Media¿ – Cop¿a Micå – Sibiu Between Sebe¿ and Bra¿ov, DN 1 and E68 overlaps. Between Sebe¿ and Bucharest, DN 7 and E81 overlaps. The inner road network is well developed, the city is crossed by 650 streets totalling over 150 km; the construction of new blocks leads to changes in these figures from year to year. Public transportation is served by buses and trolleys on schedules that run from 5:30 to 23:30 on weekdays and 6:00 to 22:00 on Sunday and holidays. The price of one ticket is 1.5 lei with subscription prices ranging from 5 lei for one day to 50 lei a month. There are also external bus routes out of Sibiu to Påltini¿ (leaving the station

TAXI COMPANIES Commission – 0269-24 24 24 Corso – 0269-946 Galaxy – 0269-943 Negoiu – 0269-44 44 44 Pronto – 0269-22 22 22 Taxi Pro – 0269-949 Star – 0269-953

RENT

The main access in the Small Square is under the Liar’s Bridge

at 7:00, 11:00 or 16:00; the ticket price is 9 lei) or to Poplaca (leaving Cibin Square starting at 6:00; the ticket price is 4.4 lei). Not to forget the history tram SibiuRå¿inari, that runs at a time interval of about 30 minutes. The ticket price for this tram is 2.3 Lei. There are two private bus stations in the city, where vans and buses leave for any destination in the country.

C AR

Quattro Rent a Car No. 7, Gheorghe Lazår Street Tel.: 0269-21 02 00 Mobile ph.: 0766-60 32 03

Auto Partner Rent a Car No. 8, Dima Street Tel.: 0369-80 10 60 Mobile ph.: 0730-80 10 60 Autorent Sibiu No. 90, Calea Dumbråvii Street Tel.: 0269-25 20 21 Mobile ph.: 0722-21 21 72

On railway

By air

With four railway stations – Gara Mare, Gara Micå, Sibiu Triaj and Turni¿or – Sibiu is one of the major rail hubs of the country. The last three of them are for county routes only. Through the Romanian Railway Company (CFR) the city is directly linked to all major centres of the country: Bucharest, Bra¿ov, Constan¡a, Târgu Mure¿, Timi¿oara, Craiova, Suceava. More information on www.infofer.ro.

Sibiu has an international airport. From here or via Timi¿oara airport, flights leave for all the major cities in Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, but also to Southern and Eastern Europe. More details www.sibiuairport.ro.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Sibiu and Whereabouts

What should you do in case of emergency Health Services Sibiu ambulance service No. 12, Pescarilor Street Tel.: 0269-961 Pediatrics Hospital No. 2-4, Pompeiu Onofreiu Street Tel.: 0269-23 02 60 Sibiu County Hospital No. 2-4 Cornelius Coposu Blvd. Tel.: 0269-21 50 50 Polisano Clinic No. 24, Constitu¡iei Street Tel.: 0269-23 44 86 Astra Clinic No. 1, Grigore Alexandrescu Street Tel.: 0269-23 30 16 Pharmacies

Polisano Pharma No. 11, M. Viteazul Blvd. Tel.: 0269-42 14 18 San Marco No. 7, Nicolae Iorga Street Tel.: 0269-23 21 87 Profarcom No. 24, Constitu¡iei Street Tel.: 0269-43 39 24 Sensiblu No. 33, Bålcescu Blvd. Tel.: 0269-21 52 59 Consumer Protection The County Office for Consumer Protection No. 21, Longing Street Tel.: 0269-44 77 89

Laurasib No. 83, 9 Mai Street Tel.: 0269-22 78 18

The Welfare and Tourists support Service

Farmasib No. 53, Bålcescu Street Tel.: 0269-21 78 97

The Public Local Police Service of Sibiu No 1-3, Victoriei Blvd. Tel.: 0269-20 88 00

How do we get informed

s one of the most important tourist areas in Romania, Sibiu has many tourist information centres:

Avrig No. 3, George Lazarus Street Tel.: 0269-52 31 63

Sibiu City Hall No. 2, Samuel Brukenthal Street Tel.: 0269-20 89 00

Ocna Sibiu No. 1, Mihai Eminescu Street Tel.: 0269-54 11 77

Sibiu Airport No. 73, Alba Road Tel.: 0269-25 39 99, 0730-25 07 88

Rå¿inari Sibiu Street Tel.: 0269-55 72 00

Sibiu railway station No. 6, Pia¡a 1 December 1918 Tel.: 0269-20 89 13

Såli¿te No. 2, Pia¡a Junilor Tel.: 0269-55 35 12

Astra Museum Rå¿inari Drive Tel.: 0269-25 29 76

Cisnådie No. 1, Cetå¡ii Street Tel.: 0269-56 24 36

Tourist information centres are also present in the Mårginimea Area and around Sibiu:

Sibiel No. 298, Principalå Street Tel.: 0269-55 25 60

What and when things happen in Sibiu January February April May

June

Carnival Lolelor The Ice Carnival The Sibiu Carnival The Sibiu International Theatre Festival; The “Europe singing and dancing” show, Europe Day Transylvania International Film Festival; “Fête de la Musique”, International Music Festival

July August

September December

International Culture Festival National Festival of Folk Traditions in Romania; The “Transylvanian Fortresses” Medieval Festival International Festival of Lyrical Art “Magic Fest” International Festival

Accommodation Sibiu has many hotels and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. In the last section of the guide we provide the tourists a selection of the best

accommodation and restaurants in the Sibiu region (see chapter Where do we stay, where do we eat).

Gone through countless challenges and not easy to conquer, the fortress of Sibiu has finally opened its doors. It did not do it in the past for invaders, it does it now for those travellers who are eager to learn about its historyâ&#x20AC;Ś

Pages of history

Sibiu and Whereabouts

The Ancientry The first human settlements in the Sibiu area go back to the Stone Age and the first mention of the place appears in a document issued by Pope Celestin III in the XIIth century. During de Roman period, the Sibiu area was known as “Cibiniensis” or “Cibinium”; this is the origin of both Cibin River and the town’s Romanian language names. At the end of the XIIth th century, the first defence wall of Sibiu was erected, and the first houses were located along the present streets Faurului and 9 Mai. By the same time, on the upper plateau, a Romanic basilica was built. Some decades later, around the basilica, the fortification of the upper plateau seems to have begun.

The Middle Age After the issue of the Golden Bull, which granted the inhabitants of Sibiu (the Transylvanian Germans) their economic and administrative privileges, the development of the town flourished, and this boom helped also to the expansion of the defence system, which came to engulf the present Pia¡å Micå (Small Square). The new fortification wall had two defence towers, still preserved up to date, with little alterations only: The Goldsmiths’ and the Council’s Towers. But the Tartar invasion showed the local defence system was still vulnerable. So that, a third defence system was built. The 12 towers distributed along the walls had all kinds of openings that allowed for the town to be defended by means of bows and arrows and of fire arms, or by thowing rocks, boiled water or hot tar onto the attackers. The guard OLD STREETS It seems that the streets with crafts names in the Lower Town were started in the same period of time. Pânzarilor (Clothiers’), Pielarilor (Tanners’), Cojocarilor (Pelt Workers’), Blånarilor (Furriers’), Tåbåcarilor (Curriers’), Frânghierilor (Rope Braiders’), Zidarilor (Masons’), Brutarilor (Bakers’) Streets. 1191: First documentary mention about the place, under the Latin denomination of Cibinium (since 1223 Hermannsdorf – Hermann’s village). 1210: The local people, Transylvanian Saxons, Romanians, Szecklers and Petchenegs are mentioned in the army of Joachim of Sibiu who attacked Vidin. 1224: King Andrew II of Hungary issued the Golden Bulla of the

Cisnådiei Gate, watercolour by J.Böbler

and maintenance of the towers was attributed to the various guilds. Within the new surrounding walls, the places of top importance were the Pia¡a Mare (The Large Square), the Pia¡a Micå (The Small Square), the Council’s Tower and the Town Hall. The Large Square was designed for fairs, various public gatherings, festivities, military parades and (for a lesser period of time only) public executions. In turn, the Small Square served for the storage of supplies needed by the town at times of siege. There were several underground galleries that connected the town to the exterior (some of them are still existing), and drinking water

Transylvanian Saxons, establishing their privileges and the county of Sibiu. 1241: The town was conquered and destroyed by the Mongolian invasion; there remained less than 100 survivors. 1302: Beginning of the Transylvanian Saxon’s organization per residence-territories, Sibiu being the first one. 1355: Attestation of the province

of Sibiu, organized into seven residence-territories. 1366: First documentary mention about the town of Sibiu (Hermannstadt). 1376: First regulations on Sibiu guilds operation; they were 19. 1432: First Ottoman attack against the town. 1442: King Iancu de Hunedoara destroyed the army of Mezid beg, during the siege of Sibiu.

CAGE OF FOOLS Between 1724 and 1757, in the Big Square there was a so called “cage of fools”, where those who troubled the comunity peace by night were caged by day.

was transported to the town centre through an aqueduct, from the Dumbrava Creek. At the end of the XIVth century, when the Turk menace was increasing, the leaders of Sibiu considered that the defence system should be extended upon the Lower Town. So that now the four town entrance gates are built; they were defended by the most powerful guilds. Moreover, the Cibin Stream and the Stezii and Morilor Canals were arranged in such a way as to allow to form (by controlled flooding) a row of artificial lakes in front of the defence walls, in order to hinder the attackers to advance. However, the continuous perfecting of fire arms made the Sibiu defence system less effective. So that in the first half of the XVIth century, the town fortification system was completed with artillery rounds (the Gros Turnul), plus four other bastions, Italian style. More other fortifications were erected, intended for the reinforcement of the south-eastern part of the town (the Haller Bastion), or the Cisnådiei, Turnului and Ocnei Gates. The last building to be erected (1627) was the Bastionul Mercenarilor (the Soldisch, that means The Mercenaries Bastion). Politically, Sibiu had an extremely troubled history, up to the early XVIIIth century, when the 1467: The mayor of Sibiu, Petru Gereb, was executed in the town square for having taken part in the conspiracy against king Mathia Corvin. 1486-1487: Establishment of Universitas Saxorum, a political, administrative and legal organization of the Transylvanian Saxons. 1529-1536: Long siege of the town led by Ioan Zápolya, king

Habsburg authority firmly settled in Transylvania. After the disaster at Mohács (1526), suffered by the Hungarian army, when the king himself was killed in battle, a fierce conflict broke loose for the throne of Hungary, followed by a civil war between John Zápolya (supported by the Turks) and Ferdinand of Habsburg. After the formation of the Great Principality of Transylvania (1541) under Turkish suzerainty, the fight between the two powers goes on, and can be witnessed within Sibiu as well, where two sides are constituted. The group favouring the Habsburgs, greater in numbers and power, was headed by two outstanding representatives of the Transylvanian Germans: Marcus Pempfflinger and Petrus Haller. The two groups will take turn at the leadership of the town, depending on the political circumstances. At the end of the XVIth century, stability had been reinstated in the town, mainly due to the royal justices Augustin Hedwig and Albert Huet. They officially adopted the submission policy to the Turks (despite their pro-Habsburg feelings) and the policy of maintaining friendly and stable relations with Wallachia and Moldavia.

A fair in the Large Square

of Transylvania, who finally conquered the town; the town’s citizens were supporting Ferdinand of Habsburg. 1543: The community adopted the Reform, massively enrolling themselves into the Lutheran movement (since 1572, the Protestant Church of August Faith). 1551: Establishment (for 5 years) of the first Habsburg garrison in Sibiu.

1599: Battle of Tålmaciu, between Mihai Viteazul [Michael the Brave] and Andrei Báthory, the people of Sibiu keeping neutrality. 1610-1613: Gabriel Báthory invaded Sibiu, robbed the town and chased its inhabitants; he was forced to leave the town 3 years later, leaving behind only 53 surviving families.

PAGES OF HISTORY

Sibiu and Whereabouts

The Modern Period

The Stairs Passage

By way of the Leopoldine Certificate (1691), Transylvania becomes part of the Habsburg Empire, with Sibiu as capital. The Habsburg period in the history of Sibiu brings capital modern elements into the architecture works, too. Outside the old defence walls, new districts took shape (the Josephine district and the Theresian district), next to the older “district” of the Maiers, inhabited by Romanians and located in the Lower Town. Gradually, the old image of a THE AUSTRIAN ARMY As to the typical features of the Austrian rule, it has been put in a nutshell by the now famous description given by the historian A. Fischoff, who defined as relying on “a walking army of soldiers, a sitting army of officials, and a kneeing army of priest.”

1658: Last Ottoman siege against the town. 1692: Sibiu became the chief-town of Transylvania for one century, following the integration of Transylvania into the Habsburg Empire. 1745: Inauguration of the post line Vienna-Sibiu, the town becoming the Eastern end of the European post network. 1774: Samuel von Brukenthal

medieval fortress is replaced by a modern town, with many new buildings in the Viennese baroque style, out of which two, located in the town centre, are quite representative and are still standing: the Jesuit Church (nowadays the Catholic church), and The Brukenthal Castle (the most famous baroque monument in Sibiu). By the middle of the XIXth century, Sibiu becomes the ideological centre of the 1848 Transylvanian Revolution and it will maintain its statute as an important centre of the national Romanian movement all through the period of the Austrian-Hungarian dualism. After 1850, the general economic and social development left its mark on the town of Sibiu, too – small enterprises were established, forming the core of the future industrial development. At the same time, a genuine town-planning revolution also took place. Three hospitals and the impressive building of the Museum of the Association (ASTRA) are erected, as well as the Christian Orthodox Cathedral, the theological seminary, the Gheorghe Lazår School and the Law Courts. Gas lighting is introduced at a very early date, and then electrical street-cars appeared. The cultural progress is also outstanding. All along its evolution, Sibiu has been in the top league of cultural life of its times. For Sibiu, musical life had become an usual event since the times of Samuel von Brukenthal. The XIXth century witnessed the concerts of several outstanding musicians, such as Franz Liszt and Johann Strauss. The Sibiu Theatre was the first one in Romania. A first printing house was established in Sibiu in 1528, and the first print work appeared one year later. The first book printed in Romanian language appeared also in Sibiu, as did

became the governor of Transylvania; he would remain the sole Transylvanian Saxon appointed for this position. 1781: Declaration of the citizens joint-living in Sibiu, and consequently Romanians started to establish their residences in the town. 1791: Printing of Supplex Libellus Valachorum, the proclamation of the Transylvanian School.

1795: Transylvania’s Orthodox Bishop established his residence in the town, which became the spiritual centre of the Transylvanian Romanians. 1848: By Sibiu, it was established the National Committee elected by the Assembly of Blaj, led by Andrei ªaguna and Simion Bårnu¡iu. 1849: The town was temporarily conquered by the Hungarian revolutionary troops.

Cold winter in Sibiu

the first calendar in Romania, the first bookshop, the first theatre magazine, and also the first lithography shop in Transylvania. Education has also its great tradition in Sibiu – the first school is known to have existed in 1380, being transformed into a Gymnasium two centuries later. The first high school was opened in the town by the Dominicans. Then the Jesuits opened a Catholic gymnasium,

The town of Sibiu in 1808 – Painting by Frans Neuhauser 1861: Establishment of the Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and Romanian People Culture (ASTRA). 1863: Due to a more liberal policy of the authorities, the Transylvania Diet (for the first time dominated by Romanians, further to the elections) opened its works in Sibiu. 1864: Andrei ªaguna reesta-

where many Romanian children studied, as well, among them also the famous scholar Gheorghe Lazår; the nuns of St. Ursula opened, in turn, a school for girls. For the German school in Transylvania, Sibiu was the most important higher education centre all through the XVIIIth century. A Law School was established here in 1844 – among its students there were also Romanians, such as Simion Bårnu¡iu or Ilie Måcelariu. The first public library was the Brukenthal Library. But the most important one in Sibiu was the library of The Transylvanian Society for Romanian Literature and the Culture of the Romanian People, short ASTRA (today it houses 1 mil. volumes). Considering the urban development of the town of Sibiu after the Great Union of 1918, the fact should be stressed that the major alterations, particularly those in the Lower Town, have not been very many, and the trend was to preserve whatever has been left of the old town-fortress.

blished the Metropolitan Church of Transylvania and became its first leader. 1892: The Memorandum of the Romanians of Transylvania and Hungary was drawn up by the members of the Romanian National Party. 1919: Following the Great Unification, the town was officially named Sibiu; there, it was set up the Leading Council,

which was to govern Transylvania temporarily till its total integration into the Kingdom of Romania. 1945: The year of the first deportations of the Transylvanian Saxons to U.S.S.R.

PAGES OF HISTORY

I. The Large Square he journey begins in The Large T Square, the focal point of tourism in Sibiu. (See Top 3

Squares in Sibiu.)

The Roman Catholic Parish House The first important objective is located at No. 2 Large Square. The Roman Catholic Parish House, a baroque styled building constructed between 1726 and 1739. The statue of the Martir Saint Johannes Nepomuk, initially placed in the Large square is now located in the inner courtyard of The Parish House. The statue was removed from the Square during the communist era, and relocated in the courtyard of the Brukenthal museum from where it was transferred to its current location.

The Catholic Church After Transylvania entered under Habsburg occupation, Catholics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; through their most consistent representatives, the Jesuits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; raised this church, in the centre of Sibiu, between 1726 and 1733. The exterior of the monument is quite sober but the building has some interesting features. The tower has a vaulted corridor, which acts as a passage way between the Large and the Small Squares. The decorative architectural work of the Jesuit Church served as model for other Baroque monuments in Sibiu. An especially valuable architectural feature is the fresco that decorates the main altar. It depicts The Virgin Mary with Jesus and stands as a lasting testimony of Jesuit art in Sibiu.

The Town hall As in most medieval cities, Sibiu’s Town hall, sheltered by an elegant building in the central square, plays an important role in the life of the community. Built in 1906 in eclectic horseshoe-shape style, the building has a basement, a high ground floor, two floors and a loft. Originally build to house the Agricultural Credit Bank, this impressive building became the headquarters of Sibiu’s Savings and Loans House. It was turned over to administrative use, and became The Town Hall, after being renovated in 2006. It brims with impressive decorative facade and lures visitors with its Art Nouveau interior.

The Brukenthal Palace Brukenthal Palace, located on the West side of the Large Square, is one of the most important examples of baroque style civil engineering projects of the XVIIIth century in Transylvania. First intended as a residence for Baron Samuel von Brukenthal the palace was built on the site of two medieval houses. Currently, the palace houses the art collections of the Brukenthal museum. (See Top 3 Museums.)

The Blue House The Blue House – a building belonging to the late Baroque style of the XVth century – can be found next to The Brukenthal Palace, at No 5. The facade that dominates two floors is decorated with the triangular attic emblem of Sibiu. Currently, the interior is home to some of the collections of the Brukenthal Museum. 55

WALKING TROUGH THE CITY

Sibiu and Whereabouts

The House of the Generals Built in XVth century, the building at No. 7 Great Square hasn’t lacked famous owners. In the XVIth century it belonged to the county lord Albert Huet. In 1779 the house was acquired by The Magistrates Office and the between the years 1784-1904 it housed The General Headquarters of the Austrian troops in Transylvania. It was for this reason, that the building was named, informally at first The House of the Generals. The building’s vaulted corridor assures the passage towards Archives street.

The Hecht House This building dates from the XVth century and was originally a Mint. Then, in 1472, it was acquired by Georg Hecht, mayor of Sibiu at that time. It seems that it owes most of its current appearance to that period. The building has a lot of Gothic and Renaissance architectural details, with two storeys and a high

attic, decorated with two rows of windows. On the ground floor the rooms are vaulted, and cross sticks symbols are present on the door frames. Downstairs, you can find a vaulted passage with a length of 20 m and a stone frame belonging to the late Gothic period. After being inhabited by Saxon nobles for a long time, the building was taken over by The Saxon University, in 1821.

The Haller House Build in a Gothic architectural style and later redecorated with Renaissance elements, the Haller house was first documented in 1472. The former Gothic style only retains a few elements: the L-shaped plan of the house, facing the street, as well as some arches and frames. The courtyard has a tower-house, two stores high. The renaissance period of the house starts in 1537, when the building was purchased by the Saxon nobleman Petrus Haller.

The Weidner-CzekeliusReussner house It was born by merging two buildings belonging to the XVIth century. Its name comes from three successive owners that left their mark on its architecture. Over time, the building has undergone many changes; the ground floor was separated and turned into a row of commercial areas. In the courtyard you can still see rail tracks from the time when the building was a warehouse for chemical products.

kings who stopped in town. Initially, the building had a four level tower-house, similar to that of the Haller House. The chapel of St. Ladislas is situated in the courtyard.

The Lutsch House The Lutsch House, so called after one of its XVIth century owners, was one of the most important historical buildings in Sibiu. Some researchers believe that this building was built in 1424 by King Sigismund, to host the princes and 57