Sibiu Information

 

The Upper Town (Oraşul de sus) is a true open-air museum. It focuses around three squares linked together: the Big Square (Piaţa Mare), the Small Square (Piaţa Mică) and Huet Square (Piaţa Huet). The Big Square is ground zero of the city’s public life and it is surrounded by houses which belonged to some Saxon nobles. Here you can admire the Roman-Catholic Church, as well as the imposing Brukenthal Palace. The latter houses one of the most well-known Romanian museums, Brukenthal National Museum, where famous Romanian and Occidental art collections are exhibited.

 

On your way to Huet Square, we recommend you to make a stop at the History Museum, where you can see interesting silverware, weapons and glass collections. In Huet Square you should not miss the Evangelical Church, the place where is located the tomb of Mihnea cel Rău, the son of Vlad the Impaler.

 

From Huet Square go towards the Small Square to see the main attraction in the area, the Bridge of Lies (Podul Minciunilor), an elegant wrought iron bridge. In the Small Square you can visit the Museum of Pharmaceutical History (Muzeul de Istorie a Farmaciei) and the Etnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie Universală ''Franz Binder''). We advise you to climb the 111 stairs of the Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului) in order to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the city. 

 

Bălcescu Street is the most important arterial road in the new city. Here are located souvenir shops, traditional restaurants and hotels which once accommodated Liszt, Johann Strauss and the Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu. In the nearby area, you will find other tourist attractions, such as the Natural History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie Naturala) and Haller Bastion.

 

 

Near Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park, 7km away from Sibiu, you can find the Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization (Muzeul Civilizaţiei Populare Tradiţionale), the most beautiful open air exhibition space in Romania. Here you will discover the most complex collection of rural architecture monuments from our country.

 

Sibiu hosts many cultural manifestations attended by tourists from all around the world. The most important is the International Theatre Festival, which usually begins at the end of May and gathers participants from 70 countries. Sibiu is famous for two other festivals, so don't miss Astra Film Festival and Transylvania International Film Festival.

 

 

Ocna Sibiului is a health spa resort located at only 15km from Sibiu. In this land of salty waters with curative effects you can relax in the Bottomless Lake (''Lacul fară fund''), declared a natural monument, and you can benefit from the therapeutic effects of Lake Brâncoveanu.

 

Mărginimea Sibiului, located west of Sibiu, is an ethnographic region unique for its lively folklore. Explore this region, which includes 18 villages that kept the spiritual and ethno-folkloric traditions. Accommodating in the agro-touristic pensions from the region and tasting the delicious traditional dishes provide you with an intense and pleasant experience. You can also visit numerous old churches and museums, such as Sibiel Museum, which holds important collection of glass painted icons.

 

Păltiniş, only 35 km from Sibiu, is the ideal destination, being a popular ski resorts. Enjoy the wonderful sceneries, the ozone-filled air and the ski slopes covered in snow for up to four months a year. In the summer, you have the opportunity to visit Iezerele Cindrelului reservation, and to take a walk to the nearby glacial lakes.

 

We recommend you to visit the Saxon fortified churches, concentrated especially in Sibiu’s surrounding area. You can identify them by the defence walls, high towers and imposing bastions.

 

 

 

Photos: © Dragoş Asaftei (1 - Big Square; 4 - Bălcescu St)

Photos: © Ana Lutas (5 - Big Square; 6 - Blue House)

Photos: © MyDestination Romania Team (2 - House with eyes; 3 - Bridge of Lies; 7 - Big Square)