Known in German under the name Hermannstadt, Sibiu has always been the most important center of the German minority in Transylvania. Nowadays, Sibiu has the most numerous German community in Romania but also a fairly important Hungarian community.Legend has it that the lost children of Hamelin came out of the ‘Almasch’ caves (Varghis) in Transilvania, somewhere near the nowadays location of Sibiu. This is the romanticized explanation of a unique phenomenon which explains the appearance of many blond-haired blue-eyed people on these lands, who spoke German and lived by the customs of peoples living thousands of kilometers away. In effect, the fortresses and fortified villages in Transylvania were founded in the 12th Century by immigrants coming from the Moselle valley area, known under the name of Saxons.

Founded by Transylvanian Saxons during the 12th Century, Sighisoara still stands as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this perfectly intact 16th Century citadel with cobbled streets, burgher houses and churches rivals the historic streets of Old Prague or Vienna for its magical atmosphere.
Vlad Dracula was born here in 1431 and lived with his family for 5 years. His house is just one of the many attractions here. Others include the Church on the Hill with its 500-year-old frescoes, the 13th Century Venetian House and the Church of the Dominican Monastery, known for its Transylvanian renaissance carved altarpiece; The Clock Tower and The Medieval weapons museum.
A walk through the town’s hilly streets with their original medieval architecture is like stepping back in time.

Similar trips: Day trip to Balea Lake & Sibiu • Day Tour to Salt Mine Slanic Prahova & Peles Palace  • Day Tour to the Clay Castle (Valley of Fairies), Lipitani Horses & Cistercian Abbey Carta • Day Tour to Caves & Keys • Day Tour to Corvin Castle (Huniarzi Castle), Furnaces from Gavojdia & Dacia Sarmizegetusa Regia