Sibiu: Inside Romania’s idyllic heart

Since honesty is always the best policy, I must start with a confession: I have not visited Romania yet. I flew over it a couple of times, but it was cloudy, so it’s safe to say I have never touched or even spotted Romanian soil. Not for much longer, though!
This summer, I am finally visiting my neighbor to the north (I’m Bulgarian originally). In a series of blogs, I want to share my Romanian travel plans with you. Consider this the “before” part of my exploration endeavor and stay tuned for the “after”, too! First stop: Sibiu.

A beautiful image of Sibiu with the Carpathian mountains behind (Source)

Sibiu: central and connected

The Transylvanian city of Sibiu lies close to Romania’s geographical center; it is, quite literally, at the country’s heart. This also makes it an important transportation hub with major roads and an international airport – now try and tell me there’s a better place to start my Romanian journey!
As a native of Sofia, I have a soft spot for mountain views. There is something about urban skylines rising against the backdrop of snowy peaks that soothes my soul and makes me feel at home. Sibiu doesn’t disappoint: the Fagaras, Cibin, and Lotrului mountains are all within a 20-kilometer distance and embrace the city from the south.

Sibiu: old and international

Call me snobbish, but I like places with history. Sibiu was founded by Transylvanian Saxons, and the first historical mentions of the city date back to the 12th century. The many years it spent as part of the Kingdom of Hungary and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire helped preserve its Germanic spirit. It is still commonly known as “Hermannstadt”, too! Although native Germans make up less than two percent of the current population, the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania has been at the city government’s helm for more than a decade now.

Sibiu is also commonly known as Hermannstadt (Source)

This national connection also draws me to Sibiu since Germany has become a second home to me. I’m curious to discover the different ways in which East met West there. Bilingual manhole covers like the one above are certainly only the tip of the iceberg.

Sibiu: cultured and sophisticated

Sibiu is also a renowned cultural hub in Romania. With three theaters and a philharmonic against a population of less than 150,000 people, I can imagine how much the locals cherish the arts. Each year between May and September, Sibiu welcomes guests from all over Romania and abroad thanks to a number of prominent thespian and music events, from the Medieval Festival to Rockin’ Transylvania.

Passage below Liars’ Bridge in Sibiu (Source)

For its vibrant cultural life, Sibiu was awarded the title of European Culture Capital in 2007. I’m sure it retains and grows its glory to this day. When I am not hopping between museums or enjoying some smooth open-air jazz, I expect to be charmed by the Old City’s upper and lower town where Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings coexist in perfect harmony.

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I do have a lot to look forward to on the first leg of my trip to Romania: Sibiu promises a great experience across the board. Also, because it is in Transylvania, I can get away with a few vampire jokes which I will spare you here and use on the spot this summer.

Overall, a great start!