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Introducing Sibiu
Trailing Sighişoara, Braşov and Cluj-Napoca in travellers’ appeal, Sibiu was once the king of the Transylvanian Saxon towns, serving as capital and dominating cultural activity. It still revels in the latter. Now, Sibiu is an EU-designated ‘Capital of Culture’ (along with Luxembourg), with year-long events putting lovely Sibiu on the map for even more visitors. The town is certainly enchanting enough on its own, with a just-scrubbed centre, newly cobblestoned squares and pedestrian malls, and the unique ‘eyelid’ rooftop windows looking over pastel-painted buildings.
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Founded on the site of the former Roman village of Cibinium, Sibiu (Hermannstadt to the Saxons, Nagyszében to Hungarians) has always been one of the leading cities of Transylvania. During the peak of Saxon influence, Sibiu had some 19 guilds, each representing a different craft, within the sturdy city walls protected by 39 towers and four bastions. Under the Habsburgs from 1703 to 1791 and again from 1849 to 1867, Sibiu served as the seat of the Austrian governors of Transylvania. Much remains from this colourful history. In 2000 Johannis Klaus of the German Democratic Forum was elected mayor and has remained hugely popular ever since, placing the city once again under German leadership.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
