Bistrita

BISTRITA (Bistritz)

Landmarks

Capital town of the Bistrita-Nasaud county; medieval town raised by the Saxons; crafts, trade and education flourished during the Middle Ages; nowadays, the most important town in the north-eastern part of Transylvania; 88,000 inhabitants (1995) Access by train - Dej (66 km), Cluj-Napoca (124 km); by road - E 576 Vatra Dornei (84 km), Dej (62 km)

Highlights

Orthodox Church (13th c.)early Gothic and baroque styles; fragments of murals from the 14th c.; St. Mary's Evangelical Church (14th-15th centuries) Gothic style with Renaissance elements, i.e. the pews; collection of 23 flags standing for the different guilds; Saxons' Tower (part of the church) 76,5 m high; tallest bell-tower in Romania; Citadel with Coopers' Tower (15th c.) 35 m high; Colonades'/Sugalete Passage (15th-16th centuries) guilds' shops and workshops; Silverman's House (16th c.) façade in the Renaissance style and finely carved portal.

Lodging and Meals

Hotels Bistrita 3*, Codrisor 3*, Cora 3*, Coroana de Aur 2*, Decebal 2*, Apollo 1*; Dracula's Castle 3* (Piatra Fântânele) Agrotourism pensions Bistrita Bârgaului, Lunca Ilvei, Prundu Bârgaului, Sant, Rebra, Susenii Bârgaului, Tiha Bârgaului etc.