Sibiu county
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Sibiu
SIBIU (Hermannstadt)
Landmarks
Capital city of the Sibiu county; located in the Sibiu depression ; 425-450 m high; crossed by the Cibin river; in the 13th-17th centuries the Saxons raised the fortified town which saw the development of crafts, trade, science and culture - salient humanist scholars among whom Nicolaus Olahus and Konrad Haas (he who devised the three-phased rocket; at present, Sibiu is an important economic, cultural and university centre; tourism is favoured by the town's medieval vestiges and its picturesque surroundings, i.e. Paltinis mountain resort, 34 km away; 168.949 inhabitants (1997) Access by train - Deva (135 km), Râmnicu Vâlcea (120 km); by road - E 68 Brasov (143 km); E 81/E 68 Alba Iulia (72 km), DN 14 Medias (54 km); by air - Sibiu-Turnisor airport
Highlights
Medieval fortifications (13th-17th centuries) Defence Wall;the Stairs', the Gate's, the Drapers', the Potters', the Carpenters', the Powder Mill Towers, Thick Tower; Council Tower - emblematic for Sibiu; Haller and Soldisch Bastions Religious Monuments St. Mary's Evangelical Church (14th-15th centuries Gothic style; valuable tombstones and murals (15th c.); organon (16th c.); concerts held on Wednesday; Roman-Catholic Church (beginning of the 18th c.) baroque style; the fresco of Virgin Mary and the Holy Infant is the greatest accomplishment of the baroque painting at Sibiu; Orthodox Cathedral (start of the 20th c.) resembles Haghia Sofia in Istanbul; seat of the Metropolitan Church in Transylvania; neo-Byzantine style; beautiful quire every Sunday morning; Ursulines' Church Gothic architecture (15th c.) with baroque elements (start of the 18th c.); Cross Chapel (15th c.) valuable Gothic carvings Historic places Stairs' Passage (13th c.), Lies' Bridge (19th c.) Stately Buildings Old People's Shelter (13th c.); Old Market Hall/Arts House (15th c.) Gothic style; Altemberger-Pemflinger House/former Town Hall (15th c.) Gothic style, front side with the armorial bearings of the noble family; it houses today the County Museum of History; Brukenthal Palace (18th c.) late baroque style; once belonged to baron Samuel von Brukenthal, Transylvania's governor; at present, it houses the Brukenthal Art Museum and Library; "Imparatul Romanilor" Hotel (18th c.) eclectic style; sliding ceiling of the restaurant hall.
Lodging and Meals
Hotels Casa Muraru 4*, Continental 3*, Imparatul Romanilor 3*, Palace Dumbrava 3*, Clara 3*, Bulevard 2*, Parc 2*, Silvia 2* Traditional cuisine restaurants " Sibiul vechi" wine cellar Agrotourism pensions in the villages of Cristian (Kasper 3* and Spack 3*), Gura Râului, Saliste, Poplaca, Sebesu de Sus, Sibiel etc.