Off to Transylvania
Travelling through Wallachia to Transylvania
We are on the highway quite awhile before turning off to drive through foot hills which look a lot like Ontario, except the houses are different.
We start rising going up curvy roads. The road follows the Olt River through the Carpathian mountains.
Sibiu
After about four hours, we arrive to the city of Sibiu, which is in the centre of Transylvania.This is a well preserved medieval city with a strong German influence. A large church dominates the square. People are already setting up for the Christmas market.
We cross the Liars Bridge where, legend says, bad things happen to liars who cross.
Unique to the area are the air vents in the roofs that look like eyes.
Biertan
Our next stop is the small town of Biertan which is known for its large medieval fortified church. The church also acted as a fort and this one has three series of walls for protection.
Sighisoara
Our final stop of the day is the medieval city of Sighisoara which is a Unesco World Heritage site. This city still retains much of it’s old walls and nine of the original twelve towers.
The large clock tower dominates the skyline.
After checking into our hotel, Hotel Bulevard, Marius takes us for a tour around the cobblestone streets of the old town. Since it is on a hill, we climb a lot of steps.
We see the house where Vlad Tepes (the leader whom the story Dracula was loosely based around) lived. Click here to find out the true story of this man.
We also check out a church from the 1200s and climb over 150 steps to an ancient school which is still in use today.
We visit the old graveyard that is just outside the city walls, behind the school.
Marius tells us that for a few weeks every year, a medieval festival is held here. The outdoor lighting is turned off and replaced by torches, vehicles are banned and replaced by horses and carts and everyone dresses in period costume. It sounds like an amazing event.
We end the day with a delicious traditional meal at our hotel.
