Sibiu: where Medieval charm neets Transylvanian elegance
A bit of context
Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels (Siebenburgen) founded in the 12th century by German settlers known as 'Transylvanian Saxons'.
The riches amassed by its guilds paid for the construction of both impressive buildings and the fortifications required to protect them.Sibiu Old Town retains the grandeur of its earlier days when rich and powerful guilds dominated regional trade. Like Sighisoara and Brasov - two other outstanding towns in southern Transylvania - it has a distinctly Germanic feeling. Sections of the medieval wall still guard the historic area, where narrow streets pass steep-roofed 17th century buildings with gable overhangs before opening into vast, church-dominated squares such as Great Square and Little Square.
Pedestrian-friendly, Sibiu Old Town has two distinct sections: the Upper Town, home to most of Sibiu's historic landmarks, and the Lower Town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin. Traditionally, the Upper-Town was wealthier and concentrated businessmen and tradesmen; the Lower-Town served as the manufacturing area.
In case you want to get inspired for you trip, especially for photo spots and original perspectives, I leave here the link for my Flickr album from when I visited Sibiu!
