Sibiu, the European capital of culture 2007

Sibiu Sibiu Sibiu

Known in German as Hermannstadt, Sibiu has always been the centre of Romania's German minority since medieval times. Even today, it contains Romania's largest German community, and, due to initiatives by the local government, the Germanic feel of the area has been maintained. Sibiu also has a significant Hungarian minority, remnants of Transylvania's past as part of the Hungarian Empire and, later, Austria-Hungary. Despite this, Sibiu is also distinctly Romanian (95% of the population are ethnic Romanians) and manages to fuse these three cultures, as well as smaller minorities of Roma, Slovaks and Ukrainians into a city that is as wonderful as it is vibrant.

Sibiu Sibiu

Sibiu/Hermannstadt is perceived as a city of art and culture. A great number of cultural monuments, a diversity of museums, and various artistic and cultural events, make up the pillars of a complex cultural profile. Using this simple premise, an attractive and stimulating atmosphere has been created for residents and visitors who take the opportunity to experience cultural life in this Transylvanian city.

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Today, old Sibiu still possesses much of its erstwhile charm, a character carefully preserved for posterity, and subject of several high-profile restoration projects. It is also an easy city to explore on foot, one with a good selection of restaurants, pavement cafes and beer gardens, but perhaps the most enduring memory is that of the dormer windows overlooking the squares in such a manner that they give the eerie impression that you are always being watched - these are the 'eyes of Sibiu'!

Sibiu Sibiu

Few Romanian cities are as pleasant as Sibiu. The city has two easily walkable levels: the 'upper town', which contains most of Sibiu's historic sights, and the 'lower tower', which is a charming wasteland of old houses and cobbled squares. Connecting the upper and lower towns are dozens of tunnels, stairways and hidden passageways which will let you speechless. The old part of town centres on the magnificent Piata Mare and Piata Mica, with their painted 17th century houses. The Large Square (Piata Mare) marks the heart of the city. It's home to shops, cafes and some top tourist attractions. Sibiu contains the largest concentration of tourist attractions in Romania. In Sibiu alone are over 100 attractions of national importance and together with the surrounding area the points of interest exceed 140.

Sibiu Sibiu

Sibiu Sibiu