Popular Cities Sibiu Hermannstadt

The beautiful Romanian city of Sibiu, also known as Hermannstadt, invites you to take in the Southern Carpathians and visit the most important centre of the German minority in Transylvania. Sibiu is located on the Cibin River, which has its source in the Southern Carpathians.

Sights of the city

Hermannstadt has several interesting places to offer that you definitely shouldn't miss. Discover the history of the Fortress Towers or take a stroll along the Liars' Bridge. Equally worth seeing is the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, the Brukenthal Museum, or the House of Arts. Let Sibiu enchant you!

Fortress Towers

The Carpenters' Tower in Hermannstadt was already built in the 14th century in the name of the Saxon carpenters' guild. The tower was part of the third fortress belt of Sibiu and today represents the left tower of the defensive and fortress wall. The Carpenters' Tower is located on Citadel Street.

Equally significant is the Potters' Tower, which was built a whole century later, in the 15th century, in the name of the Saxon potters' guild. Like the Carpenters' Tower, the Potters' Tower was part of the third fortress belt and is located to the right of the preserved defensive and fortress wall.

The Liars' Bridge

The Liars' Bridge is considered one of the most famous landmarks of the city and has adorned the city since 1859. The construction of the Liars' Bridge replaced an older wooden bridge and today stands as the first cast-iron bridge in Romania. However, it's interesting how the name of this bridge came about. Since the bridge was considered the first bridge that didn't need pillars, it was called the "Lying Bridge" (in the sense of resting/lying flat). Quickly, the word "lying" (in the sense of resting) transformed into "lying" (in the sense of telling untruths), and the name "Liars' Bridge" became established, along with other legends about its naming.

Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity

You should definitely visit the impressive parish church named Holy Trinity. The baroque Roman Catholic church is located on Piata Mare and enchants with its baroque interior. In particular, the baroque painting "Mary with the Child" above the tabernacle stands out as part of the baroque decor and beautifies the church.

Brukenthal Museum (National Museum)

The Brukenthal Museum is also known as the Brukenthal Palace and represents one of the most representative buildings in Hermannstadt. Inside, you can discover magnificent tapestries and admire ornate woodwork. The Brukenthal Museum features elements of fine arts, painting, and music. You can also marvel at the symbol of abundance, a cornucopia filled with fruit and crops.

The Blue House

The Blue House nowadays houses offices and studios of the Brukenthal Museum and has existed since the end of the 15th century. However, although the building has existed for a long time, the appearance of the Blue House changed over the years. In 1773, the baroque-specific renovations began, which can be verified by a drawing in the Hermannstadt State Archive.

House of Arts

The purpose of the House of Arts has changed since the construction of this building. During the 14th century, today's House of Arts served as the seat of the butchers' guild. Later, it was briefly used as a theatre hall in 1765. Today, however, the House of Arts is a museum dedicated to Transylvanian Saxon folklore.

But what does Transylvanian Saxon mean? Transylvanian Saxon is one of the oldest surviving German settler languages and has its origins in the 12th century. History thus shows that Germans are also native to Romania, namely the former settlers from Transylvania (now part of Romania).

Nearby attractions

There are numerous sights near Sibiu that you should definitely keep in mind during your trip. A very special highlight is the ASTRA Open-Air Museum. Equally interesting are Lake Bâlea and the Transfăgărășan road.

• Experience museum & nature up close: ASTRA Open-Air Museum & Dumbrava Sibiului Nature Park

• Glacial lake & panoramic road: Lake Bâlea and the Transfăgărășan road

ASTRA Open-Air Museum & Dumbrava Sibiului Nature Park

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The ASTRA Open-Air Museum is located just a few kilometres from the city, in the Young Forest (Pădurea Dumbrava). Discover Romanian rural life and visit exhibits such as farmsteads from various parts of the country, interiors in their original condition such as workshops, wooden churches, inns, a dance barn, a bowling alley, or even a wooden fairground Ferris wheel.

The ASTRA Open-Air Museum thus has a lot to offer, especially for history enthusiasts. In 2008, the museum was expanded with 10 additional buildings that were brought to the Young Forest from their original locations. These include, among others, a historic winegrower's house from 1835 and the estate of a livestock breeder. By the way: the museum offers special activities in both summer and winter. In summer, you can enjoy carriage rides, while in winter you can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

You should also take a closer look at the beautiful nature. Relax on the lake with a boat ride or enjoy the view of the greenery through the windows of a restaurant serving traditional Romanian dishes. You can find more information about traditional dishes in our guide. Also worth seeing: next to the ASTRA Open-Air Museum is the Zoological Garden, covering an area of 15 hectares.

Lake Bâlea and the Transfăgărășan road

This glacial lake is very popular among nature lovers and hikers and is not far from Hermannstadt. You should also visit the Transfăgărășan road. You can find more information about the Transfăgărășan road in our guide.

Best time to travel

Of course, you can travel to Sibiu all year round, but the spring months are particularly well suited for a little exploration tour of the city and its surroundings. This recommendation is due to the extreme heat during the summer months in Romania, which can be overwhelming even for summer lovers. At the same time, the winter months are less suitable for a city trip due to very cold temperatures combined with heavy snowfall. In addition, you have less daylight in winter to explore the city.