TRAVEL. ROMANIA.
A Medieval Town in the Heart of Transylvania
Sighişoara
Maybe one of the cities I still had the most distinct memories of from our previous visit ten years ago. Sighişoara is a beautiful medieval town covered in cobblestone streets and flower boxes creating a charming flair.
Yes, it is November and rather cold in Romania but those who want to spread beauty surely can. There are many flowers that withstand the first frost and still bloom through the misty days of this month.
After checking into our apartment, we headed out to explore the ancient streets. And while walking down the plastered roads we passed more than one shop selling antiques. We’re not collectors but looking doesn’t cost anything.
The interesting and fascinating thing about the city of Sighişoara is that its old Town is built on the hill, just below the church and is also surrounded by fortified walls.
While even the tiniest villages in Transylvania did have their own fortified church, this town had protected the entire community with an outer wall.
One of the towers at the corners of the walls can be seen from afar standing out from the rest of the buildings.
The city has long grown over the border of those walls but the heart of town is still within its bricks. And right on those walls residents have placed boxes and planted colorful flowers which were shining vividly on this sunny day in November.
We enjoyed the warmth of those sun rays while walking through the tiny streets of the old city.
Of course, like every other historical town or place, this city also tries to attract tourists and therefore you’ll find countless souvenir shops lined up on the streets.
We decided to head further and took the covered staircase to get to the top of the hill where the church is located.
The view from up here wasn’t bad and surely worth a stop.
We soon headed back down again reaching the marketplace or at least that’s what I expected it to be.
An old-fashioned fairground tram was waiting in front of the big building. It was waiting for tourists to pay for a city tour just there were no people to be seen.
We aren’t into those kinds of rides and much rather walked down the streets.
Did I mention anything about the place we were staying in? I call it fancy because the price of our apartment was way off our budget but we booked only a day before and the room rate was at an incredibly discounted rate.
Score!
Only after checking in and getting introduced by the friendly receptionist did I understand what special place I had booked us in. This house is the oldest one in Sighişoara dating back to the 16th century.
The place itself is enough to fill a separate article but let me continue with the night. From the parking lot in front of the house we stayed in, you could look up on the hill where the city hall and the church were shining in the gloomy light.
These umbrellas weren’t for the moisture in the air but for a lovely charm on the streets outside of the city center.
And what else to eat than a warm goulash on this cold and misty night?
“You have to know the past to understand the present.” — Carl Sagan
More about our trip to Romania:
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