DAY TEN

Sibiu

We had four basic objectives when we set out ten days ago: the happy graveyard, the painted churches of northen Romania (Bucevita province), the fortified churches of Transylvania (Siebenburgen) and Sibiu. I added one with the wooden churches straddling the Ukraine/Romania border. And contrary to popular belief, although Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was from Transylvania, he is more associated with Wallachia, more to the south.

Sibiu is a small city (c,125 000 inhabitants) on the western side of Siebenburgen (seven castles in German) and is associated with the early settlers who came from all over Germany at various times from circa 1200 onwards. We have travelled extensively through norther Romania and two things are clear. A large number of tourists (by car) are from Italy. The  Sibiu is German touris only come to Siebenburgen.

Most of the city seems to date from the mid-1800s, and many buildings are in an art nouveau style, but many of the other buildings are, in fact, from as early as the XVth century.








There are lots of open air restaurants on the pretty squares which are the highlight of the place. The first picture above shows the "Journeyman´s House". This is a hostel for those young people who have just learned one of the trades associated with the guilds. From the middle ages it was normal for a person who had learnt carpentry/joiner, metal working, or similar to go on a "wander" year: i.e. they were expected to go away from their own town and  learn from others for a year. In Germany you occasionally see them in their rather unusual traditional clothing.

Many buildings are more modern. The older buildings seem to be watching you - notice the "eyes" in the roofs.






It is interesting to take a peek through any door that is left open between the houses. Often there is a large garden at the rear, so to get to it you are basically driving under your first floor.


    

The weather, since arriving in RO, has been steadily climbing. Yesterday it was 37°, but a thunderstorm in the night means it has cooled down. Nevertheless, it is close and sticky - so I am off to the local swimming pool to cool off!

Go to DAY ONE - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY TWO - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY THREE - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY FOUR - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY FIVE - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY SIX - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY SEVEN - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY EIGHT - CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY NINE - CLICK HERE.
 
Go to DAY ELEVEN- CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY TWELVE- CLICK HERE.
Go to DAY THIRTEEN - CLICK HERE.

For a list of my other (mainly map) blogs - CLICK HERE.

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