Sighisoara is a picturesque medieval town located in the Tarnarva Mare River valley in the Romanian region of Transylvania. Founded by the Saxons of Transylvania who were mostly craftsmen and merchants, the town is best known of being the birthplace of Count Vlad “The Impaler” Dracula. Vlad was a ruler of his time, and having been ruthless to his opponents he got the nickname, and so the legends were made. His house today is turned into a restaurant.
The medieval citadel is surrounded by clock towers built by the craftsmen’s guilds between the 14th and 16th century, and each bear the name of its trade, such as The Blacksmiths tower or the Shoemakers tower.
In the southern part of the citadel you can visit the Gothic church and its amazing interior frescoes from the 15th century. You can reach it through a wooden stairway which was also built for the people to be able to reach the school on the hill.
The streets and houses, still inhabited, are all wonderfully preserved, so you can enjoy walking through narrow paths, by the tiny cottages and wealthy merchants’ houses colored in green, pink and yellow ochre.
Bran Castle near Sighisoara
WHERE TO FIND IT
In the central Romanian region of Transylvania, in the Tarnava Mare River valley
WHAT IS IT KNOWN FOR
Being the birthplace of Count Vlad the Impaler Dracula
HOW TO GET THERE
By train or road from Bucharest
WHAT TO SEE
The clock towers, the Venetian House, the Medieval Art and Theatre Festival
