Sibiu, travelling to enchanted times

The medieval festival of Sibiu 

I might not be the biggest fan of the romanian cities, but there is one city that I really like to go back to from time to time. Sibiu is probably my favorite city from Romania and I have been there many times as a child and until recent times because I enjoy so much strolling through its beautiful streets and medieval architecture. 

What is Sibiu and how to get there?

In 2008, Forbes ranked Sibiu as Europe’s 8th most idyllic place to live and in the previous year, 2007, Sibiu won the title of European Capital of Culture. Indeed, the city deserves both titles. 

Located literally almost in the heart of Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, Sibiu can be access from Bucharest within 4 to 5 hours of drive on E81 road or by train within 5 to 6 hours.

From Cluj-Napoca the distance is shorter and by car you can be in Sibiu in about 3 hours. Since the train connections are not so good in this part of the country, a journey from Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu can last even more then the one from Bucharest, up to 6 or 7 hours. If you are staying in Brașov feel lucky because in 2 hours and a half by car or train you can arrive in Sibiu. 

Why I am going to Sibiu? 

For a few years in a row I have been to Sibiu due to “Cetăți transilvane” medieval festivalthat is organised every year in August.

During the festival, the atmosphere in The Big Square - Piața Mare - is remembering people of the Medieval Ages through the music played, the exhibitions of specific weapons, machines and furniture like swords, shields, armor, maces, helmets, catapults, guillotines, the throne of the king, the royal room, the demonstrations of sword fighting, various crafts such as blacksmithing, dancing.

During three days Sibiu revives the medieval period in a beautiful and organized way. The schedule of the festival available to everybody on the fest’s website includes many activities fitted for children and adults such as workshops of circus, juggling and balance (walking string, balance ball), painting, manufacturing of hand dolls, crowns for kings and queens, origami, medieval specific games like knight’s tower, plays with medieval stories.

Along Piața Mare and Piața Mică there is a medieval fair from which visitors can buy souvenirs or other objects. 

The night parade and the medieval concerts 

In the first day of the festival, when the night goes down, everything culminates with a big paradethat starts in Parcul Cetății and finishes in Piața Mare. All of the medieval camps are strolling the streets in costumes of ladies, kings, queens, knights, wizards and witches,quacks, servants, fire throwers, craftsmen, buffoons, circus people, poor people from the lower social class and many more. 

The concerts are my favorite parts. I love the medieval music and hearing it live is such a great experience.

The bands are singing with lots of specific medieval instruments like harp, bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, lute, mandolin, bladder pipe, recorder, drums and because of that the sound feels enchanted energizing the crowd.

The performances are also wearing medieval clothes making the scene to look truly according to the Middle Ages. The lyrics are about myths of knights, in love ladies and princes, nature, curses, threatening and mysterious wizards or witches, and all kind of weird things. 

Learning about the history of guild houses

In the morning when the atmosphere is pretty chill on the streets, there are organised free tours.

The guide shows the people important buildings and places that played a significant role in Sibiu’s historical development and are now the main attractions of the city like  “The bridge of lies” known in romanian as "Podul Minciunilor", The “ Sfânta Treime” Cathedral, The Council Tower, the guild houses, The tower of stairs. 

At the same time, there are held conferences about various historical subjects of the country and city that are helpful for persons who want to learn, understand and acknowledge as much as possible about Sibiu and its surroundings. 

For me, the most interesting story belongs to the guild houses. It is known that during the Middle Ages, Sibiu has developed economically due to the continuous activity of the guilds which were in number of 40 at the end of the 18th century.

Over the years that have passed and because in the 19th century the guilds had been disbanded, only two guild houses survived, namely The House of Goldsmiths, located in Piața Mică and The House of Tailors. 

Casa Calfelor. Keeping the unique crafts alive 

What impresses me also is the existence of “Casa Calfelor” in english translated as “The House of the Journeyman”. The term of “journeyman” is originally used in the medieval trade guilds that I was talking about above. This building is one of a kind in Eastern Europe. 

From 2002 journeyman across the world are keep coming to Casa Calfelor to learn and practice different crafts such as goldsmith, carpentery, blacksmith, locksmith, bookbinding, shoemaking. 

The House of the Journeyman is part of the first fortification wall of the city dating back to the 13th century. Casa Calfelor is sticked to the Tower of Stairs - Turnul Scărilor - the oldest building of Sibiu. 

The exterior facade of Casa Calfelor that can be seen today was made in the 19th century. An interesting element of it is the wooden pillar, known in deutsch as "stock-in-eisen", on which every young journeyman has to put on a nail, o coin or something that belongs to him. 

The House of the Journeyman is located in Albert Huet square being one of the main attractions in Sibiu. I am not sure if you can go inside for visiting any time or only when they have open doors, but for sure you can admire it from the outside as well as the Tower of Stairs through which semicircular opening you can access the Lower Town - "Orașul de Jos" - and get an extremely beautiful view of the city especially at sunset.