Sighisoara

Sighisoara (also know as Schäßburg in German and Segesvár in Hungarian) is a city in Mures County, in the Transylvania region of Romania.


Sighisoara Fortress is one of the most beautiful medieval fortresses in Europe that has been preserved in almost its original form. This is the only medieval fortress in Europe that is still inhabited. In 1999, Sighisoara was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.


Sighisoara Fortress was an important trade center in medieval times. It was built in the 13th century and redone in the following century. It has narrow streets and ancient houses, made almost entirely of bricks, and it is surrounded by a tall, 1 kilometer-long defense wall and 14 defense towers. Currently there are only 9 towers left, and they carry the name of the Guild that had built it: Tanners' Tower, Tinners' Tower, Skinners' Tower, Blacksmiths' Tower, Tailors' Tower, Butchers' Tower, Shoemakers' Tower and the Clock Tower (the biggest and strongest tower). The Clock Tower is the central point of attraction. The clock's mechanism sets into motion wooden figurines, one for each day of the week.


The covered stairs are another point of attraction in Sighisoara. The wooden stair was built in 1656. It is covered with a wooden roof and it takes you up the hill to discover a Gothic church where you will be amazed to see parts of the initial medieval frescoes.


The medieval festival is organized in Sighisoara each year, offering music and dance shows. Walk on the narrow streets and take your time to admire stands with paintings, traditional Romanian clothing, handicrafts, fancy jewelry. Chances are you will see groups of young people gathering in various corners of the fortress and playing folk and rock songs on their acoustic guitars. Sighisoara will charm you with its genuine medieval atmosphere and the attitude of its inhabitants, as well as of employees of restaurants and cafes: hospitable, civilized and quiet.


The charm and mystery of history complement the qualities of the present time to make Sighisoara a worthwhile tourist destination.


How to get to Sighisoara:
By train - 128km from Brasov, 39km from Medias
By car - on the DN13, 115km from Brasov, 55km from Targu Mures and on the DN14, 92km from Sibiu.

Pictures

View of Sighisoara from the Watch Tower Street in old city center Street in old city center Terraces in old city center Morii Street in Sighisoara View of Sighisoara from the Watch Tower View of Sighisoara from the Watch Tower Covered stairs in Sighisoara