Transylvania
The ‘Land beyond the Forests’…
QUICK FACTS
Transylvania is a historical region in today’s central Romania. Bound on the east and south by its natural borders, the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended westward to the Apuseni Mountains.
The home to some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns, such as Brasov, featuring Old Saxon architecture and citadel ruins; Sibiu with its cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses, and Sighisoara, adorned with a hilltop citadel, secret passageways and a 14th century clock tower.
Visitors to Transylvania will also encounter stunning castles such as Bran, near Brasov, – a Gothic fairy-tale structure, often associated with 15th century Walachian Prince Vlad Tepes (Vlad The Impaler), the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
TRANSYLVANIAN TRADITIONAL FOOD
Transylvania’s cuisine displays a variety of flavours with dishes spiced with thyme, red pepper or tarragon. Meats, such as pork, mutton, veal, are among the most popular ingredient in Transylvania’s cuisine. The soups, to which sour cream and egg yolk are often added, also include flour dumplings or homemade pasta.
Romania is one the world’s leading producers of cabbage (varza). Make sure you don’t leave the region without trying the delicious “Varza a la Cluj” – the Romanian version of lasagna – prepared from several layers of finely shredded cabbage (fresh or sour) and minced pork or veal mixed with rice and bacon and baked in the oven.
MUST SEE IN TRANSYLVANIA
Some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns: Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara
Brasov situated in the centre of Romania, and is part of Transylvania
Bran Castle (also known as Dracula’s Castle), built in 1377
Rasnov Fortress – built in the 1300s by the Teutonic Knights to protect Transylvania against the Tartars and the Turks.
Sibiu – Sibiu or Hermannstadt is one of the most important cultural centres of Romania; it was designated the European Capital of Culture for the year of 2007, along side Luxembourg. In 2008, Sibiu was ranked by Forbes, Europe’s 8th most idyllic place to live.
Sighisoara or Schaβburg, is one of the few lived in medieval citadels in Europe, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can visit. In 1431, inside a house of old Sighisoara, Vlad Tepes (Vlad The Impaler) was born. Today this house is open for the public.
The Saxon fortified churches at Biertan, Calnic, Harman, Darjiu, Prejmer, Saschiz, Valea Viilor, and Viscri – all designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites.
The city of Hunedoara with its 14th-century Gothic Corvinilor Castle
