I first met Sibiu a few years ago, when Klaus Johannis wasn’t yet mayor of this beautiful corner of Romania. It was like many other cities in Romania, a bit dusty and a bit sad. Of course, the road that goes along the bank of the Cibin isn’t much better now either. But, after the city was European Cultural Capital last year alongside Luxemburg, something clearly changed.
And, looking from the outside, as a simple tourist, I think that if this German ran for mayor again, I would vote for him hands down. I can’t forget that last summer we stopped in a medieval restaurant, somewhere near the Bridge of the Liars, and we ate very well for normal prices. And I can’t forget how the head waitress, seeing us so wet from the rain, looked for accomodation for us for 30 minutes. She didn’t find any, but the gesture impressed us! Not to mention that three months later we ate again in this lovely pub. Well, you won’t believe it, but the people remembered us, the moment we stepped in they greeted us with “Welcome back!” Great, I really liked it!
I have to tell you that the pedestrian walkway in the historical center is beautifull paved with cobblestone. It looks very much like the historical centers of the european capitals. With the appropriate water drain and with superbly integrated lights. You can also look at the Interactive map of the tourist sights and a List of tourist sights.
Out of those, I only got to see these:
- The defensive system, but only from the road, because it was very late and we had a lot of place to visit. But even rushed like this, those walls are impressive
- The Town Council tower, and I couldn’t go inside this either to see the marvel of Sibiu from the top, but I can say that I passed under the two arches.
- The Goldsmiths’ Stairs Tower - passing under this arch you feel like in one of those movie about the Europe between the world wars. It has something that smells like history, freshly toasted in the “oven of time”
- The Liars’ Bridge doesn’t have anything special about the way it’s built, but it’s full of charm because of its meaning and the way Sibiu dwellers think of it
- in the Luxemburg House, seeing it then and now, I remembered the historical center of Amsterdam I visited and the photos my father took in Kiev. God, when will we be able to look at Bucharest like this? Probably never, this is the curse of capitals - they are like honey pots, bees come to them, but also shit flies.
- being the blogosphere artist I am, I couldn’t not visit the Fine Arts house!
This is pretty much what I saw. But the first chance I get, I won’t miss the Brukenthal Palace, the Astra Folk Civilization Museum and the Steam-engine Museum!
Original post: here.
