The Hidden Gems of Sibiu in Romania, Hunedoara, Fagaras 2023
The Hidden Gems of Sibiu in Romania, Hunedoara, Fagaras 2023
Table of Contents
Romania Map
Informations
In August 2021 we traveled to our native country, Romania to visit its beauties. We had some wonderful experiences in Brasov and surroundings (here you can read our article about this amazing city), but we also managed to visit some of the wonderful nature of Romania – Bicaz Gorges, Sibiu in Romania, Saint Anne Lake and Red Lake (you can read our travel guide here).
Of course we were very pleased with all these beauties, but we had to see more … so we ordered a night at the Bulevard Hotel in Hunedoara. Our plan was to go first to the Prislop Monastery, that is a monastery in Romania located near the village of Silvașu de Sus in Hunedoara County. The church of the monastery, a 16th century building, has been declared a historical monument. This is a wonderful place where you can find peace of mind and is very visited by people from all over Romania.
Things to do
Prislop Monastery
Saint John of Prislop lived here in the 17th century. In the 18th century it was a Greek Catholic monastery. Until the 19th century it was almost deserted and administered by ordained priests. Bishop Demetriu Radu took care of the restoration of the monastery in 1901. On October 29, 1948, with the prohibition of the United Romanian Church, the Greek-Catholic priests were arrested and the place occupied by the Orthodox Church. On November 25, 1948, Metropolitan Nicolae Bălan transferred the monk Arsenie Boca from the Sâmbăta Monastery to Prislop, where he was also arrested two years later. The monastery was then rebuilt after 1975 as an Orthodox monastery with a community of nuns.
After visiting this beautiful church, we headed to our hotel in Hunedoara, where after relaxing a bit, we went out to visit the city center, and then we found a very good pizzeria restaurant with very delicious food:
Hundedoara city center
The city includes the most important Gothic-style secular building in Transylvania: the Hunyad Castle, which is closely connected with the Hunyadi family. The castle was destroyed by fire five times, but underwent many reconstructions from Austro-Hungarian and later Romanian authorities. Besides the castle, the town developed as a production center for iron and a market for the mountain regions nearby.
After enjoying our lunch, we set off for Corvin Castle. This is not to be missed, if you ever pass through Hunedoara:
Corvin Castle
Hunedoara Castle is one of the most important secular buildings in Transylvania. The rock castle was built on the remains of a fortification from the 14th century. It is located on a limestone rock in the middle of an industrial complex in the southwestern part of the city of Hunedoara in Romania. The listed castle has other names that refer to its location or its owners. After 1440, the Hungarian statesman and army commander Johann Hunyadi had an existing fortification converted into the ancestral home of the Hunyadi family.
Then we happily returned to the hotel, where we enjoyed a relaxing evening on the hotel terrace where we had a dinner like a 5 star restaurant. These are the pictures from the Bulevard hotel that we warmly recommend , if you decide to spend a night in Hunedoara. We were very satisfied.
On our way from Hunedoara to our house in Fagaras, we stopped in Sibiu and surroundings where we visited the Fairy Valley Castle and the story of the Calendar resort(Povestea Calendarului), which are next to each other.
city center Sibiu in Romania
Sibiu is a middle-sized well preserved medieval town in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania.Nicknamed The Town with Eyes (given its historical buildings with partly open rooftops), the town is a well-known tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. Known for its culture, history, gastronomy/local cuisine, and diverse architecture, which includes the iconic houses with eyes that gave Sibiu its nickname, the town has garnered significant attention since the beginning of the 21st century. In 2004, its historical center began the process of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sibiu was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2007.
More things to do in Sibiu: Sibiu Lutheran Cathedral, Stairs Passage, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bridge of Lies.
The story of the Calendar is a resort with 12 story houses that represent each month of the year and its seasons. Worth seeing, if you are still there to visit the Fairy Valley.
The story of the Calendar
This amazing place is located in Porumbacu de Sus, Romania. It spectacularly presents the Calendar together with the legends of the 12 months of the year. It is a great idea both for children and adults, the latter having the opportunity to remember their childhood.
The Clay Castle,Fairy Valley
Commonly known as the “Fairy Tale Clay Castle” here in Romania, it has a much better official name, in my opinion: The Fairy Valley Clay Castle (Castelul Valea Zanelor).This unique Romanian clay castle was born in 2014, but it took a few years for it to become fully operational and as amazing as it is today.As the name suggests, the Fairy Valley Clay Castle is built entirely from natural materials, mostly clay, but also stone and straws.
In the village of Avrig, near Sibiu in Romania there is the Brukenthal Palace. And it is worth seeing, if you visit Sibiu:
Brukenthal Palace
The former summer residence of Baron Samuel von Brukenthal awoke from its slumber in 2011 and was renovated in full respect of Brukental’s ideas and vision, and then returned to the public. Brukenthal Palace in Avrig is the dominant building of the summer residence of Baron Samuel von Brukenthal a wonderful and historic site that was once considered the Eden of Transylvania and takes the shape of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna because it was designed by the same architect at the time, The Palace is a miniature 7 times smaller. In conclusion, we have two baroque palaces known around the world and united artistically and architecturally.
Near the town of Fagaras is the Sambata de Sus Monastery, which we also enjoyed to visit and totally worth it.
Sambata De Sus Monastery
Sâmbăta Monastery, also known as Brâncoveanu Monastery from Sâmbăta de Sus, is a monastic settlement of monks. Initially, it had a wooden church with a double patronage (the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Healing Spring), being built in 1657, on the initiative of the nobleman Preda Brâncoveanu. Between the years 1696 – 1707, a wall church was built, under the care of ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu. The interior murals were executed in 1766, by the painters Ionașcu and Pană. The monastery was demolished with a cannon by the Habsburg general Preiss in 1785, during the religious upheavals in Transylvania.
This is the Cathedral from Fagaras city center:
Joan The Baptist Cathedral
The very newly built cathedral lacks the atmosphere normally associated with orthodox churches. Spacious, light interior with marble floor giving quite a cold feeling.
And the Fagaras Fortress-this is the place where me and Christian saw each other for the first time and we fall in love, but this is a story that we will share another time. So this fortress is a very important place for us ,a place that will be for ever in our hearts with our first beautiful memories together.
Fagaras Fortress
The construction of the fortress started in 1310, on the site of a wooden fortification with earth ramparts from the 12th century.Located halfway between Brașov and Sibiu and close to Wallachia, the Făgăraș Citadel provided a defensive position against possible incursions into south-eastern Transylvania.From 1948 to 1960, the fortress was used as a prison for those opposed to the communist regime. According to researchers, either 161 or 166 inmates were officially declared to have died in this prison, though ex-detainees put the number much higher. Between 1965 and 1977 restoration work was carried out. Currently, the citadel functions as a museum, housing various artifacts.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Romania offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Romania’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com, Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation .
Top Hotels we recommend in Sibiu: Artisans Boutique Villa , Pensiunea Kant , Plaza35
Top hotels we recommend in Fagaras: Hotel Bulevard , Pensiunea SADA , CASA HINTZ Transilvania .
Traditional Food
Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls) – Considered to be Romania’s national dish. A balanced mixture of rice and minced meat (usually pork or pork combined with beef) and other vegetables and local herbs is rolled in cabbage leaves or young grape leaves for a delicate flavor.
Mămăligă (Polenta) Usually a side dish for sarmale or served plain with sour cream and Romanian cheese, mămăligă is made from corn flour boiled in water with a pinch of salt and a few drops of sunflower oil.
Ciorbă de perişoare – Meatball Soup
Ciorba de Burta (Traditional Tripe Soup)
Salata Boeuf (Boeuf salad)
Zacuscă – Vegetable Dip – Red peppers and eggplant should be roasted on a BBQ. The charred skins are removed and then blended with other vegetables, like carrots, perhaps mushrooms.
Ciorba de fasole cu afumatura (Beans soup with somoked pork)
Tochitura (roasted pork stew) – A roasted pork stew, bacon, and sausage, cooked slowly in lard. It is accompanied by polenta, fried eggs, cheese, and pickles.
Mici/Mititei (Grilled Minced Meat Rolls) – A mixture of grilled minced meat, mostly pork, in various combinations with sheep or veal.
Papanasi (Fried or boiled cheese doughnuts)
Cornulete (Crescent Pastries)
Cozonac (Sweet Bread) – a rich, sweet bread, is another Romanian food prepared for holidays and special occasions.
Mucenici (Sweet Dough Rolls)
Saving Tips
- If you want to save money on food, have your lunch at restaurants that serve ‘Meniul Zilei’ – the Daily Menu.
- In Romania, most major cities offer a Free Guided Tour of 1-2 hours
- The trains in Romania are slow, but they are the cheapest way to get around.
- Bring a water bottle
- If you’re flexible in your schedule, use the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar
- You can also chose to eat at self service restaurants, is cheaper
- Book your hotels and flights in advance
- when you visit Bran Castle or Peles Castle just buy the normal ticket – the extra price for taking videos is not worth it
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Shopping
Shopping in Hunedoara : Around the city center you will find restaurants , Cafés and souvenirs shops around Corvin Castle.
Shopping in Fagaras : The city center has it all : Fruit market, Chlotes stores, Gift Shops, Restaurants and Cafés.
Shopping in Sibiu is very easy because most of the restaurants, cafés and gifts shops are in the city center on the both sides of the main street.
Getting Around
Public transport infrastructure in Romania is not as developed or easy to navigate for non-locals as in other Western European countries: though trains criss-cross the country, they’re slow and sometimes break down there are few highways and most roads are one-lane which makes them very crowded and slow and don’t expect too much English in train or bus stations, especially in smaller towns.
The 450 km between Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca will take about 7h by car or 10h by train takes only 45 minutes by plane – and for a very affordable price (starting from 30 Euro) – That’s why flying is the best way to travel longer distances in Romania.
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Getting Here
There are three main ways to reach Romania: by train, by bus, by car and by plane.
Flying is the easiest way to reach Romania, with several airlines now operating direct from the UK. Flying from North America, Australasia or South Africa will entail one or more changes. Travelling to Romania from the UK by train is a long haul, though with a rail pass you can take in the country as part of a wider trip.
Fortunately, there are many flights which land at Bucharest airport, from the most important cities in Europe. TAROM, Romanian national company as well as many other companies offers direct flights to Romania from all major European cities.
After Bucharest, which is the largest airport in the country with the highest number of external flights, there are also some other cities that operate international flights : Cluj Napoca, Sibiu, Iasi, Oradea or Timisoara.
Traveling by train from other European countries to Romania takes from 4 hours (Budapest to Oradea or Arad) to about 46 hours (London to Bucharest). Most train tickets allow several stopovers en route so train travel can be an affordable and relaxing way to include Romania in a European trip. Romanian National Railways (SNCFR) operate service from Bucharest to many European cities. First and second-class sleepers are available for journeys longer than 10 hours and for overnight trains.
Documents required by Romanian Customs are the vehicle’s registration, proof of insurance, the road toll badge (Rovigneta) and a valid driver’s license from the driver’s home country. There are many bus routes that connect Bucharest and Romania’s main cities with Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, and Vienna.
Companies like Eurolines, Flixbus, AtlasSib, Double T, CDI Transport or Comati link the most important cities of Romania with the rest of Europe.
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