Sibiu - Capital of Culture

Even if you come to Sibiu/Hermanstadt for the tenth or for the first time, the medieval burgh seems to always have a surprise for you: something that the last time, being in a hurry or with your glances “caught” by other beauties, you didn’t observe. The old buildings and the narrow streets are discovered again and again, like the American continent by Christophor Columbus and Americo Vespuci. Discovering Sibiu is easy and difficult at the same time, because beyond its well-known attractions, representative for an European Capital of Culture ( churches, walls, museums, theatres, philharmonic), there are little jewels – iron works, old mural inscriptions – which are sometimes forgotten in the historic-architectural and cultural show, with medieval tint.

The burgh history tells to each visitor the story of repeated sieges over a fortress that has never been conquered, the story of the three peoples living here together – Romanian, Saxon and Magyar, and the story of more recent, but well-known events like the international theatre and jazz festivals. Sibiu is a space where the past and the present meet one each other, a space where, through its very specificity, the local and traditional nature becomes European.

Sibiu has been nominated European Cultural Capital of the year 2007. The EU Council of Culture Ministers has voted unanimously the decision number 2004/654/CE according to which Luxemburg and Sibiu will be the two cultural capitals of 2007 in partnership.

The representatives of the people of Sibiu, the local administration, artistic groups, cultural institutions and associations founded the Association Sibiu 2007 European Cultural Capital which has for a purpose the planning, preparation, financing and implementing of the Program Sibiu 2007 European Cultural Capital.

In 2007 Sibiu will be the gate which Europe will meet Romania. Throughout its history our town has been a gate between civilizations - a meeting point between the Western civilization and the Byzantine and Balkan world. To this day Sibiu is still the perfect place to start your journey through Romania.

Considered one of the most beautiful cities of Transylvania, Sibiu is an important regional center in the fields of administration, industry and services. The city within around 180.000 inhabitants, registered in the latest years the most important economic growth in the entire region.

Although the Sibiu area was inhabited in the Roman era, the city itself was founded in the 12th century by colonists of Germanic origin coming from the region of West Rhine. Later Sibiu grew to be an important medieval center. Its evolution in the 17th - 19th centuries has transformed the city into the most important economic, social and cultural center of the region. Even though the destructions of the two World Wars have not affected the city, Sibiu suffered during the communist regime, when the lack of investments in the infrastructure has marked the urban space.

The cosmopolitan character of Sibiu results today from the co-existence of inhabitants belonging to different generations, different life styles and different nationalities. The city`s population has the following structure: Romanians 95%, Germans 1.6%, Hungarians 2% and in the rest, other nationalities. The centuries long co-existence has given the people of Sibiu a particular inter-cultural competence, which contributes nowadays to an increased quality of life.

Inspite of its eight (8) and a half centuries of history, Sibiu is a young city: more than half of its population is under 50. The six universities with more than 30.000 students have transformed Sibiu in a growing educational center, and the great number of cultural and artistic institutions have contributed to its fame as a city of arts.

The rehabilitation of the historic center, the vast projects and urban modernization and infrastructure rehabilitation as well as the revitalization of industries and services during the latest years give Sibiu the aspect of a city in full rebirth.

A destination

for every season

Situated at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, Sibiu lays in an area rich in touristic attractions. The city prides itself with one of the most large and beautiful Transylvanian medieval fortresses and offers its visitors, along with the testimony of its history, a unique series of artistic and cultural events.

The tourists have the opportunity to contemplate in the historic center the proofs of the more than eight - century urban history. The medieval fortresses, the gothic churches, the Renaissance buildings along with elegant baroque palaces give the town of Sibiu a special charm, at the same time transforming it into a high rank cultural heritage sightseeing objective. The network of museums and exhibitions make the town a favorite destination for cultural tourism. The fact that Sibiu is situated in the proximity of the Carpathian Mountains makes the town a favorite starting point for those who practice ski and for those who love active tourism(mountain trekking) or extreme sports(hang gliding, rafting, biking & motoring). The resort situated in the Dumbrava Forest and the salt lakes in Ocna Sibiului offer additional ways to spend your leisure time and make Sibiu a destination for every season.