SYBIN
Sybin (91 thousand. residents; rum. Sibiu, not M. Hermannstadt, hungary. Na-gyszeben) just far enough away from the beaten track, so that crowds of tourists do not come here, which sometimes haunt Brasov. Cibinium, founded in the 12th century. on the site of the Roman settlement of Cedonia, has always been one of the most important cities of Transylvania. (Some even derive its name from the German word sieben, what would mean, that it was the last of the seven famous Saxon cities of this land|. After the Tatar invasion, 1241 r. Sibiu was surrounded by defensive walls, thanks to which he could later resist the Turks. During the reign of the Habsburgs in 1703-1791 and again 1849-1867 the Austrian governor of Transylvania was here. Many monuments have survived from the colorful past, especially in the old town – one of the largest and best preserved in Romania. Sibiu is the gateway to the Fagaras Mountains, you can also buy tourist equipment and maps here.
Orientation
Adjacent bus and train stations are located near the city center. After exiting, walk four blocks along General Magheru Street to the historic center on Piata Mare. Luggage storage room open 24 hours a day at the railway station (at the west end of the main platform) is clearly marked.
Information
Tourist offices – Tourist information in Bulevard's lobby, przy Piata Unirii, you can buy a city map. Tourist office in the hotel Imparatul Romanilor, Nicolae Balcescu street 4, organizes guided tours and answers simple questions. Neither, Neither the other office has the addresses of private accommodation.
Automobile Clubul Roman (tel.477359), has a branch two blocks east of the Continental Hotel, at the General Vasile Milea strade 13.
Money BANC (pn.-pt. 8.30-14.00), Tribunei street 6, exchanges travelers checks with 1.5% commission and withdraws cash to Visa cards.
The same commission is charged by Banca Comerciala Romana when exchanging checks (pn.-pt. 8.30-12.00), Nicolae Balcescu street 11.
Post and telecommunications – The Main Post Office is located at the Strada Mitropoliei. Telephone exchange, Nicolae Balcescu street 13, is open every day. 9.00-22.00. Code to Sibiu: 069.
travel agency – Biro CFR, Nicolae Balcescu street 6, obok hotelu Imparatul Romanilor, is open Mon-Fri. 10.00-
18.00.
Sightseeing
In the center of Sibiu, the medieval buildings have been beautifully preserved. Tall is a characteristic feature of the old town, steep red or brown roofs, covering several storeys of attics. Houses painted in pastel colors, illuminated by horizontally falling rays of the setting sun, even for the least sensitive to beauty, pragmatists will sigh of delight.
It is best to start your tour from the lofty tower of the former town hall (1588) on the Great Square (market), currently occupied by the City Historical Museum (gum. pn. i X-1Y). Here you can see old maps and photographs of the city.
Passing the square next to the baroque Catholic cathedral (1728), the Brukenthal Museum is worth a visit for at least an hour (closed. pn.), the oldest and finest art gallery in Romania. Founded in 1817 r., located in an aristocratic baroque palace (1785) barona Samuela Brukenthala, once the governor of Transylvania. Apart from the paintings of the former masters of the German school, Dutch, Flemish, Italian, French and Spanish, as well as collections of such Romanian painting celebrities, jak Aman and Grigorescu, great archaeological exhibits have been gathered here, historical, ethnographic and natural. Their library. S. Brukenthal prides itself on having valuable antique books.
Strada Samuel Brukenthal leads west to Primaria Municipiului (1470), where there is now a historical museum (gum. pn.).
At the nearby Piata Grivita there is a Gothic Evangelical church (1300-1520), with a high tower topped with five spiers visible from a distance. Four magnificent baroque mourning sculptures in the upper part of the nave and the organ by Fr. 6002 pipes (1772). Behind them, in the part not open to visitors, there is the tomb of Prince Mihna the Bad (Mihena Voda cel Rau), son of Vlad the Impaler. Master, who ruled the Duchy of Wallachia in the years 1507-1510, he was murdered in the square in front of the church after a mass in March 1510 r. You must see the beautiful fresco of the Crucifixion (1445). The church is open Mon-Fri. 9.00-13.00, and from July to September, Fr. 18.00 organ concerts are organized there – the detailed program is hanging outside; perhaps something has changed recently due to renovation works being carried out in the church.
You descend to the Lower Town via the 13th-century stairs on the opposite side of the church entrance. You can also walk through the photogenic Żelazny Most (1859) on the nearby Piata Mica. It is also called the "Liar's Bridge."”, because – according to legend – is about to collapse, if someone is standing on it, will tell you the truth. Ceausescu, probably challenging fate, he once gave a speech from a bridge; he emerged victorious from the trial – the bridge as it stood, it stands there.
At Piata Mica, there is a Pharmaceutical Museum with a small collection of historic pharmaceutical vessels and medical tools, and the Museum of World Ethnology, with permanent exposures, usually less interesting than temporary ones.
From here, the Strada Mitropoliei leads southwest to the monumental cathedral (1906), modeled on the Istanbul Hagia Sophia. Triou-nei street, around the corner on the left, it continues to Piata Unirii, where the northeast section of the 16th-century city walls begins.
If anyone has the afternoon off, can visit the Museum of Popular Technology in Dumbrava Park (V-X wt.-nd. 10.00-17.00; Access from the railway station by trolleybus # T1), where dozens of authentic rural buildings are gathered in the open air. You can rent a rowing boat and go swimming on the lake from the neighboring zoo.