“Transylvania” refers to “beyond the forest” (Trans meaning “across, over, beyond”). Transylvania is a region in Central Europe, located in the eastern portion of the Carpathian Basin, in what is now central Romania. Historically, Transylvania stretched towards Apuseni Mountains in the west and towards the Carpathian Mountains in the east and south. Romania’s largest and most well-known region is Transylvania. This area is rich in history, cultural diversity, stunning scenery, and natural forests, despite the fact that it gained popularity from vampire tales and folklore. It contains fortified churches, Saxon settlements, vibrant streets, and ancient architecture worthy of any historian’s attention.
Transylvania’s cities enchant visitors with their charming cobblestone alleyways, majestic citadels, and exquisite clock towers. Every year, thousands of visitors visit Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, and Cluj-Napoca for different medieval and baroque-themed events, as well as several well-known jazz, rock, and electronic music festivals. The rural areas, however, are much more attractive than these towns. Transylvania is famed for its over 140 villages with fortified churches, which are Europe’s last extant examples. Many of them date back to medieval times when German residents were transported here to safeguard the Carpathians’ interior against Tatar invasions.
There are pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, and Gothic-style buildings in Transylvania. It consists of such interesting elements as flying buttresses, spires, gargoyles, archways, and turrets. The combination of Romanic and Gothic components, visible in numerous edifices, is a key hallmark of Transylvanian Gothic. There are many places which are located on this site with unique features.
Sibiu
Sibiu, an important cultural and commercial hub in southern Transylvania, is a must-see destination. The city’s historic center is one of the finest preserved in the country, with centuries-old walls and defended systems still existing. Sibiu has received major attention since the beginning of the twenty-first century for its culture, history, gastronomy, and eclectic architecture, which includes the distinctive homes with eyes that earned Sibiu its nickname. The Saxon immigrants constructed a citadel in the 13th century, which the Tatars destroyed in 1241 and then rebuilt in the 14th. Massive brick walls built around the upper town earned it the label “Red Town,” owing to the color of the fortifications, which repulsed multiple Turkish attacks in the 15th and 16th centuries. The main urban element, Grand Square, allows taking a view of fortification in the series.
Sighişoara is a city in Transylvania’s ancient area. It is popular with tourists because of its well-preserved walled ancient town, which UNESCO has designated a World Heritage Site. There are two distinct portions of the town. The Citadel is the name of the medieval fortress that was constructed on top of a hill. The Sighisoara Citadel’s dwellings exhibit the key characteristics of a community of artisans. The Venetian House and the House with Antlers are two examples of homes that once belonged to the patriciate. It is renowned as Romania’s most elegant and comprehensive collection of medieval architecture.
Cluj-napoca
Cluj-Napoca-a city in northwest Romania, is the unofficial capital of Transylvania. There are universities, a thriving nightlife, and historical sites from the Saxon and Hungarian eras. There is a spectacular statue of Matthias Corvinus and a Gothic-style Church around Piața Unirii, the main square in the city. Romanian art is currently on display in the museum that was once the baroque Bánffy Palace. The city’s facades, which grace Cluj’s squares and streets, ranging from Gothic to Renaissance to Eclectic, from imposing cathedrals to centuries-old structures. The greatest approach to finding its most stunning structures is to look up and give yourself space to gaze and be in marvel.
The Franciscan Monastery is a monument to the years that have past, changed by the growth of the city. Its shape has evolved from Romanesque to Gothic to Baroque and it is built on the foundation of an earlier Romanesque church. Only the ancient monastery has maintained its gothic aesthetic today, while the church’s elaborate Baroque embellishments are immediately apparent when you enter. Matthias Corvin was born in the white, secular building that houses the Art and Design University today. Despite its irregular structure, the monument’s architecture was preserved: Gothic windows with Renaissance features. The Gothic “Saint Michael” Church in Union Square is impressive. The structure, which is the second-largest Gothic church between Istanbul and Vienna, overlooks the square. The church was enhanced with a neo-gothic altar and a baroque pulpit during the Catholic reinstatement.
Bran Castle
The forested hillside near Brasov in Transylvania has a fairy tale quality. Currently, this medieval castle is a museum that exhibits Queen Maria’s art collection and furniture. It is also home to an open-air museum featuring Romanian peasant buildings from around the country. The structure is built of both wood and stone. The customs station building, which has not been kept in its original design, the enclosure wall, the donjon, the round tower, and the tower gate made up the city’s original defensive fortifications. Today, only a few pieces of these structures can still be seen. Limestone makes up the enclosure wall, with brick layers added later. This wall features rectangular holes that are vertically spaced apart. Only four of them are horizontally arranged and covered with substantial wooden shutters. The entryway to this massive building with four towers was a moveable bridge. A magnificent structure is created by Gothic tunnels, quiet, winding stone stairs, arched-ceiling rooms, arcades, and other architectural features.
References:
Online sources
touropia(2018)_10 Best Places to Visit in Romania, Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxyhpDww1eY
Hisour_Architecture of Transylvania, Available at:
https://www.hisour.com/architecture-of-transylvania-33863/
Image sources
01_Aerial view-Transylvania_themayor
https://www.themayor.eu/web/files/articles/9251/main_image/thumb_1024x663_dan-novac-u9-w-ns-v-zl-mm-unsplash-1-11zon.jpg
02_Sibiu-Transylvania_i.redd
https://i.redd.it/k9tdzk9lgcxz.jpg
03_Sighisoara-Transylvania_farm8
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7569268902_3cbeb09955_z.jpg
04_ Sighisoara-Transylvania_farm8
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7569222168_dd6ce8dac2_z.jpg
05_CLUJ-NAPOCA-Transylvania_lot
https://www.lot.com/content/dam/lot/lot-com/destination-photos/rumunia/Cluj-Napoca.jpg
06_Dramatical CLUJ-NAPOCA-Transylvania_s.inyourpocket
https://s.inyourpocket.com/img/text/romania/cluj-napoca/most-instagrammable-spots-in-cluj-napoca.jpg
07_Night view-Bran Castle-Transylvania_d2rdhxfof4qmbb
https://d2rdhxfof4qmbb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/20180925135311/Bran-Castle-night-view.-Transylvania-Romania.jpg
08_Bran Castle-Transylvania_tourcounsel
https://www.tourcounsel.com/2021/10/bran-castle-transylvania-romania.html
