Romania - Transylvania (Ardeal)

Transylvania, or Ardeal as it is also called, is an old Romanian province inhabited by the Romanians starting with the first centuries of our era. During the Middle Ages the Romanian majority population fought for national identity and at the same time different ethnic communities joined them. Nowadays the mixture of peoples is of an outstanding variety. Many important events for the modern Romania took place here. I want to mention Michael the Brave’s success in uniting the three Romanian principalities in 1599 and the Great Union. Today according to the 2002 census 7.2 million people live here and the local economy is the most developed in the country.
After a general introduction about Ardeal I considered to be of interest a presentation of three towns – Sibiu, Sighişoara and Alba Iulia - that can give the reader an idea about how this region really is. I have to mention here the contribution to the development of Transylvania of the German and Hungarian settlers who came here centuries ago.
Sibiu is situated near the geographical center of Romania. The city was founded in 1190 by German settlers, near an ancient Roman settlement. The museums such as Astra or Brukenthal Museum and the wonderfully preserved medieval fortifications and churches recommend it as a tourist destination for those who enjoy discovering the past. In 2007 it proudly welcomes visitors and artists from all over the world as the European Capital of Culture.
Sighişoara is the oldest inhabited citadel in Europe. Its German founders took great care of this fortress that was situated on important commercial routes and transformed it into a marvel of military defense. The medieval festival held here each year in July comes as a natural continuation of its historic past. The Clock Tower and the Museum of History hosted here or the house where Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Tepes) was born attract visitors who have a first hand experience in a medieval town.
Alba Iulia is considered by many to be the spiritual capital of Romania. On the 1st of December 1918 the representatives of all the Romanians gathered here and decided to bring together in a single state the historic principalities of Transylvania, Moldavia and Walachia. Not only then it proved its importance but also in 1599 when Michael the Brave made it his capital. Built on Roman ruins, in the Middle Ages it played an important role in the history of Transylvania, being the capital of the region between 1541-1690. The churches and the historic places make Alba Iulia an enjoyable tourist attraction.
I am sure my paper can provide the reader with a clear view about Transylvania and its past and present. A region of the present day Romania, full of the marks of the past, it fully proves its European vocation as part of a proud nation and country.

Romania and its beauty

It's been quite a while, if not a whole life now, I heard and I kept hearing how beautiful is Romania.
Yes, indeed. It is beautiful, rich and the people here ale welcoming, but is this enough?
Foreign tourists coming here need roads, good guides, good hotels and last but not least safety. Nobody will ever come back again unless you convince, if you do not sell your product.
Watching this might get a tourist interested in coming to Romania and spending his or her holiday?



Romania - The Land Of Choice
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10 Places to Visit in London

Most people think they have already seen everything is worth seeing in their home country. Let's take for example the UK. A lot of British citizens want to go on vacation to the so called exotic countries without considering the opportunity to visit their wonderful country and especially their capital London. Prince Charles for example is buying land and old houses - which he completely refurbishes - in Transylvania and many other British are buying properties in Spain or Italy.
The wonderful city of London has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Romans conquered Britain and built a settlement (castrum) here and named the place Londinium replacing thus the traces left by the Picts. Later the Anglo-Saxons came and built their unique civilization . In 1066 William the Conqueror (Guillaume le Batard) came with his brave Norman warriors and started a new era in the long history of England.
London is nowadays one of the most important economical and cultural centre in the world. The banks, the companies and the cultural life of the city transformed it into one of the most successful and influential capitals of the 21st century.

If I could go to London right now these are the top 10 places that I would surely like to visit:

1. The British Museum
It is the oldest and the most important museum in the world. The public displays and the collections of the British Museum represent an important part of the cultural and material heritage of the world.

2. Buckingham Palace
Is the official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The changing of the guards is one ritual that no tourist should miss when visiting London.

3. London Eye
The giant wheel was built on the bank of the Thames - in front of the Houses of the Parliament - and offers a wonderful perspective of the whole city.

4. The Houses of Parliament (The Westminster Palace)
The world famous Big Ben is the major attraction of the building. The huge clock tower dominates the City and it precisely strikes every hour.

5. Westminster Abbey - The Coronation Cathedral
Beginning with the 25 of December 1066 - when William the Conqueror (William I r. 1066-1087) was anointed king of England - all the kings and queens receive the divine blessing in this huge cathedral.

6. The Tower of London
Before his being anointed king of England William ordered the Norman builders who were accompanying to erect a tower. The White Tower gradually became, after repeatedly being extended, what is today known as the Tower of London - a series of fortifications that were used as royal residence, prisons or Royal Treasury (for the Jewels of the Crown). Today is a famous museum and the Beefeaters are most pleased to guide all the tourists.

7. St. Paul's Cathedral
It is a Baroque master piece built under the supervision of Sir Christopher Wren. The Dome is one of the largest in the world. Christopher Wren himself was buried here. Other famous British subjects that rest under the roof of St. Paul's are Duke Wellington, Lord Nelson, John Donne or J.M.W. Turner.

8. Tower Bridge
Built in the neogothic style Tower Bridge was inaugurated in 1894. It is a wonder of technology and engineering. When finished the mobile bridge was lifted by steam engines. Now the half an hour guided tour offers the tourists another perspective of London and its achievements.

9. The National Gallery
Displays more than 2,300 paintings created between 1260-1900. The main entrance is in the Trafalgar Square but the Sainsbury wing is more appropriate for starting a tour of the exhibitions.

10. The Underground
Particularly interesting is the London Underground or the tube (initially the tunnels were perfectly round) as it also called. It is not a real touristic attraction but I consider it worth "visiting" I mean using. It is the best means of transport in London - there are also the famous double deckers or the black cabs - even if a little bit too crowded during rush hours.

Desgustat ca Secu inca loveste

Astazi am avut un mare soc. Am aflat ca reputatul medic si academician, om de o inalta tinuta morala - aparenta pana acum - conferita si de apartenenta sa la o mare familie boiereasca ce a facut 'putina' istorie in Principate, a colaborat - voit sau nu ce e drept - cu fosta SECU, cu baietii cu ochi albastri.


Balaceanu-Stolnici avea nume de cod „Laurentiu“

Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici a colaborat cu Securitatea ca sef de sectie al institutului condus de Ana Aslan. Notele informative erau semnate „Laurentiu“.

Primele contacte cu Securitatea ale lui Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici au avut loc in 1974. E anul in care, la invitatia Anei Aslan, dupa cum povesteste chiar el, s-a transferat de la Spitalul nr. 9 la Institutul de Geriatrie si Gerontologie. Renumit la acea vreme in intreaga lume, sanatoriul institutului avea cu precadere pacienti straini. Si, intrucit initial cladirea din Otopeni apartinuse CC al PCR, o aripa era rezervata nomenclaturistilor. Ca urmare, securistii roiau in institut, iar sursele lor preferate de informare erau medicii. Cind a ajuns seful uneia dintre sectiile institutului, Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici a intrat automat in vizorul securistilor.

Pacienti straini de prim rang

Contactele cu securistii nu aveau insa ritmicitate. „Erau perioade cind veneau o data pe luna, erau perioade cind veneau zi de zi“, povesteste seniorul liberal. Informatiile cele mai vinate de securisti erau cele despre pacientii straini. „Erau mari personalitati din politica, economie, cultura, presa“, spune Balaceanu-Stolnici, amintindu-si, de exemplu, ca l-a tratat pe marele psihanalist francez Lacanne si ca l-a consultat pe Yasser Arafat. „Erau si teroristi arabi printre pacienti, care spuneau chiar cu mindrie: «Eu sint cel care am organizat rapirea vasului cutare» sau «Eu am deturnat trei avioane»“, completeaza acesta. Informatiile vizau bolile de care sufereau si discutiile cu pacientii. „Secretul profesional nu exista si nici nu exista in Romania. Daca nu le spuneai, oricum mergeau la fisa si aflau tot“, spune fostul sef de sectie al institutului.

Declaratii schimbate

Cit priveste forma in care Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici furniza informatii Securitatii, declaratiile acestuia s-au schimbat pe parcursul celor citeva discutii purtate. Initial, el a declarat pentru „Cotidianul“ ca declaratiile au fost doar verbale. Securistul venea, il intreba, iar el raspundea. „Nu a fost nimic scris, ci doar verbal“, a spus acesta. Ulterior, a rectificat cele spuse si a recunoscut ca unele dintre declaratiile date securistilor au fost scrise, dar semnate cu numele real. In cele din urma, Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici a admis ca a dat si declaratii semnate cu un nume de cod. „Nu am semnat niciodata un angajament. O data sau de doua ori mi-au spus sa semnez cu alt nume, Laurentiu“, a recunoscut Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici. Declaratiile seniorului liberal s-au schim-bat si in ce priveste remuneratia primita pentru notele date.

Astfel, daca initial acesta a sustinut ca nu a primit bani, in final a admis ca, cel putin formal, a fost platit. „Au spus ca au scos bani pe numele meu, dar i-au bagat ei in buzunar“, a mai spus seniorul liberal. El a mentionat ca fiul unui notar ar fi luat acei bani, dupa care ar fi fost „omorit, calcat cu masina“ de catre Securitate, dar nu a furnizat detalii suplimentare.

O evolutie sinuoasa
Ca descendent al Balacenilor, veche familie boiereasca, destinul lui Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici a avut o evolutie abrupta. Nascut in 1923, acesta a terminat Facultatea de Medicina din Bucuresti in 1947, devenind preparator, apoi asistent la catedra de anatomie. In 1952 a fost insa dat afara din facultate, iar dupa doi ani si de la Spitalul Colentina si exilat la Policlinica Cantacuzino, pina cind, in 1964, a cistigat concursul de medic primar la Spitalul nr. 9. O mina intinsa de Ana Aslan a dat carierei lui Balaceanu-Stolnici, specializat in neurologie, o cu totul alta directie. Acesta a ajuns sef de sectie la Institutul de Geriatrie, pe care din 1991 l-a si condus. In 1993, Iliescu l-a dat afara, dupa cum insusi spune. Singurele prejudicii majore pe care i le-a adus comunismul au fost interdictia de a mai preda la Medicina si titlul de docent, pe care Elena Ceausescu nu a fost de acord sa-l primeasca.

[...] Patru venerabili cu nume de cod

Constantin Balaceanu-Stolnici este al patrulea senior liberal a carui colaborare cu Securitatea iese la iveala. Alexandru Paleologu a fost singurul care a recunoscut colaborarea imediat dupa Revolutie. Al doilea a fost Dan Amedeo Lazarescu, tatal vitreg al actualului presedinte al PNL, Calin Popescu Tariceanu. Decedat in 2002, acesta a fost deconspirat de CNSAS, ca si Mircea Ionescu Quintus. Acesta din urma a primit verdictul de politie politica pe cind era presedinte al partidului. Quintus s-a judecat cu CNSAS pentru sentinta primita si a cistigat in final, la Curtea de Apel, pe chestiuni de procedura.


(sursa Cotidianul, 24.04.2007)


Se pare ca ei inca lovesc, se pare ca marele comunism care a distrus elita intelectuala si economica dupa cel de al Doilea razboi mondial inca actioneaza. Tortionarii 'lucreaza' inca pentru 'propasirea orandurii noi' si 'eliminarea elementelor dusmanoase' chiar si la 20 de ani de la Revolutie.

HALAL

The Orthodox Easter

CHRIST IS RISEN!
According to the 2002 census over 86% of the Romanians are Orthodox (like the Russians, Greeks, Serbs, Bulgarians). The Orthodox Christians usually celebrate Easter at different dates than the Catholics and the Protestants but this year, after 6 years of separate celebration, the three major Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same day – the 8th of April 2007.
In Romania Easter is the most important religious celebration in the Orthodox calendar and its complete observance requires a period of 40 days fast. Coloured and painted eggs are mandatory for any traditional Easter feast. The eggs are painted on the Thursday before Easter in red (a reminder of Christ’s blood), yellow and other vivid colours. The eggs are beautifully decorated with traditional patterns, following an old technique preserved only in several areas of Romania, especially in the north of the country in Bucovina and Maramures.
Food plays an important role in the Easter feast. The main dishes are the painted eggs followed by ‘drob’ – a coarse lamb pâté, ‘sarmale’ – stuffed cabbage leaves, and then ‘pasca’ – a sort of cheesecake, and ‘cozonac’ – a traditional home baked cake resembling a brioche.
Traditionally, the feast starts when the family comes home after the Resurrection midnight liturgy (mass). After breaking the eggs and uttering the words - ‘Christ is risen!’ - the entire family will enjoy the banquet and begins the celebrations.
On the next morning the family pay visit to their relatives – grandparents, God father, etc. The traditions vary from one region to another. In Transylvania for example the boys sprinkle the girls with perfume. In other regions the young men in the village gather on a nearby hill and set on fire straws to scare the evil spirits. Some traditions associated with Easter trace their origins back to pagan times but in the Orthodox Church they were perfectly integrated within the accepted religious practices.

Romania - Moldavia

Moldavia (Moldova) – The land of legend and history.

Last summer I was in the UK, in Lancaster, to be more precise. Meeting a lot of people from all over Europe meant a lot for me. Many of them when hearing I was from Romania started asking me questions about Dracula, Ceausescu or Ion Ţiriac and Nadia Comaneci. It was a pleasure to answer their questions. One day when asked where I was from I answered I was from Romania and I added “From the north-east of the country to be more exact. From Moldova or Moldavia how it is pronounced by the foreigners”. Oh dear!!! After that the History teacher within me came out and gave a short lesson about this historic region of modern Romania. Many people do not know anything about Moldavia and the Republic of Moldova, yet.
In the ancient times this land was not under the Roman rule as other regions of Romania. The Romans under Trajan’s command came in Dacia in 101 and established the Roman province of Dacia Felix (in the south of present day Romania) and they stayed here until 271 when the imperial administration quitted the area. On the occasion of conquering Dacia Trajan erected a wonderful column in Rome. This ancient monument still exists today and can be admired by the tourists.
What is now Moldavia, or Moldova in Romanian, was inhabited by the Dacians who remained outside the direct influence of the Romans. There are pseudo-historians who claim that the Dacians from what is today Moldavia had no contact with their brethren in the south. There is nothing more ridiculous! They kept contact and actually developed to the same rhythm as the south. The Roman settlers who came to Dacia influenced the pattern of everyday life, language and culture of the locals both in the province and outside its borders. Thus the Romanian people emerged as a synthesis of the Romans and the Dacians. The language they spoke was a mixture of local elements (of which little is known today but for some 200 words) and of Latin (Latina vulgaris).
In the Middle Ages the Romanian people lived in three principalities: Wallachia (Tara Romaneasca - in the south between the Carpathians and the Danube), Transylvania and Moldavia (between the Carpathians in the west and Tyras or Nistru in the east). During the Middle Ages the principality of Moldavia became one of the most prosperous region inhabited by the Romanians. Stefan cel Mare (1457-1504), or Stephen the Great in English, fought the Turks and other invaders and kept his country free and independent.
The 19th century was not the best period ever for Moldavia. The Russian tzars considered the strategic and economical potential of this region and in 1812 they occupied the area between the Prut River (west) and Nistru (east). The occupied part of Moldavia was transformed by the Russian authorities into a guberniya. The Romanian majority population was forced to use Russian in their relations with the administration, the local Romanian elite was prevented from reaching good jobs and many intellectuals were taken to Siberia. This brutal act separated the two halves of the largest Romanian principality. To a great extent the Moldavians on the left bank of Prut lost their national Romanian identity and language due to the lack of contact with the rest of the Romanians and to the brutal policy of the Russians.
Meanwhile on the right bank of Prut the Romanians in the three principalities decided to unify. So in 1859 Wallachia and Moldavia joined their administration under a single elected prince, Alexandru Ioan Cuza. In 1918 Transylvania, after holding a special council, decided to unify with Romania. This is how modern Romania appeared on the map of the world.
Today Moldavia is still divided into two parts by the Prut River. On the right side – which is in Romania – there are 8 counties (from north to south: Suceava, Botosani, Iasi, Neamt, Bacau, Vaslui, Vrancea and Galati). The Romanian region itself spans over 46,173 km² (19.5% of Romania's territory) and its total population is 4,681,555 as of 2002 (21.6% of Romania's population).
On the left side of the Prut was proclaimed the Republic of Moldova. This part of the historic Moldavia remained under direct Russian control until 1991 when it gained its independence from Moscow, at least formally. There were some attempts to unify with Romania but there was no real political intention to do this. The government form Chisinau still has problems with Transnistria, the region on the left bank of Nistru, which under the Russian unofficial control proclaimed its independence from the national authorities on the right bank.

Transylvania - Romania

Romania's Fabulous Spirit
Transylvania

The Land Beyond the Forest

Landmarks in the history of Transylvania

Ask someone in the western world to tell you what or where is Transylvania and they answer for sure that it is a land of mystery and legend, somewhere in the southern Europe. I am a Romanian and I can tell you that Transylvania, or Ardeal as it is also called, was in the Middle Ages a principality inhabited by Romanians and it still preserves its identity as a region of modern Romania, with hard working and hospitable people.
In its early history, the territory of the present day Transylvania belonged to Dacia, a proud nation at the borders of the Roman Empire that came under the Roman rule in the 2nd century a.Ch. As a political entity, Transylvania is mentioned from the 11th century. Meanwhile this territory was under the administration of Romanian rulers or “cnezi” who fought against different peoples who wanted to occupy the territories that belonged to their ancestors, the Dacians.
The next centuries were marked by a long series of conflicts and the struggle of the Romanians to resist the Hungarian pressure. Hungarian and German noblemen and settlers claimed the land that belonged by right to the Romanian majority population. Even if there were hard times one cannot say that the inhabitants of the principality did not live in peace and tolerance of course with some misunderstandings in the course of history. The various foreign settlers that were encouraged to come and establish here by the foreign rulers of Ardeal brought with them a significant western influence, as we shall see in this paper, that transformed the region into a unique meeting place of the Eastern and the Western civilizations.
One moment is worth mentioning here when talking about the Middle Ages in Transylvania. Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul) gained control of Transylvania in 1599 after the Battle of Şelimbăr and succeeded in uniting the three principalities of Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania (the three main parts of present-day Romania). The union did not last long, however, as Michael the Brave was assassinated by mercenaries under the command of general Basta in August 1601. No matter how short it last this union proved the unity of the Romanians and their will to be one single nation.
On the 1st of December 1918 the Great Union from Alba Iulia brought together in a single national state the historic principalities of Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia.
Today Transylvania is a prosperous region of Romania where different nations live together as equal citizens of a modern European state. According to the 2002 census, Transylvania has a population of 7,221,733 inhabitants, with a large Romanian majority (74.7%). In addition, there are also sizeable Hungarian (19.6%), Roma (3.4%) and German (0.7%) communities.

Cities and Historic Places in Transylvania

Transylvania still preserves today many of the historical places and cities that have significantly influenced the evolution of this region and at the same time it proudly offers the visitors the opportunity to enjoy a trip in a modern and prosperous region of Romania. Among the most important towns and cities that that one can visit in Ardeal we mention here Braşov, Sibiu, Cluj, Sighişoara or Alba Iulia.
Many of these centers date back to the time of the Roman occupation of Dacia and continued to be inhabited until today. German or Hungarian settlers came here and started a new life bringing with them their culture and way of life. Well preserved monuments such as famous castles, citadels and fortified churches and the mentality of the people testify to the intense changes between different peoples.
Considered by the foreign and Romanian tourists one of the most beautiful cities in Romania and even in Europe, Sibiu was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2007. This nomination comes to certify its importance as a European city that proves that both history and modern realities can harmoniously co-exist. The city is the administrative center of Sibiu county, in the Depression of Sibiu, near the geographical center of Romania. It has a population of 171,535 and the existing German minority (3.3%) still reminds of the former glory of the medieval Saxon fortress.
The city was founded in 1190 by German settlers, the so called Transylvanian Saxons. It was probably built near an ancient Roman settlement, one that would have come to be known during early Middle Ages as Caedonia. The German settlers called the town Hermannstadt and they paid much attention to fortifying it as it was situated on important commercial routes and was self administrating.
At the end of the 17th century, the fortified town Sibiu was one of the most powerful in Transylvania. The precint, protected by high walls, had a surface of 83 ha. The length of the walls overpassed 4 km. Four portals strongly fortified - Cisnadie, Turn, Ocna, Gusterita - five bastions, five artillery rondels and 39 towers of defense turned the ancient mediaeval town into an almost undefeatable bastion. An important part of these vestiges are still very well preserved.
It is worth mentioning some of the milestones in the history of Sibiu. In 1292 was opened the first hospital in present-day Romania. In 1896 is became the first city to use electricity in Romania. In 1989 it was the second city to take part in the Romanian Revolution that started in Timisoara.
Nowadays the city of Sibiu and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas in Romania. It holds some of the best preserved historical sites in the country, many of its medieval fortifications being kept in excellent state. Its historic center is under a process of reconstruction and refurbishment. There are 39 buildings is Sibiu that are declared historic monuments and are under the direct protection of the Romanian government. Sibiu and its surrounding area have many significant museums, with 12 institutions housing art collections, paintings and exhibits in decorative arts, archaeology, anthropology, history (Astra Museum), industrial archeology and history of technology (The Steam Engine Museum) and natural sciences (The Museum of Natural History).
Among the museums and places of interest some are very important as they offer the visitors the chance to have a first contact with the past of the city and of Transylvania. Brukenthal Palace, one of the most important Baroque monuments in Romania, lies on the north-western corner of the Large Square, in the Upper Town. It was erected between 1777 and 1787 as the main residence for the Governor of Transylvania, Samuel von Brukenthal. It houses the main part of the National Brukenthal Museum, opened in 1817. The founder of the museum left it to the Evangelical Church and it has been recently returned to its former owner. Valuable art works were taken by the communist regime to Bucharest but they are now back in Sibiu for the enjoyment of the tourists and the pride of the inhabitants of Sibiu.

The Bridge of Liars is the oldest metallic bridge in Romania. Officially named Liegende Brucke it was built in 1859 replacing an older construction called the Bridge of the Liars. People keep calling the new construction as the old one.
Many centennial churches dating back from the medieval times are other monuments that offer the tourists the opportunity to admire the genuine medieval religious art and architecture.
The Evangelical Cathedral preserves many of the elements that decorated it but many changes can be traced back by an interested professional.
Its unique position near the Fagaras Mountains and the mild climate make of Sibiu county an enjoyable destination. Paltinis is a resort situated at 32 km north-west from Sibiu. It is situated at 1442 m altitude, in a firtree forest, in the Cindrel Mountains. It was founded by the Transylvanian Carpathian Society (S.K.V.) in the last decade of the 19th century. From the initial nucleus of villas, the resort still preserves The House of the Tourists, The House of the Doctors, Sala Monaco and another villa and historic monuments.
The mountainous climate, with a strong ozone concentration, makes the resort an important place to cure asthenia, Basedow illness, lungs illness consequences, over - working, benign hyperthyroidism.The layer of snow resists about six months a year, recommending Paltinis as an ideal holiday destination for winter sports lovers. The skiing track on Oncesti Mountain has a telechair, a teleski, a baby-lift. The resort can accommodate tourists in villas, hotels, and provides tourists with high quality services in restaurants, bars and clubs. At Schit (Hermitage), near the wooden church, was buried Constantin Noica, the famous Romanian philosopher who gathered in Paltinis the elite of the philosophical domain that influenced the evolution of the thinking systems in our country.
No voyage to Transylvania is complete without a visit to Sighişoara, the last inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. The nowadays Sighisoara is a town on the Tarnava River, in Mures county.
A Dacian settlement near Sighişoara known as Sandova dates as far back as the 3rd century B.C. During the 12th century, German craftsmen and merchants, known as the Transylvanian Saxons, settled in this region. By 1280 the citadel was known by its Latin name of Castrum Sex (Fort Six). The chronicles in the following centuries referred to the town of Sighişoara using its German or Hungarian names. The city played an important strategic and commercial role at the edges of Central Europe for several centuries. Sighişoara became one of the most important and prosperous cities of Transylvania. The German artisans and craftsmen dominated the urban economy, as well as building the fortifications protecting it. It is estimated that during the 16th and the 17th centuries Sighişoara had as many as 15 guilds and 20 handicraft branches. The Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Ţepeş) also known as Dracula, who was probably born near Sighişoara in 1431, minted coins in the city and issued the first document listing the city's Romanian name. The house where it is thought he was born is now an important site to visit in the old citadel. Modern times did not destroyed the old part of the town so the central part of Sighişoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city, it has been listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Each year, a Medieval Festival that brings together people from all over Romania and not only, takes place in the old citadel in July.
Among the wonderfully preserved monuments and cultural-tourist attractions is the Clock Tower, also known under the name of the Council Tower, because it functioned as such between the 14th -16th centuries. The Clock Tower is 64 m high; it has four turrets and a wood covered wall walk for watching from the top floor. The figurines of the clock – which was replaced with a modern mechanism bought from Switzerland -stand for various mythological or symbolical characters, such as the Goddess of Peace with the olive branch, the Goddess of Justice with the scales. Starting from 1899, the Clock Tower has housed the Museum of History, which mirrors the evolution of crafts in Transylvania. The Museum holds also a medieval pharmacy from 1670, interesting artifacts of ethnography, a section of fine arts and a collection of clocks. The solid and variously coloured houses line up along narrow lanes; around them stands a 1 km long defence wall initially provided with 14 towers, of which only nine have been preserved to the day. The most impressive are the hexagonal Shoemakers’ Tower, the Tailors’ Tower and the Tinsmiths’ Tower.
On December 1st 1918 the National Assembly held in Alba Iulia decided the unification of the three historic regions of Romania into one single state. This town remains in the history of the Romanian people al the town of the Great Union and today, many Romanians consider Alba Iulia to be the spiritual capital city of Romania. This is not a coincidence because Alba Iulia was chosen the second time as town of the unificationa. In 1600 Michael the Brave, Voievode of Wallachia, entered Alba Iulia following his victory in the Battle of Şelimbăr and became the ruler of Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia.
The city was an important Roman political, economic and social centre. During the Middle Ages it played an important role in the history of Transylvania, being an important city. Between 1541-1690 was the capital of the principality of Transylvania. Nowadays one has many interesting monuments and sights to visit. A landmark in the historic past of the city is represented by the 3rd gate of the medieval fortifications that is particularly important for the Romanians in Transylvania. In this building was imprisoned Horea, the leader of a popular revolt against the Habsburg domination. This revolt proved again the unity of the majority Romanian population and marked the beginning of a period of intense efforts to achieve national independence.
The population of 66,369 is predominantly of Romanian origin. The minorities that live together here a have a powerful identity. Many monuments in the city such as the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Reunification remind visitors that Transylvania is a meeting place for peoples that share the common values of peace and tolerance.
Every year on the 1st of December Alba Iulia hosts the ceremonies and the special events occasioned by the Romania’s National Day. It is an occasion for people from all over the country to come together and share the joy of being citizens of a proud and modern country.
This brief presentation of Transylvania and of some places and cities of interest can give the reader an idea about the beauty and the historic importance of this region of Romania. Ancient towns and medieval citadels recommend it as an ideal tourist destination. The people of Ardeal are hospitable and friendly. Guests are welcome in an area that accommodated many settlers during the millennia. The nowadays Transylvania proves its European vocation and harmoniously mixes the glorious past with the prosperous future.