The decor and the summer garden of the palace are like a fairytale kingdom, full of trees and flowers, especially tulip trees.  There are only a few places in our country where the tulip trees grow, and the Brukenthal Palace of Avrig is one of those places. The tulip trees  are one of the attractions of the summer residence of Baron Samuel von Brukenthal.  At this time of the year, they bloom, giving the visitors an unforgettable view. The tulip tree found at Brukenthal Palace is about 250 years old, and it still has the power and vigor to offer an amazing spectacle for the eyes and souls of those who prefer to take a stroll in the middle of nature, on the alleys of the park, where the yellow tulips are shining, like precious stones. 

You can also spend wonderful moments in the Orangery restaurant.

Starting from spring to autumn, you can enjoy the culinary offer under the clear sky and in the shadow of the old trees. Depending on the season, blooming roses, lavender, dahlias and many other flowers will delight your senses. During the afternoon you can relax in a pleasant ambience and atmosphere, sipping a coffee or tasting cakes, tarts or a hot apple pie. Cakes are prepared with seasonal fruits: apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and plums.  You can also try organic products such as sweets or syrups.

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Although it no longer needs any presentation, Sibiu International Theatre Festival is the most important theatre and performing arts festival in Romania and sustains a creative dialogue at a European and international level. The 24th edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival is starting in just a few hours, and it will take over the entire city between 9-18 June 2017.

“Love” is the main theme of this year’s edition, according to festival’s director, Mr. Constantin Chiriac, who declared : “This universal force is love. Love is light, love is gravity, because it makes people feel attracted to each other. Love is power and gives humanity the chance not to perish in its own blind selfishness. For love we live and die. Love is God and God is love. This force explains everything and gives meaning to life. Love is the most powerful force that exists. It is imperative to feed on this form of energy that is love, to save the world and find the meaning of life. We are still not ready to create a bomb of love, to remove hatred and selfishness that devastates the planet. The theme of love is the theme that governs this edition of the festival. And in this spirit, at every meeting I will recite a poem about love.”

Theatre, dance, contemporary circus, music, film projections, exhibitions, book launches, special conferences, play reading performances, workshops and student performances from all over the world will be presented in both performance halls, classic and unconventional, as well as on the main streets and squares of Sibiu. This year, FITS will showcase one of it’s most complex programme yet, including about 500 carefully selected events, in 67 venues, during 10 days, for 650.000 people who get to experience the creative side of life. The programme of FITS events is extended in 2017 to include the places of worship in Sibiu, Mărginimea Sibiului and the Transylvanian fortified churches route – The Evangelical Church in Cisnădie (Heltau), The Evangelical Church in Cisnădioara (Michelsberg), The Evangelical Church in Guşteriţa (Hammersdorf) , The Evangelical Church in Roşia (Rothberg) – thus adding a new dimension of the festival headlined by organ concerts performed by Romanian and international artists.

Of course, we’ve studied the programme quite carefully, and we find it hard to pick just some shows out of the many promising events. But still, there are some highlights we will be more than looking forward to!

“BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV” is one of the first shows that caught our eye. Presented by the New Riga Theatre – Latvian state theatre, “BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV” is a one-man show directed by Alvis Hermanis. It is based on the poems of Nobel laureate, Joseph Brodsky, interpreted by renowned dancer, choreographer and American actor, Mikhail Baryshnikov. “BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV” was nominated for “Performance of the Year” at the Latvian Theatre Awards and the actor was nominated for “Actor of the Year” at the same awards ceremony. Alvin Hermanis has also received many awards, such as Europe Prize New Theatre Realities, Stanislavski Award, two Golden Mask awards (Moscow), Max Reinhardt Pen (Salzburg Festspiele), Nestroy Preis (Austria) and Wolf Konrad Award (Germany). He returns at FITS for the second year, after having received a star on the Sibiu Walk of Fame.

The two heritage-performances “Faust” and “Metamorphoses” directed by Silviu Purcarete, are also on our must-see list for this year. As this years marks 10th anniversary of Sibiu European Capital of Culture, it is not by chance that the Radu Stanca National Theatre is coming back with “Metamorphoses”, a performance that celebrated the events of 2007. And “Faust” has received such high praises over the years, that we could not even imagine FITS without it!

Another much awaited performance, the project “..Aquel Silverio” – “…That Silverio”, focuses on the current state of flamenco, and the main pillars of this art, such as Silverio Franconetti. It’s a production based on research, on the recovery, analysis, study and reconstruction of dance forms, singing, music and the way in which they were made.

Returning to Sibiu, Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance Company brings us two representations of “Air Condition”. They are planning to stage a performance that will impress the audience with suspended dancers, combining energy with flight over the stage and the artistry of modern dance. We’ll all get to see tango mixed with hip-hop and ballet, and live music, composed especially for this performance.

But of course, besides the indoor theatre, dance, circus and music performances at FITS, you can also take part in the outdoor street performances, play readings, special conferences, book launches, workshops, film screenings, the drama and art management universities convention or the Sibiu Performing Arts Market. As we do each year, we are all looking forward to the spectacular opening events, that will take place in the old town. Entrance is free for outdoor events, as well as for special events – special conferences, play readings and part of the film screenings. 

FITS will keep you fully entertained these next 10 days! Access www.sibfest.ro to see the full programme, and to make sure you don’t miss out on anything!

And because at some point you will get hungry, access Travelscounter to get 10,15 or even 20% discount in all the best restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and clubs in Sibiu.

Enjoy Sibiu, and LOVE FITS!

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If you are a #streetfood enthusiast, you’re in for a major treat! Because Sibiu Street FOOD Festival, the festival of hundreds of culinary recipes takes place in the city June 1^st to 4^th, in the Albert Huet Square.

It is a unique culinary experience, that travels through 9 Romanian cities this year : Oradea, Iasi, Sibiu, Arad, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Alba-Iulia, Timisoara and Bacau. The presence of Sibiu among the 9 cities is of high importance, as two years from now, in 2019, Sibiu will hold the title of European gourmet capital. It’s going to be the most important worldwide recognized project involving Sibiu since the European Capital of Culture of 2007. Taking this into consideration, Street FOOD Festival plans to bring a major contribution to the city’s development of gastronomy.

#streetfood lovers will get to enjoy an enormous variety of dishes, from savory burgers, pulled pork, creamy gelato, to pizza and many more. 40 carefully chosen vendors will be lininig up their best street food specialties from all over the world, from Asia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, America, Mexico and more. 

Those who will come at the festival will get to enjoy the dishes of a street food celebrity and ambassador, Chef Foa. Chef Foa is the most fervent fan of the Street Food concept in Romania, being one of the few famous chefs who have devoted themselves to the whole idea and managed to develop a successful project built around the concept of street food. Along with his team of chefs from Stradale and Flavours, he is going to offer some amazing culinary experiences! And some great #selfies for all of you #instagram lovers  

No festival is complete without music, so be prepared to enjoy not only amazing food, but some great live concerts too. The Street FOOD Festival stage will be home to some amazing acts. Children also have their own playground – the KIDS ZONE. And if you’re a fan of food and movies, you’ll get to nibble on some tasty treats while watching a good movie at The Outdoor Cinema.

Street FOOD Festival started it’s story back in 2016 in Cluj-Napoca, where over 50,000 foodies sampled the dishes of the participating chefs. Afterwards, Street FOOD Festival took place in Iasi, Oradea and there was also a special edition for Christmas, which brought to the festival several tens of thousands of people and hundreds of goodies to take home.

We’re defintely moving our “offices” in the Huet Square between June 1^st and 4^th, at the Sibiu Street FOOD Festival. Because we’re looking forward to compete in eating pizza, pancakes, burgers, waffles, tacos, burritos, sandwiches, and other food specialities from all over the world. 

Fresh and delicious food, cold drinks and good music guaranteed, all you have to do is to come to the Street FOOD Festival!

And if by any chance you’re more of a “reservation” kind of person, you can use Travelscounter to book your place in one of the delish restaurants around the Huet Square. You’ll get 10% discount off your bill! Enjoy!

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We’ve taken it upon ourselves to look into what really is the deal with the popular bistro cuisine. And here’s what we’ve found.

Technically, a bistro is the place where you can get a coffee and a snack or a glass of wine and a simple meal alongside, the kind of place where the menu is not very sophisticated. Many bistro restaurants are guided by “fresh, fast and good”, satisfying for every customer and for all clients. But when you think about it, it seems quite hard to put these all together, if what you’re looking for is high quality food. “Fast” and “fresh” actually rarely go together, and if you were to choose, then “fresh” would be the most obvious choice. Because it is preferable to have the patience for the products to be freshly prepared, with natural ingredients, rather than be half-baked or defrosted. 

The difference between fresh food and frozen bags is 30 minutes of your time. And instead of having your stomach filled fast, would you not rather choose fresh and tasteful food, cooked with respect to the raw material?

And while 30 minutes might sound like a lot, can you “go fast” without compromising the taste or the carefully selected ingredients?

In middle and small kitchens, such as bistro kitchens, which are not organized in areas (meat, fish, desserts, salads) and the orders come out in a row, as they come, it’s quite common for the staff to go from cooking pasta, to arranging some dessert, then grilling meat, and so on.  

One might think that chefs can perform miracles while working on several orders, and that it should not take more than 10 minutes to prepare the ordered dish. But if you’re doing the math, when a group of 3 people – the average number of cooks in small kitchens – have to freshly boil pasta, fry fish, prepare dessert, grill meat, cook lamb and peas, pork, mushroom or potatoes, and do some form of plating, then 30 minutes waiting time start sounding more reasonable.

Of course, when you are very hungry, each minute seems an eternity. Obviously food could come quickly. Pasta could be pre-cooked and only heated and mixed with the ready-made sauce. And the spinach could also be done and just heated on demand. Potatoes could be frozen, and then their cooking time would reduced to half. But is this what you would really want to eat?

A good Bistro will always choose “fresh” and “good”, rather than “fast”. Because good healthy food is of the essence.

And a good Bistro in Sibiu, trying to maintaing high quality food standards, is definitely Jules Bistro. Jules Bistro-Restaurant is a place which gathers under the same roof a French touch restaurant, a romantic summer terrace and a comprehensive wine bar. The music is obviously French. And the location is perfect, right in the middle of everything, in a building that practically “breathes” history. You can get your daily discount code from Travelscounter, and you can pay Jules a visit. You’ll have a lovely meal, and a 10% discount off the entire bill. Enjoy!

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You should, as today marks the start of the 47th edition of the Sibiu International Jazz Festival.

Sibiu Jazz Festival is unique in Romania, considering the longevity, consistency and the impressive number of celebrities that have participated over the years. It is the oldest festival of its kind in the country and one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world, which is why Sibiu has been declared, since the 80s, the “Jazz Capital” of Romania.

In the early 70s, the first three editions of the National Jazz Festival took place in Ploiesti. The festival is moved to Sibiu in 1974, enjoying respect and support, even from the communist political officials, being organized by the dedicated team of the Jazz Club Sibiu, the most powerful jazz club in the country at that time.

For years, the scene of Sibiu has presented the values of native jazz.

There is no Romanian jazzman, whose evolution has not been marked in some way by the Sibiu Jazz Festival.

And the list, even incomplete, of foreign musicians who have evolved in the Festival speaks for the great respect this event has enjoyed through the years : Ron Carter, Toots Thielemans, Archie Shepp, Didier Lockwood, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jan Garbarek, Bill Evans, Charles Lloyd, Birelli Lagrene, Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval.

In 2005, Sibiu Jazz Festival is recognized as the most important event in Romania, becoming the first festival in our country, member of Europe’s most important network of jazz festivals and promoters: Europe Jazz Network.

The huge team behind the success of this great festival is coordinated by Simona Adina Maxim, Executive Director and H. Johannes Konstantin Schmidt, Artistic Director and founder member of Sibiu Jazz Club.

The festival has evolved through the years, and this year’s edition marks a series of novelties.

One of the highly anticipated ones is the free entrance to all of this year’s events.

The new “Romanian Jazz Meeting” project aims to be a launching pad for Romanian musicians to the international jazz stage. The project – the only one of it’s kind in Romania – is looking to promote Romanian Jazz artists and their music, through concerts attended also by jazz promoters, critics and journalists. And we’re in for some delightful concerts, as this projects gives Romanian jazz musicians a chance to share the stage with some of the best interntional jazz artists of the moment!

The festival is also about education. “Jazz for Kids” is a musical education project for children between the ages of 6 and 14. The youngsters get to know the history of jazz and its influence on other musical genres, and they actively participate in the recognition of some musical passages from their favorite cartoons. The brave ones get to even become familiar with the instruments. Every evening dedicated to the project “Jazz for Kids” will be completed by an acoustic moment, full of surprises, prepared by two pianists of 10 and 12 years, winners of the National Music Olympics.

If you chose Sibiu for this weekend, you’re in for a real treat! Sibiu Jazz Festival’s line-up is amazing!

Accord Vibes, Black String, De la Purrisima, Djazz&Happy Sins, Irina Popa, Jazzapella, Jeff Herr Corporation, Karnas Formula, Mauro Sigura Quartet, Mozayek Band, Natalia M. King, Peter Sarosi Azara and Yilian Cañizares. Check out the detailed program below. 

And because we think the 47th edition must be celebrated, Travelscounter launches a special FREE voucher for you to use to get yourself a 10% discount code valid in all partner locations. So, use the voucher JAZZFREE for checkout on Travelscounter, and enjoy all that jazz and all the best Sibiu has to offer!

SIBIU JAZZ FESTIVAL 2017 EDITION – COMPLETE PROGRAM :

THURSDAY MAY 18^th

Jam Session In The Kitchen, starting at 6:00 pm – The Small Square

Jazzappella (Romanian Jazz Meeting) – starting at 7:00 pm – The Small Square 

Accord Vibes (Romanian Jazz Meeting) – starting at 7:30 pm – The Small Square

Irina Popa (Romanian Jazz Meeting)- starting at 8:30 pm – The Small Square

Karnas Formula (Poland) – starting at 9:30 pm – The Small Square

FRIDAY MAY 19^th –

Jam Session In The Kitchen – starting at 6:00 pm – The Small Square

Jazz For Kids – starting at 7:00 pm – The Gong Theatre

DJazz & Happy Sins (Romanian Jazz Meeting) – starting at 7:30 pm – The Small Square

Peter Sarosi & Azara (Romanian Jazz Meeting) – starting at 7:30 pm – The Small Square

Jeff Herr Corporation (Luxembourg) – starting at 8:30 pm – The Small Square

Yilian Cañizares (Cuba, Switzerland, Germany) – starting at 9:30 pm – The Small Square 

SATURDAY MAY 20^th –

“Jam Session In The Kitchen” – starting at 6:00 pm – The Small Square

Jazz For Kids at the Gong Theatre – starting at 7:00 pm – The Gong Theatre

Mauro Sigura Quartet (Italy) – starting at 7:00 pm – The Small Square

De La Purissima (Spain) – starting at 8:00 pm – The Small Square

Natalia M. King Quintet (USA, France) – starting at 9:30 pm – The Small Square

SUNDAY MAY 21^st –

Jam Session In The Kitchen – starting at 6:00 pm – The Small Square

Black String (South Korea) – starting at 7:00 pm – The Small Square

Mozayek Band (Syria) – starting at 9:30 pm – The Small Square

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We’ ve got the perfect spot! An industrial park right outside of town houses a unique location : an equestrian club. Don’t let the access way fool you…although it is located in an industrial park, and the entrance has the mandatory NO ENTRY signs, all tourists and visitors are more than welcome to carry on past the entry point, and arrive at a true haven! It’s the only place this close to Sibiu where you can experience the joy of riding a horse. The instructors also speak fluent German and English, so you know you’ll be in good hands! And if you want your children to enjoy a nice experience, this is the perfect place. The club provides an instructor that is specialized in working with children. 

Ecvestria Club stretches for more than 2500 meters, and it offers accommodation for those wanting to spend the night. It also features a shop for you to complete your riding attire.

And most importantly, once you arrive here you can take a break away from the noise, and enjoy some Romanian and international specialties at the on-site restaurant and terrace.

The restaurant itself is designed with modern equestrian specific. You can enjoy a hearty meal, as the menu is varied and offers a wide range of options. So you can serve lunch, dinner or just a good cup of coffee.

And if you make a reservation with Travelscounter, you will have a 20% discount off your bill!  Enjoy!

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Sibiu’s “Bruke” is a the largest museum in South-Eastern Europe, and it consists of the Brukenthal Palace, the Museum of Natural History, the History Museum, the Museum of Pharmacy, and the Museum of Hunting . Perhaps the most known of them, and mostly identified as being the Brukenthal Museum is the Brukenthal Palace, which is the former home of baron Samuel von Brukenthal. Brukenthal was Habsburg governor of Transylvania, a baron of the Holy Roman Empire and personal advisor of Empress Maria Theresa. The Palace began housing the baron’s first collections at around 1790. The collections were officially opened to the public in 1817, making the Brukenthal Museum the first of its kind in Romania.

The Art Galleries located inside the Brukenthal Palace include a number of about 1200 works belonging to the main European schools of painting, from the 15th to the 18th century: Flemish-Dutch, German and Austrian, Italian, Spanish and French Schools. The Galleries also include collections of engravings, books, numismatics, and minerals.

The Brukenthal Library is also located inside the Brukenthal Palace. It comprises approximately 300.000 library units (manuscripts, rare foreign books, old Romanian-language books, contemporary books and specialised magazines).

Baron Samuel von Brukenthal’s wish to turn his palace in one of the most important European arts museum came true a few years after his death, in 1817 when the palace opened its gates to the large public for the very first time.

Two centuries later, in 2010, the Brukenthal Museum was awarded the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/ Europa Nostra.

200 years after it’s inauguration, the three sections of the museum – The European Art Galleries, the Romanian Art Galleries and the Contemporary Art Galleries – exhibit an extremely rich and diverse set of paintings, sculptures, engravings and cartography. Some of the noteworthy artists whose works are exhibited in the museum are: Jan van Eyck, Antonello da Messina, Hans Memling, Lorenzo Lotto, Pieter Bruegel, Franz Neuhauser, Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ştefan Luchian, Nicolae Tonita, Corneliu Baba and many others.

However, besides its rich collection, the palace – a baroque monument itself – is impressive through its excellently preserved architecture, interior and exterior details and furniture, most of the items being more than two centuries old.

You can visit it Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm for only 12 lei. For groups the price decreases at 8 lei.

And after you visit the Brukenthal Museum, close by you’ll find some perfect spots to sit back and relax. You can choose one of our partner venues, like La Turn, Lilli’s, Tango, Union, Weinkeller, Enzo. Use Travelscounter and you will get a 10% discount in each of these top restaurants. Enjoy!

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Located in the heart of Sibiu’s Old town, the Council Tower reigns over both the Small and the Big Square. It dates from the 13th century, when Saxon merchants built grand fortified towns across the region. It is probably the most famous monument of Sibiu, once part of the city’s ring of defensive walls. It is called the Council Tower because it is located near the first headquarters of the Sibiu City Hall, mentioned in documents since 1324. These days it guards the second entrance to the small square. In its current form, The Council Tower has seven floors. The ground floor has a large vaulted passage. The access inside is possible through a small door and spiral stairs reaching the upper floor. The current edifice is the result of several phases of construction.

After 17th of February 1585, when the top floors have crashed, extensive reconstruction works were carried out. After being repaired several times in the 18th century, the tower has supported radical interventions to the upper part.

You will notice the stacked sections and the large clock on each side. The fun part begins with climbing up the stairs to the top. Half way up the tower you will find the clock mechanism that is ticking away. This clock has been telling the time in Sibiu since 1494! From the top you can enjoy great views of Sibiu, from the big windows you’ll find on each side. Entrance is 2 lei each every day since 10 am to 8 pm. You have to go up 140 stairs but well worth the effort. The panoramic views from the top are excellent – and perfect for a selfie with Sibiu in the background. No excuses not to visit!

And if you get hungry after climbing 140 stairs, one of the best restaurants is Sibiu is right next-door – La Turn! La Turn has one of the most beautiful views of the city. It has a double sided terrace so you can sit either in front of the Big Square or of the Small Square and very close to the steps of the Tower. You can spoil yourself with local and international food. And a real treat at La Turn – the homemade pasta. It’s to die for! Book your table for La Turn on Travelscounter and you will get a 10% discount off your bill. Enjoy!

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Sibiu’s airport has expanded quite a lot over the years, so you can easily touch down at Sibiu International Airport. Some of the best companies in the world operate flights arriving at Sibiu, and you can get here from a great number of cities. You can fly directly to Sibiu from Dortmund, London, Milan, Madrid, Memmingen, Munchen, Nurnberg, Stuttgart, Wien.

The old town is pretty close, at a distance of aproximately 3 kilometers. So you’ll get there rather fast by taking a taxi. You can also get downtown by bus.

If you are arriving by train, then you should know you’re arriving almost at the heart of things, as Sibiu’s train station is just minutes away from the old town, by foot. Of course, if your lodging is elsewhere but the old part of Sibiu, you might want to grab a taxi or the bus.

You can also come to Sibiu by car. There are signs for each gateway into the city, and they are posted with plenty of distance in advance. And there are well thought signs within the city also, giving directions for all interest points. The general speed limit in town is 50 km/h, but there are areas where it’s less. Watch out for the speed checks!

Sibiu is served by several bus and taxi stations. From these you can take the bus or one of the parked taxis, and go anywhere: to the zoo, to the Astra village, to the central park, to the shopping mall, or to any restaurant you want. If you take a taxi the price will be 2,49 lei per km.

The price for one bus ticket is 2 lei and you can get it at any bus station in the city. If you pay with a contactless card you’ll pay less, only 1,39 lei.

And if you want to pay less for food and drinks all over Sibiu, use Travelscounter.  You can get 10, 15 or even 20 % discount in the best restaurants, coffee-shops, pubs and club in Sibiu.

Enjoy!

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The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the second largest orthodox church in Romania, right after the one in Suceava.

The people of Sibiu wanted to build a big cathedral in the old Sibiu, as a symbol of their orthodox faith. The Metropolitan bishop Andrei Saguna asked Emperor Franz Jozsef 1^st for permission to send a circular to his diocese requesting that priests and laymen give donations. He sent the letter and the first donor was the Emperor himself, who gave 1000 gold coins. So, their wish came true on the 5^th of August 1902, the anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph 1^st. The first foundation stone of the future cathedral was set then as a sign of gratitude for his support in the building of this cathedral. On that day Romanians from all over Transylvania came to Sibiu to take part at such a big event.

The Orthodox Cathedral was built in Byzantine style after the plans of architects Virgil Nagy and Kommer Jozsef from Budapest, and it’s very similar to Saint Sofia Church in Istanbul. The result is a large building with a symmetrical composition and a central plan that is trying to resume the elevation of a Byzantine basilica. The frescoes and dome paintings were made by Octavian Smigelschi and Arthur Coulin.

The exterior is in red and yellow brick. The spacious nave is bordered by smaller spherical roofs and four towers: two smaller octagonal ones, and two larger ones near the entrance with a square base that becomes octagonal in the bell area. The ends of the towers are shaped like double bulbs, with a skylight in the centre. The main entrance is through a portico with three semicircular doors. Behind this and between the main towers is an ample semicircular vestibule with a similarly-shaped stained-glass window, while the outside is adorned with round mosaics showing Jesus and the Four Evangelists. The cathedral has a capacity of 2000 people, and it is almost 54m long and 25m wide in the centre. The dome is 25m high, even 35m on the exterior, while the spires are 43m high.

Through its greatness and architecture and through the beauty of the iconostasis, the cathedral is a magnet to Romanian and foreign tourists who wish to discover the secrets of the orthodox faith.

Located at 35 Mitropoliei Street in Sibiu, it is the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania, Laurentiu Streza.

Locals gather here on Sundays and holidays. Others come here every time they want to have some time alone to pray and to find peace. It is also preferred by those who want to have a sumptuous wedding or want to have a nice memory of the baptism of their child.  Theology student choir often performs here. On Christmas or Easter people come especially to hear the choir sing.

Visiting the Cathedral can be quite overwhelming. So don’t forget to have a break before or right after you visit it. There are many restaurants and coffee-shops in the old Sibiu, and using Travelsocunter you get 10 % discount for each restaurant bill.

Hallelujah!

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Also called the Evangelical Church, it is a Gothic-style church and its massive high steeple is a landmark of the city. It can be seen from almost every part of the central area of the city.

The Lutheran Cathedral was built in the 14th century on the location of an old Roman 12th century church , and it is filled with artefacts, including an incredibly beautiful organ. It is a maze of angels and shapes, and stories waiting to be discovered.

Such a story is that of Mihnea the Evil, Vlad the Impaler/Dracula’s son. Mihnea the Evil had fled Wallachia to escape the angry boyars he has persecuted, and taken refuge in Sibiu. He was cornered in the Lutheran Cathedral where he was attending Mass, and as he was leaving the service, he was stabbed and killed by hired Serbian assassin Dimitrije Iakšić. His body was laid to rest in the church, just like many other personalities, mayors and earls, as the church has served for 300 years as a burial place. Even the famous baron Samuel von Brukenthal was buried here in 1803, although this was an exception, as in 1796 burials in the church were prohibited. Nowadays, the 63 tombstones belonging to those buried here can be seen incorporated in the church ferula, which is unique in Romania.

Another impressive trait of the church is it’s seven level tower, with four turrets on the corners, indicating that the judge had the right to sentence death. And at a height of 73.34 meters, the tower is the tallest of it’s kind in all Transylvania.

The existing organ was installed in the church in 1915. And after undergoing major renovations in 1997, it has remained the largest functioning organ in South-East Europe. In the summer time, lovely organ concerts take place here every Wednesday night.

You can visit the Cathedral between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The Church Tower may be visited on demand. It’s worth it, if you’re up for climbing roughly 300 stairs, because the view from the top is amazing. The whole tour will cost you as much as 8 ron.

Right after you visit the Cathedral you can have a break in one of the best restaurants and terraces in the Small Square. Here you will get a 10% discount off the bill if you access Travelscounter to get a discount code or to make a reservation.

You can use our Sibiu food deals at Weinkeller, Atrium, La Turn, Lilli’s, Crama Sibiana Tango, Union, or GoIN. You can serve many traditional or international dishes, or you can just get a coffee, a glass of wine or some dessert. At the end, you will pay less by 10%, when using Travelscounter. Check out our site, and our partener locations. For sure you’ll find a place perfect for you!

Enjoy!

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On its other name, the German Hermannstadt, Sibiu has been declared European Capital of Culture in 2007, together with Luxembourg, being the first city in South-Eastern Europe to receive this title. Sibiu has a European Character, due to the fact that it is a cultural location and because of its European spirit. In 2007 Sibiu hosted over 2000 events in different areas like: film, photography, architecture, music, literature, theater. The Sibiu European Capital of Culture program was a success, and since then Sibiu has gained more and more visibility.

The city was colonized by Saxon colonists under the name of Cibinium in the 12th century. As a fortress, Sibiu proved to be invincible and became the capital of Transylvania during the period in which the region was a Habsburg principality and over time it was also a commercial, educational and cultural center.

Sibiu is a great city which recorded many premieres in this part of Europe like the first hospital, the first school, also the first pharmacy, the first theater building, the first museum, the first beer factory or the first zoo garden.

Sibiu’s old town is all about remarkable architecture and some of the most amazing landmarks : the Brukenthal museum, the Franz Binder World Ethnographic Museum – part of the Astra National Museum Complex, the Council tower, the Big Square, the Small Square, the Liars Bridge, the Lutheran Cathedral, and many more! Take a walk through the old town, and you’ll be more than impressed, as pieces of history will unfold before you with every step that you take.

Sibiu continues to write its own history, being a modern and cultural European city, and an attractive touristic location for both Romanian and foreign investors. So, welcome to Sibiu! We’re sure you’re going to love it! Especially now, when Travelscounter is offering you discounts of up to 20% in the top restaurants, coffee-shops, pubs and clubs in Sibiu. Enjoy!

The post Welcome! Let’s visit Sibiu! appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

Why? Because we’ve just launched Travelscounter.

See which are
the best restaurants, coffee-shops, pubs and clubs in Sibiu. See photos, detailed descriptions, read or leave reviews for your favorite spots. You can even use the BOOK&SAVE feature to make a discounted reservation at any location you like!

Best places to visit in Sibiu and around? Upcoming events? Travel tips? Get all the information right here on the Sibiu Travel Tips focused blog. We’re promising to keep you updated with all the latest news, reviews, and even exclusive interviews!

Want to share a table, or get some tips from other tourists on where to go and what to see? Use our chat, and get in touch with other users. You might even meet someone really interesting!

And the best part? Using Travelscounter you’ll PAY LESS for food and drinks all around Sibiu!

Because TRAVEL meets DISCOUNTER = travelscounter.

And Travelscounter gives you 10, 15 or even 20% discount off your bills, in any partener location!

Using Travelscounter, you get to choose a 10% ALL DAY DISCOUNT code, or you can BOOK&SAVE.

The 10% ALL DAY DISCOUNT is an easy-to-use discount code, valid for 1 full day, in all our partener venues in Sibiu! It’s the perfect deal if you want to explore the best restaurants, coffee-shops, pubs and clubs, and enjoy a 10% discount! You can use it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, ice-cream, coffee…you name it! You can use the discount code for as many times, in as many locations as you like, in one day. Now, how cool is that?

With BOOK&SAVE you can make going out even more fun! You book your spot in a top restaurant in Sibiu, and at the same time you save money, because we’re giving you the best restaurant deals! 10, 15 or even 20% discount applied for the total bill!! No food vouchers, no restaurant coupons, and no limits to your order! And if you wanna dance the night away…BOOK&SAVE again! Reserve your table at one of Sibiu’s hot nightclubs, and enjoy your up to 20% discount! We’ve got the best restaurants, coffe-shops, pubs and clubs in Sibiu..you just have to choose your favorite and enjoy great discounts.

This being said, we really think Sibiu is the best place for your next holiday! And the best adviser is…you guessed it…Travelscounter. Visit the site, and take a look. We’re sure you’re going to love it! Enjoy!

The post TRAVEL JUST GOT A LOT BETTER! appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.