The city of Sighisoara is located in the Carpathians of the historic region of Transylvania. It is located on the Tarnava river in the Mures district. Its historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 and has preserved its medieval area with great charm, hence it is currently a tourist place of great interest.
Let's see what are the places of interest of this city of Romania, which is also famous for being the birthplace of Vlad Tepes, better known as Vlad the Impaler, who was inspired by Bram Stoker to create the character of Dracula.
Sighisoara history
This city was founded during the XNUMXth century by the Saxons from the area of Germany. This city was built on the remains of a Roman fort known as Castrum Sex. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the city developed its economy by facilitating communication between Europe and the East due to its location. Today Sighisoara can be said to be one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe.
The character of Vlad Tepes
Vlad III was born as Vlad draculea, but he was later known as Vlad Tepes, which means Vlad the Impaler. He took the throne of Wallachia and was known as one of the toughest rulers known for impaling. It is precisely in this character, born in Sighisoara, that the Bram Stoker desk was inspired to create the character of Count Dracula, the most international vampire.
Historical Center
The historic center is one of the most interesting places in the city, since its best monuments and streets are concentrated in this area. This well-preserved walled enclosure has five main streets to walk through to see every little corner. It must be said that this historic area is quite small, so it is easy to find groups of tourists that seem to fill the area at times. The noon hour and the last hours of the day are the best to visit the old town, so as not to meet so many people. This area is cobbled and pedestrianized. The colorfully painted houses are especially noteworthy, some of which have an old and worn look, which does not detract from their charm.
Of the fourteen towers that were in the citadel, nine of them are still standing, and of the five gunned bastions, two remain. It remains one of the best preserved medieval towns. The Cositorilor tower still shows some of the impacts received in the XNUMXth century. In this area of the city, where previously there were craftsmen's houses and guilds, today there are bars, restaurants and various shops to attract tourists.
Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is located in the central square or Piata Cetatii, the most central area of the citadel, which was once the meeting place around which the guild shops and the market were concentrated. In this square is this tower, which is one of the most important monuments in the city and one of the most visited. You can visit the inside, although the visit is paid, and from the top you can enjoy wonderful views of the rooftops of the city. Although the tower is from the XNUMXth century, the clock is from the XNUMXth century. It has a nice chime with figures. Near this tower is also the home of Vlad the Impaler.
Sighisoara Museums
In this city there are three museums that can be visited by buying a joint ticket for all of them. The History Museum is located inside the Clock Tower, so it is definitely a must-see. Inside this tower there is also another museum, called the Chamber of Torture. It is a small museum that is located where the torture rooms used to be. The Weapons Museum is in Vlad's house, with weapons from medieval times.
Student Staircase
The student ladder is a curious staircase with a wooden deck which was created in the seventeenth century. It was designed so that students never miss class and had 300 steps, of which only 175 remain today. You can also climb it to get to the top of the hill. At the top is the German cemetery of the city, which recalls the Anglo-Saxon past of the city. It is a beautiful and peaceful cemetery for those who like to visit the holy fields.
Other places of interest
In this city there are some other interesting buildings. The Old school with material from the last century, the church of the Dominican Monastery or the Catholic Church. It is a fairly complete visit but it is done quickly because everything is quite close.