Alba Iulia, the largest citadel of Romania and the feeling of being proud

Visiting Alba Iulia during the National Day of Romania( December 1st) can be responsible for a range of various emotions, the most obvoius one being that of taking pride in your Romanianess. Lots of military parades, political figures, traditonal singers and dancers occupy for a day the citadel, which has the power of enchanting the frozen souls of a cold December day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The city is also decorated for winter, since the Christmas market assures its presence here, as well. Which means that it  is also time for warm wine, hot gloves, hats and some patriotic souvenirs.

The city situated on Mures river was the capital of Eastern Hungarian Kingdom from 1541-1690. Its Roman name was Apulum and the city had also been known by the Slavic name of Balgrad. The largest citadel of Romania has a lovely ancient medieval center.

The city ‘ s main attraction is the fortess which contains 7 bastions in a stelar shape , built between 1716-1735.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral ( built in the 10th century) is one of the most representatives buildings of the medieval Roman style in Transylvania. Here, is also the tomb of John Hunyadi.

 

The Orthodox Unification Cathedral( 1921-1923) is the place where the coronations of the first Romanian kings happened( Ferdinand I, Queen Mary).

 

 

The National Museum of Unification is the place where you can find 130000 pieces of artworks. It was built between 1851-1853 and it served  to a military purpose. Since 1887 it has been a museum.

 

Râmeț Gorges at the beginning of winter

One of the  major attraction of the Trascău Mountains ( in the South- East of Apuseni Mountains, in the Carpathians) is  Râmeţ Gorges. If you are in Aiud, go  for Râmeț Monastery and close to it, is  the itinerary.

This spectacular narrow gorges seems to be formed by collapsing of a few hundred metres cave ceiling and occupy an area of 150 hectares. They belong to Cheia village and they have been a protected region ever since 1969.

Make sure to be prepared and well-equipped for a trip that would offer you caves,arcades,passings  and the quick and incredibly cold Râmeț river.

 

Time for some Christmas markets, time for wintery Sibiu!

The former capital of Culture of Europe in 2007, Sibiu, which  happens to be the first city in South- Eastern Europe to receive this award , continues to be a splendid destination. If you want to visit a great destination, you should know, that due to its Christmas market the city gets a brand new wintery look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The city was first mentioned in the year 1191, under the name of Cibinum. From 1366 to 1919 , it was callled Hermannstadt and since 1919 it is officially called, Sibiu.

It is positioned in Cibin Depression and is surrounded by Fagaras, Cibin and Lotului Mountains.

In the middle of the 12th century was occupied by the Saxon colonists, being one of the most important cities in Transylvania. The city was the home of the first hospital, library, school,paper mill, bookstore, theatre  building , open air cinema, beer factory ,Zoo garden tool factory , hydropower plant, mental illness hospital  of Romania.

The first Zoo dates back to 1929 and it is situated in Dumbrava Forest.

 

 

 

 

The Old Town, a medieval area, mostly built by German settlers and merchants in the Middle Ages is divided into the upper and the lower town. In the 14th century the city was a trade center with 19 guilds of craftsmen.

 

 

 

 

The Bridges of Lies built in 1859 is an important touristic  and known meeting place. The are is  made of steep stairways that lead from the upper to the lower town.

 

The Stairs passage was built in the 13th century.

The city houses many churches belonging to different religions. In the Huet Square we can find the Evangelic Church, with 5 pointed towers and an organ of 6000 pipes ( the largest in Romania). The church was built in 1520 and its inside is a monumental simplicity.

There is also a Roman Catholic, an Orthodox, a reformed and a Greek Catholic church, as well as a Synagogue, each of them with its unique and unbelievable history.

 

The city is a culturally lively spot with 3 theatres, a philarmonic orchestra and a lot of cultural, musical or film events.

Bruckenthal  National  Museum is a Baroque building, built between 1777-1787 contians an old books library as well as Art Galleries.

The Council Tower, built in the 13th century offers a panaromic view of the city. It used to be a grain house , a fire watchtower, a temporary prison and a museum of botany.