Sibiusmall place for big dreams

Medieval times in front of your eyes

Sibiu, also known as Hermannstadt, is considered one of the most beautiful historical cities in Romania and Europe. It is perceived as a city of art and culture. A great number of cultural monuments, a diversity of museums, and various artistic and cultural events, make up the pillars of a complex cultural profile.

Every single step through Sibiu is like a journey in time.

Sibiu 2007

2007 was an important year for Sibiu as it was designated European Capital of Culture. It was a great opportunity for our city to expand its cultural activities and to develop its tourism industry.

Thousands of tourists all over the world came in Sibiu attracted by international music and theater festivals.

Great names like Within Temptation, Reamonn, Europe or Scorpions have toured during the year giving us an unforgettable show.

For most of us it was the best year in Sibiu.

Theatrical shows in Sibiu

Sibiu has a two century history of theatrical shows which can be traced to the two theatres of the present.

The National Theater Radu Stanca was awarded the Cultural Management Prize in 2002. It is a great place to watch well-known plays like Othello or Hamlet.

The Theatre Gong presents pupetteering, mime and non-conventional shows for children and teenagers.

Musical events in Sibiu

Sibiu has a wide range of musical events for all types of listeners. It has a Philharmonic Orchestra that performs weekly concerts of classical and

modern symphonic music, also organises an international piano festival. If you are more into jazz, Sibiu has to offer you incredible jazz festivals.For rock music lovers there are festivals like Artmania or Rockin’ Transilvania that bring on stage bands you’ve always wanted to see live.

Historic buildingsIn Sibiu there are a lot of historic buildings that you

should visit.The Council Tower,built in the 13th century, is now

one of the most known symbols of Sibiu.The Arts House is one of the most beautiful

buildings in Sibiu and also one of city’s symbols.The Fortress-The most of the remaining parts of

the old City Walls and Towers can be seen on theEast side of the town along the Coposu Avenue andManejului Street. On Cetatii Street there are threeremaining towers from the third belt of fortifications.

The Liars Bridge is also an important building as itwas the first iron-cast bridge in Romania.

Other buildings like The Thick Tower, StairsTower, The Old Town Hall or The Haller House aremonuments that deserve to be seen.

Historic Places

The Big Square is the historic centre of thecity as the public executions and the publicMeetings used to held there. The southern side ofit is declared architectural monument.

The Small Square is the second largesthistoric place of Sibiu and its one of the mostbeautiful square in town. The Huet Square is surrounded by historicbuildings built in gothic style. It is one of the mostimpressive square in Sibiu.

MuseumsBrukenthal Museum is a complex of six museums which have different locations

and their own distinct cultural programmes. It was the second museum everfounded in Europe.

The History Museum, housed in a Gothic building, presents the history of theCity from Neolithic and Roman times to recent history.

The Museum of Arms and Hunting Trophies presents the evolution of armsthroughout the history of the city and hunting trophies from Europe and Africa. The ASTRA Museum Complex is the largest outdoor museum in Europe.

The Liars BridgeThe Liars Bridge had been

installed in place of a wood bridgein 1859. It was built over the wayof acces that connects the uppertown to the lower town.

Being the first iron-cast bridgein Romania, it is now the pride ofSibiu.

As a prove of its origins, onone side you can see the date ofthe structure and on the otherside the Saxon blazon.

Legends

There are a few legends that try to explain the origin ofthe bridge’s name.

The closer to the truth says that the bridge was raisedwithout pillars and it was called “the lying bridge”. Overtime the name changed into “the liars bridge” and peoplestarted telling stories based on this name.

Another legend says that the clients fooled by themerchants from the Small Square used to throw them ofthe bridge to teach everybody a lesson.

A third legend says that the Military Academy cadets,after stealing the young girls’ hearts, used to promisethem dates by the moonlight and “forgot” to show up.

Bibliography

• www.sibiul.ro• www.sibiu2007.ro• www.welcmetoromania.ro• http://wikipedia.org