A couple of weeks ago we went on a day trip to Sibiu, a city that was named the Cultural Center of Europe in 2007. Yeah, I know I did not expect that in Romania either. The city had clocktowers, cathedrals, arch ways, colorfully painted walls, exquisite doors and cafes. Then we drove to Hunendoara to see Corvin’s Castle, a castle from the 1400’s. Even though we got lost along the way and were chased by dogs and our car had to come to brieg hault because a horse jumped into the middle of the road, we eventually made it to the fairytale castle. I also took some random shots of the towns along the way.
The city of Sibiu from the top of the clock tower.
Sibiu town square. I love all the cafes and the fountain in the center. You can’t see it now, but the pigeons bath in it by lifting up their wings one at a time.
Gorgeous paint chipped walls with cobble stone streets.
I just love the walls painted with such bright and fun colors.
Car door and regular door in one.
Every door and street in Sibiu is colorful
The street lanterns and all the shutters are so typical of Europe.
These are ity bity doors. I am not sure what these doors are used for.
I know sorry, more doors. But, it was door heaven in Sibiu.
This one I took out the window while we were driving through a smaller town on our way to Corvin Castle.
Well, the traffic wasn’t too bad except for the occasional buggy, road contruction and horse that jumped in our way.
Traditional Gypsy dress. All the gypsies in town where these lace hemmed bright colored flower skirts. Red seems to be a very popular color as well.
Contrast this woman walking in red in the same city. There is a huge difference in Romanian and Gypsy culture. I have come to love the Gypsies and their incredible sense of community and hospitality. And, I love the Romanians as well. There just totally different.
Driving and Red Trees. All the trees are painted white on the bottom. We have been told conflicting opinions about this. 1. It is because of the bugs. 2. It is because it is Easter, which is when they get repainted. 3. Reflection for the cars, because there are no street lights.
I call these the feather trees, because they look like upside down feathers.
Corvin Castle. I got this informations from a website… Read if you are intersted in the history. If not, just look at the photos. HUNEDOARA
is a town situated in South-Western Transylvania, in Cerna Valley in
The Poiana Ruscãi Mountains within the Transylvanian Alps. It is a town
with beautiful monuments and a rich past, but also an modern industrial
town with a large metal processing factory. It is the most important
center in the “Tara Hategului” (Hateg country) also known as the Iron
Gates of Transylvania, a region with rich and unique history and
traditions. Iron ores have been extracted in the area since the Iron
Age and later in the Thracian and Roman times. One inscription
discovered in the region by the name of “Corpus Inscriptiorum
Latinorum” mentiones a local inhabitant as “natas ibi, ubi ferum
nascitur”, born “where the iron was born”. Mentioned since the 12th
century as a hub for leather tanning and wool processing, the town of
Hunedoara became an important iron extracting and processing centers in
Transylvania. In the 14th and 15th centuries the
iron foundries and works were famous for their swords and spears. The
first tall industrial furnace for iron extracting was built in 1750 in
Toplita, and a later one in Govajdia in 1806. There is also a system of
narrow-gauge railway built in the 19th and 20th
centuries that still runs today through the breath-taking landscape of
“Tara Padurenilor” (Woodlanders’ country). The town is also known since
the 14th century as the residence of the Corvin family. King
Ioannus Corvinus of Hunedoara (Iancu Corvin de Hunedoara) built here in
the 14th century the beautiful gothic style Corvin Castle
which still stands today dominating the surrounding town reminding of
the powerful rulers that reigned over these lands.
is a town situated in South-Western Transylvania, in Cerna Valley in
The Poiana Ruscãi Mountains within the Transylvanian Alps. It is a town
with beautiful monuments and a rich past, but also an modern industrial
town with a large metal processing factory. It is the most important
center in the “Tara Hategului” (Hateg country) also known as the Iron
Gates of Transylvania, a region with rich and unique history and
traditions. Iron ores have been extracted in the area since the Iron
Age and later in the Thracian and Roman times. One inscription
discovered in the region by the name of “Corpus Inscriptiorum
Latinorum” mentiones a local inhabitant as “natas ibi, ubi ferum
nascitur”, born “where the iron was born”. Mentioned since the 12th
century as a hub for leather tanning and wool processing, the town of
Hunedoara became an important iron extracting and processing centers in
Transylvania. In the 14th and 15th centuries the
iron foundries and works were famous for their swords and spears. The
first tall industrial furnace for iron extracting was built in 1750 in
Toplita, and a later one in Govajdia in 1806. There is also a system of
narrow-gauge railway built in the 19th and 20th
centuries that still runs today through the breath-taking landscape of
“Tara Padurenilor” (Woodlanders’ country). The town is also known since
the 14th century as the residence of the Corvin family. King
Ioannus Corvinus of Hunedoara (Iancu Corvin de Hunedoara) built here in
the 14th century the beautiful gothic style Corvin Castle
which still stands today dominating the surrounding town reminding of
the powerful rulers that reigned over these lands.
We arrived at the castle late because we were stopped in traffic due to the road being paved. We were determined however to make it to the castle and with Shanda and Josh in charge of navigating we eventually got there after some crazy off roading in our white delu’s (small cars). The gaurd was not going to allow us in, but Shanda looked so sad and he ended up waiting for everyone else to leave and then giving us a tour, opening up locked doors and everything. It was just magnificient and looked right out of a fairytale.
One more door photo. But this one is from inside the castle and is an original door from the 1400’s. The pic is a little blurry, but I liked it anyway.
