Sibiu (county)

Sibiu (county)

Sibiu county is home to one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, famous for the houses with eyes that watch you from their roofs. You walk through the old town, where the Bridge of Lies and the massive council tower guard the squares and the narrow alleys. The cobblestone streets are clean and lead to grand gothic churches and lively cafes that spill out onto the pavement. It is a city of high culture that always feels like it is in the middle of a festival, with music and art around every corner. The vibe is smart, sophisticated and very welcoming to travelers from all over the world. Visit the **ASTRA** Museum, which is a massive open-air park that features hundreds of original wooden houses, windmills and workshops from across the country. It is like seeing the entire traditional nation in one beautiful, green space located on the edge of an ancient forest. You can spend the whole day walking the paths and seeing how the people lived and worked in the centuries before the modern age. It is a perfect spot for families and nature lovers, offering a quiet and educational escape from the urban center. You can even see local craftsmen demonstrating traditional techniques like weaving and bread baking. The **Transalpina** road begins nearby and takes you on a spectacular journey up into the clouds and along the highest mountain ridges. It is the highest road in the land and offers views that are truly vast, looking across the peaks of the **Parâng** and **Căpățânii** mountains. You find wild alpine meadows and jagged grey peaks in every direction, with the road winding like a ribbon through the high terrain. It is a must-drive for any fan of the road, but be prepared for thin air and cold temperatures even in the middle of summer. This route is a perfect mix of medieval elegance and the raw power of the high mountains.

Sibiu (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
Is this a good destination for road trips?

We're curating expert road-trip insights for this destination — check back soon.

When is the best time to visit?

Detailed seasonal travel advice is coming soon.

How long should I spend here?

Our itinerary team is building personalised duration guides — coming soon.

What are the top attractions nearby?

A curated list of must-see nearby highlights is on its way.

History of Sibiu (county)

Sibiu is the cultural capital of Transylvania and a masterpiece of medieval Saxon urban planning. Founded by German settlers as Hermannstadt in the 12th century it became the strongest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels known as the Siebenbürgen. Its defensive system was so advanced that it featured three concentric lines of stone walls and 39 towers built by the merchant guilds allowing it to survive every Ottoman siege for over 500 years. In 1817 the Brukenthal Palace opened to the public as the first museum in the country housing a world class collection of European art gathered by the Governor of Transylvania. The county history is also defined by the Mărginimea Sibiului which is a cluster of 18 mountain villages famous for their centuries old tradition of sheep migration. These shepherd families became immensely wealthy by trading wool and cheese across the borders of the Austro Hungarian and Ottoman empires which allowed them to build elegant stone houses and fund the first Romanian schools in the region. To the south the Transfăgărășan road was completed in 1974 as a strategic military route crossing the Făgăraș mountains at an altitude of over 2000 meters. This engineering feat required the use of 6000 tons of dynamite and the removal of millions of tons of rock to create a path through the highest peaks. A road trip through Sibiu offers the perfect mix of high altitude adventure and medieval exploration. You can drive to the Biertan Fortified Church which is a UNESCO site featuring a unique 19 lock door system that protected the community treasure during invasions. The local mountain roads lead to Păltiniș which was founded in 1894 as the first mountain resort in the country located at 1442 meters altitude. You can walk through the Bridge of Lies in the city center which was the first cast iron bridge in the land and is the subject of numerous local legends. Sibiu is a journey through the precision of German architecture and the rugged shepherd trails of the high Carpathians.
Monk's Travel Secrets

Insider road trip tips,
straight to your inbox.

New routes, hidden stops, and seasonal guides —
written for people who travel by car, not by flight.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe in one click. Read by 12,000+ road trippers.