Medieval Cities of Prejmer/Biertan, Sighișoara, Viscri & Brasov, Transylvania, Romania

Aug 7

We had an all-day tour to the countryside to see some highlights of Transylvania. What a charming collection of villages we visited today. We visited the Saxon-built fortifications of Prejmer/Biertan, Sighișoara, and Viscri all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and filled with the history of 15th-century Walachian prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. The south-eastern Transylvania region in Romania currently has one of the highest numbers of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries. It has more than 150 well preserved fortified churches built to serve a defensive role in times of war.

Vlad the Impaler was the second son of Vlad Dracul, who became the ruler of Wallachia in 1436. Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were held as hostages in the Ottoman Empire. His father, Vlad Dracul ("Vlad the Dragon" in medieval Romanian), who received it after he became a member of the Order of the Dragon. Dracula is the Slavonic genitive form of Dracul, meaning "the son of Dracul (or the Dragon)". Dracula was pronounced more like Drah COOL a, not how we pronounce it when referring to a vampire.

For the most part it felt like stepping back in time. The drive though the countryside was past farmlands with crops, cattle, sheep, and horses.

Our first stop was in Prejmer to visit the impressive, fortified 13th-century church, Church of the Holy Cross.

Church of the Holy Cross

the shops weren't open until the end of our visit

Almost 300 rooms connected through wooden staircases were built on the inner side of the walls, where locals lived and stored their supplies during longer attacks

Church of the Holy Cross

Next, we drove to Viscri made famous because Prince (now King) Charles owns a home there. Our guide told us that he came once a year until Covid and now that he's King the town hopes he still finds time to visit.

White Stork in the nest

driving from Prejmer to Viscri took almost an hour

farmlands and pastures of sheep

horses

cemetery

Biertan Fortified Church? It was listed but we didn't visit it

we had to stop the bus to not hit a cow and let it pass

start of the walking tour - don't step in the cow pies

farrier's house

the farrier and his son displayed how to make horseshoes

showing the difference in size of the full size and the souvenir size

taking the hot metal, they both quickly pounded it into shape

the tiny one they made - many bought them, and he put their initials on each one

mom didn't want her photo taken but the daughter posed for everyone

walking through the charming colorful village

King Charles house

in the courtyard

this part was used as a small museum

the gardens

the main house

potter

the Royal accommodations (may have been the guest house)

walking back to the bus

We then went to Sighișoara, famous as the birthplace of Vlad III, the legendary inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Here we had to park the bus, and we took a small "train" to the top. Photos did not do this place justice. When we got to the top and entered the village it was like we landed in a fairytale village.

driving between Viscri and Sighișoara

arrival in the Old Town

After a delicious lunch, we climbed the interior of the 13th-century Clock Tower Gate, that housed a museum of the city’s history and had lovely views from the balcony.

napkin

soup was delicious

Dracula's Snack - pork stew with polenta & they served ice cream for dessert

clock tower

We then had some free time to wander and shop in Old Town.

the little train that brought us to the top

we all chose to walk back down the hill to the bus

It was time for the drive back to Brasov.

hops (for beer)

more sheep

Biertan Fortified Church? I think we were supposed to visit it, but our group was slow (and whiny)

Arrival back at the hotel and we had time before the evening tour to walk back to the Old Town in Brasov where I picked up my magnet and a very tacky plaque of Transylvania.

Our evening walking tour was with a wonderful woman dressed in Saxon period dress and she mostly stayed in character for the night walk of the Old Town which included an awesome dinner. The guide used to be a teacher and made the switch. She was such a delight.