Category: Romania

The historic center of Sibiu, Romania, stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and cultural heritage. Renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and charming cobblestone streets, the historic center is a captivating blend of Germanic, Hungarian, and Romanian influences.

On the Citadel Street (Strada Cetății) you will find a couple of important old landmarks like the Potter’s Tower and the Carpenter’s Tower. You can visit the interior of those towers if you want but you will have to pay for a ticket. Walking along the walls offers visitors a chance to appreciate the strategic planning that went into protecting Sibiu.

These old towers can be found almost at the edge of the historic center of this beautiful Transylvanian city.

Continuing our walk towards the Large Square in the historic center, I discovered another amazing building. The white building from the image below is the Imparatul Romanilor Hotel.

The Large Square

Another popular place in Sibiu is the Large Square where you will find many landmarks to visit. Besides the historical landmarks, you will also find many restaurants with terraces and various shops.

Among those important landmarks that are located in the Great Square, I can mention the Brukenthal National Museum which was the first museum in the region of Transylvania, the Council Tower, and almost in the middle of the square, you will find the Falkenhayn fountain.

The Small Square (Piața Mică)

After exploring the Greater Square it was time to head towards the Little Square which is a very short distance away. The Small Square is encircled by colorful baroque-style buildings adorned with arched windows and intricate facades, the square offers a glimpse into Sibiu’s rich past. Cobblestone streets add to the medieval ambiance, inviting visitors to take a leisurely stroll through time.

My first stop in the Small Square was at the Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary which was recently restored. The Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and a significant landmark with deep historical roots. Often referred to as the “Cathedral of Sibiu,” it stands as a testament to the city’s rich cultural and religious heritage. Construction of the cathedral began in the 14th century, and the building has undergone various modifications and renovations over the centuries.

Behind the Lutheran Cathedral, you will find the Guilds Tree and the famous Liars bridge. The Guilds Tree, a symbolic representation of the diverse craft associations that flourished in Sibiu during the 14th century.

The Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului) is another iconic landmark in Sibiu. Standing at the heart of the city, this medieval tower offers panoramic views of the historic center and the surrounding landscapes. The Council Tower is a reminder of Sibiu’s role as an important medieval trading city.

The Bridge of Lies, is a fabled pedestrian bridge situated in the heart of Sibiu. As an interesting fact, it was the first iron-cast bridge built in Romania.

Is there something else to visit in Sibiu?

Certainly! Beside the historic center of the city, you can also visit the steam locomotive museum which is located close to Sibiu train station. Over there you will have the chance the discover what type of steam locomotive were used by the Romanian state railway company (C.F.R).

What to visit near Sibiu

To be honest, there are many places to visit near Sibiu. Below I’ve shared a couple of them:

• The Fortified Church in Cisnădioara – this fortified church is located on the top of a larger hill. You will have to pay for a ticket in order to visit it. This is the closest objective to Sibiu.
• Sighișoara medieval citadel – this medieval citadel is among the most popular ones in the historic region of Transylvania.
• Cârța Monastery – this is another place to visit especially if you are in the Făgăraș region.
• The Biertan Fortified Church – this old church is actually not very far from the medieval citadel of Sighișoara. In case you are in the area, you will have to visit this place as well.
• The Clay Castle – This another amazing place to visit in the Făgăraș region.

After exploring the beautiful Corvin Castle located in the city of Hunedoara, our next objective in the area was lake Cincis located in the Poiana Rusca Mountains The distance between the Corvin Castle and the lake is about 13 km.

Short history of the lake

In 1962 the entire village of Cinciș, which currently lies under the lake’s water, was evacuated. Back then, around 800 families had to be displaced. After the completion of the dam, in 1964, the lake supplied with water the city of Hunedoara and the former steelworks from the city.

If you plan to stay for a longer time near the lake, then you will find many hotels and pensions close to the lake. To be honest the scenery is really beautiful. On clear days you will have the chance to admire the distant Retezat Mountains as well.

This place is very popular in the summer season when many tourists come to lake Cinciș to relax or swim.

We spent a couple of hours at a restaurant with a view of the lake, and I have to say, this place is truly incredible. It was definitely worth the short detour we took on our way from Hunedoara to Densus. To my surprise, there were a lot of visitors at the restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious traditional Romanian dinner. What is important to mention, if you are driving from Hunedoara, the road is in a good condition and you can arrive here very fast. In my opinion, the road that was built on the left side of the lake was built on higher elevation, as you drive from Hunedoara as I did, the views are even more stunning.

In case you are visiting the Land of Hateg or perhaps you are visiting Deva or Hunedoara you should add this place to your bucket list as well. I strongly believe you won’t be disappointed.

Other places to visit not far from lake Cincis

• The closest objective to this place is the Corvin Castle which is located in the city of Hunedoara.
• Not far from Hunedoara, you can visit the Deva fortress as well. This is another popular attraction in the area.
• You can visit the old stone church in the village of Densuș.
• Explore the old Roman ruins in Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa.

Located in the heart of the historical region of Transylvania, Romania, Deva Fortress is a magnificent testament to the region’s rich history and breathtaking landscapes. The fortress, located atop a steep hill overlooking the city of Deva, dates back to the Middle Ages and has seen numerous rulers, battles, and cultural changes throughout its history. Today, it stands as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, attracting visitors from all over the world who come to explore its fascinating past and capture its stunning beauty through their lenses. As a fun fact, the fortress was built on the top of a former volcano.

The entrance into the citadel is free but keep in mind that you can visit it only between the visiting hours mentioned below:

• From 1st of May to 30th of September – Everyday from 09:00 – 21:00.

• From 1st of October to 30th of April – Everyday from 08:00 – 20:00.

A short history of Deva Fortress

Deva Fortress was built in the 13th century by the Hungarian King Béla IV as a strategic military stronghold. The fortress was part of a network of castles and fortresses that were built along the borders of the Hungarian Kingdom, to protect it from invading armies. Deva Fortress was built on a hill that was difficult to access, which made it an ideal location for a military stronghold.

Over the centuries, Deva Fortress played an important role in the region’s history, witnessing numerous battles and events that shaped the destiny of the area. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortress was occupied by the Ottoman Empire.

Let’s explore the fortress!

Unfortunately the inclined lift for some reason didn’t work when we traveled to Deva. So our second option to reach the fortress was to drive up on some steep streets to a smaller parking lot on the Cetăţii street. This parking lot is actually very close to the main entrance into the Deva Fortress.

After approximately 10 minutes, we arrived next main entrance. To our luck, we managed to find a parking place. Keep in mind that the parking lot is not that large.

As you pass the main gate, on the right side you will find the wooden stairway which actually helps you to reach the upper levels of the citadel. These stairs can be considered as a shortcut as well.

The other option to reach the upper levels of the citadel is to walk on a paved road near the defense wall. Not far from the main gate you will come across Gate II. This gate has a rectangular plan and initially it was built out of local rock and bricks. From there you have the chance to admire the beautiful Mureș Valley and the surrounding mountains.

Continuing our walk towards the upper levels of the fortress, we arrived at the inclined lift station. From there the scenery is even more amazing. The entire city of Deva is visible. To be honest, it is a very beautiful vantage point over this charming Transylvanian city.

After you cross this small wooden bridge and walk through the Caesar Gate, you basically reached the highest point of the Deva fortress. Over here you can only follow the path next to the defense walls. When we visited this place, the ruins located in the Enclosure III were not opened to the public.

After a long walk we finally reached the large Romanian flag which is visible from the city as well.

From Enclosure III to Enclosure II you can take a shortcut using the semicircular ladder.

Getting to Deva Fortress

The easiest way to reach it is by car, as there are several major roads that connect the city to other parts of Romania. If you’re coming from Bucharest, you can take the A1 motorway, which is a well-maintained road that will take you to Deva in around five hours. There are also buses and trains that connect Deva to other major cities in Romania, but the journey can be longer and less comfortable.

Once you reach Deva, you can park your car near the fortress or take a taxi to the top of the hill. The fortress is located on a hill that overlooks the city, and the climb to the top can be quite steep and challenging, especially if you’re not used to hiking. However, the effort is worth it, as the views from the top are simply breathtaking.

Things to do near Deva:

I would like to add below 5 important things to do near the city of Deva:

• Explore the famous Corvin Castle which can be found in the city of Hunedoara. This city is only 17 km away from Deva.
• You can explore the old Dacian ruins in Sarmizegetusa Regia.
• In the area, you can also visit the old Roman ruins of Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa located in Sarmizegetusa.
• Explore the beautiful Cinciș lake. This lake is very close to the city of Hunedoara. I highly recommend to visit this place as well.
• Not far from Deva, near the city of Hateg, you will the Bison Reserve where you will have the chance to admire these large animals.
• Densus stone church – this is one of the oldest church in Romania.

[Update 2025] In early May 2025, the Praid Salt Mine was closed following severe flooding triggered by unusually heavy rainfall and the swelling of the nearby Corund stream. This incident, considered the worst in over three decades, caused significant damage to both the tourist and operational sections of the mine. Despite ongoing recovery efforts, the site remains indefinitely closed as of July 2025.

However, you can still view below a selection of photos from my last visit to the Praid Salt Mine, offering a glimpse into its unique underground landscape before the closure.

This salt mine can be found in the small Transylvanian commune of Praid, Harghita county. Due to the large quantities of salt found in the area, it was named the Land of Salt or Ținutul Sării în Romanian. 

This place is ideally to visit especially in the hot summer season. The temperature down in the mine is around 16 degrees Celsius.

Inside the Praid salt mine, at a depth of 120 meters, you will find a speleology and air therapy center for patients with respiratory conditions.

How do you reach the Praid Salt Mine?

Unfortunately you cannot travel to Praid by train anymore. A couple of years ago, the private operator suspended its passenger services between Bălăușeri and Praid. So the last stop on the Blaj to Praid railway line is Bălăușeri. Hopefully one day the passenger services will be resumed on the suspended railway segment.

Even though Praid has a charming train station, the last options to reach this place are either by car or bus. Depending on where you are coming from, the most important roads are passing through Praid.

The main roads are:

• DN 13 A Bălăușeri – Sovata – Praid – Odorheiu Secuiesc – Miercurea Ciuc

• DN 13 B Praid – Gheorgheni

If you arrive by car, then you will have an option to park your car close to mine. The parking lot is a paid one and you will find on the opposite side of the swimming pool.

The main entrance into the salt mine

This is the main entrance into the Praid Salt Mine. All the buses that take the tourists inside the mine are using the entrance from the photo below. As you can see, it’s illegal for the tourists to enter the mine.

If you stay close to the mine entrance then you will feel the cold air coming out from the depths of the mine. Along with the cold air, a very strong salt smell comes out too.

Inside the salt mine

The entire bus ride from the surface until the final station in the mine takes approximately 10 minutes. The tunnel is 1250 meter long.

Once the bus reaches its final stop in the mine, all the tourists have to disembark. After that you will have to walk down the stairs in the section which is reserved for the tourists. After walking down the stairs, you will enter a very large chamber from where you can go to other larger chambers.

In the mine you will find many attractions, for example there are playing grounds for children, climbing possibilities, 3D cinema and amusement places. You will even find Wi-Fi connections as well.

In one of the salt mine’s chamber you will find a smaller museum where you can discover many interesting things about the history of the entire mine. Also there are displayed some mining tools and equipment which once were used by the miners to extract this natural resource.

For example, you will see some equipment from the 19th century like carving picks, acetylene lamp and iron wedge.

Also you will find some mining tools from the 20th century like topographical instrument and many other smaller tools.

Besides the mining tools, you can also check out some of the products which were made of the salt extracted from Praid.

Some examples of products are: refreshing bath salts, Sulphur and iodized medicinal bath-salts, salt tablets, industrial salt and many other products.

The Chapel

Inside the mine you will also find a smaller ecumenical chapel which was consecrated in 1993. 

The restaurant

Deep in the mine there is a restaurant as well where you can serve a tasty meal.

Other touristic attractions to visit in the area:

• The closest objective would be the small narrow gauge steam train or Mocănița Sovata in Romania which runs between the city of Sovata and Câmpu Cetății. Usually this trip will last approximately 2 hours. At Câmpu Cetății, where the locomotive is detached from the front of the train and attached the the back of the train.
• The Red Lake – this lake can be found 75 km away from Praid, in the Hășmaș Mountains.
• The Bicaz Gorge – one of the most popular gorges in Romania. The road which goes through the Bicaz gorge is actually the passageway between the regions of Transylvania and Moldova.
• Another attraction in the area is the Bear Lake in Sovata.