Medieval Mystery and Saxon Churches in Transylvania

THE ITINERARY

" Welcome to Transylvania, my friend, I have been eagerly awaiting you" 
- to quote a famous mythical Count.

  Transylvania, or the Land Beyond the Forest, is one of the three provinces forming Romania where the traveler can explore a half medieval world almost without rival in Europe. It is the most ethnically heterogeneous of the three, populated predominantly by Romanians (who call it Ardeal), Hungarians (who call it Erdely) and Saxon Germans (who call it Siebenburgen which means 'Seven Boroughs' 
after the name of the seven towns they founded).

Saxons dressed traditionally

The legend said that when Pied Piper enticed the children from Hamelyn in Germany, they vanished underground and emerged in Transylvania near the site of Braşov's main square - the Council Square. But history has its own rights - the Saxon merchants arrived in the 12th century to help defend the eastern frontiers of Transylvania against the Tartar raids.
For eight hundred years the Saxons had been in Trasnylvania, defending the Carpathian passes, building their towns, fortifying their churches. Now, in the cities and villages that you are going to visit, you will find only a few Saxons, the bulk of them had fled to Germany when Romania's communist regime fell. 

 Saxon Fortified Church at Biertan

Transylvania offers a warm welcome - a land of mixed history reflected in differing styles of buildings. Traveling through the Saxon villages with large fortified churches watching over the village roofs , seeing traditional farming methods still practiced you will have a more than a rewarding experience. The trip ends with a visit into the Carpathian Alps, surrounding Transylvania on two sides, which kept its secrets hidden and protected.

Saxon Festival at Biertan

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