On the Road from Brasov to Sighisoara

Today, we drove through the heart of Transylvania, through numerous small villages such as the one in the photo.

On the Road from Brasov to Sighisoara

We saw many gypsy wagons on the road and gypsies walking on the street.

Sighisoara

Coming into the medieval village of Sighisoara.

Sighisoara Citadal

We walked up a steep hill to the Sighisoara Citadel. The Saxons from Germany came to Sighisoara and other areas of Transylvania in the 12th century. They were invited here by Hungarian King Geza II. Transylvania, at various times, was part of Hungary. In the 15th and 16th centuries, when there was a fear of attacks by the Turks, the Saxons walled their cities and fortified their churches. The photo: One of the gates to the walled city of Sighisoara, the citadel.

There are many medieval Saxon towns in Transylvania besides Sighisoara and there is a big push by both UNESCO and the Mihal Eminescu Trust, with Prince Charles being one of most involved, to renovate these towns. The German Saxons left Romania after the 1989 revolution and the towns were then occupied by the gypsies and not very well kept up.

Sighisoara Citadal

Some of the brightly colored medieval houses dating back to the 15–17th centuries in Sighisoara.

Sighisoara Citadal

The most famous house here is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Count Dracula). It is the house on the right in the photo.

I have put my photos of Sighisoara on a slide show. Go to

Sighisoara

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Romania, “Sighisoara”).

Our Drive from Sighisoara to Cluj-Napoca

We drove again through many small villages.

Our Drive from Sighisoara to Cluj-Napoca

We again saw many gypsy wagons on our drive and also many gypsies. This photo of is a gypsy man, all dressed in black wearing a wide–brim hat.

Our Drive from Sighisoara to Cluj-Napoca

An old gypsy woman. The gypsy women wear brightly colored skirts, separate tops, and head scarves.

Cluj-Napoca

We spent the night in Cluj–Napoca, but before going to our hotel, we visited Union Square to view St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, erected between 1350 and 1487.

I have put my photos of our drive from Brasov to Sighisoara and from Sighisoara to Cluj–Napoca on a slide show. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/brasov–to–sighisoara–to–cluj–napoca/

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Romania, “Brasov to Sighisoara to Cluj–Napoca”).