Transylvania, the medieval realm

Introduction to Transylvania

The name Transylvania derives from Latin and means "the land beyond the forests." This region is located in the center of Romania, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. Transylvania is currently divided into 10 counties, covering a total area of 96,837 square kilometers and has over 4.5 million inhabitants.

Cultural Mosaic

Throughout history and even today, the territory of Transylvania has been home to:

• Romanians
• Hungarians
• Germans
• Szeklers
• Armenians
• Jews
• Others

This diverse population explains why Transylvanian architecture and culture is a mosaic of styles.

Medieval Heritage

Travelers interested in well-preserved medieval relics will undoubtedly find in Transylvania an exceptional cultural and tourist destination. The Saxon settlements and merchants who lived in Transylvania between the 12th and 20th centuries left behind unmistakable marks.

Notable Fortresses

The foundations of the main seven medieval fortresses in Transylvania were laid by them:

1. Sibiu
2. Sighisoara
3. Brașov
4. Cluj-Napoca
5. Bistrița
6. Sebeș
7. Mediaș

Architectural Defense

The towers, outer walls, bastions, stairs, bridges, squares, narrow streets, public and civil buildings, and churches were built to protect the inhabitants of the fortress against Turkish sieges.

Unique Fortifications

Villages also had an effective means of defense, utilizing the fortification of churches for protection; this architectural formula is now considered unique in Europe.

Tourists will be delighted to discover that many of these fortified churches still offer religious services to the villagers, and many of these places hold the mysteries of the past through myths and legends.