Sibiu, an unforgettable experience

Today we'll take you to Sibiu, a tourist destination where anyone can have an unforgettable experience

Daniel Onea, 05.04.2018, 12:50

Today well take you to Sibiu, a tourist destination where anyone can have an unforgettable experience. Sibiu welcomes its visitors with interesting museums, international cultural events, brand-new cycle tracks interconnecting old villages, and also with its craftsmen and refined gastronomy. Today well present to you Sibiu Countys tourist offer for 2018. Alin Chipăilă, the president of the Sibiu County Tourism Association, has told us that the promotion program this year is related to the title of Region of Gastronomy 2019 which was awarded to Sibiu County, in recognition of its economic, cultural and tourist potential. The program is promoting the county of Sibiu as a unique experience.

Alin Chipăilă: “Tourists visiting the county of Sibiu may discover their roots here, given the areas Saxon, Hungarian and Romanian heritage. The county is also attractive to tourists thanks to the gastronomic experience it offers. You can find delicious dishes in many other parts of Romania, but here in Sibiu one can learn the story of that dish. You can learn about Transylvanian cuisine and its influences and also the story of your meal from the initial ingredients to the final dish on your plate. Last but not least, we have offers for the lovers of active and adventure tourism, such as hiking trails and cycle tracks. The top attraction of the county is the city of Sibiu, with its historical center also known as the old town. The historical center stands out through the architecture of its buildings and the multitude of cultural events held there.”

Alin Chipăilă, the president of the Sibiu County Tourism Association has told us about the gastronomic events of 2018: “Gastronomic events will be held all across the Sibiu county, and besides the traditional ones well also have some novelties. All of them are meant to enchant tourists with Sibius best-tasting dishes. We have always received a positive feedback from our tourists, most of them regretting not having been able to stay longer. Most of the tourists who visit Sibiu are from Germany and Austria, but also from Hungary and other European countries. For instance, last year Sibiu was visited by almost 600 thousand tourists, of whom 200 thousand were foreign tourists.”

Marginimea Sibiului area is famous for its numerous guesthouses, its tasty cheeses and the traditions and customs that have been preserved unaltered. But not so many people are aware of the regions exceptional natural heritage. Almost the entire region is a Natura 2000 site, part of a network of protected areas in the European Union, established with the aim of protecting valuable natural habitats. In the warm season, tourists can visit the Iezerele Cindrelului Reserve, close to the Cindrelul Peak, at an altitude of more than 2 thousand meters, where the glacial lakes Iezerul Mare and Iezerul Mic are also located. It is also the time when the Rhododendron blooms, which makes the landscape look magical. Sibiu is also the right place to learn about traditional craftsmanship. Alin Chipăilă, the president of the Sibiu County Tourism Association has told us more:

“Our county hosts the largest open-air museum in Romania, the Astra National Museum, whose main goal is to promote traditional crafts. The museum has on display all kinds of objects made by local craftsmen and even gives tourists the opportunity to make such objects themselves. There are a lot of things to know about Astra Museum, and for that you can access our website www.sibiu-turism.ro and the website of the Sibiu City Hall, www.sibiu.ro, for an updated calendar of the events in the county. I invite all tourists to come and discover one of Romanias top tourist attractions, for an unforgettable experience.”

Tourists are also invited to visit Ocna Sibiului Salt Mine, located only 17 kilometers from the city of Sibiu. Ocna Sibiului is home to three lakes named Horia, Closca and Crisan, used for therapeutic purposes ever since 1846, boasting some of the best heliothermal waters in Europe alongside Sovata and Ocnele Mari Salt Mine. Mariana Nicoleta Varodi, a physician specializing in physiotherapy and balneology at Ocna Sibiului, has told us more about this phenomenon and the curative properties of these waters:

“We speak of a heliothermal phenomenon when the water is warmed by the sun up to 22-24 degrees Celsius at the surface and to 40-45 degrees Celsius at more than two meters deep. Here we can find water with the highest concentrations of sodium-chloride and highly mineralized mud. Also, the climate has soothing properties, enjoying the protection of the forest and hills around it. All these are very important to those who come here to restore their physical and psychological strength. There is also a treatment center here, where patients from Romania and abroad, from countries like Germany, Italy, Spain and Egypt get treatment all year round. It is a prophylactic, curative and recovery type of treatment for diseases of the locomotor system, arthrosis, spondylitis, posttraumatic illnesses, bone fractures, sprains, peripheral nerve disorders, nerve paralyses as well as dermatological, respiratory and gynecological diseases. Highly saline waters are also used in hydro-kinetotherapy procedures, warmed up to 32-34 degrees Celsius in the indoor pool, while the sapropelic mud here is rich in vitamins, hydrating and full of bio-stimulating substances.”