Sighișoara
| Sighișoara | ||
|---|---|---|
| City | ||
 | ||
| ||
 Location of Sighișoara | ||
| Coordinates: 46°13′1″N 24°47′28″E / 46.21694°N 24.79111°ECoordinates: 46°13′1″N 24°47′28″E / 46.21694°N 24.79111°E | ||
| Country |
 Romania | |
| County | Mureș County | |
| Status | Municipality | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Ioan Dorin Dăneșan (Social Democratic Party) | |
| Population (2011) | ||
| • Total | 28,102 | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
| Website | http://www.sighisoara.org.ro/ | |
Sighișoara (Romanian pronunciation: [siɡiˈʃo̯ara]; German: Schäßburg, pronounced [ˈʃeːsbʊɐ̯k]; Hungarian: Segesvár, pronounced [ˈʃɛɡɛʃvaːr]; Latin: Castrum Sex) is a city on the Târnava Mare River in Mureș County, Romania. Located in the historic region of Transylvania, Sighișoara has a population of 28,102 according to the 2011 census.
The city administers seven villages: Angofa, Aurel Vlaicu, Hetiur, Rora, Șoromiclea, Venchi and Viilor.
History
During the 12th century, German craftsmen and merchants known as the Transylvanian Saxons were invited to Transylvania by the King of Hungary to settle and defend the frontier of his realm. The chronicler Krauss lists a Saxon settlement in present-day Sighișoara by 1191. A document of 1280 records a town built on the site of a Roman fort as Castrum Sex or "six-sided camp", referring to the fort's shape of an irregular hexagon.[1] Other names recorded include Schaäsburg (1282), Schespurg (1298) and Segusvar (1300).[2] By 1337 Sighișoara had become a royal center for the kings, who awarded the settlement urban status in 1367 as the Civitas de Segusvar.
The city played an important strategic and commercial role at the edges of Central Europe for several centuries. Sighișoara became one of the most important cities of Transylvania, with artisans from throughout the Holy Roman Empire visiting the settlement. The German artisans and craftsmen dominated the urban economy, as well as building the fortifications protecting it. It is estimated that during the 16th and 17th centuries Sighișoara had as many as 15 guilds and 20 handicraft branches. The Baroque sculptor Elias Nicolai lived in the city. The Wallachian voivode Vlad Dracul (father of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), who lived in exile in the town, had coins minted in the city (otherwise coinage was the monopoly of the Hungarian kings in the Kingdom of Hungary) and issued the first document listing the city's Romanian name, Sighișoara. The Romanian name is first attested in 1435, and derives from the Hungarian Segesvár, where vár is "fort".[1][2]
The city was the setting for George I Rákóczi's election as Prince of Transylvania and King of Hungary in 1631. Sighișoara suffered military occupation, fires, and plagues during the 17th and 18th centuries. An important source for the history of 17th-century Transylvania, for the period of 1606-1666, are the records of Georg Kraus, the town's notary.[3]
The nearby plain of Albești was the site of the Battle of Segesvár, where the revolutionary Hungarian army led by Józef Bem was defeated by the Russian army led by Luders on 31 July 1849. A monument was constructed in 1852 to the Russian general Skariatin, who died in the battle. The Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi is generally believed to have been killed in the battle, and a monument was constructed in his honor at Albești in 1897. After World War I Sighișoara passed with Transylvania from Austria-Hungary to the Kingdom of Romania.
Central Sighișoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city. It has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Each year, a Medieval Festival takes place in the old citadel in July.
Sighișoara is considered to be the most beautiful and well preserved inhabited citadel in Europe, with authentic medieval architecture. In Eastern Europe, Sighișoara is one of the few fortified towns that are still inhabited. The town is made up of two parts. The medieval stronghold was built on top of a hill and is known as the "Citadel" (Cetate). The lower town lies in the valley of Târnava Mare river.
The houses inside Sighișoara Citadel show the main features of a craftsmen's town. However, there are some houses that belonged to the former patriciate, like the Venetian House and the House with Antlers.
In 2001-2003 the construction of a Dracula theme park in the 'Breite' nature preserve near Sighișoara was considered but ultimately rejected, owing to the strong opposition of local civil society groups and national and international media as well as politically influential persons, as the theme park would have detracted from the medieval style of the city and would have destroyed the nature preserve.
Demographics and name
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1910 | 10,913 | — |
| 1930 | 13,033 | +19.4% |
| 1948 | 18,284 | +40.3% |
| 1956 | 20,363 | +11.4% |
| 1966 | 25,109 | +23.3% |
| 1977 | 33,208 | +32.3% |
| 1992 | 36,170 | +8.9% |
| 2002 | 32,287 | −10.7% |
| 2011 | 28,102 | −13.0% |
| Source: Census data | ||
Ethnic groups:[4]
- Romanians (75%)
- Hungarians (17.6%)
- Roma (5.3%)
- Germans (1.5%)
| In Romanian | In German | In Hungarian |
|---|---|---|
| Sighișoara | Schäßburg | Segesvár |
| Angofa | Ungefug | Angofa |
| Aurel Vlaicu | Haufan | |
| Hetiur | Marienburg bei Schässburg |
Hétúr |
| Rora | Rohrau | Róra |
| Șoromiclea | ||
| Venchi | Wench | Venk |
| Viilor | Kulturberg | Szőlőskert |
Sights
Sighișoara is a popular tourist destination for its well-preserved walled old town. The main Citadel's attractions are certaintly the towers. Laid out on two to four levels, the towers stored ammunition and food supplies and were provided with firing windows for cannons, shells and arrows. Of the original fourteen towers and five artillery bastions, nine towers and two bastions have survived the test of time.
Towers
- Sighișoara Clock Tower (Turnul cu Ceas) - the landmark of the city is a 64 m-high tower built in the 13th century.[5] Today it is a museum of history.
- Tinsmith Tower (Turnul Cositorilor) - another emblematic symbol of the tumultuous story of the city. The Tin Tower, together with the Clock Tower, has an exceptional defensive position. Still today you can find traces of bullet's shots all around his walls. What makes this tower special instead, is its unique architecture which represents rumenian army.
- Butcher Tower (Turnul Măcelarilor) - is the tower shaped by the strangest geometry. It is erected on a four walls basis; the second level is formed by pentagonal; the next one is octagonal and the rooftop is hexagonal. The reason of such a strange geometry was to allow the field of view across the bastion located before it.
- Shoemaker Tower - is located in the north-east of the Citadel. First mentioned in 1521, rebuilt in 1650 and renovated again in 1681. It holds the seal of Baroque architecture. It used to have a bastion of artillery which was demolished in 1846. Now It hosts the local radio-station.
- Tailor Tower (Turnul Croitorilor) - was built in the XIVth century. It is located opposite to the Clock Tower and it guards the second gateway into the Citadel.
- Furrier Tower (Turnul Cojocarilor) - is located close to Butchers Tower and they are connected by TORL gate. The tower has a modest size; its planimetry is square shaped and it was built in XVth century.
- Blacksmith Tower (Turnul Fierarilor) - is located behind the Monastery Church . It was built in 1631 on the foundations of the old Barber 's Turn . From inside the citadel it appears relatively small, but is impressive when viewed from outside the east side of the wall.
- Rope Tower (Turnul Frânghierilor) - currently turned into a guard house for the cemetery of the church, it is the only inhabited tower among the nine left. Its importance lies primarily in the fact that in the basement you can find traces of plugged loopholes which prove how high the ancient walls were.
- Tanners Tower (Turnul Tăbăcarilor) - built around XIII-XIV centuries in the southeastern part of the city. It has a square plan, with small, sloping roof in a single direction. This tower was supposed to guard and protect the courtyard of the Clock Tower.
- Face Tower - a tower on the route to Târgu Mureș, out of the citadel, but still worth visiting thanks to its story.
Churches
- The church on the hill (Biserica din Deal) - is undoubtedly one of the most valuable architectural monuments of the city and has been one of the most representative buildings of the gothic site of our country.
- The Monastery Church (Biserica Mânăstirii Dominicane) - is a gothic style architectural monument which is placed in the neighbourhood of the Clock tower and it was built at the beginning of XIII century. It is the only church without a bell: the reason is basically that tha Saxons weren't great spenders and thought that one bell, the one of the Church on the hill, was enough for the whole city.
- The Saint Joseph Roman Catholic church - was built in 1894 after the demolition of the Franciscan nuns monastery. It is placed in the north-eastern side of the citadel, near the enclosure wall. Otherwise the other two biggest churches of the city which were built by Saxons, this one was built by the Hungarians.
- Leprosy Church (Biserica Leproșilor) - is another important monument in the Tarva river bank. Leprosy was a great plague between 1647-1684 and people were sent to this outer pulpit in quarantine. They had mass every Sunday but they were not allowed to cross the river back.
Civil architecture
Most of the 164 houses in the city having at least 300 years old, are considered historical monuments : the City Square, with its rectangular plan, was once inhabited by noble families of the city,though it has undergone to many transformations over time. The best houses are the ones that have kept their original shape.
- House with Stag - is the house that has kept the best shape till now. Named so after the deer head mounted on the corner building. It was built in the eighteenth century.
- House on the Rock - built after the great fire of 1676 and today restored by Veritas Foundation, it has the premises to be a cultural center for intercultural exchange. Here operates an Internet cafe.
- House with shingles (Evert) - is dedicated to craftsmen for Educational Interethnic Centre for Youth.
- Venetian House or Green House (Casa Venețiană) - so called because of its stones framing the windows, which imitates the Venetian style. It dates back to XVI century. The legend says that the Major of Sighișoara falled in loved with a Venetian woman who he took in Sighișoara. They were happy but she missed her hometown so much that the mayor decided to bring her to Sighișoara by rebuilding the house and giving it a Venetian style.
- Vlad Dracul House - is located in Tin Street No.1, between the Citadel square and the Clock Tower. It's the place were Vlad the Impaler, the historical character who inspired the Bram Stoker's Dracula, is supposed to be born, in 1431. His father, Vlad Dracul, the ruler of Valakia, and his pregnant wife were hosted in this house by the king of Sighișoara between 1431 and 1435, during the Turkish invasion of Valakia. It appears to be the oldest stone structure in the city, judging cylindrical vault river stone from the ground floor. Today Vlad Dracul house hosts a medieval -style restaurant in the ground floor and a tiny weapon museum in the first floor.
- City Hall - is located near to Monastery Church. The building was built between 1887-1888. In the upper floor there is a baroque hall, which hosts Academic Music festival and many other concerts of prestigious bands.
- Sighișoara hotel complex - built between 1886-1889 was the seat of city hall.
- Indoor wooden staircase or the Scholar's Stairs - was built in 1642. It used to connect the lower part to the upper part of the citadel. The main purpose was to allow people to reach the church and the School more easily on winter time, obviating the problems caused by the snow. In the beginning it counted 300 steps but now only 176 remains. Most of the time when you reach the top a passionate musician will welcome you with the gentle sounds of his guitar.
- Hill School – is located next to the covered wooden Stairs, bears Schola Seminarium Republicae and is dated 1619.
- The Stag House (Casa cu Cerb) - Built in the 17th century in Transylvanian renaissance style, the house draws its name from the stag skull set on one of the corners of its façade. Recent restorations revealed an external mural depicting the stag's body. Nowadays, the building houses a hotel, with a ground floor that doubles as a cellar bar.
- The Citadel Square (Piața Cetăți) - This quaint small square lies at the heart of the citadel. In the old days, street markets, craft fairs, public executions and witch trials were held here. From this square, you can easily access the main attractions of Sighișoara.
Natives
- Johann Michael Ackner, Saxon archaeologist
- Doina Cojocaru, handball player
- Friedrich Grünanger, architect
- Ralph Gunesch, German football player as of 2006
- Adrian Ivanițchi, folk guitarist
- Johannes Kelpius, a German intellectual, musician, and mystic who founded a religious community when he immigrated to the American colony of Pennsylvania in the late seventeenth century
- Gabriel Mureșan, footballer
- Georg Daniel Teutsch, Lutheran bishop
- Vlad III the Impaler, prince of Wallachia, inspiration for fictional vampire Count Dracula
- Radu Voina, former handball player, currently coach
International relations
Twin towns — sister cities
Sighișoara is twinned with:
Gallery
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The Clock Tower
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Covered staircase
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Holy Trinity Cathedral
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House of Vlad the Impaler
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Tower of the Tinmakers
See also
Notes
- 1 2 Adrian Room, Placenames of the World, p.347. McFarland, 2006, ISBN 0-7864-2248-3.
- 1 2 Cristian Tălângă (ed.), Transilvania, Maramureṣ, Bucovina, p.27. Editura Semne, Bucharest, 2007.
- ↑ Erdélyi krónika 1608-1666 (in Hungarian)
- ↑ 2011 census data
- ↑ "Miasta partnerskie - Zamość". Urząd Miasta Zamość (in Polish). Retrieved 2013-07-26.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sighișoara. |
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sighișoara. |
- 360° Panoramic Images of Sighișoara - Part 1 and Part 2
- The City of Sighișoara - official website
- TOP 10 Guides: Best of Sighișoara
- Lets Go To Romania
- Sighișoara 360 Virtual Tour & Medieval Festival photo gallery
- Sighișoara Pictures
- Sighișoara, Romania: The Purported Home Of Dracula - slideshow by The Huffington Post
- Images from Sighișoara by Canadian Photographer Carey Nash
- (2012) HDR Photos of Sighișoara by Moldavian Photographer Dumitru Brinzan
- Tourist informations, photo gallery and webcam from Sighisoara
