NicknamedThe Town with Eyes (given its historical buildings with partly open rooftops), the town is a well-known tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. Known for its culture, history,gastronomy or localcuisine, and diverse architecture, which includes the iconichouses with eyes that gave Sibiu its nickname, the town has garnered significant attention since the beginning of the 21st century.
Sibiu is also known nationally and internationally for itsChristmas market.[13][14] Renowned personalities include Transylvanian Saxon scientistsConrad Haas andHermann Oberth, who were both pioneers ofrocketry.[15] The company Elrond, which created the eGoldcryptocurrency (among the biggest in the world), was founded by people from Sibiu.[16]
As of 2021 census, the city has a population of 134,309,[3] making it the15th-largest city in Romania. The proposed Sibiu metropolitan area has a population of 267,170. The town also administers the village ofPăltiniș, a ski resort located 35 kilometres to the southwest.
The name of the city derives from the Bulgar-Turkic name Sibin<Sebin<Säbin, perhaps meaning "rejoice".[20] An archaic version of theRomanian name Sibiu isSibiiu, while an obsolete folk name isSâghii, formerly spelledSîghii. ItsHungarian name isNagyszeben ("Big/Greater Sibiu"), or colloquially,Szeben.
In German, it is calledHermannstadt ("Hermann's town"), while in the localTransylvanian Saxon dialect, it is known asHärmeschtat. InYiddish, it is called סעבעןSeben or הערמאנשטאטHermanshtat.
A number of other languages also have their own variants of the city's name, likeCzechSibiň,PolishSybin,Serbo-CroatianSibinj, OldBulgarianSibin (Сибин) and the proposedEsperanto nameSibio.
The Roman fort ofCedonia was perhaps in the same location as Sibiu. The town was founded bySaxon (German) settlers brought there byKing of Hungary andKing of CroatiaGéza II during the mid-late 12th century, as part of theOstsiedlung. They came from territories of theHoly Roman Empire andKingdom of France (nowadays parts of Germany, France and theBenelux countries) and arrived at around 1147.[21][22] The first references to the area wereCibinium andCipin from 1191 when PopeCelestine III confirmed the existence of the freeprepositure of the Saxons in Transylvania, having its headquarters in Sibiu.[23][24] The city also used the namesPrepositus Cibiniensis (1192–1196) andPrepositus Scibiniensis (1211). In 1223, it was renamed toVilla Hermanni,[25] either in honor ofarchbishopHermann II ofCologne[21] or after a man who is believed to have founded the city, Hermann ofNuremberg.[25] The actual German name ofHermannstadt ("Hermann's city") dates from 1366, while an earlier form,Hermannsdorf ("Hermann's village") was recorded in 1321.[26] An alternative urban legend has it that the town was named after a certain shoemaker by the name Hermann.[27]
Medieval fortifications which can be found in Sibiu's old town
In the 14th century, it was already an important trade centre. In 1376, the craftsmen were divided in 19guilds. Hermannstadt became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German nameSiebenbürgen (literallyseven citadels).[28][29] It was home to theTransylvanian Saxon University (Latin:Universitas Saxonum; i.e. Community of the Saxons), a network of pedagogues, ministers, intellectuals, city officials, and councilmen of the German community forging an ordered legal corpus and political system in Transylvania since the 1400s.[30][31] In 1699, after the Ottomans withdrew to their base of power in Hungary and Transylvania, the town became capital ofPrincipality of Transylvania (since 1570 the principality was mostly under suzerainty of theOttoman Empire, however often had a dual vassalage).[32]
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the city became the second- and later the first-most important centre of Transylvanian Romanian ethnics. The first Romanian-owned bank had its headquarters here (TheAlbina Bank), as did theASTRA (Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and Romanian's People Culture). After theRomanian Orthodox Church was granted status in theAustrian Empire from the 1860s onwards, Sibiu became theMetropolitan seat, and the city is still regarded as the third-most important centre of theRomanian Orthodox Church. Between theHungarian Revolution of 1848 and 1867 (the year of theAusgleich), Hermannstadt was the meeting-place of theTransylvanian Diet, which had taken its most representative form after the Empire agreed to extend voting rights in the region.
AfterWorld War I, whenAustria-Hungary was dissolved and Sibiu became part of theKingdom of Romania; the majority of its population was still ethnically German (until 1941) and counted a large Romanian community as well as a smaller Hungarian one. Starting from the 1950s and until 1990, most of the town's ethnic Germans emigrated toWest Germany andAustria. The trend continued to a moderate extent after 1990 as well to unifiedGermany. Nonetheless, among the approximately 2,000 Transylvanian Saxons who decided to remain as per the2011 Romanian census wasKlaus Iohannis, the current[update]President of Romania and former longtime mayor of the town between2000 and 2014, who was succeeded byAstrid Fodor since 2014 onwards, initiallyad interim/acting, and then, subsequently in full constitutional powers after2016.
Sibiu is situated near the geographical center of Romania at45°47′34″N24°09′07″E / 45.792784°N 24.152069°E /45.792784; 24.152069. Set in the Cibin Depression, the city is about 20 km (12 mi) from theFăgăraș Mountains, 12 km (7.5 mi) from theCibin Mountains, and about 15 km (9.3 mi) from theLotru Mountains, which border the depression in its southwestern section. The northern and eastern limits of Sibiu are formed by the Târnavelor Plateau, which descends to the Cibin Valley through Gușteriței Hill.
The Cibin River and some smaller streams run through Sibiu. The geographical position of Sibiu makes it one of the most important transportation hubs in Romania, with important roads and railway lines passing through it, including the A1 motorway, which also serves as a heavy traffic bypass for the city.
Sibiu's climate ishumid continental (Köppen:Dfb), with average temperatures of 8 to 9 °C (46 to 48 °F). The average precipitation is 643.7 millimetres (25.34 in), and there are about 120 days of hard frost annually. Sibiu experiences 56 days per year withfog and 1.5 days withhail.[33]
Climate data for Sibiu (1991–2020, extremes 1901-2020)
In 2007, Sibiu was theEuropean Capital of Culture (alongsideLuxembourg City). This was the most important cultural event that has ever happened in the town, and a great number of tourists came, both domestic and foreign.
The city of Sibiu and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas in Romania, as it holds one of the best preserved historical sites in the country, many of its medieval fortifications having been kept in excellent state. Its old center has begun the process for becoming aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Sibiu and its surrounding area have many significant museums, with 12+ institutions housing art collections, paintings, and exhibits in decorative arts, archeology, anthropology, history, industrial archeology and history of technology and natural sciences.
The city also lies close to theFăgăraș Mountains – a popular trekking destination, close to the city ofPăltiniș and Arena Platoș ski resorts – both winter holiday destinations, and it is at the heart of the former Saxon communities in Transylvania renowned for itsfortified churches.
Fortified Evangelical Lutheran church ofGușterița (German:Hammersdorf) neighbourhood, built during the 13th century, belonging to the localTransylvanian Saxon community.
Since 2007, aChristmas market has been held in Sibiu. The first of its kind inRomania, it is inspired by Viennese Christmas markets, being a project developed by the Social Attaché of the Austrian Embassy in Romania, dr.h.c. Barbara Schöfnagel. It was held in the "Lesser Square" (Piața Mică) with 38 small stalls, a small stage and an area dedicated to children, having several mechanical attractions installed there. Since 2008, the market has been held in the "Grand Square" (Piaţa Mare) grew to a number of about 70 stalls, a bigger stage was set up, where Christmas carols concerts are held. An ice skating rink and a children's workshop are also attractions which have been added in the following years.[37] It was the first Christmas Market in Romania, but soon other Christmas markets emerged across the country. In 2013, the Sibiu Christmas market was included in the "15 Of the Most Beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe".[38]
In 2019, Sibiu planned to host the European Gastronomical capital, by encouraging the local producers and businesses in the field of food production and culinary and gourmet culture, traditional workshops in the villages of the region, promoting farms and gastronomic circuits, or developing public programs to support small businesses in gastronomy and of the hospitality industry in the Sibiu region.[10]
Sibiu has two theatres and a philharmonic orchestra along with other smaller private theatrical venues and a theatre studio housed by the Performing Arts and Acting section ofLucian Blaga University, where students hold monthly representations.
TheRadu Stanca National Theatre[39] is one of the leading Romanian theatres. With origins dating back to 1787, it attracts some of the best-known Romanian directors, such asGábor Tompa and Silviu Purcărete. It has both a Romanian-language and a German-language section, and presents an average of five shows a week.
TheGong Theatre is specialised in puppetry, mime and non-conventional shows for children and teenagers. It also presents shows in both Romanian and German.
TheState Philharmonic of Sibiu[40] presents weekly classical music concerts, and educational concerts for children and teenagers. The concerts take place in the newly restoredThalia Hall, a concert and theatre hall dating from 1787, situated along the old city fortifications. Weekly organ concerts are organised at theEvangelical Cathedral during summers, and thematic concerts are presented by the Faculty of Theology choir at theOrthodox Cathedral.
Sibiu's museums are organised around two entities: theBrukenthal National Museum and theASTRA National Museum Complex. The Brukenthal Museum consists of an Art Gallery and an Old Books Library located inside the Brukenthal Palace, a History Museum located in the old town hall building, a Pharmacy Museum located in one of the firstapothecary shops in Europe, dating from the 16th century, a Natural History Museum and a Museum of Arms and Hunting Trophies.
TheASTRA National Museum Complex focuses onethnography, and consists of a Traditional Folk Civilisation Museum, a 96-hectare open-air museum located in Dumbrava Forest south of Sibiu, a Universal Ethnography Museum, a Museum of Transylvanian Civilisation and a Museum of Saxon Ethnography and Folk Art. Also planned is a Museum of the Culture and Civilisation of the Romany People.
TheDumbrava Sibiului Natural Park stretches over 960 ha (2,400 acres) and it is 4 km (2.5 mi) away from the center of the city in the southwest direction along the road towards Rășinari. Also, here you can find the Zoological Garden and Ethnography Museum.
The first park in the city was The Promenade, later called "The Disabled Promenade." established in 1791, today part of Parcul Cetății (Citadel Park). Current arrangement of the park, including the space between the walls, dates from 1928.
The Sub Arini Park, established between 1857 and 1859 based on plans of military engineer Michael Seyfried,[42] is one of the biggest and best-maintained parks in Romania. There are other green spaces in the city center, the best known being Astra Park, established in 1879.
Other parks:
Tineretului Park, Reconstrucției Park, Corneliu Coposu Park, Petöfi Sándor Park, Piața Cluj Park, Ștrand Park, Cristianului Park, Țițeica Park, Vasile Aaron Park, Lira Park.
The distribution of green space is good compared to other Romanian cities.
Several festivals are organised yearly in Sibiu, the most prestigious of them being theSibiu International Theatre Festival, organized each spring at the end of May. Medieval Festival organized every year in August, reviving the medieval spirit ofTransylvania. TheArtmania Festival is held every Summer since 2006 and as of 2008 the Rockin' Transilvania Festival is also held in Sibiu. The oldest Jazz Festival in Romania is organized here, as well as the "Carl Filtsch" festival for young classical piano players, the "Astra Film" documentary film festival, the Transylvania calling Festival a Multi Cultural 6-day Open Air Music festival! 26–31 July 2007, a medieval arts festival and many more smaller cultural events.[43]Feeric Fashion Week is also hosted here. Sibiu was awarded by IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism) to be part of the European Regions of Gastronomy program, event that will promote in 2019 the region's culinary heritage, multi-ethnic traditions and multi-cultural community.
The designation of Sibiu asEuropean Cultural Capital in 2007 was owed greatly to the excellent collaboration withLuxembourg (and to the noteworthy historical ties between the Transylvanian Saxon community andLuxembourg), but also to what many regard as a miraculous social rebirth taking place in the town during the last years. The Cultural Capital status was expected to bring about an abrupt increase in quantity and quality of cultural events in 2007 and so it did.
Some of them were villages annexed by the city as it grew, others were built as the city developed and increased its surface.
TheASTRA National Museum Complex and the Zoo, located in the south, also fall within city limits. ThePăltiniș ski resort, located 35 kilometres to the south, is also administered by Sibiu.
WhileȘelimbăr and theArhitecților district ofCisnădie are not part of Sibiu proper, they are adjacent to the city limits and often considered part of it.
A 2017 estimate placed the population at 169,316, a 14.98% increase since 2011. This increase made Sibiu's population surpass the numbers observed in 1992 when the previously highest population was recorded.[47]
As of the2021 census data, 134,309 inhabitants live within the city limits,[3] an 8.8% decrease from the figure recorded at the 2011 census.
Sibiu is an important economic hub for Romania, with a high rate of foreign investments. It is also an important hub for the manufacturing of automotive components and houses factories belonging toThyssenKrupp Bilstein-Compa,Takata Corporation,Continental Automotive Systems,Marquardt Group andNTN-SNR ball bearings. Other local industries are machine components, textiles, agro-industry, and electrical components (Siemens).
Sibiu is well served in terms of transport and infrastructure. In 2010 a city bypass was opened, significantly reducing the road traffic inside the city.
Tursib[51] is the city's internal transportation system operator.
Sibiu International Airport is one of the most modern international airports in Romania, with direct connections to Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain.
Sibiu is an important node in the European road network, being on two different European routes (E68 and E81). At a national level, Sibiu is located on three different main national roads, DN1, DN7 and DN14.
TheRomanian Motorway A1 will link the city withPitești and the Romanian western border, nearArad. From the remaining 332 km (206 mi) of motorway towards the border with HungaryNadlac, a total of 276 km (171 mi) is completed and the last 56 km (35 mi) are currently under construction, while the timeline for the segment towards Pitești is targeted for completion for the year 2025 (construction will start no sooner than 2019). Sibiu' sring road as part ofA1 motorway was completed on 1 December 2010.
Sibiu is also an important hub for the international bus links with the biggest passenger transporter in Romania, Atlassib, based here. Transport companies are also providing coach connections from Sibiu to a large number of locations in Romania.
Sibiu is situated on theCFR-Romanian Railways Main Line 200 (Brasov – Făgăraș – Sibiu – Simeria – Arad – Romanian Western Border) and on Line 206 (Sibiu – Mediaș).
The city is served by five rail stations: the Main Station (Gara Mare), the Little Station (Gara Mică), Turnișor, Sibiu Triaj, and Halta Ateliere Zonă. It has an important diesel-powered locomotive depot and a freight terminal.
Numerous interregional trains (nicknamed Blue Arrows) connect Sibiu to other major cities in Romania: Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Craiova, Timișoara, and Bucharest.
Over the last six years, Sibiu has enjoyed a revival of cycling. The city has 43 kilometers of bicycle lanes. A new bike path with a completion date in 2023 will run the length of the Cibin River, creating a green corridor from the Ștrand to Broscărie neighbourhoods, via Gușterița.
Bicycle rentals have offered a boost for the local economy with several small rental centers and a bigger rental center that is administered by the I'Velo Bike Sharing group.
Sibiu is an important centre of higher education, with over 23,000 students in four public and private higher institutions.[52][53][54][55]
TheLucian Blaga University of Sibiu was founded in 1990, with five faculties: Engineering and Sciences; Language Sciences; History and Law; Medicine; Food and Textile Processing Technology. Nowadays, there are 10 faculties and departments.
Sibiu also houses theNicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy and the Military Foreign Language Center as well as two private universities,Romanian-German University andAlma Mater University.
In Sibiu there are 20 educational institutions on the secondary level, the most important of which are:
The city houses afootball stadium, a multi-functional arena building (Sala Transilvania), a rugby court, a municipal pool and several private tennis courts.
Sibiu has had a longfootball tradition, starting in 1913 with the founding ofȘoimii Sibiu, which was the launchpad ofIlie Oană's career, who later became a star ofFC Petrolul Ploiești. Later cameSocietatea Gimnastică Sibiu, a sport club of Sibiu's Transylvanian Saxon community, which's best performance was reaching theDivizia A final in the1930–31 season. The best ever football team from Sibiu, based on performances, wasInter Sibiu, which had finished 4th after the1990–91 season and had won theBalkans Cup during the same season. During the 21st century, the city has been represented byFC Sibiu andVoința Sibiu (of which only the latter has reachedLiga I). Currently,FC Hermannstadt is the only major football team representing Sibiu, playing in the top level of the Romanian football pyramid, the Superliga, season 2022–2023. Starting with the 10th of December 2022, the team's home ground is the rebuilt 13000 seats Sibiu main stadium in the Sub Arini Park, the Stadionul Municipal Sibiu, the inaugural match ending with a 4–0 victory over first placed Farul Constanța.
Basketball
CSU Sibiu, one of the best Romanianbasketball teams at the moment, represents Sibiu in the top tier of Romanian basketball,Liga Națională.
^ULBS, Departamentul de Comunicaţii și Marketing al.":: L B U S :: About LBUS".www.ulbsibiu.ro.Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved28 April 2018.
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