From gorgeous medieval cities to massive castles, Romania has tons of beautiful sites to see that will take you back in time. Also in Romania is the region of Transylvania, which you might know as the home of Count Dracula. Even if Dracula was just a made-up story, there is still a castle commonly known as Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle), and there are tons of other medieval structures throughout this beautiful and historical region. Read this list to see some of the most stunning medieval spots that Romania has to offer!
The City of Brasov
If you want to walk down the streets of a city and be surrounded by beautiful, medieval architecture, then Brasov is your place! It is enclosed by the Carpathian Mountains and its buildings have plenty of gothic, renaissance, and baroque influences.
Some of the best and oldest attractions in Brasov are the Council Square, the Black Church (which is the biggest Gothic church east of Vienna – it is called the “Black Church” because of a fire that nearly destroyed the entire church back in the 1600s), the St Nicholas Church, and the Brasov Fortress. The city of Brasov is also very easy to get to, as it is only three hours north of Bucharest.
Harman Fortified Church
Just outside of Brasov is the Harman Fortified Church. This church was originally built by the Saxons in the 13th century, and so it was called Honigburg in German, which means Honey Castle. It is built with strong walls and is surrounded by bulwarks and large towers.
The choir building is a square building, but its vault is in the shape of a cross. There are also two chapels, showing the Cistercian influence on the church. The south chapel is preserved in its initial state, but the north chapel was rebuilt in the 1600s. The church is open year round, just check the schedule online to see the visiting hours for the day you would like to visit – the hours are a little bit longer during the summer months.
Prejmer
Prejmer is another fortified church, though it is significantly bigger than the Harman Church. In fact, Prejmer is one of the biggest fortified churches in southeastern Europe and is so impressive that it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by Teutonic knights in the early 13th century. The walls are 40 feet high and between 10 and 15 feet thick.
There was one main arch where the villagers could access the building and enter for shelter. Every family in the village was assigned a room in the event of attack. There were 272 rooms in total, covering four stories, with access by wooden staircase.
The City of Sibiu
Sibiu is another absolutely stunning city with plenty of medieval history. In fact, in 2007, Sibiu was named European Capital of Culture of the year. The houses are a beautiful array of colors and the streets are lined with cobblestones. What is also wonderful about the location is that you can stay in Sibiu at night, the bigger city in the area, and travel to other nearby villages during the day – there are so many small villages the encircle Sibiu that are easy to drive to.
Marginimea Sibiului
This is one of the beautiful places near Sibiu. Marginimea Sibiului is just a 30 minute drive away from Sibiu. It is an entire area in southern Transylvania that contains over 18 Romanian localities. Each of these localities have unique ethnological, cultural, historical and architectural heritage. If you will have a car on your next Romanian trip, it is definitely worth a drive out to explore Marginimea Sibiului.
The City of Cluj Napoca
Cluj-Napoca is a beautiful medieval city located in Romania. This picture contain a panoramic view of this beautiful city
This city is located in western Transylvania and is considered the unofficial capital of Transylvania. It is truly the heart of the historical region of Transylvania and is one of the most exciting cities to visit in the region!
More than just the regular excitement, there is so much history in this city. Archeological evidence has been found in the city that dates all the way back to the 2nd century, during the times of the Dacian people. The main square of the city contains the St. Michael’s Church, built back in the 1400s, and is one of the finest expressions of Gothic architecture in all of Romania.
Also, in the square is Banffy Palace, which was built in the 1700s in baroque style. Finally, the square also has the Art Museum, which has a gorgeous display of weaponry and paintings from Romanian artists. If you want an even deeper understanding of medieval life in Cluj Napoca, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania.
This museum first opened in 1922 (so we are almost at the 100 year anniversary!) and is one of the first of its kind in Romania. It has over 50,000 items on display, portraying all walks of life throughout history in Romania. This is definitely a spot where you will be able to learn a lot!
The City of Sebes
Though this city is last on our list, during the middle ages Sebes was actually a bustling political and economic center for the region. It was originally a Dacian settlement, but later was adopted by the Roman Empire. In between these two changes of power, the Saxons established the city in the 12th century.
This thriving citadel was a Saxon town and so it was celebrated for its crafts and trade. If you visit today, you should see the Sebes Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was built in the 12th century and has a massive bell tower that you can walk to the top of, giving you an amazing view of the entire city. Also in the city is a 14th century Fortress and the 15th century Zapolya House. This is such a gorgeous city that has so much to offer!