Sibiu ( , , , Hungarian: ''Nagyszeben'', ,
Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'' or ''Hermestatt'') is a city in central
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
, situated in the historical region of
Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
. Located some north-west of
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
, the city straddles the
Cibin River, a tributary of the
Olt River. Now the seat of
Sibiu County
Sibiu County () is a county () of Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania. Its county seat () is the namesake town of Sibiu ().
Name
In Hungarian, it is known as ''Szeben megye'', and in German as ''Kreis Hermannstadt''. Under the ...
, between 1692 and 1791 and 1849–65 Sibiu was the capital of the
Principality of Transylvania. Until 1876, the Hecht hause in Sibiu served as the seat of the
Transylvanian Saxon University.
Nicknamed ''The Town with Eyes'' for the
eyebrow dormers on many old buildings, the town is a popular tourist destination. It is known for its culture, history, cuisine, and architecture.
In 2004, its historical center was added to the tentative list of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
s. Sibiu was subsequently designated the
European Capital of Culture in 2007, along with
Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (; ; ), also known as Luxembourg City ( or ; ; or ), is the capital city of Luxembourg and the Communes of Luxembourg, country's most populous commune. Standing at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers in southern Luxe ...
. One year later, it was ranked "Europe's 8th-most idyllic place to live" by ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
''. Sibiu was named the 2019
European Region of Gastronomy.
Sibiu hosted the European Wandering Capital event in 2021, the most important tourist wandering event in Europe. A
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
summit
A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous.
The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...
was also hosted by the town in 2019.
Sibiu is also known nationally and internationally for its
Christmas market
A Christmas market is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. These markets originated in Germany, but are now held in many countries. Some in the U.S. have Phono-semantic matching, adapted ...
. Renowned personalities include Transylvanian Saxon scientists
Conrad Haas and
Hermann Oberth, who were both pioneers of
rocket
A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely ...
ry. The company Elrond, which created the eGold
cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency (colloquially crypto) is a digital currency designed to work through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it.
Individual coin ownership record ...
(among the biggest in the world), was founded by people from Sibiu.
As of 2021 census, the city has a population of 134,309,
making it the
15th-largest city in Romania. The proposed Sibiu metropolitan area has a population of 267,170. The town also administers the village of
Păltiniș, a ski resort located 35 kilometres to the southwest.
During the
High and
Late Middle Ages
The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...
, Sibiu was the most important cultural and administrative centre of the
Transylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons (; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjer Såksen'' or simply ''Soxen'', singularly ''Sox'' or ''Soax''; Transylvanian Landler dialect, Transylvanian Landler: ''Soxn'' or ''Soxisch''; ; seldom ''sa ...
. It is called ''Härmeschtat'' in
their local dialect, which is close to
Luxembourgish, from which it primarily descended during the
Ostsiedlung.
Name
The name of the city derives from the Bulgar-Turkic name Sibin
Romanian name Sibiu is ''Sibiiu'', while an obsolete folk name is ''Sâghii'', formerly spelled ''Sîghii''. Its Hungarian name is ''Nagyszeben'' ("Big/Greater Sibiu"), or colloquially, ''Szeben''.
In German, it is called ''Hermannstadt'' ("Hermann's town"), while in the local Transylvanian Saxon dialect
Transylvanian Saxon is the native German dialects, German dialect of the Transylvanian Saxons, an ethnic Germans of Romania, German minority group from Transylvania in central Romania, and is also one of the three oldest ethnic German and Geog ...
, it is known as ''Härmeschtat''. In Yiddish
Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...
, it is called סעבען ''Seben'' or הערמאנשטאט ''Hermanshtat''.
A number of other languages also have their own variants of the city's name, like Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus
*Czech (surnam ...
''Sibiň'', Polish ''Sybin'', Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...
''Sibinj'', Old Bulgarian ''Sibin'' (Сибин) and the proposed Esperanto
Esperanto (, ) is the world's most widely spoken Constructed language, constructed international auxiliary language. Created by L. L. Zamenhof in 1887 to be 'the International Language' (), it is intended to be a universal second language for ...
name ''Sibio''.
History
The Roman fort of Cedonia
Cedonia was a fort
A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The t ...
was perhaps in the same location as Sibiu. The town was founded by Saxon
The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...
(German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
) settlers brought there by King of Hungary
The King of Hungary () was the Monarchy, ruling head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 (or 1001) to 1918. The style of title "Apostolic King of Hungary" (''Magyarország apostoli királya'') was endorsed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 ...
and King of Croatia
This is a complete list of dukes and kings of Croatia () under domestic ethnic and elected Dynasty, dynasties during the Duchy of Croatia (until 925), the Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102), the Croatia in personal union with Hungary, Kingdom of Croa ...
Géza II during the mid-late 12th century, as part of the Ostsiedlung. They came from territories of the Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...
and Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the Middle Ages, medieval and Early modern France, early modern period. It was one of the most powerful states in Europe from th ...
(nowadays parts of Germany, France and the Benelux
The Benelux Union (; ; ; ) or Benelux is a politico-economic union, alliance and formal international intergovernmental cooperation of three neighbouring states in Western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is a portma ...
countries) and arrived at around 1147. The first references to the area were ''Cibinium'' and ''Cipin'' from 1191 when Pope Celestine III confirmed the existence of the free prepositure of the Saxons in Transylvania, having its headquarters in Sibiu. The city also used the names ''Prepositus Cibiniensis'' (1192–1196) and ''Prepositus Scibiniensis'' (1211). In 1223, it was renamed to ''Villa Hermanni'', either in honor of archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
Hermann II of Cologne
Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...
or after a man who is believed to have founded the city, Hermann of Nuremberg
Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...
. The actual German name of ''Hermannstadt'' ("Hermann's city") dates from 1366, while an earlier form, ''Hermannsdorf'' ("Hermann's village") was recorded in 1321. An alternative urban legend has it that the town was named after a certain shoemaker by the name Hermann.
In the 14th century, it was already an important trade centre. In 1376, the craftsmen were divided in 19 guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...
s. Hermannstadt became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German name ''Siebenbürgen'' (literally ''seven citadels''). It was home to the Transylvanian Saxon University (; 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. In 1699, after the Ottomans withdrew to their base of power in Hungary and Transylvania, the town became capital of Principality of Transylvania (since 1570 the principality was mostly under suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
, however often had a dual vassalage).
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 (The ''Albina'' Bank), as did the ASTRA (Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and Romanian's People Culture). After the Romanian Orthodox
The Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC; , ), or Romanian Patriarchate, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox Christian churches, and one of the nine patriarchates in the Eastern Orthodox Church. S ...
Church was granted status in the Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...
from the 1860s onwards, Sibiu became the Metropolitan seat, and the city is still regarded as the third-most important centre of the Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC; , ), or Romanian Patriarchate, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox Christian denomination, Christian churches, and one of the nine patriarchates in the East ...
. Between the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848, also known in Hungary as Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849 () was one of many Revolutions of 1848, European Revolutions of 1848 and was closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in ...
and 1867 (the year of the '' Ausgleich''), Hermannstadt was the meeting-place of the Transylvanian Diet, which had taken its most representative form after the Empire agreed to extend voting rights in the region.
After World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, when Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
was dissolved and Sibiu became part of the Kingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania () was a constitutional monarchy that existed from with the crowning of prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen as King of Romania, King Carol I of Romania, Carol I (thus beginning the Romanian royal family), until 1947 wit ...
; 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 to West Germany
West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
and Austria
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
. The trend continued to a moderate extent after 1990 as well to unified Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. Nonetheless, among the approximately 2,000 Transylvanian Saxons who decided to remain as per the 2011 Romanian census
The 2011 Romanian census was a census held in Romania between 20 and 31 October 2011. It was performed by some 120,000 census takers in around 101,000 statistic sectors throughout the country established by the National Institute of Statistics ( ...
was Klaus Iohannis
Klaus Werner Iohannis (; ; born 13 June 1959) is a Romanian politician, physicist, and former teacher who served as the fifth president of Romania from 2014 until his resignation in 2025. Prior to entering Politics of Romania, national politics, ...
, the President of Romania
The president of Romania () is the head of state of Romania. The president is directly elected by a two-round system, and, following a modification to the Romanian Constitution in 2003, serves for five years. An individual may serve two ter ...
and former longtime mayor of the town between 2000
2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year.
Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
and 2014, who was succeeded by Astrid Fodor since 2014 onwards, initially ad interim/acting
Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode.
Acting involves a broad range of sk ...
, and then, subsequently in full constitutional powers after 2016
2016 was designated as:
* International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
* International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
.
File:Karte von Hermannstadt (um 1750).tif, Map of Hermannstadt (Sibiu) around 1750
File:Sibiu_Centru_vedere_panoramica.jpg, Panoramic view of Sibiu from 1928
File:Sibiu vedere de pe Deaulul Gusteritei.jpg, View from Gușterița hill
File:Johann Böbel - Poarta Burger-Ocnei, la 1857.jpg, Burger-Ocnei gate
File:Johann Bobel - Turnul Portii Cisnadiei.jpg, Cisnădie
Cisnădie (; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect: ''De Hielt''; ) is a town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania, approximately south of Sibiu (). It comprises the main town of Cisnădie and one village, Cisnădioara (; ).
Located along t ...
's Gate Tower
File:Johann Böbel - Strada Turnului şi biserica Evanghelică.jpg, Tower's Street and the Lutheran Cathedral
File:Hermanstatt (Sibiu), 17th century engraving.jpg, Copper engraving of Sibiu (''Hermanstatt''), 1630
File:Lanzedelli - Târg în Transilvania 4.jpg, A busy market scene in Sibiu, 1818
File:Johann Böbel - Turnul Pielarilor.jpg, The Tanners' Tower, painted by Johann Böbel
File:Böbel - Str. Cetatii la 1885.jpg, Citadel Square, painted by Johann Böbel
Geography
Sibiu is situated near the geographical center of Romania at . Set in the Cibin Depression, the city is about from the Făgăraș Mountains
The Făgăraș Mountains ( ; ) are the highest mountains of the Southern Carpathians, in Romania.
Geography
The mountain range is situated in the heart of Romania, at .
The range is bordered in the north by the Făgăraș Depression, through wh ...
, from the Cibin Mountains, and about from the Lotru 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.
Climate
Sibiu's climate is humid continental
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.
Humidity depe ...
(Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
: ''Dfb''), with average temperatures of . The average precipitation is , and there are about 120 days of hard frost annually. Sibiu experiences 56 days per year with fog
Fog is a visible aerosol consisting of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. Reprint from Fog can be considered a type of low-lying cloud usually resembling stratus and is heavily influenc ...
and 1.5 days with hail
Hail is a form of solid Precipitation (meteorology), precipitation. It is distinct from ice pellets (American English "sleet"), though the two are often confused. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is called a hailsto ...
.[
]
Tourism
In 2007, Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture (alongside Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (; ; ), also known as Luxembourg City ( or ; ; or ), is the capital city of Luxembourg and the Communes of Luxembourg, country's most populous commune. Standing at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers in southern Luxe ...
). 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 a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
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 the Făgăraș Mountains
The Făgăraș Mountains ( ; ) are the highest mountains of the Southern Carpathians, in Romania.
Geography
The mountain range is situated in the heart of Romania, at .
The range is bordered in the north by the Făgăraș Depression, through wh ...
– a popular trekking destination, close to the city of Păltiniș and Arena Platoș ski resorts – both winter holiday destinations, and it is at the heart of the former Saxon communities in Transylvania renowned for its fortified churches.
Since 2007, a Christmas market
A Christmas market is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. These markets originated in Germany, but are now held in many countries. Some in the U.S. have Phono-semantic matching, adapted ...
has been held in Sibiu. The first of its kind in Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
, 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. 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".
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.
Culture
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 of Lucian Blaga University, where students hold monthly representations.
The Radu Stanca National Theatre is one of the leading Romanian theatres. With origins dating back to 1787, it attracts some of the best-known Romanian directors, such as Gábor Tompa and Silviu Purcărete. It has both a Romanian-language and a German-language section, and presents an average of five shows a week.
The Gong Theatre is specialised in puppetry, mime and non-conventional shows for children and teenagers. It also presents shows in both Romanian and German.
The State Philharmonic of Sibiu presents weekly classical music concerts, and educational concerts for children and teenagers. The concerts take place in the newly restored Thalia Hall, a concert and theatre hall dating from 1787, situated along the old city fortifications. Weekly organ concerts are organised at the Evangelical Cathedral during summers, and thematic concerts are presented by the Faculty of Theology choir at the Orthodox Cathedral.
The Sibiu International Theatre Festival The Sibiu International Theatre Festival () is one of the most important theatre and performing arts festivals in the world, and the third biggest, after the Festival d'Avignon and the Edinburgh International Festival. FITS takes place in the city o ...
is an annual festival of performing arts. Since 2016, it is the largest performance arts festival in the world.
Museums and parks
Sibiu's museums are organised around two entities: the Brukenthal National Museum and the ASTRA National Museum Complex
"ASTRA" National Museum Complex () is a museum complex in Sibiu, Romania, which gathers under the same authority four ethnology and civilisation museums in the city, a series of laboratories for conservation and research, and a documentation centre ...
. 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 first apothecary
''Apothecary'' () is an Early Modern English, archaic English term for a medicine, medical professional who formulates and dispenses ''materia medica'' (medicine) to physicians, surgeons and patients. The modern terms ''pharmacist'' and, in Brit ...
shops in Europe, dating from the 16th century, a Natural History Museum and a Museum of Arms and Hunting Trophies.
The ASTRA National Museum Complex
"ASTRA" National Museum Complex () is a museum complex in Sibiu, Romania, which gathers under the same authority four ethnology and civilisation museums in the city, a series of laboratories for conservation and research, and a documentation centre ...
focuses on ethnography
Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. It explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. Ethnography is also a type of social research that involves examining ...
, 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.
The Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park stretches over and it is 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.
There is a Steam Locomotives Museum close to the railway station, sheltering around 40 locomotives
A locomotive is a rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for longer and heavier freight train ...
, two of which are functional.
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, 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.
Events
Several festivals are organised yearly in Sibiu, the most prestigious of them being the Sibiu International Theatre Festival The Sibiu International Theatre Festival () is one of the most important theatre and performing arts festivals in the world, and the third biggest, after the Festival d'Avignon and the Edinburgh International Festival. FITS takes place in the city o ...
, organized each spring at the end of May. Medieval Festival organized every year in August, reviving the medieval spirit of Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
. The Artmania 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. 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.
European Cultural Capital
The designation of Sibiu as European Cultural Capital in 2007 was owed greatly to the excellent collaboration with Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
(and to the noteworthy historical ties between the Transylvanian Saxon community and Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
), 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.
Administration
The town government is headed by a mayor. Since 2014, the office is held by Astrid Fodor from the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania
The Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (, DFDR; , FDGR; in short or ) is a political party (legally recognized as an association of public utility according to the governmental decision HG 599 as per 4 June 2008) organised on ethnic criteria ...
(FDGR/DFDR), who replaced Klaus Iohannis
Klaus Werner Iohannis (; ; born 13 June 1959) is a Romanian politician, physicist, and former teacher who served as the fifth president of Romania from 2014 until his resignation in 2025. Prior to entering Politics of Romania, national politics, ...
, the latter having become the 5th president of Romania. Iohannis, a Transylvanian Saxon
The Transylvanian Saxons (; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjer Såksen'' or simply ''Soxen'', singularly ''Sox'' or ''Soax''; Transylvanian Landler: ''Soxn'' or ''Soxisch''; ; seldom ''sași ardeleni/transilvăneni/transilvani''; ) are a people ...
, was mayor from 2000 to 2014, despite ethnic Germans nowadays making up less than 2% of Sibiu's population. Decisions are approved and discussed by the local government () made up of 23 elected councillors. Sibiu is the capital of the Sibiu County
Sibiu County () is a county () of Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania. Its county seat () is the namesake town of Sibiu ().
Name
In Hungarian, it is known as ''Szeben megye'', and in German as ''Kreis Hermannstadt''. Under the ...
.
City districts
Sibiu is divided into the following districts:
* Historical center (divided into the Upper and Lower Town)
* Center (south-west of the historical center)
* Broscărie
* Dumbrăvii
* Gușterița ()
* Hipodrom I, II, III, IV
* Lazaret
* Lupeni
* Piața Cluj (named after Cluj
Cluj-Napoca ( ; ), or simply Cluj ( , ), is a city in northwestern Romania. It is the second-most populous city in the country and the seat of Cluj County. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest (), Budapest () and Belgrade ( ...
)
* Reșița (named after Reșița
Reșița (; ; ; ; ; ; ) is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraș-Severin County. It is located in the Banat region. The city had a population of 58,393 in 2021. It administers six villages: Câlnic (''Kölnök''), Cuptoare (''Kupt ...
)
* Ștrand Ștrand is a residential district of Sibiu, Romania, located in the western part of the city.
The district is located around the swimming pool complex of the city, the name deriving from that fact. It is separated into two smaller neighborhoods: Ș ...
* Terezian
* Tilișca
* Tineretului
* Trei Stejari
* Turnișor ()
* Țiglari
* Valea Aurie
* Vasile Aaron
* Veteranilor de Război
* Viile Sibiului
Some of them were villages annexed by the city as it grew, others were built as the city developed and increased its surface.
The ASTRA National Museum Complex
"ASTRA" National Museum Complex () is a museum complex in Sibiu, Romania, which gathers under the same authority four ethnology and civilisation museums in the city, a series of laboratories for conservation and research, and a documentation centre ...
and the Zoo, located in the south, also fall within city limits. The Păltiniș ski resort, located 35 kilometres to the south, is also administered by Sibiu.
While Șelimbăr and the ''Arhitecților'' district of Cisnădie
Cisnădie (; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect: ''De Hielt''; ) is a town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania, approximately south of Sibiu (). It comprises the main town of Cisnădie and one village, Cisnădioara (; ).
Located along t ...
are not part of Sibiu proper, they are adjacent to the city limits and often considered part of it.
Demographics
At the 2011 census, Sibiu had a population of 147,245, a 5% decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census. The ethnic breakdown was as follows: Romanians
Romanians (, ; dated Endonym and exonym, exonym ''Vlachs'') are a Romance languages, Romance-speaking ethnic group and nation native to Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Sharing a Culture of Romania, ...
95.9%, Hungarians
Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an Ethnicity, ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common Culture of Hungary, culture, Hungarian language, language and History of Hungary, history. They also have a notable presence in former pa ...
1.6%, Germans
Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...
(Transylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons (; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjer Såksen'' or simply ''Soxen'', singularly ''Sox'' or ''Soax''; Transylvanian Landler dialect, Transylvanian Landler: ''Soxn'' or ''Soxisch''; ; seldom ''sa ...
) 1.1%, and Roma 0.4%.
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.
As of the 2021 census data, 134,309 inhabitants live within the city limits, an 8.8% decrease from the figure recorded at the 2011 census.
Population dynamics
Population by religious denomination
Today, most of the population is Romanian Orthodox. Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
s and Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
s represent about 5% of the population.
Economy
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 to ThyssenKrupp
ThyssenKrupp AG (, ; stylized as thyssenkrupp) is a German industrial engineering and steel production multinational conglomerate. It resulted from the 1999 merger of Thyssen AG and Krupp and has its operational headquarters in Duisburg and E ...
Bilstein-Compa, Takata Corporation
was a Japanese automotive parts company. The company had production facilities on four continents, with its European headquarters located in Germany.Anghel, Alexandru (December 10, 2009)."Takata Petri hires 1,000 people in half a year in Arad a ...
, Continental Automotive Systems
Continental Automotive Systems (CAS), founded in 1906 by Alfred Teves, a division of the German Continental AG, was a brake and electronics supplier to the automotive industry, supplying systems, components, electronics, lithium-ion batteries ...
, Marquardt Group
Marquardt is a Manufacturing, manufacturer company of electromechanical and electronic switches and switching systems. Founded in 1925 and based in Rietheim-Weilheim, Germany, the company is family-run.
, the Marquardt Group employed approxim ...
and NTN-SNR ball bearings. Other local industries are machine components, textiles, agro-industry, and electrical components (Siemens
Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational technology conglomerate. It is focused on industrial automation, building automation, rail transport and health technology. Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe, and holds the positi ...
).
The city also contained Romania's second-largest stock exchange, the Sibiu Stock Exchange, which merged with the Bucharest Stock Exchange in 2018.
The main industrial activities of Sibiu take place in two industrial zones located on the outskirts of the city:
*East industrial zone (East Economic Center), alongside the railway to Brașov
Brașov (, , ; , also ''Brasau''; ; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the county seat (i.e. administrative centre) of Brașov County.
According to the 2021 Romanian census, ...
and Râmnicu Vâlcea
Râmnicu Vâlcea (formerly ''Râmnic'', ) is a city in Romania. Located in the south-central part of the country, in the historical province of Oltenia, it is the seat of Vâlcea County and its main urban settlement. According to the 2021 Romanian ...
*West industrial zone (West Economic Center), near the exit to Sebeș
Sebeș (; German: ''Mühlbach''; Hungarian: ''Szászsebes''; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Melnbach'') is a city in Alba County, central Romania, southwestern Transylvania.
Geography
The city lies in the Mureș River valley and straddles the river ...
, close to the Airport
An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...
A commercial zone located in the Șelimbăr commune plays an important role in the economy of Sibiu. It houses a mall and other large retailers.
Another factor that plays an important role in the economy of the city is tourism, which has been increasing at a steady rate since 2007.
Transport
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 is the city's internal transportation system operator.
Air
Sibiu International Airport
Sibiu International Airport () serves the city of Sibiu. It is located in southern Transylvania, west of Sibiu and about northwest of Romania's capital city, Bucharest.
History Foundation and early years
In 1943, the flying activities have ...
is one of the most modern international airports in Romania, with direct connections to Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain.
Road
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.
The Romanian Motorway A1 will link the city with Pitești
Pitești () is a city in Romania, located on the river Argeș (river), Argeș. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated in th ...
and the Romanian western border, near Arad. From the remaining of motorway towards the border with Hungary Nadlac, a total of is completed and the last 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' s ring road
A ring road (also known as circular road, beltline, beltway, circumferential (high)way, loop or orbital) is a road or a series of connected roads encircling a town, city or country. The most common purpose of a ring road is to assist in reducin ...
as part of A1 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.
Rail
Sibiu is situated on the CFR-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.
Cycling
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.
Health
Sibiu is one of the important medical centers of Romania, housing many important medical facilities:
* County Hospital
* Academic Emergency Hospital;
* Hospital of Pediatrics;
* Military Emergency Hospital;
* CFR Hospital (Romanian Railways Hospital);
* "Dr. Gheorghe Preda" Psychiatry Hospital
* other smaller private clinics
The city also houses one of the largest private hospitals in the country, Polisano.
Education
Sibiu is an important centre of higher education, with over 23,000 students in four public and private higher institutions.
The Lucian 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 the Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy
The Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Military Academy () is an institute of higher military education located in Sibiu, Romania.
The institution was established July 1, 1920, at the initiative of Minister of War Ioan Rășcanu, through Decree 5376/1 ...
and the Military Foreign Language Center as well as two private universities, ''Romanian-German University'' and ''Alma Mater University''.
In Sibiu there are 20 educational institutions on the secondary level, the most important of which are:
* Gheorghe Lazăr National College – sciences and informatics, first opened in 1692 as a Jesuit College
*
Samuel von Brukenthal National College – linguistics, sciences and informatics, German language high school
* Octavian Goga National College – social sciences, sciences, informatics and linguistics
*Onisifor Ghibu High School – informatics, sciences, sports, theater and linguistics
*Andrei Șaguna National College – training for school teachers and linguistics
*Constantin Noica High School – sciences and linguistics
*Daniel Popovici Barcianu High School – agricultural sciences
*George Baritiu National College – economic sciences
Sports
The city houses a football stadium, a multi-functional arena building ( Sala Transilvania), a rugby court, a municipal pool and several private tennis courts.
Also, several sports international competitions are taking place every year: Sibiu Cycling Tour (in July), Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rallye (around July), Sibiu Open (formerly held in September), Sibiu Rally (currently held in October).
Football
Sibiu has had a long football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
tradition, starting in 1913 with the founding of Șoimii Sibiu, which was the launchpad of Ilie Oană's career, who later became a star of FC Petrolul Ploiești
Asociația Clubul Sportiv Petrolul 52, commonly referred to as FC Petrolul Ploiești (), Petrolul Ploiești or simply Petrolul, is a Romanian professional Association football, football Club (organization), club based in Ploiești, Prahova Count ...
. Later came Societatea Gimnastică Sibiu, a sport club of Sibiu's Transylvanian Saxon community, which's best performance was reaching the Divizia A
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
final in the 1930–31 season. The best ever football team from Sibiu, based on performances, was Inter Sibiu, which had finished 4th after the 1990–91 season and had won the Balkans Cup
The Balkans Cup was an international football competition for clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. It was introduced in 1961 and was very popular in the 1960s (the 1967 final attracted 42,000 spectators), being ...
during the same season. During the 21st century, the city has been represented by FC Sibiu and Voința Sibiu (of which only the latter has reached Liga I
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
). Currently, FC Hermannstadt
Asociația Fotbal Club Hermannstadt (), commonly known as FC Hermannstadt, Hermannstadt, or familiarly as Sibiu (), is a Romanian professional Association football, football Club (organization), club based in the city of Sibiu, Sibiu County, tha ...
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 Romanian basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
teams at the moment, represents Sibiu in the top tier of Romanian basketball, Liga Națională.
Handball
The city's handball
Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, Olympic handball or indoor handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of thr ...
team is called CSM Sibiu. Additionally, the nearby town of Cisnădie
Cisnădie (; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect: ''De Hielt''; ) is a town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania, approximately south of Sibiu (). It comprises the main town of Cisnădie and one village, Cisnădioara (; ).
Located along t ...
has a women's team in the first league, CS Măgura.
Rugby
* CSM Sibiu
Volleyball
* CSM Sibiu (men)
* CSS Sibiu (women)
Speed Skating
* CSS Sibiu
Natives
* Michael Gottlieb Agnethler, botanist
* Alexandru Apolzan, football player
* Lucia Apolzan, ethnographer
* Arthur Arz von Straussenburg, Austro-Hungarian general
* Florin Barbu, bass player
* Claudiu Baștea, judoka
* Ion Besoiu, Romanian actor
* Miklós Borsos, Hungarian sculptor
* Dan Burincă, Olympic artistic gymnast
* Andrei Codrescu, American writer
* Sabina Cojocar, Romanian gymnast
* Alexandru Curtean, football player
* Florin Diacu, Romanian-Canadian mathematician
* Steve Holmes, German pornographic actor
* Victor Iliu, Romanian film director
* Klaus Iohannis
Klaus Werner Iohannis (; ; born 13 June 1959) is a Romanian politician, physicist, and former teacher who served as the fifth president of Romania from 2014 until his resignation in 2025. Prior to entering Politics of Romania, national politics, ...
, 5th President of Romania
* Hermann Kusmanek von Burgneustädten, Austro-Hungarian general
* Mircea Mureșan, Romanian film director
* Alexandru Mușina, Romanian poet
* Steliana Nistor, Romanian gymnast
* Hermann Oberth, space flight technology pioneer
* Nicolaus Olahus, Catholic archbishop of Esztergom
* Valerian Onițiu
Valerian Oniţiu (also Valeriu Oniţiu) (April 8, 1872, Sibiu, Romania – 31 December 1948, Timișoara) was a Romanian chess problemist.
Oniţiu composed all types of problems particularly fairy chess problems. Oniţiu has ten chess problems ...
, chess problemist
* Oskar Pastior, poet and translator
* Dan Perjovschi, Romanian artist
* Claudia Presecan, Romanian gymnast
* Erna Rubinstein, Hungarian violinist
* Iancu Sasul, Moldavian ruler
* Tobias Stranover, Transylvanian Saxon painter
* Sebastian Suciu
Sebastian-Ilie Suciu (born 22 November 1986) is a Romanian politician of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies. He is the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians in Sibiu C ...
, Romanian politician
* Jenő Szemák, Hungarian jurist
* Viorel Tilea
Viorel Virgil Tilea C.B.E. (6 April 1896 – 20 September 1972) was a Romanian diplomat, most noted for his ambassadorship in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He died in London. During the Second World War, Tilea lived at Holton P ...
, Romanian diplomat
* Melania Ursu, stage and film actress
* Radu Vasile, politician, Prime Minister of Romania
* Delia Velculescu, Romanian-American economist
* Adele Zay, Transylvanian Saxon teacher
International relations
Twin towns
Sibiu has twinning agreements with:
* Bauru
Bauru () is a Brazilian municipality located in the interior of São Paulo state, recognized as the most populous city in the Central-West region of São Paulo. It is one of the 19 municipalities comprising the Bauru Immediate Geographic Region ...
, Brazil, since 1995.
* Butuan
Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan (; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; ), is a highly urbanized city and the regional center of Caraga, Philippines. It is the '' de facto'' capital of the province of Agusan del Norte ...
, Philippines
* Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is a city in Missouri, United States. It was founded in 1821 as the county seat of Boone County, Missouri, Boone County and had a population of 126,254 as recorded in the 2020 United States census, making it the List of cities in Misso ...
, USA, since 1994.
* Deventer
Deventer (; Sallaans dialect, Sallands: ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Salland historical region of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Overijssel, ...
, Netherlands, since 2007.[ Sibiu Town Hall Official Site]
Acordul de infratire intre Sibiu si orasul Deventer din Olanda
, 23 May 2007
* Klagenfurt, Austria, since 1990.
* Landshut
Landshut (; ) is a town in Bavaria, Germany, on the banks of the Isar, River Isar. Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free state (government), Free State of Bavaria, and the seat of the surrou ...
, Germany, since 2002.
* Marburg
Marburg (; ) is a college town, university town in the States of Germany, German federal state () of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf Districts of Germany, district (). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has ...
, Germany, since 2005.
* Mechelen
Mechelen (; ; historically known as ''Mechlin'' in EnglishMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical context. T ...
, Belgium, since 1996.
* Rennes
Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...
, France, since 1999.
* Valencia, Venezuela
Valencia () is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela.
The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. It is also the largest city in the Valencia-Maracay m ...
, since 1993.
* Wirral, United Kingdom, since 1994.
* Takayama, Gifu
Takayama City Hall
is a city located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 88,473 in 35,644 households, and a population density of 41 persons per km2. The total area of the city was making it the largest cit ...
, Japan, since 2009.
* Durham, North Carolina, United States, since 2019
Consulates
The following countries have consulates in Sibiu:
* – Consulate-General
* – Honorary consulate
* – Honorary consulate
* – Honorary consulate
Notes
Gallery
File:SibiuHermannstadtSchild.jpg, Bilingual Romanian-German sign at the entrance in Sibiu/Hermannstadt
File:CAPITALA CULTURALA 2007.jpg, Small flag with Sibiu as former European Capital of Culture in 2007
File:Piata Mica si Turnul Sfatului.jpg, Turnul Sfatului in Small Square
File:The Small Square of Sibiu, during the closing gala - 2016.jpg, The Small Square of Sibiu, during Feeric Fashion Week closing gala - 2016
File:Târgul de Crăciun din Sibiu.jpeg, The Large Square during Christmas
File:Sibiu_Casa_Lutsch_(5).jpg, Lutsch House, the headquarters of the local branch of FDGR/DFDR
See also
* List of castles in Romania
This is a list of castles and fortresses declared monument istoric, historic monuments by Romania's Ministry of Culture (Romania), Ministry of Culture. Banat
; Caraș-Severin County, Caraș-Severin (6)
* Bey's Fortress, Socolari
* Caransebeș ...
* Timeline of Sibiu
* Tourism in Romania
In December 2024, Romania's tourism sector had a 6.8% increase in arrivals at accommodation facilities, including hotels, apartments, and renting, rental rooms, compared to December 2023. in authorized lodging facilities, marking increases o ...
* Seven Wonders of Romania
* Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania
The Transylvania region of Romania has one of the highest concentrations of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries. It has more than 150 well preserved fortified churches of a great variety of architectural styles (out of an o ...
References
Bibliography
External links
Sibiu.ro: Official Sibiu Online website
— ''tourism and history information and images''.
Turism.sibiu.ro: Official Sibiu Tourism website
patrimoniu.sibiu.ro: Sibiu Heritage website
theFest.ro – Locuri si evenimente din Sibiu, Romania
— ''reference for surface area, population, etc. (2005)''.
Sibiupeople.ro: Restoration of Historical Monuments in Sibiu
—''photo gallery and projects' report''.
Official Sibiu European Cultural Capital 2007 website
{{Authority control
Populated places in Sibiu County
Localities in Transylvania
Capitals of Romanian counties
Cities in Romania
1190 establishments in Europe
German communities in Romania
Capitals of the Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)
Populated places established in the 12th century