Hermannstadt (Sibiu) - Historical and contemporary aspects of a Transylvanian metropolis

Founded by German settlers in the Middle Ages, Hermannstadt - Sibiu in Romanian - is today one of the best-known metropolises in Transylvania and Romania with unique art treasures from Gothic to modern times and a breathtakingly beautiful old town. Romanians, Transylvanian Saxons and other ethnic groups live here and together maintain the cultural and religious heritage of their city, which was European Capital of Culture in 2007. Sibiu used to be the centre of the Transylvanian Saxons and today has a lot to offer as a modern city with 150,000 inhabitants, as an Orthodox and Protestant episcopal city, as a university and cultural city with theatres and a philharmonic orchestra, and as a business location. Whoever visits this historical and lively metropolis will experience Transylvania, Romania and Europe, the Western and Eastern Churches in equal measure. The volume offers tours through the old town with descriptions of all relevant sights as well as portraits of worthwhile destinations outside the historic centre (country district Neppendorf, open-air museum, railway museum and farmers' market). In addition, there is a chronological table tracing the eventful history of the town from the Middle Ages to the present day.