Fortified City of Sighișoara, Sighisoara, Romania

After seeing several fascinating fortified churches throughout Transylvania, we were excited to visit the picture-perfect fortified city of Sighișoara. From the moment we put our eyes on Sighișoara’s Old Town, we were enchanted. Not only are Upper Old Town’s historic streets pretty, they are surrounded by a wall with nine adorable watchtowers. It’s unique, hilltop location adds to its appeal.

Saxons began to settle in the area in the 12th century and by the 1400s, the city was flourishing. Its success encouraged the most skilled tradesmen to set up shop. There were blacksmiths, cobblers, goldsmiths, furriers, weavers and tailors. There was already a fortified wall in place, built by the Szeklers (Hungarian tribe), but the Transylvanian Saxons dramatically expanded it between the 13th and 15th centuries.

Despite the wall, in the 17th century the city was the victim of invasions, earthquakes and fires. The city, however, endured and is now one of the best-preserved fortified cities in Europe today. It’s so perfect in fact, that the entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you enjoy Sighișoara, don’t forget to check out the other fortified citadels in our posts: Explore Brașov’s Old Town, Discover Medieval Sibiu and Fortified Churches of Transylvania. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).