Sibiu

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Sibiu

County	Sibiu County
Status	County capital
Mayor	Klaus Johannis, from the Democratic Forum of Germans of Romania, since 2000
Area	121.6 km²
Population (2002)	154,892 (2002 census) 154,821 (as of July 1, 2004)[1]
Density	1,273 inh/km²
Geographical coordinates	45°47′45″N, 24°09′08″E
Web site	http://www.sibiu.ro

Sibiu (IPA: [si'biw], German: Hermannstadt; Hungarian: Nagyszeben) is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of about 155,000. It straddles the river Cibin, a tributary of the river Olt. It is the capital of Sibiu County.

Sibiu was designated European Capital of Culture for the year 2007 together with Luxembourg.

Contents 1 Geography and climate 2 History 2.1 Milestones in Sibiu's history 3 Population 4 Economy 4.1 Employment breakdown by economic sector 4.2 Transport 5 Tourism 6 Places of interest 6.1 The Lower City 6.2 The Upper City 6.2.1 The Large Square 6.2.2 The Small Square 6.2.3 The Huet Square 6.3 The Fortifications 6.4 Passage of the Stairs 7 Culture 7.1 Museums 7.2 Events 7.3 European Cultural Capital 8 Education 9 Natives 10 Twinned towns 11 References 12 External links 13 Notes

[edit] Geography and climate

Sibiu is situated near the geographical center of Romania. Set in the Cibin Depression, the city is about 20 km from the Făgăraş Mountains, 12 km from the Cibin Mountains, and about 15 km from the Lotrului 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 Guşteriţei Hill.

The Cibin river and some roads of national and international interest run through Sibiu, which is also an important city for the railway transportation, as the meeting point of east-west and north-south routes.

Sibiu's climate is temperate-continental with average temperatures of 8 to 9° C. The multi-annual average of rainfall is 662 l/mp, and there are about 120 days of hard frost annually.

[edit] History

The city was founded in 1190 by German settlers. It was probably built near a Roman settlement, one that would be known during the early Middle Ages as Caedonia, and may have been deserted at the time of the Saxons' arrival.

In the 14th century, it was already an important trade center. In 1376 the craftsmen were divided in 19 guilds. Sibiu became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German name Siebenbürgen (literally seven cities), and it was home to the Universitas Saxorum, the assembly of Germans in Transylvania. Common opinion in the 17th century ascribed Sibiu the quality of being the easternmost city to be part of the European sphere; it was also the eastern terminus of postal routes.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the city became the second and later the first most important center 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 Church was granted status in the Habsburg Empire from the 1860s onwards, Sibiu became the Metropolitan seat, and the city is still regarded as the third most important center of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Between the 1848 Hungarian Revolution and 1867 (the year of the Ausgleich), Sibiu 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, when Austria-Hungary was dissolved, Sibiu became part of Romania; the majority of its population was still ethnic German and Hungarian. Starting from the 1950s and until after 1990, most of the city's ethnic Germans emigrated to Germany. Among the roughly 2,000 who have remained is Klaus Johannis, who is currently mayor of Sibiu.

[edit] Milestones in Sibiu's history

• 1292 - The first hospital in present-day Romania was opened.
• 1380 - The first documented school in present-day Romania.
• 1494 - The first pharmacy in present-day Romania.
• 1534 - The first paper mill in present-day Romania.
• 1544 - The first book in the Romanian language was printed in Sibiu.
• 1551 - Conrad Haas' experiment with rockets.
• 1671 - Methane gas was discovered near Sibiu.
• 1782 - Franz Joseph Müller discovered the chemical element tellurium.
• 1788 - First theatre in present-day Romania.
• 1795 - The first lightning rod in Southeastern Europe was installed in Cisnădie.
• 1797 - Samuel von Hahnemann opened the world's first homeopathic laboratory.
• 1817 - The Brukenthal Museum, the first museum in present-day Romania, was opened.
• 1896 - The first use of electricity in present-day Romania, and the first power line in Southeastern Europe.
• 1904 - The second city in Europe to use an electric-powered trolley.
• 1928 - The first zoo in Romania.
• 1989 - The second city to take part in the Romanian Revolution.
• 2007 - European Capital of Culture 2007

[edit] Population

As of approximately 2002, Sibiu has a population of about 170,000. The ethnic breakdown is as follows:

• Romanians 95%
• Hungarians 2%
• Germans 1.6%
• Other 1.4%

Most of the population is of the Romanian Orthodox religion. Protestants and Roman Catholics represent 4% of the population.

• 25% of the population are over 50 years old
• 18% of the population are college or university graduates

[edit] Economy

Sibiu is one of the most prosperous cities of Romania, and also receives one of the highest rates of foreign investment in the country. It is an important manufacturer of automotive components (Bilstein-Compa, Takata, Continental, and SNR Roulments). Other local industries are machine components, textiles, agro-industry, and electrical components (Siemens).

One of the main concerns for the city is attracting new investors to locate their businesses in Sibiu, and an industrial park has been recently completed. The city also contains Romania's largest stock exchange outside of Bucharest, the Sibiu Stock Exchange.

[edit] Employment breakdown by economic sector

• Industry - 49%
• Commerce - 15%
• Construction - 7.5%
• Health - 7.5%
• Education - 7%
• Transport - 6.5%

[edit] Transport

It has an international airport with daily connections to Germany, Italy and Austria, most of them via Timişoara.

Tursib is the city's transport system who operates one tramway line to Răşinari, 5 trolleybus lines and about 20 bus lines. It is also an important hub for the international bus links with the biggest passenger transporter in Romania, Atlassib, based here.

The city is also a hub for the Romanian railway network, CFR, with links to Braşov, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Alba Iulia and Mediaş. It has an important diesel powered locomotives depot and a freight terminal.

[edit] Tourism

In 2007 Sibiu is the European Capital of Culture (together with Luxembourg). It is the most important cultural event that has ever happened in the city and a great number of tourists are expected, both domestic and foreign. [1].

The city of Sibiu and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas in Romania. 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 in 2004. Sibiu and its surrounding area have many significant museums, with 12 institutions housing art collections, paintings, and exhibits in decorative arts, archaeology, anthropology, history, industrial archeology and history of technology and natural sciences.

The city also lies close to the Făgăraş Mountains - a very popular trekking destination, close to the Păltiniş resort - a popular winter holiday destination, and it is at the heart of the former Saxon communities in Transylvania renowned for its fortified churches.

There are over 35 hotels in Sibiu, with different classifications. The most exquisite hotel is the Împăratul Romanilor hotel, located in the center of the old part of the city. Continental Hotels Romania owns two important hotels in the city and in 2006 it will upgrade one of them and rebadge it under the Ibis name with an Accor franchise. Also at least two brand new hotels are scheduled to open by 2007.

[edit] Places of interest

Much of the city's aspect is due to its position, easily defensible, but allowing horizontal development. The old city of Sibiu lies on the right bank of the Cibin River, on a hill situated at about 200 m from the river. It consists of two distinct entities: the Upper City and the Lower City. Traditionally, the Upper City was the wealthier part and commercial outlet, while the Lower City served as the manufacturing area.

[edit] The Lower City

The Lower City (Romanian: Oraşul de jos) comprises the area between the river and the hill, and it developed around the earliest fortifications. The streets are long and quite wide for medieval city standards, with small city squares at places. The architecture is rather rustic: typically two-storey houses with tall roofs and gates opening passages to inner courts.

Most of the exterior fortifications were lost to industrial development and modern urban planning in the late 19th century; only one or two towers still exist. A building associated with newer urbanism of the period is the Independenţa Highschool.

This area has the oldest church in the city, dating back to 1386.

[edit] The Upper City

The Upper City (Romanian: Oraşul de sus) is organised around three city squares and a set of streets along the line of the hill. As the main area for burgher activities, the area contains most points of interest in Sibiu.

[edit] The Large Square

The Large Square (Romanian: Piaţa Mare, German: Großer Ring) is, as its name suggests, the largest square of the city, and has been the center of the city since the 16th century. 142 m long and 93 m wide, it is one of the largest ones in Transylvania.

Brukenthal Palace, one of the most important Baroque monuments in Romania, lies on the north-western corner of the square. It was erected between 1777 and 1787 as the main residence for the Governor of Trasylvania Samuel von Brukenthal. It houses the main part of the National Brukenthal Museum, opened in 1817. Next to the palace is the Blue House, an 18th century Baroque house bearing the old coat of arms of Sibiu on its façade.

On the north side is the Jesuit Church, along with its dependencies, the former residence of the Jesuits in Sibiu. Also on the north side, at the beginning of the 20th century an Art Nouveau building was constructed on the west part, now it houses the mayor's office.

Next to the Jesuit Church on the north side is the Council Tower, one of the city's symbols. This former fortification tower from the 14th century has been successively rebuilt over the years. The building nearby used to be the City Council's meetingplace; beneath it lies an access way between the Large Square and the Small Square.

On the south and east sides are two- or three-storey houses, having tall attics with small windows known as the city's eyes. Most of these houses are dated 17th to 19th centuries, and most of them are Baroque in style.

[edit] The Small Square

As its name says, the Piaţă Mică is smaller in size, being rather longer than wide. Its north-west side has a curved shape, unlike the Large Square, which has an approximately rectangular shape. Accordingly, Piaţă Mică plays a smaller part in the city's present-day life.

The square is connected to the other two squares and to other streets by small, narrow passages. The main access from the Lower City is through Ocnei Street, which divides the square in two. The street passes under the Liar's Bridge - the first bridge in Romania to have been cast in iron (1859).

To the right of the bridge is another symbol of the city, The House of the Arts, an arched building formerly belonging to the Butchers' Guild. On the left side of the bridge is the Luxemburg House, a Baroque four-storey building, former seat of the Goldsmiths' Guild.

[edit] The Huet Square

Huet Square is the third of the three main squares of Sibiu. Its most notable feature is the Evangelical (Lutheran) Cathedral in its center. It is the place where the earliest fortifications have been built. The buildings around this square are mainly Gothic. On the west side lies the Brukenthal Highschool, in place of a former 15th century school.

[edit] The Fortifications

The city of Sibiu was one of the most important fortified cities in Southeastern Europe. Multiple rings were built around the city, most of them out of clay bricks. The south-eastern fortifications are the best kept, and all three parallel lines are still visible. The first is an exterior earth mound, the second is a 10-meter-tall red brick wall, and the third line comprises towers linked by another 10-meter-tall wall. All structures are connected via a labyrinth of tunnels and passageways, designed to ensure transport between the city and lines of defense.

In the 16th century more modern elements were added to the fortifications, mainly leaf-shaped bastions. One of these survived to this day, as the Haller Bastion (all the way down Coposu Boulevard).

[edit] Passage of the Stairs

The steep Passage of the Stairs leads down to the lower section of Sibiu. It descends along some fortifications under the support arches. It is the most picturesque of the several passages linking the two sides of the city.

[edit] Culture

Sibiu is one of Romania's most culturally lively cities. It has two theatres and a philharmonic orchestra.

The Radu Stanca National Theatre [2] is one of the leading Romanian theatres. With origins dating back to 1787, it attracts some of the best-known Romanian directors, such as Tompa Gábor 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 [3] 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.

[edit] Museums

Sibiu's museums are organised around two entities: the Brukenthal National Museum and the ASTRA 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 first apothecary 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 focuses on ethnography, and consists of a Traditional Folk Civilisation Museum—a 96-hectare open-air museum located on a forest south of Sibiu—a Universal Ethnography Museum, a Museum of Transylvanian Civilisation and a Museum of Saxon Ethnography and Folk Art. It also has a project of opening a Museum of the Culture and Civilisation of the Romany People.

There is a Steam Locomotives Museum close to the railway station, sheltering around 40 locomotives, two of which are functional.

[edit] Events

Several festivals are organised yearly in Sibiu, the most prestigious of them being the Theatre Festival, organised each spring at the end of May. The 2005 edition gathered over 2,500 participants from 68 countries; more than 300 shows were presented. The oldest Jazz Festival in Romania is organised 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. [4]

[edit] European Cultural Capital

Sibiu has been designated as a European Cultural Co-Capital for 2007, owing greatly to the excellent collaboration with Luxembourg, but also to what many regard as a miraculous social rebirth taking place in the city during the last years.

The Cultural Capital status is expected to bring about an abrupt increase in quantity and quality of cultural events during year 2007. The long term effects, on the other hand, and the impact on the city's inhabitants are quite disputed. Some people consider the status of Cultural Capital a natural recognition of the city's merits, while young intellectuals consider it less of a recognition and more of a chance that has been generously granted to Sibiu.[5]

[edit] Education

Sibiu is an important centre of higher education, with over 26,000 undergraduate students in 2004.

The Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu was founded in 1990, with five faculties: Engineering and Sciences; Letters; History and Law; Medicine; Food and Textile Processing Technology. Nowadays, it has many departments.

• Andrei Şaguna Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Letters and Arts
• Nicolae Lupu Faculty of History and Patrimony
• Simion Bărnuţiu Faculty of Law
• Hermann Oberth Faculty of Engineering[6]
• Faculty of Sciences
• Victor Papilian Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Economics
• Faculty of Journalism
• Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food Industry and Environmental Protection
• The University College
• Department for Distance and E-Learning[7]

Sibiu also houses the Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Military Academy, as well as some private universities.

In Sibiu there are 20 educational institutions on the secondary level, the most prestigious of which are:

• Colegiul Naţional Gheorghe Lazăr - mainly sciences and informatics
• Colegiul Naţional Samuel von Brukenthal - German language highschool
• Colegiul Naţional Octavian Goga - social sciences, sciences and informatics
• Liceul Teoretic Onisifor Ghibu - informatics, social sciences and sports
• Colegiul Pedagogic Andrei Şaguna - training for schoolteachers
• Liceul Teoretic Constantin Noica - social sciences and sciences

[edit] Natives

• Artur Arz von Straussenburg, Austro-Hungarian general
• Miklós Borsos, Hungarian sculptor
• Andrei Codrescu, American writer
• Sabina Cojocar, Romanian gymnast
• Sándor Domanovszky, Hungarian historian
• Steve Holmes, German pornographic actor
• Iancu Sasul, Moldavian ruler
• Hermann Kusmanek von Burgneustädten, Austro-Hungarian general
• Hermann Oberth, German space flight technology pioneer
• Nicolaus Olahus, Hungarian archbishop
• Oskar Pastior, Romanian-German poet and translator
• Dan Perjovschi, Romanian artist
• Lia Perjovschi, Romanian artist
• János Márton Stock, Hungarian painter
• Tobias Stranovius, Saxon painter
• Viorel Tilea, Romanian diplomat
• Radu Vasile, Romanian politician

[edit] Twinned towns

• Bauru since 1995.
• Columbia, Missouri since 1994.
• Klagenfurt since 1990.
• Landshut since 2002.
• Marburg since 2005.
• Mechelen since 1996.
• Rennes since 1999.
• Valencia, Carabobo since 1993.
• Wirral since 1994.

[edit] References

• Sibiu on RomaniaTourism.com. Reference regarding surface area, population, etc. Retrieved 22 Nov 2005.
• Sibiu Online - Official Site with information on tourism and history, Sibiu pictures, and more. In Romanian, English and German.

[edit] External links

• Samuel von Brukenthal Foundation; about the summer residence of Baron Samuel von Brukenthal in Sibiu
• Article on Sibiu as Capital of Culture in Bucharest's The Diplomat
• Sibiu European Cultural Capital 2007 - Official Site
• Sibiu travel guide from Wikitravel
• Sibiu Photo Gallery
• Another Sibiu Photo Gallery
• Romania in images - Sibiu City
• "Nicolae Bălcescu" Land Forces Academy - Official Site
• Photos from Sibiu
• Accommodation Sibiu
• The European Cultural Capital Debate (Romanian)
• Restoration of Historical Monuments in Sibiu - Report and Photo Gallery

[edit] Notes