Located in the geographical center of Romania, Sibiu is the center of German settlement in the country in the 12th century. Even after the resettlement of most Transylvanian Saxons and Banat Swabians back to Germany in the 1970s, the city is still strongly influenced by centuries of history.
For readers interested in further details, we recommend reading the information on the (late) resettlers from Romania. Here is also a link to the now deceased lawyer Heinz Günther Hüsch, who led the largest free purchase of people in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. Please not: this link will show you German language as there is no information in englisch available. You may translate this into englisch using a translation software. We were very touched and impresserand by all this.
Today’s Sibiu has a population of just under 150,000, there is a lot of industry that has been set up with large investments from Austria and Germany and so the people of the region are doing quite well.
Our original plan to spend a day in Sibiu, see the city and then drive on changed the moment we saw what major event was taking place in the city: the ‘Great Saxon Meeting’, organized for the second time after 2017, took place from 2 – 4 August 2024 and we were suddenly in the middle of it, unplanned.
In the center of the city there is a large stage, restaurants and stalls selling traditional clothing, ceramics and culinary delights. The streets and restaurants are filled with people who are happy to be in Sibiu, and there are always joyful greetings and hugs when people meet.
A truly great meeting of the Transylvanian Saxons still living here and those who have returned to Germany!
After a first evening in Sibiu, Sunday began with the parade of the Transylvanian Saxons.
It was impressive to see so many people connected to their homeland, happily wearing their traditional clothing.
Afterwards we strolled through the city.
And last but not least – we visited the city’s large Protestant church. The current congregation of Sibiu consists of only 750 Transylvanian Saxons – but there are still around one hundred parishioners at the Sunday services. Compared to Germany, this is a very good attendance.
After another day in Sibiu, there was another highlight at the end of the Sachsentreffen: Peter Maffay – born in Brasov (Kronstadt) – gave a concert – with free admission.
Our stay in Sibiu was longer than planned – but it was just right.
