Valea Viilor (Wurmloch in German) is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania Region.

Valea Viilor, originally Vorumloc, was probably first mentioned under the Hungarian name Baromlak in 1224 (possibly 1305). Transylvania-Saxon Hörigendorf, which was originally held by the nobility, was later able to join the see of Mediascher and thus become free. Until 1964, the local in Romania was run under the German derivative name Vorumloc, then renamed "Valea Viilor" (in German: valea viilor).

In 1850 the proportion of Germans was over 65% and in 1977 over 50%. Today, only about 1-2% of the inhabitants are German.

We thank Vlad the Impaler - Dracula (photo: Adrian Arsu) for the permission to use this picture.

Museum of Traditional Popular Culture in Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) is one of the largest open-air museums in Romania.

Located just south of Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt), the museum is located in the "Dumbrava Sibiului" forest, on the connecting road between Sibiu and Rășinari, about three kilometers (3) from the city.

Contains installations of traditional pre-industrial Romanian popular civilization. Houses, workshops and construction complexes are scattered around a lake, among the trees of the Sibiu Drumbrates.

We thank Mrs Farkas Ildiko ( facebook.com/farkas.ildiko.75 ) for the permission to use these pictures.

Photos from Atel (in German: Hetzeldorf, in Transylvanian Saxon: Hätselderf, in Hungarian: Ecel) / the fortified church of the village, in Sibiu County, Transylvania.

The commune consists of two villages, Atel and Dupuș. The first written mention of the commune is from 1283, and the church was first mentioned in 1380.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for sending these photos (pictures from early August 2024).

And the journey continues—yesterday we once again received beautiful pictures from the motorcycle friends of our dear Roland 🥰. Yesterday (June 26, 2025), Biertan and the surrounding area were on the itinerary.

https://welcome-to-romania.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

Once again, our heartfelt thanks to the photographers for sending the pictures and for allowing us to use them.

Cloudy and maybe a bit of rain, but still beautiful. Photos from July 2024 from Hermannstadt (Sibiu), located in the historic region of Transylvania in the heart of Romania.

The old town and the fortress walls were built by Saxon settlers (the Transylvanian Saxons) in the 12th and 13th centuries and are still largely preserved in their original form today.

Mr. Roland Schmid sent us these photos. Thank you, dear Roland, as always we are happy to receive current travel photos from Romania.

First of all, a beautiful and typically German word, "Dampflokomotivenmuseum" (in Romanian: Muzeul locomotivelor cu abur), but definitely a wonderful place here in Hermannstadt / Sibiu for all railway fans and those who want to become one.

The museum, inaugurated in 1994, includes about 40 locomotives, both standard gauge and narrow gauge, as well as snow plows and steam cranes. Seven of these locomotives are still operational today and can be admired and ridden during special trips or trains.

The Steam Locomotive Museum is located opposite the main train station in Sibiu (in German: Hermannstadt) and consists of the former roundhouse and the turntable of the railway line. The exhibited locomotives were built between 1885 and 1959 in Romania and other countries such as Germany (Henschel & Sohn, Borsig, Schwartzkopff) and the United States (Baldwin Locomotive Works).

Mr. Roland Schmid sent us these photos. Thank you, dear Roland, we didn’t know about it until now and it really is something special.

The Cârța Monastery (in German, Kerz) is a former Cistercian / Benedictine monastery in Sibiu County, Transylvania.

It is located on the left bank of the Olt River, between the cities of Sibiu and Făgăraș, and is now an Evangelical Lutheran church. The exact founding date of the Cârța Monastery (in Latin: monasterium beatae Mariae virginis in Candelis de Kerch) is unknown.

A document from Konstanz, dated 17 April 1418 and issued by Sigismund, King of Hungary, vaguely states that the monastery was founded, built, and endowed with rights and privileges by his predecessors. Cistercian documents from the 13th to 15th centuries, analyzed by Leopold Janauschek, indicate the founding year around 1202–1203.

Cistercian Monastery / Cârța / Transylvania

Sometimes everything is upside down in life, here in Brambura Park in Avrig (Freck in German) this is the norm. An experience for children, families and every visitor.

Pictures of Brambura Park from mid-May 2024 in Avrig (approx. 25 km south-east of Sibiu), the adventure park for everyone > https://brambura-park.ro/

The Old Town / center of Sibiu in recent pictures from April 12 and 13, 2025. Sibiu (in German Hermannstadt, in Hungarian Nagyszeben, and in Transylvanian Saxon Hermestatt) is the county seat of the county of the same name in the historical region of Transylvania.

The first German settlers presumably reached the area in 1147. The first documented mention of the city dates from 1191. From 1223, the Latin name "Villa Hermanni" is attested, and from 1241, the German equivalent Hermannstorf.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for sending the pictures and the permission to use them.

The Old Town / center of Sibiu in recent pictures from April 12 and 13, 2025. Sibiu (in German Hermannstadt, in Hungarian Nagyszeben, and in Transylvanian Saxon Hermestatt) is the county seat of the county of the same name in the historical region of Transylvania.

The first German settlers presumably reached the area in 1147. The first documented mention of the city dates from 1191. From 1223, the Latin name "Villa Hermanni" is attested, and from 1241, the German equivalent Hermannstorf.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for sending the pictures and the permission to use them.

Beautiful images from Hermannstadt in the heart of Transylvania from the end of May 2023. A wonderful day to explore a wonderful city.

We thank Mr. Michel Tesmar for sending these images.

Medias (in German Mediasch, in Hungarian Medgyes, and in Saxon Medwesch, Medves or Meddesch) is a city / municipality in Sibiu County in Transylvania. It consists of the city of Medias and the village of Ighisu Nou (German Sächsisch-Eibesdorf) and has about 55,000 inhabitants. After Sibiu, Medias is the second largest and most populous city in Sibiu County.

https://willkommen-in-rumänien.de | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

In Roman times, there was a Roman fortress called "Media" on the territory of today's city. Later, in the 12th to 13th centuries, the Hungarian kings settled German and Western European settlers, the so-called Transylvanian Saxons, in this area of Medias.

Pictures: mid-May 2024

Sibiu / Hermannstadt is an important cultural and economic center in southern Transylvania.

https://welcome-to-romania.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

In 2007, Hermannstadt was, together with the city of Luxembourg, the European Capital of Culture.

We thank Living in Sibiu ( https://www.instagram.com/living.in.sibiu/ ) for permission to use these images. Church image: Mr. Frank Schleßmann

The church / fortified church is located in the municipality of Biertan (Biertan in German, Berethalom in Hungarian) in the county of Sibiu in Transylvania.

Biertan is part of the first German-Saxon settlements and was already mentioned in documents in 1398 (other sources: 1402).

Like every Saxon settlement, it stands out for its row of houses around a central square, above which rises the imposing church fortress. Between 1572 and 1867, Biertan was the seat of the Saxon episcopate (episcopal see of the Evangelical Church of A.B.), which favored the construction of one of the largest farming communities in Transylvania around this fortified church. It is a medieval and architectural treasure in Romania, which is definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful pictures by photographer Sorin Onisor ( facebook.com/sorinonisor ), thank you for the permission to use / show them.

Alma Vii (in German Almen) is a village in Sibiu County in Transylvania and definitely deserves a visit!

The village is part of the municipality of Mosna and is also known under the old Romanian names Alma Saşe and Alma Intre Vii, as well as in Hungarian such as Almad, Szaszalmas, Nemet-Almas and Almas.

Information about the fortified church can be found here:
https://kirchenburgen.org/location/almen-alma-vii/

We thank Vlad the Impaler - Dracula for the permission to use these images.

This year, the Pentecost holidays coincide. And if you are still looking for a "nice spot / restaurant" for the holidays, here in the Valley of the Fairies you are in exactly the right place. Open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, reservation required!

Menu and table reservation (ro / en):
https://www.valeazanelor.ro

Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor is located about 40 km from Sibiu (towards Brasov) in the village of Porumbacu de Sus.

Once a popular excursion spot, today a beautiful restaurant (open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, reservation required) in the Valley of the Fairies.

Menu and table reservation (ro / en):
https://www.valeazanelor.ro

Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor is located about 40 km from Sibiu (towards Brasov) in the village of Porumbacu de Sus.

Sometimes everything is upside down in life, and here in Brambura Park in Avrig (in German Freck), that's the norm. An experience for children, families, and every visitor 🥰

Pictures of Brambura Park from mid-May 2024 in Avrig (about 25 km southeast of Sibiu / Hermannstadt), the adventure park for everyone, but especially for children and the young at heart among us.

https://brambura-park.ro | https://welcome-to-romania.com

Once a popular excursion spot, today a beautiful restaurant (open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, reservation required) in the Valley of the Fairies.

Menu and table reservation (ro / en):
https://www.valeazanelor.ro

Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor is located about 40 km from Sibiu (towards Brasov) in the village of Porumbacu de Sus.

Medias Days... Three days (Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m.) of party, entertainment, and certainly delicious food on Corneliu Coposu Square in the city of Medias in Sibiu County.

🔸 On Sunday, June 1, 2025, the Medias City Hall will organize a children's show starting at 11 a.m. in Corneliu Coposu Square, in which various children's and youth clubs from the city will participate.

🔹 The "Veronica" ballet school, the "Magic of the Dance" sports dance school, the "Dragon Fight Academy" kickboxing association, the Ippon Med Club, Ovidiu Barcea, and the vocal group "Bobocei de pe Târnave" with Ioana Crețu and Sophia Popianoș will present artistic moments.

🟠 The program on June 1 will continue with an interactive show for children accompanied by the band The Sky Dance, followed by concerts by Milenium, Dacii Liberi, and Andra Gogan.

🔵 Everyone is invited, of course the residents of Medias and especially the children, to celebrate June 1 in Corneliu Coposu Square. There they will have the opportunity to see a varied artistic program, participate in creative activities, and play in the amusement park on the square.

The carpenter's storm in Sibiu / Sibiu ( in Romanian: The carpenters' Tower ) was in the 14th century. 17th century built by the Saxon carpenter's guild in Hermannstadt.

The tower was part of the city's third fortified belt and is today the left tower, the defensive wall and the fortress still preserved. It is located on Zitadellenstraße ( Harteneckgasse, named after Mayor Johann Sachs von Harteneck ).

Pottery Tower ( in Romanian Potters' Tower ) was built in the 15th century by the Saxon guild. It was also part of the city's third fortified belt and is located to the right of the defensive wall and a preserved fortress.

Images: July 13, 2023

Pictures from Hermannstadt / Sibiu at the end of October 2024 in the evening / by night. Always a beautiful city 🥰

https://xn--willkommen-in-rumnien-m2b.de/ | https://welcome-to-romania.com

The village of Großpold, in Romanian Apoldu de Sus, is located in the county of Sibiu and is one of the three so-called Landler villages in Transylvania.

The Landler were forced to leave their Austrian homeland in the 18th century due to their Protestant faith and settled mainly in three villages near Sibiu. They have preserved their language and traditional costumes to this day. In Großpold, the typical architecture of the houses has largely been preserved. The two other Landler villages are Neppendorf, in Romanian Turnisor, today incorporated into Sibiu, and Großau, in Romanian Cristian.

We would like to thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for sending us these beautiful pictures and the corresponding text/explanation.

The village of Ighișu Nou (known as Eibesterf in Saxon, Eibesdorf in German, and Szaszivanfalva in Hungarian) is part of the Medias Municipality in Sibiu County.

The village was first mentioned in documents in 1305 and became a free Saxon settlement in 1325.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for providing these photos (taken in early August 2024).

Hermannstadt / Sibiu by night ... always beautiful 🥰

Images: July 2023