Brateiu, formerly known as Bratei, is the main village of the commune with the same name in Sibiu County.

Pictures: Buildings and the sale of copper items by the local ethnic minority of the Roma community.

The village is located in the valley of the Tarnava Mare River, 5 km from Medias. It was first mentioned in a document from 1283. The German name Pretai and the Romanian name Bratei derive from the Latin word "protodiaconus," which also influenced the Hungarian name of the village, Barathely (Village of the Monk).

Pictures: 23 September 2025

Very fresh and many beautiful pictures from the city of Medias (Sibiu County) from our dear Roland on site 🥰

We are always happy to receive current pictures and travel reports from all over Romania. If you would like to share them with us (and our readers / followers), please send them as a PM or via WhatsApp (+40 (0)773 947 438), including your name. Thank you 😊

Very fresh and many beautiful pictures from the city of Medias (Sibiu County) from our dear Roland on site

We are always happy to receive current pictures and travel reports from all over Romania. If you would like to share them with us (and our readers / followers), please send them as a PM or via WhatsApp (+40 (0)773 947 438), including your name. Thank you!

Pictures from July 2024 from Hermannstadt (Sibiu), located in the historical region of Transylvania (Siebenbürgen) in the heart of Romania.

Discover more destinations in Romania and create your own travel plan > https://rotravel24.com

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

In July / August 2023, we followed "Schnuff" and his motorcycle friends on their journey through Romania, with wonderful pictures and experiences.

Here the municipality of Bazna (in German Baaßen or Baassen, Transylvanian Saxon Baußen, Hungarian Bazna or Felsobajom) in the district of Sibiu in Transylvania (pictures mid-August 2023).

The Protestant fortified church in Baußen was built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 16th century. Today, the church and part of the community center are listed buildings.

The planning has begun, and some Christmas markets have already announced their opening hours. We will keep you updated and provide regular and comprehensive information about the most beautiful Christmas markets in Romania.

https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de/de/uir/weihnachtsmaerkte-in-rumaenien/

🎄 Christmas Markets in Romania 2025/2026
Craiova | Nov. 15, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026
Hermannstadt / Sibiu | Nov. 14, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026
Bucharest | Nov. 30, 2025 – Dec. 26, 2025

Further dates for Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Oradea, Brasov / Kronstadt, Piatra Neamt, and more will follow shortly.

Pictures: Christmas Market in Sibiu / Hermannstadt from previous years. Thanks to https://heide-reisen.de for these pictures and Christmas Market Timisoara from 2024.

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 church / church fortress is located in the commune of Biertan (in German Birthälm, in Hungarian Berethalom), Sibiu County, in Transylvania.

Biertan is part of the first Saxon settlements and was documented as early as 1398 (other sources: 1402).

Like every Saxon settlement, it stands out with a row of houses arranged around a central square, above which the imposing fortified church rises. Between 1572 and 1867, Biertan was the seat of the Saxon episcopate (the bishop's seat of the Evangelical Church A.C.), which favored the development of one of the largest peasant communities in Transylvania around this fortified church. It is a medieval and architectural treasure in Romania, definitely worth a visit.

Pictures from Hermannstadt / Sibiu at the end of October 2024, in the evening / at night.

https://wilkommen-in-rumänien.de | https://rotravel24.com

Always a beautiful city, in every season 🥰

Pictures from a holiday trip (August 2024) to Romania, starting in Sibiu (in German Hermannstadt), over the Transfagarasan and down into the valley of the Olt River.

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

Mocănița – a magical word for any steam locomotive fan across Europe. Locomotives from the past 100 years invite you to rides, excursions, and even dining in restaurant cars.

The charm of old times, which we (in Germany and Austria) had long ago... still alive and experienceable directly in Romania, in Maramures County 🥰

Information, schedule, and more:
https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de/de/uir/ausflugsziele-sehenswertes-mocanita-und-valea-vaser

PS: There are also narrow-gauge railways in Suceava County, Sibiu County (special rides in spring / summer), and other counties in Romania.

Enjoy and discover the delicious temptations along the Historic Cafés Route in Transylvania.

The café / confectionery *La Vatra Ardealului* in Brasov (Kronstadt) and the Brukenthal Palace in Avrig invite you to a unique coffee experience, accompanied by many other delights. Visit the Historic Cafés Route in Romania and let yourself be spoiled.

📍 Cafe / Confectionery La Vatra Ardealului, Brasov / Kronstadt, opposite the Black Church, Str. Gheorghe Baritiu 14
>> https://www.facebook.com/lavatraardealului

📍 Brukenthal Palace, Cafe & Restaurant in Avrig / Freck, about 30 km southeast of Sibiu
>> https://brukenthal-palace-avrig.com/unser-historisches-cafe/

📍 KAFUNE coffee bean blends from LA FANTANA, Italy
>> https://lafantana.ro/ro/rezidential/cafea/cafea-boabe

Only about 150 meters southeast of the Great Square (Piata Mare), right in the center of Sibiu / Hermannstadt, you will find Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant with its beautiful outdoor terrace.

Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant | https://pardoncafesibiu.ro

The restaurant offers a wide variety of European, Romanian, and also local dishes of the region.

We thank Mrs. Meli Döring for granting permission to use these pictures (August 2025). Thank you 😊

Visit the palace garden and spend some time at the hotel, restaurant, historic café.

Video

The annual Wine Festival in Medias (Sibiu County) welcomes its guests from September 19 to 21 at Piata Castelului / Castle Square. Worth a visit 🥰

And for those already there, from September 26 to 28 the celebrations continue with an autumn festival / beer festival 🍺😍

It is currently held every weekend (until the end of October). The annual Potato Festival takes place at Brukenthal Palace in Avrig (German: Freck), Sibiu County.

In the gardens of Brukenthal Palace, visitors can enjoy potato specialties from around the world, lamb and suckling pig, delicious dishes from the hot oven, as well as vegetables and fruits from Transylvania’s rich harvest.

https://palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro (German, English, Romanian)

Reservations for themed menus, accommodation, or leisure offers at Corabia Piratilor Resort: +40 (0)726 234 417, e-mail office@palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro

The Alba Carolina Fortress in Alba Iulia (Carlsburg) was built between 1715 and 1738 under the leadership of Emperor Charles VI as a fortress with seven (7) fortresses.

It served as a strategic point of defense for the Habsburgs along the military border with the Ottoman Empire. Alba Iulia is located next to the highway on the direction from Sibiu or the departure. Definitely worth a visit.

„The bridge of lies” is one of the most famous landmarks of Sibiu. Built in 1859 * in Friedrichshütte in Hesse, here was built the first cast iron bridge in Romania (and the second in Europe).

There are many legends about names, but because it was also the first bridge that did not stand on the pillars, it was called „ Liegebrücke ”... and the word „ Lügenbrücke ”' then it wasn't that far ...

Images July 13, 2023

Last weekend, the official opening of the Potato Festival (period: August 30 to November 2, 2025) took place at the Brukenthal National Museum.

The painter Mircea Codrea, originally from Avrig, gave the event a special brilliance through a gesture of great artistic depth: in front of the guests and visitors of the Brukenthal National Museum, he presented a reinterpretation of Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting – “The Potato Eaters” (1885). This painting, regarded as one of the most expressive works of the Dutch artist’s youth, depicts a humble scene from the life of Dutch peasants, sitting around a table and sharing a modest but authentic potato-based dinner. The work is characterized by its dramatic composition, dark tones, powerful brushstrokes, and the expressive faces of the figures, all reflecting van Gogh’s empathy for ordinary people and rural life.

Through this artistic intervention, Mircea Codrea brought a visual reflection on the cultural significance of the potato into the present, complementing the festival’s theme and giving it a European artistic dimension. It was a subtle but powerful homage not only to the food itself but also to those who cultivate and distribute it – a gesture that transcends time and borders.

More on the Potato Festival / events (in English):
https://hcr-coe.com/the-potato-festival-at-brukenthal.../

Beautiful pictures from Sibiu, in the heart of Transylvania, from the end of May 2023. A wonderful day to explore a wonderful city.

Plan your trip / holiday to Romania now with https://rotravel24.com and create your own travel plan with destinations, experiences, and more!

We thank Mr. Michel Tesmar for sending these pictures.

Roman Catholic Parish Church ( Roman Catholic Church Holy Trinity ) the Great Square in Sibiu.

Images: mid-July 2023

Whether in September, autumn / winter or next year (2026). The tour operator DRS Reisen GmbH from Stuttgart offers an 8-day Transylvania tour including accommodation / breakfast, rental car, travel plan, and a guided city tour of Sibiu / Hermannstadt, from €489 per person (price depends on travel period, in double room, according to the operator’s details).

Organizer: DRS Reisen GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
Travel dates: From September 2025 until the end of 2026
More information / booking at:
https://drs-reisen.de/.../auf-der-historischen-cafes...

Sibiu / Hermannstadt | Brasov / Kronstadt | Sighisoara / Schäßburg | Count Dracula’s Castle Bran / Törzburg and much more ...

“Cultural Routes FOR Cultural Travel” – with this motto, the Historic Cafés Route opens a series of journeys and events centered around coffee culture, historic cafés, and highlights intersections with many other cultural routes in Europe.

More information (English)
https://hcr-coe.com/cultural-routes-for-cultural-travel-2019-sibiu/

Offers for HCR cultural tours (English / German)
https://hcr-coe.com/discover-historic-cafes-route-tours/
https://drs-reisen.de/reise-tag/hcr-reisen/

Starting August 30, every weekend (until the end of October), the annual Potato Festival takes place at Brukenthal Palace in Avrig (German: Freck), Sibiu County.

In the gardens of Brukenthal Palace, visitors can enjoy potato specialties from around the world, lamb and suckling pig, delicious dishes from the hot oven, as well as vegetables and fruits from Transylvania’s rich harvest.

https://palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro (German, English, Romanian)

Reservations for themed menus, accommodation, or leisure offers at Corabia Piratilor Resort: +40 (0)726 234 417, e-mail: office@palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro

Discover the KAFUNE coffee bean blends, created with the rhythms of Brazil but using Italian expertise in espresso culture, along the Historic Cafés Route in Transylvania.

The café / confectionery *La Vatra Ardealului* in Brasov (Kronstadt) and the Brukenthal Palace in Avrig invite you to a unique coffee experience, accompanied by many other delicacies. Visit the Historic Cafés Route in Romania and let yourself be spoiled.

📍 Cafe / Confectionery La Vatra Ardealului, Brasov / Kronstadt, opposite the Black Church on Gheorghe Baritiu Street 14
>> https://www.facebook.com/lavatraardealului

📍 Brukenthal Palace, Cafe & Restaurant in Avrig / Freck, about 30 km southeast of Sibiu
>> https://brukenthal-palace-avrig.com/unser-historisches-cafe/

📍 KAFUNE coffee bean blends from LA FANTANA, Italy
>> https://lafantana.ro/ro/rezidential/cafea/cafea-boabe

A magical road in and through the Fagaras Mountains. The Transfagarasan road connects the two historical regions of Wallachia and Transylvania in a breathtaking mountain landscape.

https://willkommen-in-rumänien.de | https://rotravel24.com

Currently open (probably until sometime in mid/end of October) and if you are already here, you should definitely also check out the "neighboring road," the Transalpina.

Our tip for a round trip: Sibiu (Hermannstadt) > towards Avrig / Brasov and then head south onto the Transfagarasan > Curtea de Arges, Arges County > Valcea County > Brezoi and via the Transalpina to Sebes and back to Sibiu. We recommend at least one, if not two or three overnight stays along the way.

Only about 150 meters southeast of the Great Square (Piata Mare) and thus in the center of Sibiu / Hermannstadt, you will find Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant with its beautiful outdoor terrace.

Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant | https://pardoncafesibiu.ro

The restaurant offers a wide selection of European, Romanian, and also local regional dishes.

We thank Mrs. Meli Döring for granting permission to use these pictures. Thank you!

Explore the heart of Transylvania: Sibiu, Transfagarasan, Carta Monastery, Sighisoara, and of course the Brukenthal Palace in Avrig.

Four (4) days following the Historic Cafés Route in Transylvania, including accommodation / breakfast, rental car, and a guided city tour of Sibiu / Hermannstadt, from €279 per person (price depends on travel time, in double room, according to details provided by the tour operator).

Organizer: DRS Reisen GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
Travel dates: From September 2025 until autumn 2026
More information:
https://drs-reisen.de/.../auf-der-historischen-cafes.../

Sibiu / Hermannstadt | Carta Monastery | Sighisoara / Schässburg | Transfagarasan and much more ...

Only about 150 meters southeast of the Large Square / Ring (Piața Mare) and thus in the center of Sibiu / Hermannstadt, you will find Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant with its beautiful outdoor terrace.

Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant | https://pardoncafesibiu.ro

The restaurant offers a wide selection of European, Romanian, and local dishes from the region.

8-day Transylvania tour including accommodation / breakfast, travel plan, rental car, and guided city tour of Sibiu / Hermannstadt, from €489 per person (price depends on travel period, in double room, according to the tour operator’s details).

Organizer: DRS Reisen GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
More information:
https://drs-reisen.de/.../auf-der-historischen-cafes.../

Sibiu / Hermannstadt | Brasov / Kronstadt | Sighisoara / Schässburg | Count Dracula’s Castle Bran / Törzburg and much more ...