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.../

Pictures from Sibiu / Hermannstadt at the end of October 2024, in the evening / at night. Sibiu / Hermannstadt is a beautiful city in autumn, and truly in every season.

Plan your trip / holiday to Romania online now with the new "My Travel Plan" function 🥰 > https://rotravel24.com/rumaenien-bucket-list-top-reiseziele/

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

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/

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 ...

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

In Brukenthal's palace garden you can enjoy potato specialties from around the world, mutton and roast suckling pig, freshly baked treats, and vegetables and fruit from Transylvania's bountiful harvest.

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

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

Hot summer days! Visit the outdoor pool / Beach Club Avrig, just a few kilometers southeast of Sibiu, located right next to Brukenthal Palace.

Day ticket: 50 Lei, or 70 Lei on weekends. More information in German, English and Romanian at > https://palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro/beach-club-avrig-ro/

Visit the pirate ship at Corabia Piratilor in Avrig / Freck, Sibiu County. Pool, sand, cocktails, and holiday vibes from 5 PM to 2 AM in the heart of Transylvania.

DJ Toni del Mare (🇩🇪) from 5:00 PM with international hits, Romanian music, German Schlager, Ritmo Latino 🔥💃

Draft beer and cold cocktails, admission: 50 lei (box office), two heated pools at 30°C, children under 14 free (with accompaniment).

Need a shuttle or accommodation? Send a message to info@heide-reisen.de.

Dance, laugh, enjoy — it will be an unforgettable evening! 🎉🌞💃

https://palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro/

The Transalpina, or "The King's Way" as the road is also called, has been fully open again since early June (as has the Transfăgărășan).

It connects the towns of Novaci in Gorj County and Sebes in Alba County. Over a length of 138 kilometers, this road crosses the Parang Mountains and reaches its highest point at the Urdele Pass.

We thank Mr. Andreas Hainbach for these beautiful pictures from his Romania tour at the end of July 2025 / beginning of August 2025. Many thanks 🥰

Mediaș (in German Mediasch, in Hungarian Medgyes, and in Saxon dialect Medwesch, Medves, or Meddesch) is a town (and municipality, explanation below) in Sibiu County, Transylvania.

The town of Mediaș also includes the village of Ighișu Nou (German: Sächsisch-Eibesdorf) and has a population of approximately 35,000 to 55,000 inhabitants. After Sibiu, Mediaș is the second-largest and most populous city in Sibiu County.

In Roman times, a fortress named "Media" was located on the present-day site of the city. Later, in the 12th to 13th centuries, Hungarian kings settled German and Western European colonists in this area, known as the Transylvanian Saxons.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for sending these beautiful and recent pictures.

Visit Pardon Cafe Bar & Restaurant in the heart of Sibiu / Hermannstadt (Strada Cetatii no. 14), just about 150 meters southeast of the Grand Square / Ring (Piata Mare), with its beautiful outdoor terrace.

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

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

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 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).