Author: Laura-Liliana Crihan
”I believe eternity was born in the village.” Lucian Blaga, Romanian philosopher and poet
Personally, I had an affinity for Transylvania since high school, although I was never there. I was attracted by the pictures on the internet with colorful houses, especially from Sibiu, Sighișoara and Brașov. Last year and this year, I had the opportunity to go to these cities, but in addition to these, I also discovered the rural area of Transylvania. I was delighted when I stepped on the picturesque lands of Viscri, a village famous due to the properties Prince Charles owns there. I was drawn to the calmness, the houses that seemed detached from fairy tales, the geese and the fresh smell of bread that reminded me of my childhood holidays at my grandparents’. The village has developed, there are spruce cafes and restaurants where you can eat, but that atmosphere of calm and tranquility has been preserved.
On this occasion, driving through these areas, I realized that Viscri is a fairly well-known village, but there are so many villages in Transylvania that are also worth discovering. They are just as colorful, cheerful, with a rich cultural heritage.
Here are 7 colorful villages in Transylvania worth visiting:
- Richiș, commune of Biertan, Sibiu county.
Images from Recorder.ro, made by Andrei Gheorghe Alexandru
How can the village of Richiș be described? Simple, with colorful houses, with Saxon roofs and structure, with preserved old furniture. Surrounded by nature, a place of peace. Currently, the village is visited by tourists from all over the world who are attracted to places which are in harmony with nature. Also, many of the foreigners who visited the village bought houses and moved here, having a much more balanced life, with an organic diet, with other local opportunities. In Richiș, there is hope for a better society that will develop in the future, little by little.
You can visit the fortified church from Richiș dating from the 14th century. It is a Gothic church and it stands out for its many carved elements.
In Richiș, brunch with traditional products is organized during summer and spring and there is also a literature festival.
- Mălâncrav, commune of Laslea, Sibiu county.
Image: Ora de Sibiu
Image: My Transilvanian Village
Image: My Transilvanian Village
Image: My Transilvanian Village
The village has the largest population of Saxons in Transylvania, dating from the fourteenth century.
Here you can see the fortified church from Mălâncrav, which dates from the 14th century. It is impressive in its length, in the linear-narrative Gothic painting from the 14th century, which depicts 53 scenes of salvation from the Old and New Testaments.
Photo: Lucian Muntean; PressOne.ro
Another tourist objective is the Apafi Mansion. It belonged to the Apafi family, Bethlen, and currently is a guest house in the patrimony of the Mihai Eminescu Trust Foundation, under the patronage of Prince Charles. Here, Malmkrog was filmed, directed by Cristi Puiu. The film is in French and you can distinguish beautiful landscapes in the area, the action being placed around the Christmas holidays. It is inspired from the book of a Russian theologue Vladimir Soloviov, War, Progress and the End of History and includes a whole conversation between several characters about important spiritual topics.
Photographer: Helmut Ignat for National Geographic Traveler România
Image: Designist
In Mălâncrav, there is also an apple orchard and a small factory which produces organic apple juice. No additives, sugar or preservatives. Related to apples, locals also prepare Saxon apple soup. In fact, Mălâncrav comes from the Hungarian name of the village, Almakerek, which means “round apple”.
Regarding traditions, the weaving of carpets, towels, tablecloths, curtains is still practiced, the women are engaged in embroidering the traditional Saxon and Romanian blouses.
- Sibiel, Sibiu county.
In Sibiel, you can visit the Museum of Icons on Glass, the so called “treasure of Sibiel”. Here were collected icons from ordinary people from different parts of the country. They are characterized by the naïve style and vivid colors. Holy Trinity Monastery, with frescoes with biblical and liturgical motifs of Byzantine origin and Western motifs, can also be visited. You can admire paintings dating from 1774 that, over time, have been covered by candle smoke. The one who brought them to light is priest Zosim Oancea.
In addition, you can enjoy the beautiful view, the natural landscape, the beautifully painted crosses, bearing the imprint of the passage of time, the narrow streets, orchards, hospitable people and colorful houses. Many of these colorful houses are old, and the intense blue color of some is called “violet-blue of Sibiel”.
Image: Capital Cultural
Image: Capital Cultural
Image: Wikipedia
- Alma Vii, Sibiu county.
In Alma Vii, you can enjoy picturesque landscapes, biodiversity and the imprint left by different ethnicities, local products, a traditional winery. Here you can still see cows, returning in the evening from pasture, sheepfolds, horses that are still used for the work of the land, all of these creating a fairytale rural atmosphere. The colorful houses have an inscribed saying or family emblem .
Image: Imperator Travel
- Cloașterf, commune of Saschiz, Mureș county.
Cloașterf is a small, quiet village, where you can discover during your walks the fortified Evangelical Church, renovated colorful houses, but also some old ones, in a state of degradation. There is also a cow farm here and you will be able to see them in the evening, when they return from grazing, you will be able to enjoy a rural experience, which can remind you of childhood.
Image: Wikipedia
Image: Wikipedia
Image: Prăjiturela
Image: Prăjiturela
- Rășinari, Sibiu county.
Rășinari is the birthplace of writers Emil Cioran and Octavian Goga, which is why, once here, you can see their memorial houses. Also, here you can find the tomb of Andrei Șaguna, XIXth cent. orthodox priest and activist for religious freedoms, the church of Sfânta Parascheva, the ethnographic and episcopal museum. Some of the events held here are the Emil Cioran Colilocvius, the Octavian Goga Cultural Days, the pilgrimage to St. Andrew, but you can also participate in the New Year holidays, Easter, Christmas, holidays where traditions are kept alive by locals.
PHOTO Credit Adevărul
Rășinari is a special place, with narrow streets and beautifully colored houses, with people who are very welcoming and who practice various traditional crafts, such as weaving, skinning, blacksmithing.
Image: Wikipedia
Image: Wikipedia
- Meșendorf, commune of Bunești, Brașov county.
Mesendendorf has been attested since 1289. In the village, you can go to the fortified church, which dates from the fourteenth century, and inside you can admire the baroque paintings, organ and hourglass made of four cylinders of glass that measured the time for religious service. Also, here is the largest buffalo farm in Romania, and the milk obtained is processed at the factory in Rupea, not far from the village.
Saxon households with tradition, picturesque landscapes, peace. These are some of the things you find in Mesendendorf.
Image: Wikipedia
In conclusion, in these colorful fairy tale villages in Transylvania, you will be able to enjoy aesthetics, peace, by walking, carting or cycling, visiting old but well-preserved churches, discovering cultural heritage, traditional food, enjoying a well-organized picnic. You will be able to admire the still rich and unspoiled nature, with oaks, various species of birds and flora, or the traditions and crafts well-preserved over time.
Stop and breathe: what would it be like to explore these Transylvanian villages? How about changing the daily rush with a leisurely experience? Take a tour in these colorful villages and discover the richness of landscapes, people… Connect with your soul.
- Sources
Laura - Liliana Crihan
I am a calm, empathetic person, I like to read, write, travel and have experiences that will help me develop personally. I always like to learn something new, to enjoy nature, and the little things like a jasmine tea, blooming trees or Christmas lights. I am interested in topics such as education, the environment, the community we belong to and ways to develop it.
