Send Gift Baskets to Sibiu, Romania

Sibiu was originally called Cedonia by the Daco-Romans. King Géza II of Hungary brought Saxon (German) settlers to refund the town. Around 1147, they arrived from the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France (nowadays parts of Germany, France, and the Benelux countries). Cibinium and Cipin were the first references to the area from 1191 when Pope Celestine III confirmed the existence of the free prepositure of the Saxons in Transylvania. There was also a Prepositus Cibiniensis (1192-1196) and a Prepositus Scibiniensis (1211) for the city. It was renamed Villa Hermanni in 1223, either in honor of archbishop Hermann II of Cologne or Hermann of Nuremberg, who is thought to have founded the city. In 1321, Hermannsdorf (“Hermann’s village”) predated the actual German name of Hermannstadt (“Hermann’s city”).

When Austria-Hungary was dissolved after World War I, Sibiu became part of Romania; its majority population was ethnic German (until 1941) and a large Romanian and Hungarian community. Since the 1950s and until after 1990, most of the city’s ethnic Germans emigrated to Germany and Austria. Klaus Iohannis, the current Romanian president, is among the roughly 2,000 who remain.

Sibiu is located near the geographical center of Romania at 45.792784°N 24.152069°E. The city is in the Cabin Depression, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Făgăraş Mountains, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the Cabin Mountains, and about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the Lotus Mountains, which border the depression in its southwest corner. Târnavelor Plateau forms Sibiu’s northern and eastern borders, and Guştiriței Hill includes the path to the Cabin Valley.

Several smaller streams and rivers flow through Sibiu, including the Cabin river. Due to its geographic location, Sibiu is one of Romania’s most important transportation hubs.

Sibiu has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb), with average temperatures between 8 and 9 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall averages 627 liters per square meter (12.8 imp gal/sq ft), and hard frost occurs 120 days a year.

Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture (along with Luxembourg) in 2007. The event was the most important cultural event the city has ever hosted, and both domestic and foreign tourists attended.

Romania’s Sibiu city and its surroundings are among the most visited areas in the country, as many of its medieval fortifications have been preserved in excellent condition. Since 2004, its old center has been in the process of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Decorative arts, archeology, anthropology, history, industrial archeology, technological history, and natural science are all represented by many museums in Sibiu and the surrounding area.

Sibiu is one of Romania’s most culturally vibrant cities. Besides two theatres and a philharmonic orchestra, the city also has smaller private theatres and a theatre studio housed by the Performing Arts and Acting section of Lucian Blaga University.

One of the leading Romanian theatres is Radu Stanca National Theatre. It attracts some well-known Romanian directors, including Gábor Tompa and Silviu Purcărete. In addition to presenting five shows each week, it has both Romanian and German-language sections.

The Gong Theatre specializes in puppetry, mime, and non-conventional shows for children and teenagers. Romanian and German shows are also presented.

The Sibiu International Theatre Festival, organized each spring at the end of May, is one of several festivals held in Sibiu each year. In August, Transylvania’s medieval spirit is revived every year with a Medieval Festival. Since 2006, the Artmania Festival has been held in Sibiu, as has the Rockin’ Transilvania Festival since 2008. A multicultural 6-day Open Air Music Festival is organized here, the oldest Jazz Festival in Romania, the “Carl Filtsch” festival for young classical pianists, and the “Astra Film” documentary film festival. More than a dozen smaller cultural events will occur between 26 and 31 July 2007. A fashion week is also held here, called Feeric Fashion Week. IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism) has selected Sibiu for the European Regions of Gastronomy program, which will promote 2019 the region’s culinary heritage, ethnic traditions, and multicultural community.