…or pearls of Transylvania as a British journalist called them. These are the ancient medieval little Saxon villages spread around Sibiu, Sighisoara and Brasov.

The first settlers arrived here hundreds of years ago, they built small communities at the bottom of the hill and, on the hills they built fortified churches where they used to hide themselves during the attacks of the enemies.

In all these places time seems to have remained still… isolated villages which preserve that idyllic, peaceful atmosphere; as soon as you step here you will feel the serenity and the tranquility of nature. A few Saxon families remained here…they are ready the tell us the story of their ancestors, anecdotes and legends about the places they used to fight for, for so many centuries.

We shall also taste some delicious food specialties, home-made bread, local vegetables and fruits.

Even though they share the same history, all these villages have their own personality, their own story to reveal. 

Out of this “string of beads and pearls” we shall mention:

Biertan (Birthläm-UNESCO monument): with its tower where married couples who wanted to divorce were locked in for several weeks…why? We’ll find out…

Valea Viilor (Wurmloch-UNESCO monument):  a beautiful place which used to have various names. Wurmloch in medieval German means Snake-Wood; in Hungarian, its name Baromlaka means  the shelter for cattle and in Romanian, Valea Viilor means the vineyard valley.

Slimnic (Stolzenburg): the proud citadel; a strong fortress dating from the 13^th century, whose church has never been finished.

Axente Sever (Frauendorf): Frauendorf means the “village with women”, a village which legends say it was once populated only by women; the fortress and the church have been renovated two years ago and inside its garden there is a little museum about the history of Saxons in these areas.

Medias (Mediasch): the second town after Sibiu in the county; its history goes back in time in the 13^th century. In Medias you can find symbols at every step, it is considered a mysterious and challenging place.

Viscri (Weiβkirch-UNESCO monument): a traditional Saxon village which represents a real testimony of the local ancient traditional way of life.

Malancrav (Malmkrog): the history of the fortified church here is strictly linked to the grand family of Apafi. Prince Charles of Wales has bought a house here.

Carta (Kerz): former Cistercian Abbey, nowadays, an Evangelical church, the only Cistercian Abbey in our country, built in 1205-1206.

Cisnadioara (Michelsberg): a beautiful traditional village with a Romanic basilica on the top of the hill. One of the oldest and most representative Romanic monuments in Transylvania with an interesting legend and history.

Cisnadie (Heltau): a small town at about 3 km from Cisnadioara. Here it was built the first clock-tower in Transylvania and the first lightening rod in Transylvania.