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The Transylvanian Citadels festival organized at Sibiu wants to express the specific Romanian atmosphere of the Middle Ages. In 2002 was its second edition and everybody agreed that it was a huge success. Sibiu is an authentic medieval citadel which preserves many restored parts of the ancient walls built in the Hermannstadt. You have to know also that in Sighisoara is organized the "Medieval Art and Theatre Festival" (lasting for a whole week every year in August). Here actors wearing medieval clothes play drama on the streets and you can hear medieval music too. Beer and "mici" (traditional prepared meat) are provided by all the brand name beer factories from Romania during the festival. Do you know the legend of Sibiu? This beautiful story begins with the time when here it was a small village called Sibiel. One day, the villagers heard about a skilled German shoemaker whose name was Hermann. Because in Sibiel was not any handicraftsman, they decided to go and ask him to join their community. Hermann listened to their request and think... "Yes, with one condition" he said. "Give me a place where to build my own house." Of course, people asked immediately how big had to be that place he wanted. "As big as I can stretch one buffalo leather." Villagers agreed happily and promised him a twice bigger area. Soon after the agreement, Hermann came to Sibiel. He showed them a buffalo leather and the villagers brought together to help him measure the surface. "No, first I will do something to this leather" said Hermann. He started to cut very thin pieces of leather, so thin that you may compare their width with a knife edge. After a lot of work, the shoemaker finished his job. Then he chose a beautiful place of the village and began to place those leather pieces one after another. The villagers were amazed seeing how big was the area he succeeded to surround with his thin but long leather strips. As they had promised to him, after finishing the measure of the first surface, Hermann started again to surround his second terrain, using the same thin leather strips he cut earlier. In this way, Hermann obtained a large area for his future farm and the villagers had to admit that they were tricked... In the next years, Hermann brought to Sibiel many relatives who were handicraftsmen like him. The place became bigger and bigger, and famous all over the Transylvania region. The town changed its name after that wise shoemaker : Hermannstadt. In this medieval centre the commerce flourished and the handicrafts created many useful and beautiful things. |
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The festival begins each year at the end of August with wonderful manifestations both at the museums and in open-air. The participants parade, when people are wearing their medieval costumes, follows the main routes of the old city of Sibiu : The Great Square, The Small Square, The Goldsmith Square, The Citadel Street, The Lies Bridge... This parade starts from Cisnadie Gate and continues its way to the Great Square. Here it is built a stage where takes place the official opening of the festival. All the knights and princesses are introduced one by one. Also they present the rules of the contest for gaining the title "The Knight of the Citadel". It is introduced the staff of the festival : the master of ceremonies, the leader of each guild called Staroste, the princess of the town, the buffoon, the executioner (hangman) and, of course, the squires of the town. The headquarters of the festival is placed inside The Centre of Touristic Information in the Great Square of Sibiu. Here you can obtain all sort of useful data concerning the program of the festival or the touristic potential of the region. Specific for the Middle Age are the fights between knights. These fights (also called tournaments) are taken place several times during the three days of the festival and they are considered to be the utmost spectacular events among all. The favorite places are the squares of the Upper Town. The audience can compare different styles of fight coming from the main knights' schools of Transylvania : Medias, Sibiu, Brasov etc. |
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The festival includes several tours of the museums where the specialists present to the interested public the medieval history of Sibiu. Another emotional part of the festival consists of many concerts of medieval music. The well known participants are :
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On the stage built in the Great Square the public can watch medieval plays as comedies of manners or folk artists. Each evening people bring together at the club of the festival where they can change impressions related to the manifestations they have seen. For example, a tradition of the festival is called "The Land of lovers" which brings in the foreground the platonic love, humorous moments, weekend marriages and a lot of medieval music.The Tower of the City Council a monument of the medieval architecture, initially the entry-gate of the second belt of fortifications, now offers a unique panorama of the entire Sibiu and its environs. |
At the ending festivity it is awarded "the Knight of the Citadel" title. At this edition of the festival this title was granted to the Mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Johannis. In the end, people can participate to a great concert of medieval music and in the end they can enjoy the impressive fireworks.
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