Aug 31 2025

We left the serenity of the Eastern Carpathians bound for the Transylvanian Platuea. Well, serenity except for the barking dogs (apparently barking at Mihael because he went for a “couldn’t sleep” walk!) and the roosters than need to get their clocks fixed. 

Our destination was the walled city of Sighisoara. Its various names throughout the ages meaning “six walls”. When you’re on to a good thing. A marvellous medieval city and our hotel (Wagner) was perched right in the square.

Géza II of Hungary invited the Saxons to this region both for their craftsmanship but also to defend his eastern border. Apparently Géza also liked to borrow money. When his debt got to questionable levels the town cleverly said “Look, we’ll forgive your debt if you leave us alone and let us do our own thing”. Thus the guilds became responsible for defending the city. 

The town is also known for Vlad Tepeş otherwise known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula. Well except that, while his dad lived here, he didn’t. (He might have been born here). And he ruled Wallachia to the south. The “Dracula” indicated son of Vlad Dracul meaning Vlad of the house of the dragon. The Vlads would probably have gone down in history as just ones of many brutal regional warlords but for Bram Stoker’s co-opting of the name for his books. 

This didn’t stop a whole (tourist) industry being born. Vlad slept here, Vlad ate here, Vlad drank here, Vlad impaled here. 

And apparently Vlad was a pretty all around good guy according to the revisionist history children’s educational cartoon in the Blacksmith’s Bastion.

It chanced that we arrived on the last day of the local cultural festival. It was such a joy sitting in the square (with a glass of wine) watching the various performances.. including Transylvania Elvis! 

Yes Lori was dragged up to dance at one point