The road from Brasov to Sighisoara (Schassburg) is a real delight for the moto enthusiast with its high quality asphalt, high-speed sweepers and tight hairpins twisting through the forests and the villages. Several roadside spots permit great picnicking and even a spring for washing our fresh apricots from the market!

Saxon fortified churches are nestled in the heart of almost every village. The distinct church steeple can be seen with the remains of its towering defensive walls (often an inner and outer wall can be seen). The churches were initially reinforced to provide refuge from the Tartars. The addition of the walls and towers were to build a defense against the Turks. Each one is different reflecting the diversity of the communities in which the people reside.

Approaching Sighisoara, we stopped to wander the remains of a fortified church in Saschiz. We photographed the hillside ruins in Rupea which were another striking sight.

We arrived into the medieval city of Sighisoara just as the sun was setting to locate lodging in the heart of the citadel with the Coroian family. Truly one of our most luxurious accomodations, sleeping in a 500-year old home with a 100-year old bed. By night, Teo Coroian is an IT engineer at a local cheese factory. By day, he runs Teo’s Distillery. He married into a family that had a long tradition of distilling plum, apple and pear and aging them into fine brandies and fruit wines. Teo credits his wife’s father with teaching him the secrets passed down through three generations. In addition to recently opening three guestrooms on-site, he is renovating a cellar to expand his business. For more information, we recommend your visit to http://www.delateo.com/

Sighisoara is a real treat. It has become one of Romania’s premier attractions. As a result, the prices have adjusted upward as well—in the 50-80 Euros ($60-100) per night. The charm of sleeping in the citadel and being only a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Vlad Tepes is priceless (and yes, for all of the rest of the souvenirs in the citadel, there is Mastercard!).

We enjoyed the view of the sun setting behind the citadel’s tower from the terrace of our favorite restaurant, Quattro Amici. Our waiter, Marius with his pocket PC ready to take the order, certainly ensured our return visit each evening with an excellent selection of pizzas and pastas complemented with your choice of Romanian beer or wine!

Good lodging, good food, good company, and walks through the medieval city ensure this city’s bid as being the most romantic city in Romania! Then again, perhaps any medieval city is magical when witnessed for the first time in the evening light. – BGR & HSR