Today we had a full day to tour the town of Sighişoara.

This is now a UNESCO site and one of the few preserved medieval villages where people still live and work.  Starting with the mid 12th century, German craftsmen and merchants known as the Transylvanian Saxons were invited to Transylvania by the then King of Hungary, Géza II, to settle and defend the frontier of his realm and improve the region’s economy.  They came here and populated hundreds of villages in Transylvania.

Sighișoara Clock Tower (Turnul cu Ceas) – the landmark of the city is a 215 ft-high tower built in the 13th century. Today it is a museum of history of the town.

Making the most of the setting sun light.

Inside Biserica din Deal (the Church on the Hill), located at the highest point in town.  To get there you walk up the oldest (built 1642) covered stairway in the world – going up 176 steps to the top of the town.

Construction of the church began in 1429 and 1488 – and like the rest of the churches we visited, converted to a Lutheran church in the mid 1500s.

Graveyard of the chuch.  Along with dignitaries and burgermeisters, there are plots for soldiers who died during WWI.

This is the birthplace of Vlad Țepeş (Dracula).  His father was a count/lord who held sway in the region.

View of the village from the top of the clock tower.

Gypsy Wagon.Roma Wagon.

  Wanderer Wagon.

In the afternoon we drove to a nearby village called Biertan.  It is higher up in the foothills and also has a preserved, fortified church.

View of Biertan from the top of the hill.

We then traveled further up to the end of the road, to a tiny and very rustic village called Copşa Mare.  One really feels like they are traveling back through time in some of these villages.