“Romania 🇷🇴 ~Sighisoara Citadel, and German Clock Tower in Medieval Town”
I wanted to go to this medieval town, way back in 2013 on my first trip to Romania. I was traveling with a girlfriend who was a blast to travel with, but she got homesick really easy, so our trips together were never long enough for me!
Finally, today, I got to go to Sighisorara, and it did not disappoint. Daryl and I both loved it. Every day we spend in Romania’s Transylvania region is a history lesson. Craft guilds, counts, religious reformations, sieges, great fires, ancient trading routes; and SO many myths, legends and narratives are wrapped-up in this part of Romania.
Strolling through the UNESCO-listed Historic Center of Sighisoara in the heart of Transylvania, might be the best, most immersive tutorial of all. We took the time to soak up the eerie-yet-alluring atmosphere of Europe’s last remaining, inhabited medieval citadel.
Like other cities in the region, Sighisoara was established in the 12th century by the Saxons, a group of German-born craftspeople and merchants who were dispatched to Transylvania by their Hungarian overlords. The idea was to push the kingdom’s boundaries and shore up vulnerable mountain passes from Ottoman and Tatar invasion. Bringing their various trades with them, the craftsmen and their families established Sighisoara; then called Schaasburgas a successful frontier community and trading hub. Other artisans followed, and eventually Sighisoara was home to 15 flourishing trade guilds.
Each guild took responsibility for the maintenance in time of peace and defense during attacks of a tower named after their craftsmanship, for example, the Blacksmiths’ Tower or the Goldsmiths’ Tower. The local importance of the guild was also reflected in the dimensions and endowment of their towers. Even the members of the local council were in charge of defending the city from their own tower; the Clock Tower, which guarded one of the main access routes to the Upper Town.
During the violent 15th century, Sighisoara became the second political center of Transylvania, after Sibiu. During this century, its Romanian name of Sighisoara was first mentioned in a document by Prince Vlad Dracul, who was the ruler of the territory; south from the Carpathians, and the father of Vlad the Impaler who was born here in Sighisoara. While we know for a fact, of his birthplace being Sighisoara, there is no actual historical proof of which house he was bad born in.
Many consider Sighisoara’s old town to be one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in all of Europe. In 1999, the Historical Center was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and recognised as a relic of Transylvanian Saxon culture.
Like so many other places we have explored, we once again made our way up another cobblestone road to reach the exciting point of interest. In this case, today, it was a Medieval Citadel, splendidly authentic, and loved on. The streets, the homes, the old shops; everything was so old and in such good shape, considering. It made for a fun atmosphere.
The Clock Tower of Sighișoara is the city’s symbol and its main tourist attraction. It was built in the 14th century as a gate tower to guard the entrance into the citadel. At first, it only consisted of the ground floor and two floors. In the 16th century two floors were added, a balcony and a roof. We don’t know how the shape of the roof was built because in 1676 there was a fire which destroyed it. After the fire, the roof was rebuilt into the five turrets baroque masterpiece with bulbs that one can admire today. It has a golden scope on the top of which there is a meteorological pole ending in a rooster figurine rotating in the wind.
Climbing up the Clock Tower is an absolute must in Sighisoara! It will cost you next to nothing, and the views are beautiful. Parts of this building date back to the 14th century, and I’m sure you can understand why it was built; as a lookout point over the city walls.
The legend of the Clock Tower
It is said that, after a lot of hard work completing the tower, the townspeople felt that their building was missing something. They concluded that they needed to put something valuable on top of the roof. They had heard of a giant who was said to make golden scopes , so they sent for him. The giant made the scope for the townspeople and placed it at the top of the roof, but then he warned them that the scope would stay there only until a man tall enough to reach it will come and take it away. When that day comes, the townspeople will have to give the scope to this man and let him leave the town. Even today the people who live in Sighișoara, are still afraid that one day someone will come and touch the scope, and that they will have to give it to him.
The Clock Tower
The most impressive feature of the tower is the clock, hence its name – The Clock Tower, built in Switzerland and installed in 1648. There are two clock faces. One on the facade, facing the lower city, is decorated with the wooden figurines, made by the sculptor Johann Kirschel. There are seven of them in total; each representing a day of a week. When operating, every day the clock’s mechanism rotates one of the figurines on the outside. The other facade, facing the citadel, also has a clock face and is decorated with the figurines symbolizing the Peace Goddess, Justice and Righteousness and Day and Night.
Nine towers still exist of the original 14, but most of them are closed for visitors. The Clock Tower, one of the symbols of Sighisoara, guards the citadel entry. The highest and the most imposing tower, was used until 1556, for the reunions of the Town Council. Due to its dimensions, the Clock Tower offers an excellent view from the last floor balcony over the historical center and the whole town of Sighisoara.
Today, the Clock Tower hosts the History Museum and each room has a thematic exhibition, starting from ancient times. You can even see the mechanism of the clock and the figurines that once announce the exact hour every single day for the past hundreds of years.
Entering through the gates, into the old town was like stepping back in time. Speaking of time, we climbed the enormous Clock Tower and though the clock does not appear to operated any longer, the stairway up to the top had floors with a few rooms set up in museum fashion. This would included the visual of the actual (non-working) mechanisms of the clock, as well as the puppet like characters that would turn in circles outside and inside the clock tower, when it operated. I thought it was very interesting, and would have LOVED to have seen it in its hey day, when it was in full operation.
In the 17th century, a two-plate clock, with figurines carved from linden wood, was set at the top of the tower, with one dial looking over the Lower Town (Orasul de Jos), and the other facing the citadel (cetate in Romanian, burg in German). The figurines, moved by the clock’s mechanism, each represent a different character. On the citadel side we see Peace holding an olive branch, accompanied by a drummer who is beating the hours on his bronze drum; above them are Justice, with a set of scales, and Law, wielding a sword, accompanied by two angels representing Day and Night. At 6 am, the angel symbolizing the day appears, marking the beginning of the working day and at 6 pm, the angel symbolizing the night comes out carrying two burning candles, marking the end of the working day.
The dial overlooking the Lower City features a set of seven figurines, each representing the pagan gods who personified the days of the week: Diane (Monday), Mars (Tuesday), Mercury (Wednesday), Jupiter (Thursday), Venus (Friday), Saturn (Saturday)and the Sun (Sunday).
Adding to the ambiance of feeling like we had stepped back in time, was a very talented violinist who played a series of great music to match the European scene. He had an amp, so his playing could be heard from the top of the tower, as well as from the clock base. It was quite special.
Overlooking the city of Sighisoara from the top of the clock tower was spectacular. We could get an almost 360 degree panoramic view from the top. We did not have the best weather on this day, but we managed to get rained on during our drive time, not so much as self-touring time, so that worked out great.
It was built in the early 20th century in a Neo-Byzantine architectural style and is a truly enormous building that demands any passer-by stop in their tracks to admire its dominant stature.
Join the Conversation
Archive Blog Posts of Our Country Visits
About Us
About Us
Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More
I have never thought much about Romania, a great read and photos
Most people don’t. Its very far East in Europe, and its is a real melting pot. I would not have wanted to go again, because I prefer new country visits, but Romania is the exception. I feel much more filled up on this country now, then when I came before. I wanted more time here, then. But, Romania was my inspiration to return and see all the Balkans. My list of favorites on this road trip Greece, Montenegro, Romania and Albania….but they have all been worth seeing!