16. Huet Square – The House of the Journeymen

Keep going westward and look for the huge portal, which was one of the former main entrances to the church. From the top of the wall in front of it, you can enjoy the view of the brick roofs with eyes and furnaces. Looking down, notice the buttresses and the interlocking of three defense walls flanking the Huet Square.
Nearby, an interesting pillar will draw your attention. Stung by many nails, buttons and other metal objects, and with a stone dragon on top, it holds the memories of the traveling journeymen. In ancient times, they stayed at the House of the Journeymen during their initiation journey. According to tradition, before becoming a master craftsman, an apprentice had to go to another guild city to gain experience by working in the local workshops. Only with a letter of recommendation, the apprentice deserved his place in the guild.

In Sibiu, this house preserved its function, being the birthplace of today’s journeymen. During summer, young craftsmen dressed in the traditional costumes and hats of their guilds, fill the historic center with the atmosphere of the crafts from the old days. The sound of their tools tells the workshops apart: blacksmiths, carpenters or stonemasons.
Before departing the city, leave a small souvenir or lucky talisman in the pillar of the Journeymen.

Before you walk down the stairs below the tower, look at the buildings on the right. You will certainly notice a facade with a gothic stone filigree portal. There is a Renaissance coat of arms above it, made for the priest Johannes of Alțâna by the most famous stonemason of the time, Andreas Lapicida. The facade of the upper floor has three mural paintings on it, representing St. John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus, and the coat of arms of the King of Hungary, Matei Corvin.

🤔 Did you know?

🔍 Before leaving on his initiation journey, a journeyman had to meet certain criteria: he had to be younger than 30, unmarried, without children or debts, and he had to have no quarrel with anyone in the community.

🔍 Among the symbols on the stone blazon, you will see a lion with a cross and a crown - the coat of arms of Johannes of Alțâna, and in the four corners, depictions of the priest, of Saint John the Baptist, of Emperor Frederick III and of Pope Alexander VI Borgia.

🔍 Over time, Huet Square was known as "Friedhof", "Kirchhof" or "Griviței” Square.