2. Important events in the history of Sibiu

The Saxons founded the settlement in the 12th century, after arriving in Southern Transylvania at the invitation of King Geza II, to defend the borders of Hungary. In exchange for their military services, the Saxons were rewarded with privileges. The Golden Bull, issued in 1224 by Andrei II, the king of Hungary, was one of them. In 1366, Sibiu was attested as a city, under the name "Hermannstadt". At that time, it numbered about 1900 inhabitants and it had 13 guilds, leading to the development of trade. Also in that century, a library, a school, a hospital and a mint were mentioned. In 1692, due to the city’s economic development, urban evolution and completion of its fortification system, Sibiu became Transylvania’s capital (until 1791). The city kept pace with the urban centers of the time, and the following century saw the opening of the first public museum in Southeastern Europe (1817), the building of the railway (1872) and the introduction of electricity (1897).

December 1, 1918, marked the unification of Transylvania with Romania, starting a new stage in Sibiu's life. The ethnic structure of the city changed. Massive emigration of the Saxon population and immigration of Romanian inhabitants from other regions took place. The city adapted to the industrialization era.
In December 1989, Sibiu was among the first cities in the country to join the revolution against the communist regime.

In 2007, Sibiu became the first city in Romania to acquire the title of European Capital of Culture. Since 2011, Sibiu is the only Romanian destination with 3 *** Michelin stars. ASTRA Museum received the same number of Michelin stars in 2014.
May 9, 2019 has remained in Sibiu's history due to the Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government of the European Union, which took place here. In 2019, the whole region became a European Region of Gastronomy. In 2021, the city will be the European Capital of Hiking.

🤔 Did you know?

🔍 There is a chronicle of the most important events in Sibiu from 1100 to 1929. The author is the historian, ethnographer and writer Emil Sigerus (1854 - 1947).

🔍 Some key data in the history of the city: 1494 - the first pharmacy, 1525 - the first printing press, 1534 - the first paper mill, 1560 - the first book in Romanian language, 1717, the first brewery.

🔍 The collective rights of the Transylvanian Saxons included, among other things, exemption from taxes, the right to choose the royal judge, and later to elect the mayor.

🔍 The "red city" is one of the "nicknames" of the city, received after a failed Turkish siege. Probably due to the color of the walls, Sibiu is described as "the red city", impossible to conquer. Its fortifications have never been breached.