9. The Council Tower - the passage to the Small Square

Raised in the 15th century, it remains one of the best preserved Gothic monuments in the country. During your walk up to Mitropoliei Street, you will notice the stone frames of the windows, the bay window and the street loggia.  The building is also called "The Old City Hall", being the seat of the institution from 1545 to 1947. It had a number of other functions, being the headquarters of the Saxon University archives, the city jail, the forest district, the court of law, the city police, the fire department, the city’s construction company, and a depot of the Brukenthal Museum. The History Museum was inaugurated after a major renovation in 1990.  The name of the building preserves the memory of the owner who erected the Gothic edifice, Thomas Altemberger. For 20 years, he served as Sibiu’s mayor, and he became a royal judge. His name has also remained in history due to the manuscript "Codex Altemberger", a collection of laws gifted to the city. His success and wealth, which made possible the construction of one of the most imposing houses in the city in the 15th century, was also due to the marriage with Affra of Salzburg from Ocna Sibiului. After Altemberger's death, Affra married Johann Lulay, a Transylvanian Saxon Count.  Above the main gate, there is a stone plate with a Latin text dedicated to Emperor Joseph II. Visit the History Museum and you will find out more about the history of Sibiu.  If you do not have enough time, spend 10 minutes in the courtyard and the inner garden. The tower house, the wooden balcony and the blazons carved in stone are just a few items to note.  Unique in Transylvania, the garden loggia dates back to 1491. In the keystone, you will find the coat of arms of Altemberger and Affra. The stone statuettes carved by Andreas Lapicida himself will surely impress you.  🤔 Did you know? 🔍 There is a statue in the courtyard of the Altemberger House, called “The Iron Soldier”. It was made from wood in 1915, and plated with metal (mail and rivets). The mail is plastered with the initials or the names of those who donated money in a fundraising event for the war widows. 🔍 One of the exhibitions of the history museum presents the evolution of the human communities in the Southern Transylvania. 🔍 One of the most beautiful rooms in the building is the assembly room of the Sibiu Magistrate.

Return to the Stairs Tower, transformed into the House of the Journeyman. You are walking under one of the oldest defense buildings of the city, built of stone in the 12th century. The tower served as the gateway to the first fortification enclosure. Through this gate, the inhabitants of Cibiniensis retreated to the shelter of their walls, in case of invasions. A Mongol siege devastated the city in 1241, which was the reason why the inhabitants put a lot of effort into developing the fortification system. After the first stairs, enjoy the ambiance of the inner courtyard on your right, surrounded by stone walls and a wooden tower. The tower belongs to the "Church of the Asylum", the first church of the city, transformed since the thirteenth century into a hall to care for the sick. Today, it is an Orthodox church, and its entrance is from the Asylum Street. Maybe the items displayed in the windows of the local shops, or the flavors of tasty treats seeping from the kitchens of the nearby restaurants will tempt you. In case you resist the temptations (or not), turn left under the curved buttresses. Gaze upward to see how steep the slope below the church tower is. Whether you choose to climb the stairs, or go around the wall on the path to the right, pay attention to the details around. The tunes of some musical instruments will reveal the building of the Art High School, on your right. The street is split in two by a former fortified wall. If you are close enough to the door of the high school, you will be able to admire the height of the tower house - part of the History Museum - the Altemberger House. 🤔 Did you know? 🔍 There was a garden in front of the tower house, known as the "Martyrs' Garden". It is said that the convicts were locked in the cellars of the building, and they were tortured below this garden to extract confessions. 🔍 The legend says that due to the arched shape, the street to the left side of the wall was named "The Dog's Spine". 🔍 The path below the Stairs Tower leads to Cibin Market. If you have time, the cheese tastings offered in the dairy hall are worth a gastronomic break.

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.

You are in front of the tower marking the highest point in the city. It is the tower of the Evangelical Church of Augustan confession "St. Mary”, and it reaches a height of about 74 m.  Considered by architects a "Gothic jewel" of Transylvania, the construction probably began in the thirteenth century. During the fourteen century, the present church was built over the foundations of the first building.  The church was improved in both structure and style. The walls were raised and the nave widened. The tower was gradually heightened, receiving the four turrets in the fifteenth century. Different flags were raised on the turrets to send messages to the community (black in case of mourning).  You can hear the sound of the three huge bells (they have over 5 tons!) through the stone windows below the rooftop. The current clock was put into operation in 1881. It is regarded as the most precise clock in Sibiu, so now is a good moment to set your watch ... to the time of the city.  At the beginning of the 20th century, the roof was decorated with glazed tiles. The current model is due to a recent, thorough restoration. The motifs of the facade restore the elegance and harmony of the mature Gothic style.  The statue of the evangelical bishop George Daniel Teutsch was raised in front of the church.    The interior will impress you with its high vaults, its columns supporting the choir, and the stained windows. The details of the facade of the pipe organ, the baroque altars and stuccos will draw your eyes.  The conversion of the Saxon community to the evangelical religion after the Protestant Reformation in 1517 is reflected in some details. For example, the fresco painted in 1445 by the master Johannes de Rosenau was modified. Today we can see Mary with baby Jesus in her arms, but also the sun with which they covered this detail. Although the evangelical religion has removed the Cult of Saints, the church is still known as the Evangelical Church of Augustinian Confession "Saint Mary", an antagonistic expression in this context.  On the western side, the nave houses an impressive collection of funerary stones. They are worth a visit, if access is allowed. From the inside, the enclosure is separated from the main nave, and from the outside, it seems to support the tall tower.    🤔 Did you know? 🔍 The tower to the left of the main entrance houses the spiral stairs leading to the roof and to the church tower. There is an inscription under the roof: 1520 - the year when the tower was finished. 🔍 In 1803, Baron Samuel von Brukenthal was the last personality buried in the church, after such burials were banned in 1796. 🔍 One of the oldest funerary stones in the nave dates from 1510, and it belongs to the son of Vlad Țepeș, Mihnea vodă cel Rău, assassinated in the Huet Square.  • The church and the tower are closed for restoration until 2021. 

Once you have crossed the Bridge of Lies, look at the pavement stones. You will notice a darker color band that marks the place of the first ring of defense. Step over this line, and you are in Huet Square, the epicenter of Sibiu. The Saxons arrived here in the 12th century, and they began the construction of the first church and the first defensive wall. After city’s fortifications were extended, the houses in Huet Square were built on the first walls of defense. The square took the name of Albert Huet, Sibiu’s Royal Judge in the sixteenth century. Follow the buildings to the left, the reverse of those from the Lesser Square. On the right side, you can admire the outside of the Evangelical Church and the entrance to the sacristy. If you are lucky, you will hear the rehearsals of the Bach Choir. Close to the Shoemakers Passage, the dark gray cubic stones take the shape of a circle. They mark the place of the Graf’s Chapel. Before entering the church gates, the same type of stones marks the outline of another chapel. According to various sources, it was dedicated to Saint Ladislau and / or Jacob. The mystery is still waiting to be solved. In this area, the Priests Gate Tower closed the first ring of fortifications, towards Mitropoliei Street. Nearby, there was a building dedicated to teaching, certified in 1380. In the eighteenth century, the National College "Samuel von Brukenthal" was built on the foundations of this building. Above the main entrance of the high school, there is an inscription reading "ERVDITIONI. VIRTVTI.AC.EXEMPLIS.SACRA "-" A place for culture, virtues and models ". Today, the space is dedicated to various cultural, crafting, or gastronomic events. Every Friday, the "Green Friday” market of the organic producers from Sibiu County takes place here. During summer, the travelling journeymen hold open workshops, to show how the craftsmen of the past worked wood and metal. Sometimes, passers-by can witness outdoor exhibitions or special concerts. 🤔 Did you know? 🔍 Baron Samuel von Brukenthal was a pupil of the Samuel von Brukenthal College. In his will, he donated his wealth to the evangelical school and church. The humanist Nicolaus Olahus also studied here in the 16th century, and the pedagogue Stefan Ludwig Roth in the 19th century. 🔍 The school was completed in 1781, as it is written above the main portal. 🔍The school and the church have the same courtyard. During class breaks, the college students share the recreation space with the passers-by and visitors.

You have often heard the word "ASTRA", the abbreviation for the “Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and the Culture of the Romanian People”, established in Sibiu in 1861. The Orthodox bishop Andrei Șaguna became its first president, while the most famous intellectuals of the time became members. Its goals included supporting research, publishing in Romanian, setting up municipal libraries and organizing exhibitions. Thus, on August 19, 1905 they opened the first exhibition, giving birth to what became the ASTRA National Museum Complex. The temporary exhibitions of the museum can also be visited in the galleries of the House of Arts. The same building also hosted the “Emil Sigerus Museum of Saxon Ethnography and Folk Art”, which is now included in the ASTRA Multicultural Pavilion in Dumbrava Sibiului. The ASTRA open-air museum is among the most well-known and appreciated centers in the world that maintain the authentic traditional spirit. Do not hesitate: the open-air museum is an invitation to explore the pre-industrial rural universe of Romania. You will be able to admire traditional houses from different regions of the country. You will have the opportunity to explore the workshops and learn the secrets of the folk crafts. Above all, you can enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere of a corner of timeless and spaceless Romania. The sight of the windmills reflected in the lake’s mirror will delight you. There's no place for boredom! The agenda of interactive events has surprises for everyone, regardless of age! Depending on your available time you could walk for kilometers on the museum’s alleys, use a carriage or an electric scooter. If, in the meantime, you become hungry or thirsty, try the tasty food of the Folk Fair, maybe even during a gastronomic event in progress. 🤔 Did you know? 🔍 In 2019, the ASTRA Museum was awarded three Michelin stars. 🔍 ASTRA is the Latin name for celestial bodies or stars. 🔍 One of the most modern restoration centers in the country operates within the museum. A 2000 years old Egyptian mummy will enter the restoration and conservation process. It was exhibited until 2019 in the "Franz Binder" Museum.

The Bridge of Lies can be found on all the lists of landmarks to be visited in Sibiu. It is said to have been the meeting point of young Sibian ladies and the Austro-Hungarian soldiers who came to the city. Here, eternal love was professed, and worthless vows were made. The deceived girls cursed the bridge to crumble with those who uttered a lie while walking on it. Another legend tells of false prophets, hung by this bridge. Other sources believe that the name was due to conflicts between merchants and locals. Being very demanding, the people of Sibiu confronted the producers who sold bad merchandise, and the bridge became a famous bad place. Regardless of period and legend, it is certain that the Bridge of Lies has become a symbol of the city, the first cast-iron bridge built in the country - in 1859. The black structure is embellished with beautiful gothic plant ornaments, along with golden symbols and characters. The present links the bridge to new customs that give birth to other legends, such as the locks. Since the bridge is a historical monument, the locks hanging on its rails are removed periodically. That is the time when the love locked on the bridge will melt in the recycled metal. No matter the legend you believe in, give yourself a moment on this bridge between truth and lie, a bridge which links, or separates the Lesser Square from the Huet Square and the Upper Town from the Lower Town. 🤔 Did you know? 🔍 One of the explanations for the name of the Bridge comes from two German homophone words: Liegenbrücke (the “Lain Bridge”) and Lügenbrücke (the “Bridge of Lies”). 🔍 The bridge was inaugurated in December 17, 1860. 🔍 The street below the Bridge leads to the Dragon Square and Ocnei Street.

The historical tint of the Small Square will entice your curiosity. Learn more about homes with legs and eyes. We invite you to go on foot or just with your eyes to the building that clearly draws your attention, the Luxembourg House. The red - orange one to the left of the Bridge of Lies. Nearby, on the same side, you will find the open loggias of the houses preserved since the XV-XVI centuries. Among these, the Shoemakers’ passage connects the Small Square with the Huet Square. Further to the left, you will notice a facade different from the rest, shaped as turreted stairs - the Hermes House.  Across the road, you can see the northern side of the Roman Catholic Church, and the entrance to the former crypt, turned into a café-bookstore in 2007. The Roman Catholic parish, built in the Baroque style in the eighteenth century by Jesuit monks, is attached to the church building.  The row of arches continues to the left of the Council Tower. Until the 19th - 20th centuries, the buildings hosted a grocery store, a cloth shop, a pharmacy, a musical instrument store and a butcher's shop. On the corner, beneath the Goldsmiths Stairs Tower, you can descend to the market with the same name.  Further on, the loggia of the House of Arts will entice you. Take a walk under the picturesque arches, next to the Astra galleries. From here, you can admire and purchase authentic traditional souvenirs.  Upstairs, you can admire the temporary exhibitions of the ASTRA National Museum Complex. A medallion with the city's coat of arms decorates the facade.  It is hard to imagine that you are in a former butcher's house, isn’t it? Just a few steps away, passers-by rush to take a photo on the Bridge of Lies.    🤔 Did you know?    🔍 Until 2019, “Hermes House” hosted the "Franz Binder Museum", the first Museum of Universal Ethnography in Romania. Today, the building is the headquarters of Astra Film Fest. 🔍 Between 1877 and 1883, George Barițiu lived in the Lesser Square, at the number 26. The same building housed the editorial room of the “Transilvania” magazine and the newspaper “Observatorul”, both founded by Barițiu. 🔍 The almond-shaped skylights / roof windows are specific to the historical center of Sibiu. They are known as "Sibiu’s eyes". 

Passing under the Council Tower, you reach the Small Square. Built on the second ring of fortifications, it has a crescent shape. When the defensive walls of Sibiu were expanded, the original ones were included in the new buildings. This explains how the Small Square retains the form of the defensive enclosure built in the 13th century.  In the tall houses built by the craftsmen, the family home occupied the upper floor, while the workshop and the shop were set on the ground level. The merchandise was displayed under the vaults of the loggias, so that the passers-by could admire it even in case of bad weather. It can be said that the Small Square became a sort of city "mall". The tailors took the measurements in their hall. One could buy the day’s remedies at the site of the present pharmacy museum, and there was a butchery in the House of Arts. The facades supported by arches create a renaissance ambiance, typical for the 15th - 16th centuries.  This is where the fairs moved from the Grand Square, and, together with the workshops, they made the Small Square the “universe of commerce”.  Today, the space represents a multifunctional scene for the most interesting events in the city. The Book Fair turns the square into an open-air library. Modern craftsmen meet here at the ”Handmade Products” festival. The fashion shows held during the “Feeric Fashion Days” take place on the most spectacular suspended scenes.  To allow the beautiful volleyball players to play beach volleyball in the heart of the city, the Small Square is filled with 350 cubic meters of sand during the “Sibiu Sands” sporting event.  Whether you discovered the Small Square for the first time, or you visited it countless times, take a break and enjoy something tasty on a sunny terrace, or, in case of bad weather, behind the windows, or under the arches. Only this way you could really feel the bustle of the tourists and locals swarming around.    🤔 Did you know?    🔍 In order to be able to sell in the Sibiu market, the merchants were obliged, besides the tax imposed, to donate a stone as large as possible. The stones were used in the construction of the fortification system. 🔍 Since 1600, the pharmacy „La Ursul Negru" (The black bear) operated in the building now hosting the pharmacy museum. 🔍 During the communist period, the Small Square was named "March 6th Square."