Transylvania, Romania: Public Shaming and The Birthplace of The Devil

Transylvania, Romania:
Public Shaming and The Birthplace of The Devil

Transylvania offers medieval towns, majestic castles, and places dedicated to lies. It’s bigger than Dracula but let’s not kid ourselves - we’re here for the Halloween fun this week.

Tomorrow, we will take a deep breathe and enjoy the ultimate Relaxation itinerary. These tables are handy to keep - a blister or bear attack may convert your Cultural plans into Relaxation plans.
- Cris

Day 1: Public Shaming and the Start of The Christmas Season

Council Square (Piața Sfatului)

Head to the Council Square to get caught up on town business. The houses around the square tell a spooky history. In the middle of the square there is a pillory, which was used for public humiliation, punishment and contempt. Women who constantly argued with each other were placed up there until they worked it out and stopped the arguing. Witches were punished here, and Stefan Stenert, head of the shoemakers' guild who opposed the entry of the Austrian team into Brasov, was beheaded here in 1688. The phrase ‘go along to get along’ seems appropriate.

St. Nicholas Church

The Romanian tradition is that St. Nicholas comes with gifts on the night between December 5 and December 6. He places the gifts in everyone's recently polished boots, except for those who have been naughty - they receive a whip or a stick instead, as punishment. Children put out their largest pair of boots in hopes of receiving great presents. St. Nicholas Church is stunningly beautiful, which seems fitting for the Saint tasked with kicking off the holiday season each year. Inside are murals of Romania’s last king and queen, covered by plaster to protect them from communist leaders and uncovered in 2004.

Day 2: Dracula and A Saint

Bran Castle (aka Dracula’s Castle)

We’re in Transylvania to pay homage (joking) to the story of Dracula by Bram Stoker. The Bran Castle became famous because it had the ‘right look’ for film crews in the area who made the initial Dracula movie. Throw in the history that Vlad the Impaler briefly owned the castle and voila! Instant celebrity status. You are in the Carpathian Mountains, which are legitimately spooky, with fantastic views. Pack a jacket because the chill sets in deep when touring the Castle. Especially in the dungeons (not joking).

Church of St. Michael

If you wanted to build the second largest Church in Romania, how do you pay for it? With Indulgences, of course. Indulgences were a little piece of paper in the 14th century that essentially gave you forgiveness for your sins in exchange for money, and were how the town paid to build the Church of St. Michael. This practice is not as common today because people struggle to believe that you can buy your way into heaven. Times change. We also are not building many large Cathedrals or Churches anymore (this does not count the renovations or continued constructions of project such as La Sagrada Familia).

Kids Having a Halloween Party?

Music, food, games, ways to entertain them until their parents pick them up….oh no. The Halloween Party Pack has you covered. As a purely digital download, you’ll have it in plenty of time to make the grocery list.

Day 3: Fire and The Birthplace of The Devil

Sighișoara Citadel

Sighișoara Citadel is your time machine back to the Medieval Ages. In 1999 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today it is the only medieval fortress in Europe that was and - still is - inhabited. You think that life today is rough? In addition to the periodic invasions of other peoples, Sighisoara also had to face epidemics of plague, earthquakes and fires. Oh wait, maybe we can learn how they survived. One example of ‘oops’ was in April 1676 when a fire started in the house of a widowed woman who forgot a burning fire while washing clothes. The fire spread to the attic of the house and from there to other houses. So, 70% of the city of Sighisoara burned down. Later, the houses were rebuilt in brick and stone to withstand other such calamities. And yes, we still wash clothes so some things haven’t changed.

Birthplace of The Devil

While in Bran Village, pop up the stairs to see Casa Vlad Dracul where Vlad the Impaler (born Vlad Tepes) was born. In Romania the word Dracul means the devil, hence the origin of the Bram Stoker novel Dracula. Vlad was probably just a cute little kid when he lived here but man - times change. He took a very bad turn later in later, hence the nickname of ‘Impaler.’

A Few Days Away and Lies

Travel: Is a Suite available?
Lies: And the bridge earned its name.
Training: No bridge is required.

Day 4: Dearly Departed and Lies

Sibiu Old Town

Located in central Romania, the city of Sibiu is known for Germanic architecture in its old town, the legacy of 12th-century Saxon settlers. Around the city are the remains of medieval walls and towers, including the 13th-century Council Tower. The nearby Evangelical Cathedral has gravestones in its walls. With respect, I think that putting gravestones into a wall is a great way to save space while also easily remembering the dearly departed (or the ‘thank God they are gone’).

The Bridge of Lies

When you wanted to meet someone for a first date - and your chaperone approved! - you met at The Bridge of Lies. This bridge gets its name because dating apps weren’t the first time that people would say anything (lies, all lies) to get a second date 😀 I do find it appealing that you KNEW it was all lies and so could test the creativity of a future spouse. Count how many people get smacked by their spouse on this bridge because they forgot where they were and said ‘I love you.’

Actually, none of that was true. Due to the fact that it was the first bridge not built on pillars, it was called “the lying bridge”. In German the word “lying" (lugenmarchen) was similar to the word “lie" and thus the locals began calling it the Bridge of Lies which is why the legends around its name appeared. The legend says that the bridge will collapse if someone sits on it and tells a lie. It’s just a bridge but the stories surrounding it are extremely entertaining.

Tomorrow, we will explore the Relaxation appeal of Transylvania. After torture, lies, and Dracula, I might be twitching too much to relax. Maybe I should have started with relaxation.

See you tomorrow.

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