Tag: Transylvania

A Brief History Of Sibiu/Hermannstadt, Transylvania, Romania

Sibiu (or Hermannstadt as it is known in standard German/Hochdeutsch as well as H쎤rmeschtat or Hermestatt in the Transylvanian Saxon dialect) has been and is one of the most important historical towns in Transylvania and in Romania in general, a noteworthy urban centre in cultural, historical, and ecclesiastical/religious regards for both the Transylvanian Romanians and…


A Brief History Of Mediaș/Mediasch, Transylvania, Romania

Media좙 (known in Standard German/Hochdeutsch as Mediasch, historically also as Medwisch, and in the Transylvanian Saxon dialect as Medwesch or Meddesch respectively) has been one of the most important urban settlements in southern Transylvania and one of the most important historical towns of the Transylvanian Saxons (known in German as ‘Siebenb쎼rger Sachsen‘, i.e. Seven Citadels’/Castles’…


The History Of The Zipser Germans In Central Europe

The Zipser Germans (German: Zipser/Zipser Deutsche/Zipser Sachsen) are an important historical German-speaking minority in Central and Eastern Europe, which has been living since the High Middle Ages in present-day north-eastern Slovakia and since the Modern period in northern Romania as well (i.e. in the historical regions of Maramure좙 and Bukovina/Bucovina/Bukowina/Buchenland). The Zipser Germans gained their…


Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Possibly Inspired By An Irish Legend

The highly popular Gothic horror character created by Bram Stoker in his 1897 novel entitled ‘Dracula’ might had actually been inspired from an Irish folk legend instead of the historical prince of Wallachia Vlad III Dracul (Vlad III the Dragon) who reigned during the late Middle Ages. While the most popular theory regarding Dracula’s origin…


The History Of The Medieval Saxon Fortified Churches In Transylvania

Since the High Middle Ages, a German-speaking population known as the슠Transylvania Saxons has been continuously living in southern and north-eastern Transylvania, present-day Romania. One of their greatest historical achievements is represented by슠a series of fortified churches, compactly spread in the proximity of the Carpathian mountain range. These peasant citadels (as opposed to their fortified cities)…