Ah, Sibiu. You were a weirdly attractive find in the middle of Romania. Even though I only had a few hours one morning to roam your cobbled lanes and discover your secrets, I will never forget you.
If you haven’t heard about Sibiu before, let me introduce you to one of the most uniquely stunning towns in Transylvania. Built in the 12th century by German Transylvanian Saxons and located in the heart of the country, Sibiu was and still remains one of the most prominent cultural centers in Romania and Eastern Europe.
After that description, I bet you’re ready to pack your bags, hop on a plane, and rush off to Romania, right? Well, what if I told you that Sibiu is the city where the houses have eyes?
Gasp!
YUP, EYES!
You heard me right. While I was performing my pre-trip research, I heard about this crazy town in Transylvania where the houses have eyes. Well shoot, why wouldn’t I try to visit this place?
Sure, you can think that the houses are alive and watching you like Big Brother. During the time of the evil dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, I’m sure that the houses only added to the disturbing thought that the locals were being watched, even by inanimate objects.
Nevertheless, the eyes serve a more practical purpose. Built mostly between the 15th and 19th centuries, the eye-shaped windows were added to houses to assist in cooling the attics.
Although Ceaușescu has been dead for about 30 years now, the eyes are still there, always watching, never sleeping. And hey, they never blinked when I tried to photograph them! Here are some of my favorite pictures from Sibiu – the Transylvanian town where the houses have eyes!
Strolling around the Piața Mare or hugging the old wall fortifications, you’ll find yourself followed by the unblinking stares of the colorful houses of Sibiu. I couldn’t get enough of this architectural oddity, one that I haven’t seen anywhere else in the world!
One of the big draws to Sibiu is the infamous Bridge of Lies, a pedestrian bridge in the center of town. Originally built in the mid 17th century, the Bridge of Lies was constructed out of wood, connecting the Lower and Upper parts of town. 200 years after the initial completion, the bridge was rebuilt and became the first cast iron bridge in Romania.
With a name such as the Bridge of Lies, the structure is just begging to have fascinating legends associated with it, no? The most famous legend says that the bridge listens to those pedestrians who deem truthful enough to cross. Every time someone tells a lie while crossing the bridge, it creaks. Most locals avoid this bridge, fearing the day that a big enough lie is told and brings the bridge crashing down.
Of course, other lesser-accepted legends are told about the bridge, including wedding night vows, witches, and liar merchants. Whether or not you believe in the local lore, one thing is for certain: The Bridge of Lies is beautiful.
One of my favorite things to see in Romania were the “secret” courtyards around town. Walking down the street, you might see a dilapidated door, covered in scratches, maybe some graffiti, falling off the hinge. If you’re lucky enough and the crumbling door is swung open, you might be able to catch a glimpse of Narnia at the other end.
Seriously – I loved peering through these open doors, briefly taking a gander at the beauty that lay at the end of the literal tunnel.
I never stayed long, because honestly, who likes to have a stranger creeping around your front door?
As I saw more and more of these courtyards, I began to realize just how much the people of Romania love their green spaces and lush gardens!
I live in a young country where even the oldest buildings are only 150 years old. It boggles my mind to visit towns that have been in known existence for almost 10 times that long. Walking along the cobblestone streets, taking in the aged buildings full of history makes me wish that walls and streets could talk.
Oh, the stories they would tell!
Every turn I took, every narrow walkway I traversed, I imagined what it must have been like walking these paths during the 1200s. The 1500s. The 1900s.
And how colorful the buildings are! I wonder if the reasoning for painting houses a variety of colors was pure vanity…or if there was genius behind that decision. Think how much easier it would be to tell your friends “I live in the green house with eyes and red shutters!”
Have you heard about Sibiu before? Can you believe that the houses have eyes? Aren’t they crazy? Have you seen them before?
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