Sighisoara Tour, A Glimpse Into the Past

Starting from the foot of the stairs leading to the Clock Tower is like stepping back into the medieval past, since this citadel, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, is the only still inhabited fortress in Europe. From the imposing Clock Tower, now open to the public as a History Museum, we proceed between the Dracula House, the possible birthplace of Vlad III the Impaler, the Wallachian voivode nicknamed Dracula, and the Dominican Monastery, with Dracula's Bust in the front. This will lead to the Main Square, venue of the yearly Medieval Arts'Festival, held here every summer, with knights fighting, pricesses dancing and a special eerie atmosphere. One ascent through the Covered Staircase, more than 350 years old, opens the way to the Hilltop Church, a remarkable late-Gothic masterpiece. The return through the cobbled narrow streets, by the Tinmakers' Bastion, back to Dracula House, now a fashionable restaurant, may prove a good idea for those who like their steak raw. . .

From the foot of the staircase to the Clock Tower, we may climb up the Tower, visitable as the History Museum, for a generous view of both the Old Town and the newer parts, then continue between the Dracula House and the Dominican Monastery, reaching the Main Square, where the Medieval Arts' Festival takes place and there's always something worth seeing going on. The ascent through the Covered Staircase leads to the Hilltop Church, a landmark worth the effort. The return by the Tinmakers' Bastion, then back to Dracula House, for a possible lunch, will bring us back to the Clock Tower, to watch the figurines every hour and to end our tour. One possible variant is to drive to the Saxon Fortified Church of Viscri, German Deutschweisskirch, a favourite of Prince Charles of Great Britain, and an impressive reminder of old Saxon heritage of Transylvania