Sibiu / Romania

Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, a historical region of Romania. Located some 275 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt. Now the capital of the Sibiu County, between 1692 and 1791 and 1849–65 Sibiu was also the capital of the Principality of Transylvania. Nicknamed The City with Eyes or Seebiu, the city is a well-known tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. Known for its culture, history, gastronomy and its diverse architecture, which includes its much iconic houses with eyes that gave Sibiu its nickname, the city has been getting much attention since the beginning of the 21st century. In 2004, its historical center has begun the process of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sibiu was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2007. One year later, it was ranked "Europe's 8th-most idyllic place to live" by Forbes. In 2019, Sibiu was named the European Region of Gastronomy, while in 2020 it was designated "Europe's sixth best tourist destination". Sibiu will host the European Wandering Capital event in 2021, the most important tourist wandering event in Europe. A European Union summit was hosted by the city in 2019. Sibiu is also known for its Christmas market. The pioneers of rocketry Conrad Haas and Hermann Oberth were from Sibiu.As of 2011, the city has a population of 147,245, while a 2019 estimate puts it at 169,056. The proposed Sibiu metropolitan area has a population of 267,170. The city also administers the village of Păltiniș, a ski resort located 35 kilometres to the south. Historically, Sibiu has been one of the most important centres of the Transylvanian Saxons. It is called Härmeschtat in their dialect.