Siebenbürgen

Siebenbürgen, or Transylvania, is a historical region in central Romania. The German name Siebenbürgen means “Seven Fortresses” and refers to seven fortified towns established by Transylvanian Saxons in the Middle Ages, which became symbols of the region’s German-speaking communities.

It lies in the heart of Romania, within the Carpathian arc and the Transylvanian Basin. The landscape includes hills and mountains, with major urban centers such as Brașov (Kronstadt), Sibiu (Hermannstadt), Cluj-Napoca (Klausenburg), Mediaș, Sighișoara (Schäßburg), and Bistrița. The area is known for a mix of medieval towns, fortified churches, and rural settlements set against Carpathian scenery.

Historically, Transylvania was part of the Kingdom of Hungary from the 12th century, and German settlers were invited to defend the frontier and develop towns. The Transylvanian Saxons built a network of fortified churches and towns, acquiring a degree of local autonomy within the kingdom. The region later came under Habsburg rule and remained part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until its union with Romania after World War I (Treaty of Trianon, 1920). In 1940 northern Transylvania was temporarily ceded to Hungary and was returned to Romania after the war. From 1945 onward, many ethnic Germans emigrated to Germany, and the German-speaking population declined after 1990.

Culturally, the region preserves a rich architectural heritage, including numerous medieval towns and fortified churches. The Fortified Churches of Transylvania were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, highlighting the region’s distinctive rural-urban architecture and the legacy of Transylvanian Saxon culture.