In addition to its fairy-tale landscapes, Transylvania offers a fusion of cultures that is hard not to find fascinating. Of the charming Transylvanian villages, one stands out at every turn for its picturesque atmosphere and authentic spirit. Anyone who visits Viscri shares a sense of tranquillity and excitement, thanks to the ancient poetic beauty of the village.
Here are 6 reasons why you should visit this Transylvanian village that has kept alive the heritage of the Saxon community.
www.shutterstock.com
Discover the Saxon fortress and its specific architecture – Fortified Church of Viscri
Viscri is home to one of the best preserved Saxon fortresses, located in a breathtaking area, where nature blends with the spirit of the place.
The fortress walls house a Romanesque church with Gothic influences, two towers, two bastions and a gate tower. The monument has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage, joining 5 other Saxon fortified churches.
www.shutterstock.com
The name of the village, Viscri, is in fact the Romanianized version of the German word Weißkirch, meaning White Church. In some older documents, the locality is referred to in this way: White Church.
The church of Viscri, although modest in size, has a special charm and gives you a pleasant feeling of tranquility and intimacy, which you won’t find in Gothic churches in Europe. You instantly feel at one with the place and the painted wooden pews invite you to stop and reflect for a moment.
The church in Viscri and some of the villagers’ houses have been restored with the support of the Mihai Eminescu Trust, whose mission is to revitalize villages and communes in Transylvania and Maramureș.
www.shutterstock.com
www.shutterstock.com
shutterstock.com
Most of the old fortified churches in Transylvania have defense towers, which offer panoramic views of the area, and the Church of Viscri does not deviate from this pattern.
To reach the main tower of the Church of Viscri, you will have to climb the narrow wooden stairs, and once you get to the top, you will be able to admire a wonderful view: a beautiful inner courtyard, red tiled roofs and green hills, with reflections of color in places.
Inside the fortress there is also a museum presenting relevant aspects of the life of the Saxon community. You’ll find exhibits specific to local activities and customs, from tools and pieces of furniture to traditional costumes, looms, wooden chests and other hand-painted objects.
www.shutterstock.com
www.shutterstock.com
www.shutterstock.com
www.shutterstock.com
Enjoy a night’s accommodation with a royal flair – King Charles’ house in Viscri
Viscri has become an increasingly popular destination after Prince Charles bought a house here in 1996 and mentioned the beauty of the place in countless interviews during his visits to Romania. Since then, Viscri has started to attract the interest of Europeans and has become a must-visit vacation destination.
The attention paid to the small Transylvanian town with the visits of Prince Charles to Viscri has led to its revival through tourism, the purchase of properties in the area and the restoration of the main sights. Thus Viscri is now close to complete restoration, bringing the small Transylvanian village back to its former beauty.
So, if you’ve made it to Viscri, it’s imperative that you take the time to take in the village life and the enchanting landscapes. You’ll be able to understand why Prince Charles chose Viscri as the place to set up a vacation home, thus accelerating the renaissance of this amazing place.
All the rural details will make you stop from time to time to feast your eyes, and you’ll feel a soothing energy in the air that will make you want to taste the bohemian pace of life.
www.shutterstock.com
Every season, more and more tourists are looking for accommodation in Viscri, which has led to an increasing number of rental houses, hostels and other types of accommodation facilities in the town and nearby areas.
If time allows you to take in the beauty of the place, you can stay overnight in Viscri and its surroundings.
Discover the charms of rural life, exploring the best of Transylvania, and choose an accommodation where you have the opportunity to experience the spirit of the place. At Valea Verde Retreat we offer you the perfect setting to enjoy an authentic experience in the heart of Transylvania.
Charles’s House in Viscri has become the main attraction in the area. The house-museum can be visited or rented out to tourists, and not a few of them shell out the rather steep price to stay in one of the king’s rooms.
The house is located right at the entrance to the village and was built in 1875, and the renovation process has strictly followed the traditional elements. In the courtyard of the king’s house there are 7 rooms, a cozy café, as well as a small vegetable garden and a space dedicated to a popular craft in the area – engraving.
www.shutterstock.com
King Charles House can be visited from 11:00-18:00, Monday to Friday, and from 10:00-19:00 at weekends.
www.shutterstock.com
The village of Viscri in dishes – discover the local gastronomy
With the development of tourism, the local gastronomy has become another attraction of the place. So in addition to the main sights, a visit to Viscri can’t end without tasting some of the traditional dishes, lovingly prepared by the locals. The local dishes in great demand among foreigners are sarmalele, mămăliguța and belly soup.
In recent years, several chic restaurants have opened their doors in Viscri to welcome tourists with traditional and organic products.
www.shutterstock.com
What’s more, when it comes to gastronomy, the villagers of Viscri are proud of a sweet launched in Paris and priced at over 350 euro. The recipe is secret and only from the villagers involved in the production process you can find out the key ingredients that give the local dessert its taste.
It’s a real delight to be a guest for a few days, and the locals will make you feel like a local, introducing you to the history of the village, its customs and specific dishes.
www.shutterstock.com
Take an ethnographic insight into Transylvanian village life
If you’re looking for relaxation, breathtaking scenery, authenticity, medieval architecture and tasty food, the Transylvanian countryside is the place for you.
Any visit to the village of Viscri, in Brasov, gives you the opportunity to go back in time and enjoy nature, the authentic Transylvanian village, the calm and bohemian spirit of the simple people. This slow pace suits the small Saxon village nestled in the heart of Transylvania. A stroll along its winding roads is a foray into a fairy-tale world of rustic decor and distinctive architecture, while the warmly painted wood-panelled windows and doors invite you to slow down and admire them.
www.shutterstock.com
This dreamy place is so peaceful on sunny autumn afternoons that time passes without you noticing. So, after a few hours of carefully studying the architecture and decor of the colorful houses, it’s time to visit the other sights that make Viscri a fairytale destination.
Remarkable settlements of ancient and lyrical beauty stretch along the village paths. The charm of the place stems from the fact that the modern pace of city life has not crept through the old buildings and the image of the typical Transylvanian village is almost intact.
Specific to the Transylvanian villages is the fact that the churches were built on the top of the hill dominating the village landscape, and later, they were surrounded by solid walls to protect the community.
www.shutterstock.com
The houses were then built in the neighborhood of the church, based on certain criteria. Wealthier families lived closer to the church than poorer ones, which meant that whenever an assault was coming, the wealthier ones could quickly take their important possessions to the church and preserve their patrimony.
In Viscri, the little white church is located on the top of a hill, positioned off the main road, which helps to preserve the medieval atmosphere and offers a beautiful view over the whole village. Don’t miss climbing the stairs of the main tower for a majestic view of the area.
This authentic rural spirit has put Viscri on the map, along with the area’s stunning scenery. You’ll see typical houses, many of them beautifully renovated in blue or white, some of them 300 years old. The rural atmosphere is complemented by animals, trophies and a horse-drawn cart.
In the centuries-old settlement, the rows of old Saxon peasant houses, painted in pastel colors, with large, arched doorways designed to allow horse-drawn carts laden with hay to pass through – begin to tell the story of the Saxon community.
www.shutterstock.com
Try a variety of outdoor activities in a fairytale setting
Viscri seems like a fairytale land, but perhaps most impressive is the pace of life here. Its rustic features and bohemian spirit make Viscri a destination that will stay in your heart and is worth discovering on foot.
The colorful houses of Viscri have a special charm and you will want to admire and photograph them, to keep alive the memory of what might be the most colorful village in Transylvania.
As a tourist, you can find organic food at Viscri’s restaurants, unique rustic accommodations, and you can book bike tours in the area or rent a car to explore the surroundings.
A few recommendations of activities not to be missed if you come to Viscri:
- Go exploring and enjoy the mountain scenery;
- Climb the tower of the fortified church of Viscri:
- Enjoy a traditional lunch in one of the village restaurants;
www.shutterstock.com
- Go for a relaxing hike, where time has stood still, and enjoy the beauty and simplicity of village life.
www.shutterstock.com
Crafts specific to the area: wool crochet and blacksmith’s workshop
A forgotten craft has come back to life in Viscri and has become a local brand. It’s the socks crocheted by the village women.
Thirty years ago, products made from wool were a bargaining chip for local people motivated by the lack of income-generating activities. Over time, however, more than 100 women from Viscri have rallied around the project, crocheting hundreds of pairs of felt socks, gloves, hats, sweaters and slippers. Some of them are exported to Germany, but the products made by the women of Viscri can also be bought at village shops.
www.shutterstock.com
Another craft brought back to life in Viscri is the working of iron using traditional methods. In the blacksmith’s workshop, using only a chisel and a hammer, various ornaments and household objects such as horseshoes and ironware are made.
So to head to Saxon Transylvania is to take a peek into ancient rural Europe. In this landscape, Viscri is a place where people and nature have lived in a strong communion for centuries and still do. A visit to the village of Viscri in Brașov means an authentic experience of times gone by, through the filter of the customs and lifestyle specific to the Saxon community.
Photo source: shutterstock.com
