Sighişoara Medieval Festival

Founded by Transylvanian Saxons during the 12th century, Sighişoara (Sachssburg in German) still stands as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this perfectly intact 16th century gem with nine towers, cobbled streets, burgher houses and ornate churches rivals the historic streets of Old Prague or Vienna for atmospheric magic. It is also the birthplace of Vlad Dracul, also known as Vlad Ţepeş (Vlad the Impaler), ruler of the province of Wallachia from 1456 to 1462. It was he who inspired Bram Stoker's fictional creation, Count Dracula.


The city of Sighişoara hosts the Sighişoara Medieval Festival featuring medieval music, film, poetry, folk music concerts, and a competition of love declarations.


Sighişoara’s 15th century citadel was the inspiration for the festival — a group of enthusiastic people sought to raise awareness about the state of degradation of the structure. The beautiful and well-preserved urban medieval town is enhanced by narrow lanes, inhabited massive brick houses, all surrounded by walls buttressed with 14 defense towers. The ambiance of the medieval festival is perfectly suited to the surroundings.



Participants include Romanian artists and performers from all over Europe. The festival is meant to reconstruct the atmosphere of a medieval citadel, with street music and theater and parades of craftsmen and townspeople, damsels and knights in period costumes.


The festival typically attracts 20 to 30 thousand attendees each year. The Festival of Medieval Arts and Crafts (end of July) is re-creating a medieval atmosphere, complete with troubadour music and costume parades, street entertainers and handicraft displays, open-air concerts and medieval ceremonies, this event offers the chance to immerse yourself in the lore and legends of medieval Transylvania.