Transylvania (Transilvania) Overview

The name evokes images of an evil land of black magic and vampires, but Transylvania (also known as Ardeal)—with a history of Saxon settlement dating back to the 12th century—is a relatively Westernized region. The vampire legends do, however, resonate with the region’s architecture: Transylvanian buildings are tilted, jagged, and more sternly Gothic than anywhere else in Europe. Medieval cities make this a travelers’ favorite, while hikers revel in the untamed wilderness of the misty Făgăraş Mountains.

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