Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FUNERAL RITES IN TRANSYLVANIA
Some Romanians believe that for each person there is a star and a tree. When the person dies so too does the star.
The passing of a person is sometimes marked by a fir tree which is placed at the head of their grave. The women of
the village sing a special song about the tree and its obligation to dry and perish beside its human counterpart.
During a funeral and following wake, the body is never left alone but is very much part of the celebration as those
gathered tell stories about the deceased right next to their coffin. In Transylvania a person's death is announced by
the sound of alphorns blown in the garden of the dead at dawn, noon, evening, and on the way to the cemetery.
CISNĂDIE & RĂŞINARI
Cisnădie is worth a stop for its fortified 15th-century
Saxon church
(adult/chid 5/3 lei)
;
especially if you make the vertiginous climb up the bell tower for its sweeping views of
the town's roof-scape. A
museum of communism
is found on the 1st floor of the citadel
walls; with English translations, identity cards and faded photos, it presents a stark re-
minder of communism's freedom-cloying reign.
Almost in the skirts of the Cindrel Mountains and 12km south of Sibiu, Răşinari is
peppered with faded facades and has a little Ethnographic Museum (west of the centre,
follow the brown sign, then take the first left). Hourly tram 1 connects Răşinari with the
southern part of Sibiu (3 lei). Take bus 1 from the train station to reach the tram.
PĂLTINIŞ
Twenty kilometres southwest of Răşinari is the stunning low-key ski/summer resort of
Păltiniş. There are five ski runs - green, blue and red - to suit most levels of skier, and
come summer, the landscape of forested mountains has breathtaking hiking trails through
it. The cable car costs 8 lei.
The
tourist information centre
( 0269-574 035; centre Păltiniş; 8am-7pm)
, by
Casa Turiştilor, has information on resorts, hiking trails and maps, and sells drinks and
snacks. Bistro sits opposite and is a nice place to sit outside with a sandwich (15 lei) and
drink up the mountain views. Accommodation-wise,
Hotel Cindrel
( 0269-574 056;
www.hotelcindrel.ro
;
main road into Păltiniş; s/d incl breakfast 170/220 lei)
, back up the
hill, is a safe bet, and 100-room
Casa Turiştilor
( 0269-574 035; s/d 2-star 125/155
lei, 3-star 200/250 lei)
is ready for its grand opening after a €3.6m revamp, and promises
sauna, pool and jacuzzi.
