A walk in the little town of Bistrița – part 1

Bistrița is a major Transylvanian medieval city founded in the 13th century by the German settlers, and it is my hometown. It is very enjoyable palce, where you can take a walk and admire the medieval part of the city in one afternoon. Some tourists are also attracted by the fact that Bram Stocker mentioned this place in his novel Dracula. In this story, I will propose a walk in this little town called Bistrița.

The Sugălete Ensemble

One could start his visit from the Sugălete Ensemble. The medieval city of Bistrița has a compositional center, the town square developed by the colonists around the first nucleus of the settlement. This is a complex of 13 buildings dating from the 15th and 16th century and consists of houses of some rich patricians and the parish house. Under the arcade, the grain market once functioned. This was typical for the Renaissance, as most of the houses were upstairs, while the first floors were mainly reserved for the local shops. The buildings, one of the most typical Renaissance constructions in Transylvania, are connected by some spacious entries forming a gallery with 20 arches that are resting on 21 pillars. You can stop at the last building of the square - the art gallery nowadays.

The evangelical church

As mentioned, the city was built around the main square, and in the middle of it, the evangelical church was placed. It is an architectural monument typical for the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style in Transylvania, and it was built in three phases. In the first construction phase, a basilica with three naves, two towers, and a polygonal choir was built. The construction underwent the second stage when the church was rebuilt in the style of a Gothic basilica. The church became a church hall, when the third phase of construction took place, between 1475 and 1520. Although the church had initially two towers, one visitor will find today a Gothic church with only a single tower. This is because the two towers of the Romanesque basilica were demolished in 1478 and a new tower, originally placed outside the walls, was then connected with the church by masonry and carpentry work. The works were completed in 1544, after the clock was been installed in the tower in 1521. Today, one can take the elevator to the tower and see the panoramic view of the medieval city.

The Dogars Tower

From the evangelical church, you only have to cross the center towards the city fortification wall. I recommend you walk through the Passage X. All the passages have been recently renovated, so if you have the time, visit them all. The only elements of the medieval fortification preserved until today in Bistrița are the Dogars Tower and** **the fortification wall nearby.

And from here a walk in the little town of Bistrița continues to the City Park of Bistrița.