European Cultural Capital

The Program " European Cultural Capital", held jointly this year by Sibiu and Luxembourg, was initiated in 1985 by the Council of Ministers of Culture and the European Community, in order to celebrate the contribution of the European cities to the development of culture.

Sibiu has submitted its candidature in the beginning of 2004, along with Luxembourg. The discovery of common roots between Sibiu ( Hermanstadt, in German) and Luxembourg, the partnership and event coordination between the two cities helped the nomination of Sibiu, very fast, following the ballot of the votes of the Council of Ministers of Culture from the European Union, as a European Cultural Capital in 2007, along with Luxembourg.

In January 2005, the Association Sibiu European Cultural Capital 2007 has discussed and endorsed the strategy for the approach and preparation of the cultural projects for 2007; there were 200, totaling over a thousand events in different fields: theatre, music, literature, motion picture, photo, fine art, architecture.

Sibiu 2007 represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a Romanian city to host the European Capital of Culture designation. For hundreds of years the fortified town of Sibiu/ Hermannstadt lay in the way of Middle Age invasions, conflicts and wars. That is why in those troubled centuries the town first greeted the strangers who arrived here with the cold defence walls and the closed gates. A legend tells that eight centuries ago the founders of the town drew the outer limits of the settlement with two swords. These weapons can be seen now only on the town's historic coat of arms.

The people of Sibiu are warm and hospitable. They welcome with open arms the visitors, wheather they come on business or as tourists looking for the rich experience at the contact with our cultural heritage, or in search of fun, sports or nature.

Infrastructure:

- Thalia Hall - Str. Cetatii - The largest defence tower of the city built in 1540 was added and adjoining construction and was turned into a theatre at the beginning of the 19th century. The work on restauration and rehabilitation was completed in 2004. With its 400 places, Thalia Hall will host theatrical shows and concerts.

- Trade Unions Cultural Centre - Built in the 70's, the Trade Unions Cultural Centre houses two halls, one with 760 places - for concerts and theatre, the other with 120 places - for conferences. Trade Union Cultural Centre is the traditional host for the Internationa Jazz Festival

- Festivity Hall of ASTRA Library - Building dating from 1905, with marmor columns and richly guilded decorations of a mixture between late Barocque and Victorian style. Used for theatre, concerts and conferences, 220 places.