Sibiu – European Gastronomic Region of 2019

The city of Sibiu, in central Romania, was awarded the official title of European Gastronomic Region of 2019.

Leyla Cheamil, 13.02.2019, 13:03

The city of Sibiu in central
Romania, the main beneficiary of the Saxon civilisation that marked the
development of Transylvania, has turned into one of the main points of
attraction for visitors interested in nature, culture and gastronomy. In fact,
Sibiu is the only place in Romania included among the top destinations
recommended by National Geographic Traveler, as this year the city is holding
the title of European Gastronomic Region. All throughout the year, Sibiu will
be hosting a string of gastronomic events, including fairs, tours and festivals,
with the aim of promoting the culinary diversity that characterises the
regions.

On Monday, the Sibiu town hall
hosted a meeting of the European Gastronomic Regions networks, attended by
representatives of regions that have held this title or will hold it in the
future. The meeting was also attended by the new member of the Sibiu European
Gastronomic Region Consortium, namely the Nicolae Balcescu Ground Forces Academy.
On Tuesday, the region of Sibiu and the South Aegean region in Greece took over the title from the regions that
held it in 2018: North Brabant in the Netherlands and Galway in Ireland. These
days, guests from the network of European Gastronomic Regions are invited to
taste the region’s culinary delights, to enjoy nature and meet some of those
who still produce foodstuffs in the traditional way, the small producers,
beneficiaries of this programme, whose aim is to boost gastronomic tourism, by
strengthening the ties between rural and urban areas.

Sibiu is an attraction to visitors
not only due to its gastronomic diversity, but also thanks to the beauty of the
medieval city. Its old defence wall, preserved for eight centuries, its churches,
historical buildings, the Brukenthal museum, which is the oldest in Romania, having
opened in 1817, are some of the attractions that have turned Sibiu into one of
the best places to visit in 2019.

In the past ten years, Sibiu has
been included in several best destination rankings, especially since 2007, when
it was the first city in Romania to be awarded the title of European Capital of
Culture and was visited by a record one million people. Also, since 1991 the
city has hosted the International Theatre Festival, the most important such
festival in the country and the third largest in Europe. Sibiu will be in the
centre of attention again this year on May 9th, when it will be
hosting the EU Summit on Europe Day. Seen as a key moment of the Romanian term
at the helm of the Council of the EU, the event will bring together 27 heads of
state and government, 36 official delegations, 400 high-ranking guests and some
800 journalists.