This northern Romanian city's 13th-century center has preserved wooden houses and narrow cobblestone streets. The Gothic Lutheran Church and local museums tell stories of Saxon settlers.
Bistrița, a city in northern Transylvania, centers around a medieval square where you'll find the 75-meter Lutheran church tower and Renaissance-era Sugălete arcade buildings. Walk through streets lined with 15th-century merchant houses, explore the remaining Cooper's Tower from the city's defensive walls, or hike to the glacier lakes Lala Mare and Lala Mic in the nearby Rodna Mountains. Literary fans might recognize the city as the setting for the Golden Krone Hotel in Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The Lutheran Church and Central Square
You can climb the 75-meter Lutheran church tower, Romania's highest medieval tower, for views across Bistrița's central square. Italian architect Petrus Italus added Renaissance elements to the Gothic structure between 1559 and 1563. After a 2008 fire damaged the tower, restoration work strengthened its structure while preserving its medieval character. The church opens daily 9:00-17:00. Along the square's northern edge, walk through the Sugălete arcade - 13 connected buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries with 20 arches that once housed merchant stalls.
Medieval Fortifications
Walk to the Coopers' Tower on Dogarilor Street to see the last remaining tower from the 13th-century defense system. The original fortress had ten towers, two bastions, and three main entrances: the Gate of the Wood, the Gate of the Hospital, and the Hungarian Gate. Take a walk along the preserved sections of southern and eastern walls near the Municipal Park, following the narrow medieval streets that connected the fortress sides.
Museums and Monasteries
Visit the Bistrița-Năsăud County Museum, housed in former military barracks, to see Thracian artifacts, Celtic tools, and German craftwork. The museum's collection includes traditional Romanian, Saxon, and Hungarian folk art, with rooms dedicated to Transylvanian paintings and wood carvings. Near the eastern walls, you'll find the Minorite Monastery, built in the 13th century. While renovations since 1494 have altered parts of the building, its medieval stone walls and Gothic elements remain intact.
Mountains and Lakes
Take a day trip to Rodna Mountains National Park, covering 37,429 hectares north of Bistrița. Follow marked trails to the glacier lakes Lala Mare and Lala Mic beneath Ineu Peak. In summer, swim in Colibița Lake's clear mountain water in the Bârgău Mountains. The Schullerwald Forest, a 74-acre protected woodland two miles west of the old town, has well-maintained walking paths suitable for easy walks.
Getting Around
Local buses operate on 22 routes through Bistrița, stopping at the central square and main sites. Regional buses connect to Suceava, Satu Mare, and Cluj-Napoca several times daily. The closest airport is in Cluj-Napoca, 102 kilometers away, with regular flights to major European cities. Taxis are readily available throughout the city center.
