Car & Van Hire - Sibiu

Sibiu is a medieval citadel and the 2007 European Capital of Culture. Also known as Hermannstadt, it was founded by Saxon settlers in the 12th century and has since been deemed one of Europe's most idyllic places to live. This cultural capital lays claim to Romania's first hospital, pharmacy, school and library, as well as myriad museums, theatres, parks and places of worship.

The starting point for every wanderer, art enthusiast and history buff is The Large Square, surrounded by centuries-old colourful buildings. For over 600 years, it witnessed major local events like public gatherings, medieval executions, theatre festivals and carnivals. It's flanked by the Brukenthal Palace, the crown jewel of the local museum complex, with its baroque façades and rococo interiors. The building houses a colossal library with hundreds of thousands of manuscripts, incunabula and rare books, as well as art galleries with over 1,200 works of art by the likes of Titian, Jan van Eyck and Grigorescu.

Nearby lies the Museum of Pharmacy, staged to look like an apothecary's shop with a laboratory, instruments and concoctions by the founder of homoeopathy. A short walk away is the Museum of History, Altemberger House. It exhibits Roman and medieval lapidarium sections, armoury, coins, glasswork and prehistoric artefacts. A must-see for nature lovers is the Museum of Natural History, with exhibits on mineralogy, palaeontology, ecosystems and the live world.

A stone's throw away, the Bridge of Lies is Romania's first cast iron bridge. Local legend says the bridge would collapse at the first lie, so this is where couples flock to whisper sweet nothings. For a romantic stroll or a day out with the kids, head over to one of the country's oldest parks, Sub Arini (Under Alders), where a military band performs every Sunday. It's fitted with a playground, music pavilion, fountain, restaurant and bust of the national poet. Its neighbour is the Municipal Stadium, which hosts premier league matches with seating for 14,000 football fans.

The spiritually inclined will find Sibiu's offering of ecclesiastical buildings more than generous. The Evangelical Cathedral and Stairway Tower in Huet Square boast the largest organ in South-East Europe, a Gothic vaulted ceiling and gravestones set within the walls. The Orthodox Cathedral was built in Byzantine Revival style and embellished with gilt iconostasis, painted dome and mosaics. In Neogothic style, the Synagogue once served many congregants. But as the local Jewish population has since dwindled, visitors may only view its interior upon request.

Further afield lies the ASTRA Museum of Traditional Popular Civilization. Set in Europe's biggest and the world's second-largest open-air museum, it covers 250 acres of magnificent landscapes amid a lush forest called Dumbrava. It's the ideal getaway with the children, especially as the local zoo is only a stone's throw away.

Lovers of winter sports and fresh air should not miss the Păltiniș Resort, only 32 km away from the city. Car or van hire in Sibiu will make quick work of a trip to Cindrel Mountains. Once there, you can enjoy a hike to the glacial lakes and a visit to the quaint hermitage or a more challenging trek to the peak.

Sibiu lies on the E68 European route to Hungary, as does its airport. Drivers can also make use of its exits on the E81 route toward the seaside and the A1 motorway to Bucharest. When you avail yourself of a car hire in Sibiu, you can also reach the city from the northern counties of Mures and Alba on the A14. Those returning from the Păltiniș Resort may approach it via the 106A road.

Sibiu is a multilingual city, as its street signs will show. Driving here is relatively easy, and asking for directions in a world language is likely to be worthwhile. Local enforcers don't take kindly to horns between 22:00 and 06:00. Between these times, you must also use lights as an approach warning. In built-up areas, drivers shouldn't go over the 50 km/h speed limit, but they may go as high as 90 km/h on a main road with little traffic. For express motorways, the limit rises to 130 km/h, but be aware that European routes have a speed cap of 120 km/h.

The medieval city centre, with its cobbled streets and pedestrianized areas, is off-limits to cars. But the rest of the city is easy to navigate by car. Motorists must remember to always drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left. Yield right of way to vehicles coming from the right, those on a priority road and those that are already in roundabout traffic. Also, make way for ambulances, fire engines and motorcades, where possible. On narrow mountain roads, give priority to vehicles driving uphill.

Take note that, in Romania, you must yield to pedestrians as soon as they step on a zebra crossing. Most pedestrian crossings don't come with traffic lights, except in city centres. Also, children under 1.35 m tall and aged between 3 and 11 should use compliant booster seats and never be placed on a front passenger seat. Overtaking at crossroads, zebra crossings, bus stops, on street humps and bridges is strictly forbidden. Finally, you must only overtake after indicating your intention with the appropriate indicator light, so be sure to familiarise yourself with your dashboard before setting off.