Sibiel & surroundings

Sibiel, a village with soul in Mărginimea Sibiului

Sibiel is one of the villages that define Mărginimea Sibiului - an ethnographic region renowned for its shepherding traditions, distinctive architecture and authentic rural life, at the foot of the Cindrel Mountains. Today it's a component locality of the town of Săliște, with 427 inhabitants according to the 2021 census. Pensiunea Luca Ioan sits right in the middle of the village, a short walk from its most important landmarks.

A village with over 700 years of history

Sibiel's first documented mention dates back to 1311. On the forested heights above the village, about 1.5 km away, stand the ruins of Salgo Fortress, first recorded in 1322, and the village once had a 14th-century monastery - later known as "La Chilii," said to have run a school for priests and teachers around 1716-1717 - before it was eventually destroyed in 1786. The village also preserves the Romanian Heroes' Monument, raised in 1877 and restored in 1960.

A few lesser-known corners of the village are worth seeking out too: the three stone wayside crosses, raised in the early 1800s and watched over by carved wooden crosses, with frescoes that are still partly visible; the Cultural Hall, built in 1926 by Italian stonemasons, with a river-stone foundation and walls alternating stone and brick; and the old volunteer fire station, which still holds hand pumps and firefighting equipment dating from the late 19th century.

In 1973, Sibiel was declared, alongside 13 other localities across the country, an experimental "tourist village," and in 2009 it received the "Golden Apple" award, one of the most important distinctions given in world tourism, for the development of rural agritourism.

The Holy Trinity Church and the "Zosim Oancea" Glass Icons Museum

Next to the guesthouse stands the Holy Trinity Church, whose construction began in 1765 and which was painted in 1774-1775 by the folk painters Stan and Iacob from Răsinari. The church has a single nave, with semicircular niches and frescoes blending Byzantine and Western influences, and holds national historic monument status.

Right beside the church is the "Zosim Oancea" Glass Icons Museum, the largest exhibition of glass icons in Transylvania, with around 600 pieces. The museum was founded in 1969 by Father Zosim Oancea, who arrived at the Sibiel parish in January 1964 after 15 years of political imprisonment at Aiud and in the labour camps of Bumbăcari, the Danube Delta, Noua Culme and Periprava. The initial collection, of about 150-200 icons gathered from villagers' homes, was first housed in a smaller building (1970-1971), then in a new building erected between 1976 and 1983, which today holds most of the exhibition. The museum was fully renovated and reopened on 29 August 2021, with a modernised presentation of the collection.

Every year, the museum is visited by around 15,000 people, and over time it has welcomed figures such as Archbishop Robert Runcie and theologians Oscar Cullmann and Jürgen Moltmann. It's a must-see stop for anyone wanting to understand the spirituality and folk art of the area.

Sibiel filmed by drone - watch on YouTube

What you can do nearby

• Quiet walks along the village lanes, past traditional houses and working farmsteads
• A short hike up to the ruins of Salgo Fortress, on the hill behind the village
• Hikes into the Cindrel Mountains, for those looking for mountain trails just a few kilometres from the guesthouse
• A short trip (about 4.6 km) to Săliște, the largest town in Mărginime, with its own attractions
• Visiting the museums and wooden churches of the neighbouring villages
• In winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides - an authentic experience rarely found elsewhere

Quiet, fresh air and traditional food

Sibiel isn't a crowded destination - it's the right place for those who want to slow down, breathe fresh mountain air and enjoy a traditional meal after a day spent outdoors. Pensiunea Luca Ioan is the ideal base for exploring the area at your own pace, with hosts who know every corner of Mărginime and can recommend trails and sights that fit the time you have.

Want to learn more?

• "Zosim Oancea" Glass Icons Museum - the museum's official website (Romanian), with the history of the collection and of Father Zosim Oancea
• Sibiel on Wikipedia - administrative, geographic and historical facts about the village (Romanian)
• Sibiel named Romania's most beautiful tourist village - article, Oradesibiu.ro (Romanian)