Bistrita Romania

Bistrita General Information

Fast Facts

Location: Northern Romania

County: Bistrita-Nasaud

Size: 7.8 sq. miles (20.6 sq. kilometers)

Elevation: 1,180 ft. (360 meters)

Population: 78,000

First documented: 1264 AD (Villa Bistiche)

Bistrita on Map

Town of Bistrita

Located at the foot of the Bargau Mountains, not far from the Borgo Pass (Pasul Tihuta in Romanian) which connects Transylvania region to the Bucovina one, the town of Bistrita is one of the oldest in the region. Archeological findings indicate that the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic age, long before Bram Stocker chose it as the setting of his fictional Dracula's castle.

Saxon colonists settled in Bistrita in 1206 and helped develop the town into a flourishing medieval trading post. Bistrita was first mentioned in a written document in 1264 as Villa Bistiche; the name of the town was later changed to Civitas Bysterce. Soon Bistritz - as it was named by its Saxon (German) inhabitants - became one of Transylvania's most important Saxon citadels (Siebenbürgens).

The town was named after the Bistriţa River, which traces its origin to the Slavic word bystrica, meaning fast-flowing river.

In 1353, Bistrita was granted the right to organize an annual 15-day fair and to have its own seal. Its coat of arms represented an ostrich with a horseshoe in its beak, which, according to medieval heraldry, symbolized that trade was among the main occupations of the inhabitants.

In Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, the leading character, Jonathan Harker, visits Bistriţa and spends a night at the Golden Krone Hotel (Hotelul Coroana de Aur) on the eve of St. George's Day, before continuing his journey east to Dracula's castle. Although no such hotel existed when the novel was written, a hotel with the same name has since been constructed for visitors.

Unsettling times forced the city to build defense walls and Bistrita became a fortress. By 1465 18 defensive towers and strong bastions were constructed. In 1602, Austrian troops under General Giorgio Basta damaged parts of Bistrita defense system. In 1863, the gates of the citadel were destroyed by order of the Imperial Court of Vienna. Successive fires during this century caused further damage to the medieval citadel.

Today, the old town's quaint 15th and 16th century merchants' houses and the remains of the 13th century fortress walls allow visitors to imagine Bistrita's  medieval atmosphere. 

Landmarks

Coopers' Tower

Turnul Dogarilor
Address: Strada Dogarilor 14,
(west-end of Bistrita Municipal Park)
Vestiges of the 13th century fortress walls can still be seen near the Municipal Park along Kogalniceanu and Teodoroiu Streets. From the original 18 towers of the medieval fortress, only the Coopers' Tower, built between 1465 and 1575 on three levels, still stands today. The tower is now housing a collection of folklore masks and puppets (Galeria de Masti si Papusi); visits by appointment only.

Orthodox Church

Biserica Ortodoxa Bistrita
Address: Piata Unirii 7
Formerly a Franciscan church, the Orthodox Church dates from the late 13th century. The stone carvings, mainly preserved in the chancel and the apse, belong to the Cistercian form of early gothic style. The interior was completely restored in baroque style and some late 14th century murals have been preserved.

Bistrita Evangelical Church

Biserica Evanghelica Bistrita
Address: Piata Centrala Bistrita
The greatest attraction of Bistriţa's Main Square (Piata Centrala) is the Evangelical Church built by Transylvanian Saxons centuries ago. Construction of this gothic church began in 1470 and was completed almost 100 years later by Petrus Italus de Lugano, who added renaissance elements to the structure.
A 246-foot steeple overlooking the city was added later, making it the highest stone church tower in Romania.
Inside the church visitors can admire a collection of 23 flags which belonged to the town's former craft guilds, valuable renaissance-style pews designed by Johannes Begler in 1516, 500-year furniture and an organ manufactured in 1795.
The statues decorating the belfry (St Nicholas, the Holy Virgin with Child and Knight Roland) are representative of 15th century Transylvanian art and are similar to those found in the Black Church in Brasov and the Church on the Hill in Sighisoara.
The Church is currently being renovated and it will re-open to visitors in 2023.

Șugalete Medieval Buildings

Address: Piața Centrală
Facing the Saxon Evangelical Church on the north side of the Main Square is the Sugalete row of 15th and 16th century merchants' houses. Built between 1480 and 1550, the thirteen gothic- and renaissance-style houses are connected by 20 archways supported by quadrilateral pilasters. The stores and workshops of the medieval guilds were once located in the basements and on the ground floors. The upper floors were designed to lodge the merchants' and the craftsmen's families. Several art galleries have opened here.

Silversmith's House

Casa Argintarului
Address: Str. Dornei 5
Built between 1560 and 1563, the Silversmith's House earned its name by serving as the residence of one of the most renowned jewelers in Bistrita. A piece of architectural jewelry itself, the house features facades adorned with fine stone carvings in Renaissance style by Petrus Italus da Lugano. The entrance portal, also boasting impressive carvings, has a semicircular vault bordered by two fluted pilasters, while an arched passage allows access to the inner yard.  As with all medieval merchants' homes, the silversmith's workshop and store were situated on the ground floor. Nowadays, Bistrita's Fine Arts, Music and Folk Dance Schools are located here.

Museums

Bistrita Nasaud County Museum

Muzeul Judetean Bistrita
Address: Blvd. General Grigore Balan 19
Open:
Tue. – Sun.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
Admission charge
Website
The County Museum, housed in a former garrison, exhibits Romanian, Saxon and Hungarian folk art, paintings and carvings belonging to the Transylvanian art school. The History Section displays a bronze sword in the Mycenian style (14th century B.C.), Thracian bronze tools (13th - 10th centuries B.C.), Scythian jewels and arms (6th century B.C.), pottery, arms and other artifacts from the large Celtic necropolis at Fantanele (4th -2nd centuries B.C.).

Saxon House Museum

Muzeul Casa Saseasca
Address: village Livezile 153, 6 miles northeast of Bistrita town centre
Open:
Wed. – Sun.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
Admission charge
Website
Saxon house built in 1838 has been tranformed in a wonderful museum that offers an insight into the history and way of life of Bistrita Saxon community.

Ion Pop (Romanian Teacher and Writer) Memorial House

Muzeul Memorial Ion Pop Reteganul
Address: village Reteag 24, 28 miles west of Bistrita town centre
Open:
Wed. – Sun.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
Admission charge
Website
House of teacher and publicist Ion Pop, mid 1800s traditional Romanian rural architecture displays artifacts and documents that illustrate Bistrita area rural traditions.

Nearby Attractions

Saxon villages

Location: 3-10 miles from Bistrita
Nearest train stations: Bistrita, Lechinta, Nasaud, Sieu

Explore the surrounding region where you will find the charming Saxon villages of Dumitra (Mettersdorf) and Tarpiu (Treppen), both with traditional churches and brightly painted houses. South of Bistria are the villages of Lechinta (Lechnitz) and Herina (Monchsdorf), the latter boasting an unusual Romanesque-style Evangelic Saxon church (1250-1260), recently restored.
Lechinta is well-known for its vineyards, and wine tasting can be organized in the town cellars.

Bargau Valley

 

(Valea Bargaului)
Location: 5 – 15 miles northeast of Bistrita
Nearest train stations: Bistrita Birgaului hcv, Josenii Birgaului hc, Prundu Birgaului
The road from Bistrita to the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina runs east through the Bargau Valley and across the Tihuta Pass which peaks at 3,840 feet. The Bargau Valley encompasses some of the most beautiful unspoiled mountain scenery in the Carpathians with picturesque traditional villages located in valleys and on hillsides, ideal bases for hiking, riding or discovering their vivid tapestry of old customs, handicrafts and folklore.

Explore the traditional villages in the Bargau Valley:
Livezile (5 miles northeast of Bistrita) with its small folk museum called the Saxon House (Casa Saseasca) displaying Saxon ceramics, woodcarvings and folk dresses;
Josenii Bargaului (10 miles northeast of Bistrita), a traditional center for black and colored pottery, and
Prundu Bargaului (15 miles northeast of Bistrita), the site of the first paper mill in Romania, opened here in 1768.

TRIP PLANNING INFO

Transportation

Air Transportation to Bistrita

The closest airports to Bistrita are located in:

Targu Mures (TGM) - 55 miles south;
Cluj Napoca (CLJ) - 70 miles southwest;
Suceava (SCV) - 110 miles northeast

Train

Bistrita North – main train station
Gara Bistrita Nord
Address: Str. Garii 2 (one mile from downtown)
Telephone: (+4) 0256 491.696
Daily train service from/to Bucharest and Cluj Napoca.

To check train and bus schedules for domestic routes please visit our
RomaniaTourism Domestic Transportation section.

Bus

Bistrita Bus Station
Autogara Bistrita
Address: Str. Rodnei 1 A
Telephone: (+4) 0263-233.655
Daily domestic bus service from/to:
Alba Iulia, Brasov, Cluj Napoca, Deva, Fantanele, Hunedoara, Iasi, Oradea, Reghin, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Targu Mures

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Traveling to Bistrita by Car

Road Distance from/ to Bistrita:
City Distance
Bucharest 265 miles
Arad 260 miles
Budapest (Hungary) 330 miles
Cluj-Napoca 75 miles
Constanta 380 miles
Iasi 200 miles
Oradea 165 miles
Sibiu 125 miles
Sighetu Marmatiei 85 miles
Sighisoara 95 miles
Suceava 115 miles
Targu Mures 55 miles
Timisoara 260 miles
Vienna (Austria) 495 miles

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Bistrita Taxi

Bistrita Taxi Companies
Name Phone #
Total Taxi (+4) 0766 666.943
Uni Taxi (+4) 0788 999.949
Taxi Total (+4) 0766 666.943
Taxi Diesel (+4) 0765 384.315
Taxi Narcisa (+4) 0764 616.345
Confort Taxi (+4) 0766 290.192

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Bistrita Public Transportation

22 bus routes connect Bistrita’s neighborhoods and tourist attraction. Tickets can be purchased in advance at ticket kiosks or on-line. Town of Bistrita trip planning App.

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Bistrita Accommodations

Accommodations in Bistrita include:

Hotel Name Class Location
Coroana de Aur four-star / midscale Bistrita Town Centre
Metropolis five-star / upper-midscale Bistrita Town Centre - central park
English House boutique / upper midscale 0.5 miles northeast of Bistrita Town Centre
The Bricks Loft boutique / midscale Bistrita Town Centre
Ozana four-star / midscale one mile northeast of Bistrita Town Centre
Bistrita three-star / midscale Bistrita Town Centre
Diana three-star / midscale two miles northeast of Bistrita Town Centre
Conacul lui Horia B & B / midscale five miles northeast of Bistrita Town Centre
Pensiunea Curtea lui Toader B & B / midscale Seven miles south of Bistrita Town Centre

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Tourist Information

Bistrita Tourist Informantion Centre
Centru de Informare Turistică Bistriţa
Piata Centrala 4
Telephone: (+4) 0263 235.377
E-mail
Website

Postal Service & Telephone

Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.

Bistrita Main Post Office
Address: Str. Stefan cel Mare 9
Telephone: (+4) 0263 214.377
Open:
Mon. – Fri.: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat.: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Telephoning Bistrita from Abroad
International Access Code + 40 (country code) + 0263 or 0363 (area code) + six-digit telephone number

Bistrita Local Authorities

General emergency phone number: 112

Bistrita City Hall
Primaria Bistrita
Address: Piața Centrală 6
Telephone: (+4) 0263 223.923

Bistrita Nasaud County Archives
Directia Judeteana Bistrita a Arhivelor Nationale
Address: Strada Garii 3 -- 5
Telephone: (+4) 0263 203.293,
E-mail
Website

Consumer Protection Agency
Oficiul pentru Protectia Consumatorilor – Bistrita Nasaud
Address: Piaţa Petru Rareş 1
Telephone: (+4) 0263 211.681
E-mail
Website

Maps

Romania Historical Regions Map
Romania - Detailed Map
Bistrita - Area Map