Romania · Transylvania · 15 pictures
Cemeteries of Transylvania
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About this place
The city is first mentioned in 1191 as ‘Cibinium’. The Transylvanian Saxons shaped it for centuries and were its largest population group until 1930. Today Germans make up less than two per cent of Sibiu's population, yet Hermannstadt remains the seat of the Evangelical Church A.B. in Romania. This history is reflected in the cemeteries.
In earlier times every religious community had its own cemetery. The Municipal Cemetery (Cimitirul Municipal) has a historic section looked after by the Evangelical Church. Ivy covers many graves there, and in 2026 former pupils of the Brukenthal College worked with the parish to clear part of it. There is also a Catholic section, where the royal court photographer Emil Josef Fischer is buried, among others.
The Jewish community used an old cemetery on Hammersdorfer Strasse in the Lazarett district from 1855. A new Jewish cemetery, opened in 1907, is now part of the Municipal Cemetery.
The photographs show stone crosses covered in lichen standing close together in dry grass, ivy enveloping grave surrounds, and cypresses rising above flat, mossy slabs. Visitors to such places should show consideration for relatives who tend graves there.
Frequently asked questions
Which cemeteries are there in Sibiu?
They include the Municipal Cemetery (Cimitirul Municipal) with Evangelical and Catholic sections and two Jewish cemeteries. In earlier times every religious community had its own cemetery.
Are there Jewish cemeteries in Sibiu?
Yes, there is an old Jewish cemetery on Hammersdorfer Strasse, opened in 1855, and a new one from 1907 that is part of the Municipal Cemetery.
Who looks after the historic part of Sibiu's Municipal Cemetery?
The Evangelical Church in Sibiu looks after the historic section, which ivy overgrows in places. In 2026 former pupils of the Brukenthal College helped to clear graves.