Freemasonry in Sibiu: Symbols, Brukenthal's Legacy and Influence
What you need to know
- This is a private tour in the Sibiu Old Town area focused on history and legacy of the Freemasons. Duration: 2,5h.
- We will visit specific attractions and sights connected to Freemasonry and find out about the organisation's activity, influence and 'folk stories' over the course of several centuries.
- You will learn how the artisans, craftsmen and merchants members of Freemasonry played an important role in the construction and layout of Sibiu
- You'll discover symbols of masonry spread throughout Sibiu in the most unsuspecting - yet obvious - places. We'll relate to the international Freemasonry and Illuminati organisations in Europe and USA.
- Learn who were the well-connected members of the masonry, including major political and cultural figures, who influenced the politics and development of Sibiu and Transylvania, until its disolution
Additional information
Starting point and time will be agreed after your booking is confirmed.
Depending on where you're staying, I can pick you up from there. During May - September the tour will start around 5pm.
As Sibiu has many cobbled streets, please wear comfortable shoes.
Moments to expect
The Lower Town and Small Square
The Lower Town is where the craftsmen lived and were organised. Following Christian Evangelical principles introduced when the Saxons settled these lands, we'll see how from the 13th century onwards Sibiu had a steady organisation, social hierarchy and developed into a flourishing city and trade centre.
We'll learn about the the constructors' guilds and the operative masonry, a concept developed in the whole Europe.
The Sibiu Lodge
As we stop at Brukenthal Highschool we'll learn about the Sibiu masonry lodge "St. Andrew at the three lotus flowers" and the new speculative masonry. When was it active, what did it do in the city, prominent European members as well as myths, theories and stories.
Brukenthal, the grand master
Samuel Brukenthal was the Governor of Transylvania at the end of the 18th century and personal advisor to Empress Maria Teresia of the Habsburg Empire. He was also the wealthiest man in Sibiu, a patron of the arts and a supporter of education.
As such, he had a significant role as a grand mason of the Sibiu lodge with an enduring legacy. If possible, we might even visit his personal study room in the Brukenthal Museum where some meetings were held.
At the entrance of his palace - the Brukenthal Art Museum - there is a mason declaration that we'll also decipher.
Transforming the city
The masons transformed the city in ways few locals are aware of. One of the defence towers and bastions of the Old Town became a place of culture and theatre. Let's go see it!
Hidden symbols of masonry
As we pass through the Small Square, Big Square and Huet Square I'll show you symbols, houses and inscriptions connected to masonry. They point to significant members and their contributions, as well as the values and impact this organisation had over our city. You'll be surprised how many people pass them without noticing! And wait till you hear the stories and legends people had about them...
Cancelation & refund policy
EasySends us or the guide an email 24h before the tour informing us you can't make it and you'll get a full refund of your payment, no questions asked.
Location details
- Starting point: Sibiu
- Nearest airport: Sibiu or Cluj International
- Nearest train station: Sibiu Train Station
- Landscape: Cobbled streets/ Stair Passageway
Reviews from travellers
The guide was more than excellent, the tour was very interesting. The explanations given were very good, understandable and helpful. I would sincerely recommend the guide and the tour.
Adela is an excellent tour guide! Her scheduling was flexible for scheduling my tour. She was full of information about Sibiu's history and we visited many more places than I expected - perhaps because we are both fairly fast walkers. It was great to take the tour early in my visit to Sibiu - it helped me to decide which other places I wanted to visit later. I strongly recommend - Adela is the best!
We made contact with our guide Adela by e-mail a couple of weeks before visiting Sibiu, and firmed up the arrangements for meeting a day or so before we arrived. We found her knowledge and enthusiasm to be excellent, and learned a great deal about Romanian history and culture. My wife and I really enjoyed the time we spent with her.
Our experience using Romanian Friend to locate a guide in Romania was fantastic! We found Adela who was such a knowledgeable, interesting, and fun guide, she made our trip totally more than we ever expected! My brother and I spent about 8 days in Romania, 3 1/2 days on tours with Adela, researching our Saxon heritage, and she far exceeded our expectations! We hope to return to Romania next year. We will certainly recommend Romanian Friend to anyone else interested in travelling there! Thank you so much! Karen Konnerth
We were very impressed with the knowledge of Adela. She was able to answer any questions we had about Sibiu, Transylvania or Romania. She was very proud of the city and you can tell. Great tour!
Other tours nearby
Sights & Bites of Sibiu: Street Food, Ciorba & Stories
Start from: Sibiu
53 REVIEWS
per person
4 times a year we prepare a newsletter with local stories, places and our special insights about Romanian culture and local life that will inspire you to visit our country and have an authentic local experience. Would you like to get it?