The Monkey takes a breather in a park in Sighisoara, another Transylvanian town with a Saxon past (German name: Schässburg, Hungarian: Segesvár). The old town climbs up a hillside, and its narrow streets are lined by many surviving medieval houses. The large clocktower in the center of the photo dates from the late 17th Century, when it was rebuilt to replace an earlier tower damaged by fire.

The Monkey took in the view from atop Sighisoara's clocktower. Medieval Schässburg had heavy fortifications including 14 defensive towers. The intact one in the distance was built and manned by the Tinsmiths' guild.

Aside from being a UNESCO recognized masterpiece of preserved medieval Saxon architecture, Sighisoara has another claim to fame (or infamy) as the birthplace of the Vlad the Impaler. Today, the house where Dracula was born back in 1431 serves as a restaurant. The Monkey decided not to sample the cuisine there, but he did drop by for a photograph (the yellow house with the black and red sign was Vlad's birthplace).

The Monkey posed for a photograph in front of Sighisoara's elegant Town Hall. Built between 1886 and 1888, it is one of the youngest buildings within the walls of the old citadel.

Looking out from the lofty heights of the clock tower, the Monkey marvelled at the thought that this is not the common perception of Romania where he comes from…

A nifty little niche for the Monkey on a Sighisoara backstreet.

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