Bistrița

Bistriţa was founded in the early 13th century by German settlers and (due to its location on the main trading route with Moldavia) became one of Transylvania's major Medieval cities. Several interesting sites from that time survive in the city's old quarter. Some tourists are also attracted by the fact that the town was mentioned in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

By train

Bistriţa is on a secondary railway and gets limited service: a few local trains, three commuter trains from Cluj (a three hours trip) and a night train from Bucharest (nine hours) via Brasov . Timetables can be found on the website of the railway operator CFR.

By car

Bistriţa is located on the DN17 road linking Transylvania with Southern Bucovina.

By bus

There are frequent buses from Cluj (two hours travel time), three-four buses from Suceava (four hours and half), Târgu Mureş (three hours) and one bus from Iaşi (seven hours). Some of their schedules are available on autogari.ro .

The relatively compact old quarter can be visited on foot. The rest of the city is covered by several minibus lines operated by Transmixt.

Landmarks

• Turnul Dogarilor

  address: strada Dogarilor nr. 18
  One of the few remaining parts of Bistriţa's medieval fortifications, it now houses a dolls and masks museum

• Sugălete

  address: Piaţa Centrală
  A group of thirteen connected homes built in the 14th-16th centuries

• Casa Ion Zidaru

  address: Piaţa Centrală nr. 30
  One of the best examples of late Gothic architecture in Transylvania

• Casa Argintarului

  address: strada Dornei nr. 5
  A beautiful 16th century Renaissance house

Religious sites

• Biserica Evanghelică

  address: Piaţa Centrală
  First built in the second half of the 14th century, has one of the highest Gothic towers in Transylvania

• Biserica Intrarea Maicii Domnului în Biserică

  address: Piaţa Unirii
  A former Catholic monastery built in the late 13th century, now an Orthodox church

• Sinagoga

  address: strada General Grigore Bălan nr. 10
  Built in 1856 by the once thriving Jewish community

Museums

• Muzeul judeţean Bistriţa Năsăud

  address: strada General Grigore Bălan nr. 19
  Has ethnography, art, archeology, historical and geology collections

Budget

• Pensiunea Sheriff

  phone: +40 263 228121
  address: DN17 nr. 252A

• Pensiunea Miracolo

  phone: +40 263 228048
  address: DN17 nr. 445

• Hotel Minerva

  phone: +40 263 234156
  address: Strada Compozitorilor nr.2

Mid-range

• Hotel Diana

  phone: +40 263 231960
  address: Calea Moldovei nr. 80

• Hotel Codrisor

  phone: +40 263 233814
  address: Strada Codrişor nr. 28

• Hotel Bistrita

  phone: +40 263 231154
  address: Piaţa Petru Rareş nr.2

• Hotel Coroana de Aur

  phone: +40 263 232470
  address: Piaţa Petru Rareş nr.4

Splurge