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HAI in Transylvanian Highlands!


"HAI în Coline" is our official event that kicks off the 2026 rural tourism season.

Between March 28 and 29, communities in the Transylvanian Highlands ecotourism destination open their doors to visitors and invite the public to a weekend dedicated to nature, local gastronomy and meetings with the people of the place. The events mark the opening of the tourist season in the region and propose a series of experiences that reflect the authentic rhythm of life in Transylvanian villages.


For two days, visitors are invited to discover the Transylvanian Highlands through hiking, healthy and organic meals prepared in households, visits to villages with Saxon heritage and meetings with craftsmen and local initiatives that contribute to the revitalization of rural communities.


"HAI în Coline" is an invitation to slow down and discover a living cultural landscape, where nature, traditions and local people create authentic experiences for those who choose to explore this region.

(c) Sorin Onișor
(c) Sorin Onișor

Hiking and nature

The weekend includes guided walks, forest paths and segments of the Via Transilvanica long distance trail, accompanied by stories about nature, the landscape and the local people. On Saturday, March 28, mountain bike enthusiasts have a special tour organized by the Colinele Transilvaniei team, on the Mediaș - Nemșa - Richiș - Biertan - Dupuș - Ațel - Richiș - Mediaș route.

For Sunday, Sibiu Transylvania Tour Guide proposes an organized tour departing from Sibiu, for a hike in the Alma Vii area, the Dianthus Mediaș Tourism and Ecology Association has prepared a cleaning tour on the route from Moșna to Mediaș (Sunday, March 29), while the Friends of Mocănița Association takes Mocănița out for a walk to officially open the season (Sunday, March 29). Also, the Years of Hiking invite us to get moving, Sunday, March 29, 2026, between Richiș and Biertan.


"HAI in the Transylvanian Highlands is an invitation to discover Transylvania as it is experienced by local communities: with time for nature, for stories and for meals shared with the locals. Through this open weekend we want to show that tourism in the Transylvanian Highlands is built together with the communities and that each village has a story worth discovering," explains Cristina Iliescu, destination manager of the Transylvanian Highlands ecotourism destination.


Local Gastronomy

Taste our seasonal products, traditional recipes, and our ingredients from village gardens - the heart of the experience.

Local partners offering various gastronomic experiences include: an entire weekend dedicated to gastronomy and local discoveries (with an offer for the weekend of March 28–29) at Bassen Pension – Bazna; tastings of aged cheese from Meșendorf at Meșendorf 65 (Saturday, March 28, 2026) and Critz Cross (Sunday, March 29); discovering the menu at Colina – Local Gastronomic Point in Vânători, near Sighișoara (Saturday, March 28); event-designed menus at The Dallas Barn, also near Sighișoara (Saturday, March 28); sweet surprises from Hanul Lolelor in Agnita (throughout the weekend); a spring brunch organized by Cincsor.Transilvania – Guest Houses (Sunday, March 29); a fasting brunch at Copșa Mare 122, followed by an invitation to a walk through the community (Sunday, March 29); and a celebration marking 10 years of Viscri 32 – White Barn and Blue House, with wine and liqueur (Saturday and Sunday, March 28–29).


Visit our Villages and our Fortified Churches

Discover the Saxon heritage of the region through visits to historic villages and fortified churches, accompanied by stories about the history of these places and how the communities have evolved over time. During this weekend, the following churches are open to the public, according to the winter schedule (details available here): Viscri (Mureș County), Saschiz (Mureș County), Biertan (Sibiu County), Curciu (Sibiu County), Agnita (Sibiu County), Cincu (Sibiu County), and Cincșor (Sibiu County).


Meet the Locals

The event highlights the people who bring these places to life—craftsmen, local entrepreneurs, and guides who share stories about rural life and the initiatives that support community development. Among the partners involved are Atelierul de Sculptură by Cristian Creștincov in Gherdeal, where visitors can explore the artist’s workshop (Saturday, March 28), and Walking Tours Mediaș, where Ioana Pătrășcoiu invites the public to a different kind of city tour in Mediaș on Saturday, March 28, at dusk.


Open Spaces and Places for Conversation

In the spirit of local hospitality, several hosts will open their courtyards, gardens, and hills to visitors, offering spaces where they can slow down, share a meal with their hosts, and experience the atmosphere of the area. Among these places are the King Charles III House in Viscri, where visitors can see both permanent exhibits (such as the Florilegium inspired by Transylvanian flora) and temporary exhibitions, and Tei Tea House in Saschiz, which welcomes guests with local stories and delicacies from regional producers.



Saturday, March 28, 2026

Gastronomic Weekend – Bassen Pension, Bazna

Reservation required

Location: Bassen Pension – Bazna

Details: https://fb.me/e/6AGj60NuiA culinary experience dedicated to Transylvanian cuisine: meals prepared with local ingredients, a guided village tour, and meetings with hosts and locals. Accommodation is available on-site.


Lichiu and Wine: 10 Years of Viscri 32

Reservation required

Location:  Viscri 32, Viscri

Ten years ago, we moved to Viscri in the middle of winter, with rubber boots and no idea that one day we would fire up the oven for more than just the two of us. Since then, we’ve restored the house, the large and small barns, the buffalo stable, stoves, walls, doors, and windows. One thing has remained constant: the oven is still the heart of the barn kitchen, and wine its natural companion.

To celebrate 10 years of Viscri 32, we return to one of the village’s most cherished recipes: lichiu. A simple dough with rich cream, semolina, plums or cheese, and plenty of patience. Over the weekend of March 28–29, we will serve several types of lichiu—sweet and savory—paired with 7 glasses of “Meanwhile in Viscri” x De Matei wine. A special à la carte menu, available only this weekend. Simple is better.


Tei Tea House – Saschiz

For hikers and beyond, the weekend begins at Tei Tea House with small surprises for visitors—a moment of pause through a cozy tête-à-tête. “Grandma’s Cellar” offers pancakes with homemade jams and preserves, a perfect sweet break.


Mountain Bike Tour: Mediaș – Nemșa – Richiș – Biertan – Dupuș – Ațel – Richiș – Mediaș

Date & Time: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:30

Meeting Point: Eleșteu Parking, Mediaș

Duration: Estimated 6–7 hours

A mountain biking tour along one of our favorite routes, crossing sunny meadows, historic villages, and forests awakening with spring.


Donuts for the Curious – Hanul Lolelor

Location: Agnita, Hanul Lolelor

The restaurant opens its doors throughout the weekend for a relaxed culinary experience. To mark the start of the tourist season, guests receive complimentary warm donuts with every order between 12:00–18:00.


Matured Cheese Tasting

Reservation required

  • Saturday, March 28 | 14:00–18:00

    Location: Meșendorf 65  – Meșendorf village

  • Sunday, March 29 | 10:00–15:00

    Location: Critz Cross – Criț village

An experience dedicated to artisanal aged cheeses, where participants discover both flavors and the stories behind them.


Colina cu Bunătăți – Local Gastronomic Point Presentation

Reservation required

Location: Vânători

Opening: 14:00

Colina cu Bunătăți opens its doors for a presentation of its local gastronomic point and home-style cooking. Visitors are invited to discover traditional dishes made from homegrown ingredients and learn the story behind this place dedicated to local gastronomy.


Open Barn Tasting Experience – The Dallas Barn

Location: Near Sighișoara

Time: 15:00–19:00

The Dallas Barn welcomes visitors for a relaxed experience in its event barn. Guests can explore the venue, enjoy tastings from the house menu, and watch live cooking moments in a rural setting near Sighișoara.


Behind the Scenes of Art: The Story of Bronze – Gherdeal

Reservation required

Time: 15:00

Duration: 1h30

Cost: €20 / person

Organizer: Association for Cultural and Artistic Promotion RAWWA visit to sculptor Cristian Creștincov’s workshop, where participants discover the artistic process of bronze casting using the ancient “lost wax” technique. The experience ends with homemade pies and coffee in a relaxed rural setting.


Guided Tour in Mediaș

Reservation required

Meeting Point: George Enescu Square, Mediaș

Time: 18:00

Price: 40 RON

A guided walking tour through the historic center of Mediaș, exploring medieval heritage and especially how the Saxon community fortified itself and survived over the centuries.

(c)DiscoveRomania
(c)DiscoveRomania

Sunday, March 29, 2026


Hiking Loop – Alma Vii

Departure from Sibiu: 08:30 (exit toward Agnita)

Hike start: 09:45 from Alma Vii

Reservation required

Details & bookings: https://fb.me/e/7X3fQAE7M

A guided circular hike starting the Alma Vii fortified church, heading toward the village of Metiș and returning through the forest. The route climbs along hill ridges and continues on forest roads and woodland trails.

At the end, participants are invited to visit the Alma Vii fortified church, a UNESCO monument, where a culinary surprise awaits: homemade donuts, lemonade, water, and coffee, served in the orchard near the fortress.

  • Distance: 11 km

  • Elevation gain: 230 m

  • Difficulty: easy–medium

  • Duration: approx. 5–6 hours

  • Cost: 70 RON/adult; 30 RON/student (over 12); free for children (6–12)


“Come Walk the Highlands” on Via Transilvanica

Date & Time: Sunday, March 29, 2026, from 09:30

Route: Richiș – Biertan

There are mornings that don’t rush—mornings when the air is crisp and the quiet of the hills makes you feel exactly where you’re meant to be. On Sunday, March 29, 2026, you are invited to leave the city behind and join a simple, authentic family hike on the Via Transilvanica, between Richiș and Biertan. We meet at 09:30 and set off together—at a gentle pace and with an open spirit—guided by Mihai Proca, along a route of approximately 17 km. The path takes us over rolling hills, through pastures coming back to life, and under the soft shade of the forest. It’s an easy–medium hike, but above all, an invitation to reconnect—with nature, with people, and with yourself. And at the end… a simple, heartfelt reward awaits: a traditional Saxon apple pie, capturing the taste of the entire day. This event is organized the “Years of Hiking” program, dedicated to promoting nature, ecotourism, and authentic experiences in Sibiu County.


Fasting Brunch & Bread Baking Workshop

Location: Copșa Mare 122

Time: 11:00 – 15:00

Reservation required

A brunch dedicated to fasting cuisine, where traditional recipes meet modern interpretations of simple ingredients. Participants will prepare dessert in a workshop using a wood-fired oven, followed by a walk through the village and a tasting of the dessert served with tea and elderflower lemonade (socată).

  • Price:

    • Adults – 150 RON

    • Children (6–12) – 75 RON

    • Children under 6 – free


Hârtibaciu Valley Steam Train (Mocănița)

Special season opening ride

Departure point: Cornățel Station

Time: 11:00

The steam train returns to the narrow-gauge railway of the Hârtibaciu Valley for the first ride of the season, offering a nostalgic journey through the rolling landscapes of Transylvania.

Organizer: The “Friends of Mocănița” Association


Forest Fitness – Walk & Clean-Up on Via Transilvanica

Location: Moșna – Mediaș area

Time: 11:00

Organizer/Contact: Dianthus Association

A nature walk along the Via Transilvanica route, on the sector maintained by the Dianthus Association. This activity combines a relaxed outdoor experience with a light clean-up initiative along the trail. Participants are invited to explore the path and the surrounding hills in an active way—a kind of “fitness in the forest,” where movement, nature, and care for the environment come together.

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