Helmstedt’s twinning to the Romanian town Orastie exists since the signing of the certificate on 24th June 2002. The process was built on the base that was made since 1993 by the protestant congregations of Emmerstedt and Orastie, which carries the old German name Broos. Orastie/Broos in Siebenbürgen as one of the seven legendary castle cities is one of the most historical interesting locations in this area. The city has already been mentionend in 1224 in the charter of Hungarian King Andreas II, the fundamental document, which granted a legally special status to the German immigrants. Even today there is a little German minority living in Orastie/Broos.

Location

Orastie/Broos is located at the western edge of Transsylvania (Siebenbürgen). Orastie is easily accessable as situated at the Main road DN 7, which leads from Arad via Deva, Sebes (Mühlbach) to Sibiu. Orastie is accessable via a well extended road net, but also by train or via the international airport of Sibiu (Herrmannstadt).

Sights

Special sight is firstly the fortified church which is the historic germ of the village. In the preface of the 775-year anniversary of the village a historic rotunda was found there, which has its counterpart in the area of Aachen (Germany). Within the wall enclosed castle yard are standing side by side the German-protestant and the Hungarian-reformed churches of each congregation, that date back to 1500 respectively to 1820-23. Today’s town landmark is the powerful, inside fully painted Romanian-Orthodox cathedrale, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century at the historic market square.

In the scenic and  beautiful surroundings visits to the already at Roman times significant thermal bath village of Geoagiu (15 km), as well as to the mountains around Costesti (12 km) where the famous Daker chieftain resided are worthwhile.  Outings are possible to the impressive castle of Matthias Corvinus at near Hunedoara/Eisenmarkt (20 km), to the fortification of Alba Julia/Kaarlsburg (30 km), to Sarmizegetusa, the digged out metropolis of the Romans, or to Siebenbürgen’s „capital“ Sibiu/Hermannstadt (90 km). Also tempting are the local typical fortified churches of Siebenbürgen and the bow of the Carpathian Mountains which erect up to 2500 m and shield Siebenbürgen to north, east and south.

Accomodation

Hotel and guesthouse accomodation is easy to find and reaches by all means west European standard. Also group accomodation for juveniles can be found. Problems in communication (Romanian is very close to Italian and Spanish) can easily be overbridged by the members of the German minority, who also are  happy to help finding private accomodation if wished.

Hans-Jürgen Schünemann
Barmker Str. 17
38350 Helmstedt
Tel. 05351/34137
ob.emmerstedt@t-online.de