If you are looking for a place to unwind and slow down, to be stunned by nature and wilderness, and to be taken back in time by visiting the area’s cultural heritage, you need to look no further. Welcome to Alma Vii. Here are some activities around Alma-Via Guesthouse.
Cultural Activities around Alma-Via Guesthouse
Alma Vii
A visit to Alma Vii’s fortified church has been ranked as one of the Top Sights in Fortified Saxon Villages by The Lonely Planet, alongside with the famous churches in Biertan, Viscri, or Valea Viilor. The medieval fortified church of Alma Vii started as a small church in the early 1300’s, and has over centuries been constantly enlarged to become today’s impressive ensemble. The fortified wall was renovated in 2016 under supervision of the Mihai Eminescu Trust, and now houses a charming and kid-friendly museum with old artifacts from Alma Vii – including a real skeleton! It is also possible to climb the main tower on steep, wooden ladders, to stand directly next to the giant old church bell, and enjoy a beautiful view of the village and beyond.
Moșna
Alma Vii is part of the comuna Moșna. Moșna has an important cultural attraction on its own: “One of the finest fortifications in the region around Medias, Moșna’s 14th century church was rebuilt over subsequent centuries, with impressive defense towers and high walls. There are a few displays of regional history inside the complex, but the church with statues of archangels and wood-carved pews is most interesting.” Lonely Planet
Biertan
Only 16 km or 25 minutes away by car lies the small town of Biertan, wich is famous for its extraordinary fortified church, a UNESCO heritage site. This magical place with its hidden corners and breathtaking architecture is definitely worth a visit. If you enjoy long hikes, you can even walk there all the way from Alma Vii, on a marked hiking-trail through beautiful forests. We are happy to supply you with a tasty lunch package for the way, and to pick you up by car for the way home to Alma Vii. A trip to Biertan is also a great route for a bike-tour on asphalt roads with little traffic.
Valea Viilor
If the crowds at Biertan are too much for you, there is a secret gem hidden only 16 km from Alma Vii: the fortified church of Valea Viilor, also a UNESCO heritage site. It is much less visited than Biertan and hence has a more intimate feel to it, yet is no less interesting to see! By car, it can be reached by going around via Medias, which doubles the distance. But in good weather, it is also possible to reach it on a non-paved, remote country road through hills and meadows, either by horse cart, bicycle, or a long, beautiful hike (not advisable after heavy rain falls).
Sighișoara
The historical town of Sighișoara, 45 km from Alma Vii, is actually a citadel, which became a UNESCO heritage site in 1999. With its car-free, enchanting cobbled streets, the charming, colorful houses and the amazing setting on top of a forested hill, it is deservedly one of Romania’s most visited places. On top, it is the birth place of Vlad Țepeș, better known to the world as Dracula.
Medias
Like most Transylvanian cities, Medias was strongly fortified in the middle ages. The fortified church St. Margaret represented the core, around which the citadel gradually developed. The old town center has maintained a medieval feel with narrow winding lanes, century-old houses and a large pedestrian square surrounded by colourful facades.
Alțâna
In Alțâna, 30 km from Alma Vii, you can find an interethnical museum, with an impressive collection of Romanian, Saxon and Hungarian artifacts. It has been assembled lovingly by its passionate owners, and can hence transport you right back in time, to life in the old days in Transylvania.
Outdoor Activities around Alma-Via Guesthouse
Bike
We have a few standard mountain bikes available in various sizes to rent for our guests. If you are looking for more hi-tech gear, and maybe even a guide to go on tour with you, please let us know in advance and we can recommend you just the right person. The hills and remote country roads around Alma Vii are a unique and rewarding terrain for bicycle lovers, which also shows in the growing number of guided bicycle tours that visit us each year. Depending on your skills, you can also choose very challenging, off-road trips. Just contact us for maps and information.
Hike
The endless soft rolling, grassy hills and forests of Transylvania bring out the Wanderlust in almost everyone who comes here. Romania is not (yet) a country of many marked and maintained hiking paths. The land is free and yours to discover, and you will find almost no fences here to stop you on your way! Whether you just want to go where your feet will carry you, or have a set destination such as a neighbouring village or fortified church, you will certainly find what you are looking for, and more.
Horses
The glorious Transylvanian countryside seems to have the word “horseback riding” written all over it. Whilst we have no horses yet to call our own, we know just the place that has. Whether you feel like having a professionally instructed lesson in a outdoor riding paddock, or an unforgettable, guided trailride through the Transylvanian wilderness, your wishes can come true only a 30 minute drive away from Alma Vii.
For everyone who feels more comfortable sitting on four wheels rather than four hooves, we offer traditional horse-cart drives in Alma Vii and surroundings. How about driving to a traditional “stana”, a shepherd’s hut and paddock, where you can watch or help him milk the sheep, and see how traditional Romanian “branza” cheese is cooked over an open fire? Or do you want to find out how Transylvanian honey is made and sample a few different types, all organic and pesticide-free? On the way back, you can enjoy a delicious picknick that we prepared for you on a table in a lovely, shady location.
