Romania: Sighisoara & Saxon Transylvania

Score: 59

"Thank the legend of Dracula for preserving this wonderful fortress town. The old city remains remarkably preserved, although growth threatens to overrun surrounding lands."

"Transylvania is the sleeper of European tourism, and the Saxon story is one of the most intriguing pieces of 700-year-old migratory history ever. When I visited in September 2007, Sighisoara was undergoing massive renovation in building edifices, cobbled streets, etc., so many areas were messy and chaotic. There were other Saxon villages and fortified Saxon church communities in better repair, but Sighisoara is the largest. It is also a real town rather than a 'museum,' which adds something. Unlike other Saxon areas, there were a lot of dynamic beggars—you had to watch your pockets."

"Open countryside remains cultivated principally in small plots; a very pleasant and beautiful rolling-hills landscape."

"Sighisoara has been turned into a faux version of a traditional town; many of the pristine Saxon towns are underdeveloped and half abandoned."