Trailing The Ancients

The ride in — Sibiu to Tilișca

You leave Sibiu by bike at 09:15 and ride 52 km through the full depth of the Mărginimea Sibiului, arriving at the archaeological camp by early afternoon. The first stop is the Saxon fortress church at Cisnădioara — built by the Teutonic Knights in 1223, rated 4.7★, and reached by a short stair climb with panoramic views over the Cindrel range. From there the route flows west through a corridor of Romanian painted Orthodox villages — Rășinari, birthplace of Emil Cioran, then Poplaca and Sibiel, where a midpoint lunch stop includes a visit to the Zosim Oancea icon museum with its 700+ Byzantine icons on glass — then on through Săliște and Galeș before arriving at Tilișca. The support van carries all luggage directly to camp; riders carry only a day pack. The evening is a traditional dinner…

Biserica fortificata Cisnădioara

Rășinari

Sibiel

Tilișca

Tilisca Archaeological Camp

The full day is spent on the Cățânaș hilltop Dacian fortress, guided throughout by the local research team. After a morning briefing at the stone wall, participants rotate through real excavation work — trowel digging, finds cleaning, and surface survey — before lunch on the hilltop with the archaeologists. The afternoon brings two workshops: archaeological drawing and Dacian hand-building ceramics. The day closes with an open conversation with the researchers: the day's finds, the broader story of Dacian civilisation, and whatever questions the site has raised. The descent includes a tasting of local wines and craft beers from Sibiu County producers. Back at camp, a traditional meal is cooked in a pot — menu based on what is fresh — and each participant receives a personal certificate of…

Dacian fortress of Tilișca

Wooden Hut Land

Return to Sibiu

On the morning of Day 3 the group divides. Those who ride back retrace the Mărginimea corridor and finish at the ASTRA National Museum on the edge of Sibiu — the largest open-air folk culture museum in Romania, 400+ original buildings, rated 4.8★, open daily from 08:00. Those who prefer not to ride return by van in 25 minutes, dropped at the city centre or airport. Those who want more time at the site stay — additional field work days are available by prior arrangement with the research team, bikes return with the van. All three options are included in the booking; the only variable is the bike rental, which adjusts to reflect whether Day 3 is a riding day.

Sibiu