Heritage Stories · Europe

Castles and Convictions in Romania: Tracing Anabaptist Roots through Transylvania

Reserve your Spot
Contact us

OVERVIEW

Castles and Convictions in Romania: Tracing Anabaptist Roots through Transylvania

June 4 - 15, 2026
From $3,995 USD | $5,375 CAD

Discover the remarkable story of the Hutterite Anabaptists in Romania on a journey led by storyteller Rodney Hofer. Walk the cobblestone streets of Sibiu, explore former Hutterite prisons and sanctuaries, and visit fortified Saxon villages and UNESCO-listed churches. Step inside legendary castles like Corvin, Bran, and Peles, and share home-cooked meals in welcoming villages. Along the way, enjoy wine tastings, folk traditions, and Transylvania’s breathtaking landscapes. This immersive tour blends powerful storytelling, rich cultural encounters, and unforgettable scenery—bringing to life the faith, resilience, and enduring spirit of those who shaped this region’s history.

Rodney Hofer
Tour Expert

Outline of a person icon with a circle representing a head and curved lines for shoulders.

12 Days
Duration

A simple graphic of the sun with rays extending outward.

Romania
Countries Visited

Icon of a globe representing Earth with continents in black on a blue background.

Moderately Active
Activity Level

A stylized heartbeat line or electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform

Trip Highlights

  • Walk in Hutterite Footsteps – Explore former prisons, sanctuaries, and sites tied to the Hutterite story of faith and endurance.

  • Discover Historic Transylvania – Wander Sibiu’s cobblestone streets and visit fortified Saxon villages and UNESCO World Heritage churches.

  • Explore Iconic Castles – Step inside Romania’s most famous landmarks, including Corvin, Bran, and Peles Castles.

  • Experience Local Life – Share home-cooked village meals, enjoy wine tastings, and connect with welcoming communities.

  • Embrace Culture and Scenery – Encounter folk traditions and take in the breathtaking landscapes of the Carpathian Mountains.

A large open square with cobblestone pavement, surrounded by historic buildings, some with clock towers. Several people are walking and a person on a bicycle are visible. The sky is overcast.

DAY 1 • June 4, 2026

Sibiu

Arrival in Sibiu 

Arrive in the charming city of Sibiu (Hermannstadt) and settle in. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Old Town, perhaps indulging in ice cream at an outdoor café or browsing artisan shops. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner and orientation with Rodney Hofer. 

A city street with cobblestone pavement and a sidewalk, lined with colorful historic buildings, trees, and street lamps. People are walking along the street, some sitting at outdoor cafes, and there are a few street signs and storefronts visible.

DAY 2 • June 5, 2026

Sibiu

Hutterite Prisons of Hermannstadt 

Begin with a guided tour of Sibiu’s Old Town, visiting the Hermannstadt Penitentiary and Old City Hall & Jail, both once used as Hutterite prisons. Explore the Lutheran Cathedral, Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, or Roman Catholic Church. Enjoy free time for shopping, lunch, or climbing the City Tower for panoramic views. 

Old yellow building with boarded windows and a red tiled roof, a white van parked nearby, two trees in front, and a small tower with a green top in the background.

DAY 3 • June 6, 2026

Sibiu

Faith, Deportations & Folk Traditions 

Visit the Hermannstadt Jesuit Orphanage, once built to house Hutterite children. Tour the Landler Museum in Neppendorf Lutheran Church, learning about Austrian and Carinthian Lutherans deported alongside Hutterites. See fortified churches in Cisnădioara, stroll through the Outdoor Folkloric Museum, and hear from Karla Roșca about the history of Habaner pottery. 

A historic castle with multiple turrets and stone walls, green grass, a small stream, under a partly cloudy sky.

DAY 4 • June 7, 2026

Alba Iulia

First Deportation Village & Medieval Castles 

Travel to Romos, the first village where Carinthian Lutherans were deported, visiting the Parochial House Hideaway and Romos Lutheran Church. Tour the spectacular Corvin Castle in Hunedoara and see Deva Castle, where several Hutterites were imprisoned. Continue to Alba Iulia. 

A group of elderly people walking in front of an old, partially ruined brick building with overgrown trees.

DAY 5 • June 8, 2026

Alba Iulia

Palaces, Bruderhof Sites & Citadel Evenings 

Visit Vintu de Jos (Alwinz) to see the palace ruins that once served as a Hutterite sanctuary and prison. Stop at the Reformed Church near a former Bruderhof site for fellowship with the local congregation. Return to Alba Iulia for an evening stroll around the illuminated 17th-century Citadel. 

An open old handwritten manuscript in Spanish with cursive script, showing several entries dated from 1758 to 1779, with some words underlined and annotations in the margins.

DAY 6 • June 9, 2026

Alba Iulia

Codices, Archives & Sacred Heritage 

Tour Romania’s oldest synagogue before visiting the Biblioteca Batthyaneum to view Hutterite codices. Explore the Catholic Diocese Archives to see a porcelain stove once used by Hutterites. Witness the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, visit the New Gate (a former Hutterite prison), the 11th-century Catholic Cathedral, and the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of Reunification. 

Aerial view of a European village with a central church, surrounded by orange-roofed houses and green hills under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

DAY 7 • June 10, 2026

Sighișoara

Saxon Villages & Wine Tasting 

Travel to Sighișoara via Bethlen Haller Castle for wine tasting. Visit Bratieu, a Gypsy coopersmith village, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch in Richis. Explore the UNESCO-listed fortified church in Biertan and the fortified church at Mălâncrav. If available, attend a public evening concert in Sighișoara. 

Colorful buildings with ornate windows and a clock tower with a spire in the background, blue sky overhead.

DAY 8 • June 11, 2026

Brașov

Medieval Citadels & Hutterite Detention Sites 

Explore the Sighișoara Citadel, including Dracula’s birthplace, the Torture Museum, and Citadel Tower. En route to Brașov, visit the Kreuz fortified church and Rupea fortress ruins — both linked to Hutterite history. Stop in Viscri for lunch and learn about King Charles’ connection to Transylvania, visiting his village home. 

A medieval castle with white walls and red-tiled roofs on a rocky hill, surrounded by green forest and rolling hills under a cloudy sky.

DAY 9 • June 12, 2026

Brașov

Fortifications & Mountain Views 

Tour the UNESCO fortified church at Prejmer (or Harman), stop at Râșnov for views of mountain escape routes, and explore the legendary Bran Castle. 

A historic church with a tall steeple and a clock, surrounded by red-roofed buildings and green forested hills in the background.

DAY 10 • June 13, 2026

Brașov

Old Brașov, Royal Castles & Wine 

Walk the Old Brașov City Center and visit the Black Church. Continue to Azuga for wine tasting, then tour Peles Castle in Sinaia before returning to Brașov. 

Ruins of an old stone building with a large circular window, a tower with a conical roof, a garden with flowers, a stone pathway, and a blue sky with clouds.

DAY 11 • June 14, 2026

Sibiu

Monastic Ruins & Farewell 

Return to Sibiu, stopping in Cincu (Gross Schenk) and the Cistercian Monastery ruins at Cârța. Share final reflections over a farewell dinner. 

A panoramic view of a historic European city with red-tiled rooftops, a clock tower, and a cloudy sky.

DAY 12 • June 15, 2026

Sibiu

Departure  

After breakfast, bid farewell to fellow travellers. Depart for home from Sibiu with new insights and memories that will last for years to come. 

book now

Pricing

Registration By:

Black Friday Deal + Early Bird Rate until December 5, 2025 (save $350 USD | $500 CAD)

After December 5, 2025

Double Occupancy:

$3,995 USD | $5,375 CAD

$4,345 USD | $5,875 CAD

Single Occupancy:

$4,710 USD | $6,340 CAD

$5,060 USD | $6,840 CAD

Inclusions

  • 12 nights hotel accommodations in high quality, premium properties  

  • All breakfasts, 8 dinners, 1 lunch, 1 wine tasting

  • Expert storyteller supported with local guides

  • Local transportation and travel coordination

  • Gratuities for group meals, guides and driver

  • All listed excursions, guided tours, and museum entries

Exclusions

  • International airfare and all associated fees

  • Airport transfers

  • Beverages with meals

  • Any additional or optional activities

  • Porterage

  • Gratuities for hotel and any personal activities  

  • Visas (if required)

  • Travel Insurance

A smiling older man with glasses, a beard, and gray hair, outdoors with a wooden fence and green foliage in the background.

TOUR EXPERT

Rodney Hofer

Storyteller · Engineer · Author · World Traveler · History Enthusiast

Rod Hofer loves to tell stories, just like his father before him and a host of other relatives. In his childhood community of Freeman, South Dakota, this was called visiting. When he can connect people with the meaningful stories Anabaptist history has to offer, he has successfully done his job. This same desire has inspired him to lead Anabaptist history tours, write a book about Hutterites in Romania, and volunteer at Mennonite information centers. 

MORE ABOUT RODNEY

Questions?

Reach out to our team at office@tourmagination.com
or by phone at (877) 668-2732.

Reserve Your Spot