Imagine Cincșor (pronounced Chink-shor), a small charming village in the south of Transylvania with gorgeous mountains nearby and a beautifully restored 15th-century fortified church. All seems idyllic except for the abandoned Saxon School in the middle of it all. This is how it all began a few years ago when a lovely couple decided to buy the former school, restore it and eventually turn it into a guesthouse.

The school was built in 1910 in the Art Nouveau style by the famous Saxon architect Fritz Balthes. Because of the collapse of communism and the mass emigration of the Saxons back to Germany, the school was left to ruins and ended up being the village dump ground. In 2008 the former school was put on the market to be sold and so the adventure began.

She is a Saxon lady from the village, he is German born. They decide to enter this adventure and transform what was once the jewel of the Saxon community into not only a charming guesthouse but a good practice model for sustainable rural tourism in Romania.

Nothing is left to chance, everything has a story and a place of its own – from the carefully restored Art Nouveau details on the outside walls to the candles in the dining hall; from the local ingredients used in the kitchen to the people who work there and the smell of burnt wood from the fireplace. ‘We want to offer our guests an authentic experience. We want them to experience rural Transylvanian at its best!’ say the owners.

From young to old, there is something to do for everybody. The young ones can learn how to bake bread. Wine enthusiasts can taste different Romanian wines. Those seeking romance can simply sit by the fire listening to classical music. Those seeking adventure can enjoy a cycling day. If you are in search of knowledge and culture, there is a tour of the fortified church for you and lots of books in the guesthouse library. The guesthouse also offers packages for team buildings and firm events. But if you simply want to relax and enjoy your holiday, let the hosts pamper you and welcome you with open arms!

The couple later buys and restores two other buildings, also turned into guesthouses – the former Saxon parish house (16th century) and a local house. What was initially an emotional decision now becomes a successful and sustainable touristic project. Aiming to promote not only Saxon and Romanian culture and traditions, this project brings together craftsmen and talented people, promotes the New Transylvanian Cuisine, offers an authentic Transylvanian experience and combines today’s comfortable luxury with the healthy rural way of living!

More info: transilvania-cincsor.ro

The former Saxon School – before (above) and after restoration (below)

The interior yard

The entrance to the guesthouse

Grand staircase from below

Grand staircase from above

The main hallway

Entrance to the library, one of the former two classrooms

Former classroom now turned into a library/common room (before – left, now – right)

Former classroom now turned into a library/common room

Former teacher’s room, now the guesthouse lounge (before – above, now – below)

Detail in the former teacher’s room, now the guesthouse lounge

The porch/dining hall, previously part of the school yard

The porch/dining hall

Detail of the porch/dining hall

Detail of the porch/dining hall

Room no 1 – former attic

Room no 1 – former attic

Room no 1 – former attic

Room no 2 – former attic

Room no 2 – former attic

Room no 2 – former attic

Room no 2 – former attic

Room no 3 – former attic

Room no 3 – former attic

Room no 3 – former attic

Room no 4 – former classroom

Room no 4 – former classroom

Room no 4 – former classroom

Room no 4 – former classroom (before – above, now – below)

The village with it’s Fortified Church

The Fortified Church in the village (view from one of the rooms)