Sadu – Culture and Mountain Landscape in Romania

Sadu lies in a valley surrounded by mountain ridges on the banks of the Sadu River. The village landscape thus combines a clearly defined riverside setting with the surrounding mountain-ridge landscape.

Culture and History

The wooden parish church of Sadu II is dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God and is classified as a Category B historic monument. The iconostasis of the wooden church features icons painted in oil on wood; they date from the late 19th century and bear the signature of the painter Ioan Boicean. A piece of wood inserted into the altar bears the church’s engraved consecration date: 1830. The nave of this church has a vaulting system consisting of three domes: two flattened domes and a central hemispherical dome on pendentives. The church is one of the first Romanian masonry churches of the 18th century. Biserica Adormirea Maicii Domnului de la Sadu bears the heritage protection code SB-II-a-A-12531. The Romanian name Biserica Adormirea Maicii Domnului de la Sadu therefore also refers to the church described here. In the dome construction, the two flattened domes differ from the central hemispherical dome; the system is supported by pendentives.

History of Technology

The Sadu I Energy Museum opened on 19 September 1996. The opening took place in the main building of the Sadu I small hydroelectric power plant. Three museum halls display objects relating to the history of the Sadu I power plant. Groups of at least 7–8 people must submit a request for visiting permission to visit the Sadu I Energy Museum. The opening venue and the exhibition topic thus both relate to the Sadu I facility: the main building of the small hydroelectric power plant is connected with the history of the power plant discussed there. The exhibition is spread across three halls and remains focused on objects relating to the history of this power plant.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

The route from Sadu to Vârful Măgura Cisnădiei passes through wooded areas and alpine meadows. A municipal mountain-biking route begins in Sadu and passes through several stations before reaching Vârful Măgura Cisnădiei. The route ends back in Sadu. The route therefore includes both wooded areas and alpine meadows. The mountain-biking route has the same starting and ending point, Sadu, and passes through several stations on the way to Vârful Măgura Cisnădiei.

Customs and Crafts

Pastoral customs are preserved in Sadu. In May, for example, the herds are driven into the mountains around the feast of Saints Constantine and Helena. Sadu is still home to several workshops for metalworking and woodworking. The range of crafts also includes the production of traditional clothing and weaving. A well-known festival takes place in Sadu every year at Pentecost. The custom described is therefore linked to May and to the feast of Saints Constantine and Helena. The workshops mentioned combine metalworking and woodworking with the production of traditional clothing and weaving. The festival is held annually at Pentecost.

Cuisine

Cămara Chivuței offers lunch or dinner. The cuisine on offer is traditionally Romanian. The offering at Cămara Chivuței is thus explicitly specified for two times of day and classified as traditional Romanian cuisine.

Discover more places via: Gunzendorf, Pojana, Slimnic, Șura Mică, Mohu, Boiţa, Städterdorf, Heltau.

For the overarching travel overview: Hermannstadt.