The historic centre of Sighișoara in historic Transylvania provides the ideal setting for discussing such topics at our 2023 conference. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the mediaeval citadel (the oldest inhabited mediaeval citadel in Europe) is a great attraction for tourists from all over the world who come to discover its charm that is described in chronicles and recreated in modern times in the most unexpected ways. This mediaeval town is a testament to how Central Europe’s culture is integrated into Eastern Europe’s culture.

Transylvania’s rolling hills are sprinkled with numerous villages with their fortified churches, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Pastel-coloured houses and well-tended pastures still preserve the vivid image of the area’s cultural landscape as nurtured throughout centuries by German-speaking Saxon people. Villagers there greet visitors with high-quality slow-food delights, handcrafts, traditional music and customs. A little hint: in one of these villages Prince (now King) Charles bought himself a charming traditional house. The ‘land behind forests’ is a backdrop to many stunning massive castles such as Bran, associated with legendary Dracula where most of tourists go. However, for gourmands, the real jewels are to be discovered in remote villages, helping with chores at biodiversity farms and sharing a table with owners in the evenings.