Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara
About Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara
The Church on the Hill, dedicated to St Nicholas, stands on School Hill, at 429 metres the highest point of the Sighișoara citadel. It began as a Romanesque basilica, and from 1345 until the first decades of the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Gothic style: first the choir, raised over an older hall church, then the nave, turned into a hall church, with the south portal completed in 1525. Until the Reformation it was the town's parish church; after that, services moved to the Monastery Church, which is easier to reach, and the building on the hill slowly fell into decay.
Between 1992 and 2003 the church was stabilised and restored with funds from the Messerschmitt Foundation in Munich and the Romanian Ministry of Culture, and the work received the Europa Nostra Grand Prix. During the restoration, frescoes from the late 15th century emerged from under the whitewash. The church is one of the buildings of the Historic Centre of Sighișoara, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.
The way up passes through the Covered Staircase, also called the Scholars' Stairs: a wooden tunnel from 1642, with more than 170 steps, built so that pupils and churchgoers could climb to the school and the church in winter without being caught by the snow.
What you can see
Beneath the choir lies the crypt, the only one of its kind known in Transylvania, with tombs from the 16th to the 18th centuries. On the walls are the frescoes uncovered in the 1990s: St Nicholas in the tower porch, where an inscription of 1488 names the painter Jakobus Kendlinger, the Archangel Michael on the vault above the north entrance, the Last Judgement on the east wall of the north aisle and the legend of St George on the north wall. The church is 53 metres long, and the tower, with its slightly curved spire, is 42 metres high.
The interior is also a small museum of Saxon art: after 1990, when the Saxons emigrated en masse, the altars from Șaeș, Beia and Cund, medieval chests from Brădeni and other objects from village churches left without a congregation were brought here to protect them from theft and decay. Outside, on the slope of the hill, lies the Lutheran cemetery, with gravestones several centuries old, and near the top of the staircase stands the School on the Hill.
Good to know
The climb is on foot, by the covered staircase or by the lane that runs up beside it; there is no car access to the top. The staircase itself is open and free, and only entry to the church is paid.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The climb through the wooden tunnel of the Covered Staircase, built in 1642.
- The crypt beneath the choir, the only one of its kind known in Transylvania.
- The 1488 inscription of the painter Jakobus Kendlinger and the frescoes in the tower porch.
- The altars brought from the Saxon churches of Șaeș, Beia and Cund.
- The Lutheran cemetery on the slope of the hill, with centuries-old gravestones.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Sighișoara is on the DN13, ~55 km from Târgu Mureș (~1 hour) and ~120 km from Brașov (~2 hours); from Sibiu it is ~95 km on the DN14 via Mediaș (~1 hour 50 minutes). The car stays in a car park in the lower town, as vehicle access to the citadel is restricted.
Public transport: train on the Brașov–Cluj-Napoca line to Sighișoara station; from there it is ~1.5 km, about a 25-minute walk, through the Clock Tower and Citadel Square to the foot of the staircase, then the climb up the steps.
- Where to park
You cannot park in the citadel or on the hill. The public car parks are in the lower town, at the foot of the citadel (for example on Strada Octavian Goga), paid on weekdays; from there it is a ~10–15-minute uphill walk to the church. In summer and during festivals they fill up quickly.
- Fees & discounts
Entry to the church: 15 lei per ticket, according to the parish. The covered staircase and the cemetery are free. The Monastery Church, which belongs to the same parish, has a separate ticket, also 15 lei.
- Rules
The church belongs to the Lutheran parish and is used for services and concerts: keep quiet and dress modestly, and there are no visits during services. Photography for private use is usually allowed, without flash on the frescoes. The staircase has many steps and is steep, unsuitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. In the cemetery keep to the paths and respect the graves.
- Facilities
tickets at the entrance · concerts on Fridays at 18:00 from June to September · cafés, restaurants and toilets in the citadel, 5–10 minutes away · no wheelchair access · good mobile signal
Frequently asked questions about Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara
- How much is a ticket to Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara?
- A ticket to Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara costs 15 lei (the staircase is free). Entry to the church: 15 lei per ticket, according to the parish. The covered staircase and the cemetery are free. The Monastery Church, which belongs to the same parish, has a separate ticket, also 15 lei.
- What are the opening hours of Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara?
- Opening hours at Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara: daily 09:00 – 18:00. Hours published by the Lutheran parish (updated August 2026): the church is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00. Visits are suspended during services (a few Sundays in summer, usually at Pentecost and on the last Sunday of the month) and during the Friday evening concerts from June to September. Outside the season, check the hours on the parish website or by phone. The covered staircase can be climbed at any time.
- How long does a visit to Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara take?
- A visit to Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara takes about ½ – 1 hours (with the climb and the cemetery).
- Can you visit Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara with kids?
- Yes, Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara is suitable for children (more than 170 steps).
- Where can I park at Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara?
- There is paid parking at Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara (in the lower town). You cannot park in the citadel or on the hill. The public car parks are in the lower town, at the foot of the citadel (for example on Strada Octavian Goga), paid on weekdays; from there it is a ~10–15-minute uphill walk to the church. In summer and during festivals they fill up quickly.
- How do I get to Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara?
- Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara is located at Strada Scării 10, Sighișoara, Mureș County. By car: Sighișoara is on the DN13, ~55 km from Târgu Mureș (~1 hour) and ~120 km from Brașov (~2 hours); from Sibiu it is ~95 km on the DN14 via Mediaș (~1 hour 50 minutes). The car stays in a car park in the lower town, as vehicle access to the citadel is restricted. Public transport: train on the Brașov–Cluj-Napoca line to Sighișoara station; from there it is ~1.5 km, about a 25-minute walk, through the Clock Tower and Citadel Square to the foot of the staircase, then the climb up the steps.
- When is the best time to visit Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara?
- The best season for Church on the Hill and Covered Staircase in Sighișoara: April – October (Friday concerts, June–Sept.).
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