# Evangelical Church of Șmig [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Sibiu County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/sibiu) › [Șmig](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/smig) > A 15th-century Gothic Saxon church with more than 250 sq m of medieval wall paintings, uncovered bit by bit from beneath whitewash and among the largest in Transylvania. **At a glance:** Monasteries and churches in Șmig, Sibiu County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 14 October 2026. ## Key facts - **Opening hours:** The church has no fixed opening hours, and restoration of the frescoes is under way. The parish's contact details are not published; the Fortified Churches Foundation lists the Mediaș district consistory (+40 269 843 228) as the point of contact. - **Visit duration:** 30 min — estimate, a small church - **With kids:** No — mainly of interest to adults - **Parking:** Yes, free — by the roadside in the village - **Address:** DJ142E, în centrul satului, Șmig, Sibiu County - **Coordinates:** 46.22751, 24.44453 - **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biserica_medieval%C4%83_din_%C8%98mig - **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43113509 - **Categories:** [Monasteries and churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastiri-si-biserici) ## About Evangelical Church of Șmig Șmig (German: Schmiegen) is a village in the commune of Alma, in the Târnava Mare valley, and its church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. A document of 1390 already mentions a parish church in the village; the present Gothic building, with a nave and a polygonal choir supported by buttresses, dates largely from the second half of the 15th century. It was repaired in the 19th century, and in 1859 the walls were whitewashed, which covered the medieval paintings. What sets it apart is precisely this painting. Since 2009–2010, restorers have uncovered parts of the mural ensemble, dated to the 15th century, which covers some 250–260 sq m in all and is described in the press as the largest medieval fresco in Transylvania. The scenes are thought to be the work of the same workshop that painted the church at Mălâncrav. ### What you can see The nave walls show scenes from the legend of Saint Ladislaus, the knightly king venerated in medieval Transylvania, the prayer of Saint Catherine and the theme of the Living Cross. The colours are faded, and the areas still under whitewash show how much remains to be uncovered. The choir, with its ribbed vault and narrow Gothic windows, keeps an altar of 1909 in place of the medieval altarpiece, which was moved in 1956 to the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest. To the south stands a timber belfry with two 16th-century bells. ### Good to know The church is a work in progress: restoration of the frescoes continues through camps and workshops with students and specialists, and the first three conservation summer schools were announced for 2026. In 2021 the roof and the floor beneath the roof truss were repaired, with money from the Fortified Churches Foundation's Roof Programme. There are no fixed opening hours; access is arranged in advance. ## Don't miss - The 15th-century frescoes on the nave walls, covering some 250 sq m. - The scenes from the legend of Saint Ladislaus. - The Gothic choir with its ribbed vault and narrow windows. - The timber belfry south of the church, with two 16th-century bells. ## Good to know before you go ### Getting there **By car:** Șmig is in the commune of Alma, Sibiu County, on the DJ142E; the church stands in the centre of the village, beside the road. **Public transport:** no verified information on public transport to the village is available; it is easiest to arrive by car. ### Where to park Park by the roadside next to the church. ### Fees & discounts No visiting charges are published. ### Rules The church is a place of worship and a restoration site: modest dress, quiet voices, no touching of the paintings. Photography without flash is usually accepted; ask whoever opens the church if in doubt. ### Facilities no facilities in the church · accommodation and meals in nearby villages ## Details - **Construction period:** 15th century - **Dedication:** the Virgin Mary - **Denomination:** Evangelical - **Architectural style:** Gothic ## Frequently asked questions about Evangelical Church of Șmig **How long does a visit to Evangelical Church of Șmig take?** A visit to Evangelical Church of Șmig takes about 30 min (estimate, a small church). **Can you visit Evangelical Church of Șmig with kids?** No, Evangelical Church of Șmig is not recommended for visits with children (mainly of interest to adults). **Where can I park at Evangelical Church of Șmig?** There is free parking at Evangelical Church of Șmig (by the roadside in the village). Park by the roadside next to the church. **How do I get to Evangelical Church of Șmig?** Evangelical Church of Șmig is located at DJ142E, în centrul satului, Șmig, Sibiu County. By car: Șmig is in the commune of Alma, Sibiu County, on the DJ142E; the church stands in the centre of the village, beside the road. Public transport: no verified information on public transport to the village is available; it is easiest to arrive by car. ## Nearby attractions - [St Margaret's Church, Mediaș](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-sfanta-margareta-din-medias) — Monasteries and churches · Mediaș, SB · 15 lei · ½ – 1 hours · 13 km The Lutheran church in the centre of Mediaș, late Gothic and enclosed in a fortress with walls and towers; its leaning tower, with a five-pointed spire, is the town's emblem. - [Apafi Castle in Dumbrăveni](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-apafi-dumbraveni) — Castles and palaces · Dumbrăveni, SB · 30 min · 13 km A 16th-century Renaissance castle in the centre of Dumbrăveni, home of Prince Mihai Apafi I; today partly ruined, it houses a collection on Transylvanian Armenians and is due to be restored. - [Biertan Fortified Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-fortificata-din-biertan) — Monasteries and churches · Biertan, SB · ½ – 1 hours · UNESCO World Heritage · Top 20 · 15 km The Saxon church on the hill in the middle of the village, guarded by three rings of walls and towers; inside, Romania's largest polyptych altarpiece and a door with a lock from 1515. - [Copșa Mare Fortified Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-fortificata-din-copsa-mare) — Monasteries and churches · Copșa Mare, SB · 30 min · 17 km A Saxon church fortified around 1510, with a tall choir under a star vault, a bell tower with a timber gallery and a winegrowers' village around it, in the Wine Country. - [Richiș Fortified Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-fortificata-din-richis) — Monasteries and churches · Richiș, SB · 45 min · 19 km A Gothic basilica from the second half of the 14th century, with a gate tower and enclosure walls, known for the Green Man and the other faces carved in stone inside. - [Ighișu Nou Fortified Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-fortificata-din-ighisu-nou) — Monasteries and churches · Ighișu Nou, SB · 30 min · 19 km A Saxon Gothic church of the 14th–15th centuries, with a defensive tower under a hipped roof, a complete enclosure wall, a round bastion from 1515 and medieval frescoes in the choir. --- Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-evanghelica-din-smig Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/biserica-evanghelica-din-smig.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/biserica-evanghelica-din-smig.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/biserica-evanghelica-din-smig.md Last updated: 14 October 2026 Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania