Copșa Mare Fortified Church
Copșa Mare, Sibiu County · Transylvania
About Copșa Mare Fortified Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Copșa Mare, Sibiu County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Copșa Mare (Großkopisch in German) is a Saxon village on the Târnava Plateau, first mentioned in 1283 and once known for some of the most extensive vineyards in the Wine Country. The church began in the early 14th century as a Gothic basilica with three aisles and a tower at the west end. Around 1510 it was turned into a fortified church: the side aisles were removed, the nave walls were raised and given arrow slits, and the choir received a defensive storey so that it could cover the village from the hill above.
In the 16th century the complex was enclosed by an irregular four-sided curtain wall with a square tower at the north-east corner. In 1795–1797 the nave received a Baroque vault, and the Classicist altar dates from 1854.
What you can see
From outside you can pick out the bell tower with its timber parapet walk and pyramidal roof, the tall choir with its defensive storey, and the enclosure wall with the corner tower. Inside, the choir keeps its star vault with exposed brick ribs and its Gothic windows with central mullions; there are also the Classicist altar with Corinthian columns and a Baroque crown, the organ of 1800, and the Baroque pulpit canopy and font. The two-storey sacristy of 1519 has a chapel on the upper floor and a Renaissance doorway.
Good to know
The church is looked after by the German association Pro Groß Kopisch e.V., and the Fortified Churches Foundation has carried out emergency works here since 2017; the latest, in autumn 2025, repaired the nave roof covering, which a larger project is still meant to renew. We did not find an official visiting schedule.
- The tall choir with its star vault and Gothic windows with central mullions.
- The bell tower with its timber parapet walk and pyramidal roof.
- The two-storey sacristy of 1519, with a Renaissance doorway and a chapel upstairs.
- The enclosure wall with the corner tower in the north-east.
- The Classicist altar of 1854, with Corinthian columns and a Baroque crown.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Copșa Mare is ~10 km from Biertan, to the east; Sighișoara is ~33 km away, Mediaș ~34 km, Sibiu ~77 km and Brașov ~150 km. Some sources describe the last stretch of road as poor, so allow more time than the map suggests.
Public transport: we found no regular public transport to Copșa Mare. The nearest major railway stations are in Mediaș and Sighișoara, from where you continue by car or taxi.
- Where to park
An older source mentions free parking below the complex; we found no recent confirmation.
- Fees & discounts
We found no official charges. An older source mentions entry by voluntary donation.
- Rules
It is a working place of worship and a fragile monument: dress modestly, keep your voice down, ask before photographing inside and do not climb into the defensive areas without an escort.
- Facilities
No visitor facilities known · no wheelchair access, according to an older source
Frequently asked questions about Copșa Mare Fortified Church
- How long does a visit to Copșa Mare Fortified Church take?
- A visit to Copșa Mare Fortified Church takes about 30 min (estimate, church and courtyard).
- Where can I park at Copșa Mare Fortified Church?
- There is free parking at Copșa Mare Fortified Church (next to the complex). An older source mentions free parking below the complex; we found no recent confirmation.
- How do I get to Copșa Mare Fortified Church?
- Copșa Mare Fortified Church is located at Copșa Mare nr. 237, Copșa Mare, Sibiu County. By car: Copșa Mare is ~10 km from Biertan, to the east; Sighișoara is ~33 km away, Mediaș ~34 km, Sibiu ~77 km and Brașov ~150 km. Some sources describe the last stretch of road as poor, so allow more time than the map suggests. Public transport: we found no regular public transport to Copșa Mare. The nearest major railway stations are in Mediaș and Sighișoara, from where you continue by car or taxi.
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