Moșna Fortified Church
Moșna, Sibiu County · Transylvania
About Moșna Fortified Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Moșna, Sibiu County. The visit takes ½ – 1 hours. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Moșna (Meschen in German) was a thriving Saxon market town that in the 16th century competed with Mediaș and Biertan to be the seat of the district. Today's church, a late Gothic hall church with three aisles, was built in 1480–1486 by the Sibiu stonemason Andreas Lapicida, on the outer walls of an earlier basilica, of which the walled-up west portal and a few reused stones survive. From 1520 it was surrounded by an enclosure with walls about 9 metres high, towers, bastions and a zwinger in front.
The interior impresses with its size and its net vault, carried on pillars some of which have spiral ribs. Next to the church stands the massive bell tower, with several levels and a wall-walk; the oldest of its three bells was cast in 1515. Stephan Ludwig Roth (1796–1849), a Transylvanian educator and politician, served here as pastor.
What you can see
Inside the church, look at the stone carving: the sacristy portal with its ogee arch, the pulpit and above all the tabernacle, a sacrament house about ten metres tall in late Gothic style. The organ, built by the Viennese maker Carl Hesse, was put back into use in 2014. The polyptych altar of 1521 is now in Cincu.
The towers can be climbed on narrow wooden stairs, and farm tools and household objects are displayed in the enclosure. One of the towers held the village's bacon, as in the Middle Ages.
Good to know
In the night of 12 to 13 June 2026 part of the north enclosure wall, on the park side, collapsed. No one was hurt, and the guided visits of 13–14 June were suspended; the Evangelical consistory is looking for funds to rebuild, and one tower is temporarily propped with timber beams. The press in July and September 2026 reports that more tourists are coming, but we found no official announcement about visiting arrangements since the incident: phone before you go.
- The Gothic tabernacle, about ten metres tall, one of the richest pieces of stone carving in the area.
- The net vault of the hall church, on pillars with spiral ribs.
- The massive bell tower, with wooden stairs and the bell of 1515.
- The enclosure with 9-metre walls, towers and a zwinger, with a wall-walk on arcades.
- The place where Stephan Ludwig Roth, a 19th-century Transylvanian educator and politician, served as pastor.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Mediaș take the DJ141 to Moșna, ~10 km; from Sibiu it is about 75 km. The church is in the centre of the village, on Stephan Ludwig Roth Street.
Public transport: we found no verified information about public transport to Moșna. The nearest railway station is in Mediaș, from where you continue by taxi.
- Where to park
We found no official information about parking.
- Fees & discounts
We found no admission prices published by the Fortified Churches Foundation or the parish.
- Rules
Dress decently in a place of worship. The towers are climbed on narrow wooden stairs, at your own risk; take into account any areas closed after the June 2026 collapse.
- Facilities
Visits with the person who holds the key
Frequently asked questions about Moșna Fortified Church
- How long does a visit to Moșna Fortified Church take?
- A visit to Moșna Fortified Church takes about ½ – 1 hours (estimate, including the tower climb).
- Can you visit Moșna Fortified Church with kids?
- Yes, Moșna Fortified Church is suitable for children (narrow wooden stairs in the tower).
- How do I get to Moșna Fortified Church?
- Moșna Fortified Church is located at Stephan Ludwig Roth Street, in the centre of the village, Moșna, Sibiu County. By car: from Mediaș take the DJ141 to Moșna, ~10 km; from Sibiu it is about 75 km. The church is in the centre of the village, on Stephan Ludwig Roth Street. Public transport: we found no verified information about public transport to Moșna. The nearest railway station is in Mediaș, from where you continue by taxi.
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