# Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Bistrița-Năsăud County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/bistrita-nasaud) › [Șieu-Odorhei](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/sieu-odorhei) > A hall church from the second half of the 13th century, with a tympanum relief of a dragon hunt, considered one of the most important early Gothic sculptures in Transylvania. **At a glance:** Monasteries and churches in Șieu-Odorhei, Bistrița-Năsăud County. The visit takes 20 min. Information verified on 14 October 2026. ## Key facts - **Opening hours:** No visiting hours are published. The exterior can be seen at any time; for the interior, contact the Reformed parish of Șieu-Odorhei. - **Visit duration:** 20 min — exterior and north portal - **With kids:** Yes — outdoors, grassy ground - **Parking:** Yes, free — on the village road - **Best season:** April – October — exterior visible all year - **Address:** on the hill in the village of Șieu-Odorhei, Șieu-Odorhei, Bistrița-Năsăud County - **Coordinates:** 47.15234, 24.29223 - **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biserica_reformat%C4%83_din_%C8%98ieu-Odorhei - **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18543755 - **Categories:** [Monasteries and churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastiri-si-biserici) ## About Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei Șieu-Odorhei (Sajóudvarhely in Hungarian) is first mentioned in 1263, and the church on the rise in the village dates from the second half of the same century. It is a hall church, with a single nave and a square sanctuary with a rib vault, a solution that shows Cistercian architectural influence and replaced the semicircular apse usual in the Romanesque style. From that period survive the capitals with crockets at the triumphal arch, the round polylobed windows and a frieze of arches under the cornice on the south side of the sanctuary. The church was rebuilt in the 15th century and is used today by the village's Reformed community. The building never had a stone tower; a small wooden belfry with a tin spire rises from the roof. ### What you can see The most important feature is the relief in the tympanum above the north portal: two men armed with lances fight a winged dragon, a scene read as the struggle of virtue against vice. It is regarded as the most important example of early Gothic sculpture in Transylvania. From outside you can see the whitewashed walls, the arched windows and the north portal; inside, two round-arched niches and fragments of old wall painting recall the church's beginnings. The monument is listed as a historic monument (BN-II-m-A-01712). ### Good to know No visiting hours are published. The exterior can be seen at any time; to go inside you need the parish's agreement. ## Don't miss - The tympanum relief on the north portal, with two warriors fighting a winged dragon. - The square sanctuary with a rib vault, showing Cistercian influence. - The round polylobed window and the arched frieze under the sanctuary cornice. - The white church on its rise above the village, with views of the surrounding hills. ## Good to know before you go ### Getting there **By car:** Șieu-Odorhei is in Bistrița-Năsăud County, on a county road near the Șieu valley; from Bistrița it takes about 30–40 minutes. The church stands on the rise in the village, reached by a short road. **Public transport:** no regular public connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option. ### Where to park Park on the village road next to the church; there is no laid-out or paid car park. ### Rules This is a working Reformed church: dress modestly and keep quiet during services. Entry to the interior is with the parish's agreement. ## Details - **Construction period:** second half of the 13th century - **Denomination:** Reformed - **Architectural style:** late Romanesque ## Frequently asked questions about Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei **How long does a visit to Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei take?** A visit to Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei takes about 20 min (exterior and north portal). **Can you visit Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei with kids?** Yes, Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei is suitable for children (outdoors, grassy ground). **Where can I park at Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei?** There is free parking at Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei (on the village road). Park on the village road next to the church; there is no laid-out or paid car park. **How do I get to Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei?** Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei is located at on the hill in the village of Șieu-Odorhei, Șieu-Odorhei, Bistrița-Năsăud County. By car: Șieu-Odorhei is in Bistrița-Năsăud County, on a county road near the Șieu valley; from Bistrița it takes about 30–40 minutes. The church stands on the rise in the village, reached by a short road. Public transport: no regular public connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option. **When is the best time to visit Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei?** The best season for Reformed Church of Șieu-Odorhei: April – October (exterior visible all year). ## Nearby attractions - [Bethlen Castle in Arcalia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-bethlen-arcalia) — Castles and palaces · Arcalia, BN · ½ – 1 hours · 11 km The only Moorish-Byzantine castle in Transylvania, with four towers topped by red onion domes, set in a dendrological park of over 150 species; the castle can only be admired from outside. - [Bethlen András Castle in Beclean](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-bethlen-andras-beclean) — Castles and palaces · Beclean, BN · 15 min · 12 km A Baroque manor house of the second half of the 18th century in the centre of Beclean, with a vaulted gate and a coat of arms dated 1768; today it houses the Agricultural Technological High School. - [Bethlen Pál Castle in Beclean](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-bethlen-pal-beclean) — Castles and palaces · Beclean, BN · 15 min · 12 km The residence of Count Pál Bethlen, rebuilt around 1900 on the site of the family's old fortress, with two hexagonal towers; a former town hall, now unused and not set up for visitors. - [Bistrița Medieval Fortress (Coopers' Tower)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatea-medievala-bistrita) — Fortresses and fortifications · Bistrița, BN · Free · 30 min · 20 km All that remains of Bistrița's Saxon fortifications is the 25 m Coopers' Tower and sections of 15th–16th-century stone wall, restored with PNRR funds and reopened in 2026. - [Roman Fort of Ilișua (Arcobadara)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castrul-roman-ilisua) — Monuments and historic sites · Ilișua, BN · 45 min · UNESCO World Heritage · 21 km A Roman fort on the Măgura plateau, south-east of Ilișua village, built on the northern frontier of Dacia Porolissensis; at ground level the ruins of the baths from the civil settlement are what you mainly see. - [Lutheran Church in Herina](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-evanghelica-herina) — Monasteries and churches · Herina, BN · 30 min · 23 km A Romanesque brick basilica built in the 13th century by Benedictine monks, with three aisles and two west towers, on a hill above the village. --- Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-reformata-sieu-odorhei Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/biserica-reformata-sieu-odorhei.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/biserica-reformata-sieu-odorhei.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/biserica-reformata-sieu-odorhei.md Last updated: 14 October 2026 Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania