St Margaret's Church, Mediaș
Mediaș, Sibiu County · Transylvania
About St Margaret's Church, Mediaș
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Mediaș, Sibiu County. Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 09:00 – 19:00, Sunday 11:15 – 19:00. Ticket: 15 lei. The visit takes ½ – 1 hours. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
In the heart of Mediaș, on Piața Castelului, the Lutheran church dedicated to Saint Margaret stands in the middle of a courtyard strengthened with walls and defensive towers, which the local Saxons call the “castle”. There was a church on this spot as early as the 13th century; today's building took shape in the 15th century, was finished around 1488 and remained Catholic until the Reformation, when the Saxon community turned to the Lutheran faith. Unlike in many Saxon towns, the whole ensemble has survived: the church, the walls, the school, the parsonage and the old town buildings inside the enclosure.
The west tower, called the Trumpeters' Tower, is almost 70 metres tall and leans more than two metres from the vertical, because it was raised in the 16th century on foundations that were too weak. Its spire, with four turrets around the tip, recalls the town's right to pass the death sentence, and on one of its edges keeps watch “Turrepitz”, the wooden sentinel who strikes the quarter hours. The tower's foundations were reinforced in 1927–1930 and again in the 1970s.
What you can see
Inside, the nave combines a basilica and a hall church, and medieval frescoes can be seen high on the wall of the main nave, rediscovered in the 1970s from under whitewash. The polyptych altarpiece from around 1485, with scenes from the Passion of Christ, is one of the most important works of Gothic art in Transylvania. There are also the bronze font from the end of the 14th century, the organ by Johannes Hahn from 1755–1756 and a collection of Anatolian rugs from the 15th–17th centuries. Pieces from abandoned village churches were brought here too, among them the altarpiece and organ from Dupuș.
The fortified courtyard can also be explored on your own, with QR codes at each point of interest; the south tower holds the chapel of Saint Mary, and beneath the school, the former town hall, lies the medieval prison.
Good to know
The Trumpeters' Tower and the Bell Tower can only be seen from the outside for now; the interior of the bell tower will open after restoration. The chapel and the prison can be visited by appointment, and in summer they are included in the church ticket. On Sundays the church opens to visitors after the service, around 11:15. From June to October, every Monday evening, there is an organ concert (Orgelsommer).
- The Trumpeters' Tower, leaning by more than two metres, with its five-pointed spire and the wooden sentinel “Turrepitz”.
- The polyptych altarpiece from around 1485, with scenes from the Passion of Christ.
- The medieval frescoes on the nave wall, rediscovered in the 1970s.
- The collection of Anatolian rugs and the bronze font from the end of the 14th century.
- A summer Monday evening with an organ concert in the church, in the Orgelsommer season.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Mediaș is on the DN14, ~55 km (~50 minutes) from Sibiu and ~90 km (~1 hour 15 minutes) from Sighișoara; from Cluj-Napoca it is ~150 km (~2 hours 30 minutes). The church is in the old centre, on Piața Castelului, next to Piața Regele Ferdinand I.
Public transport: Mediaș railway station, on the Sibiu – Copșa Mică – Teiuș main line, is ~1.5 km from the centre, ~20 minutes on foot; from the station you reach the old centre on foot or by taxi.
- Where to park
Parking in the historic centre is paid, by the Tpark app or by SMS to 7402. The nearest car park is in Piața George Enescu, next to Piața Castelului; for coaches, parking is at Strada Johannes Honterus no. 33, about 5 minutes on foot.
- Fees & discounts
Ticket 15 lei for adults; children aged 0–7 enter free, those aged 8–18 pay 5 lei, and guides do not pay. The ticket includes a guided tour in Romanian, German or English. From June to September it also includes the Catholic chapel in the Maria Tower and the medieval prison; in the cold season you can visit them if you ask the guide. The Orgelsommer concerts have separate tickets, announced by the parish.
- Rules
This is a working church: keep quiet and dress modestly during your visit, and services and ceremonies take priority. Organised groups are asked to book a few weeks ahead, or at least two days ahead.
- Facilities
toilet on the premises (suggested donation 1 leu) · drinking-water fountain in the second courtyard · 22 QR-code plaques in the church · printed materials in several languages · booklet about the church, in Romanian and German · guided tour included in the ticket
Frequently asked questions about St Margaret's Church, Mediaș
- How much is a ticket to St Margaret's Church, Mediaș?
- A ticket to St Margaret's Church, Mediaș costs 15 lei (children 8–18 5 lei). Ticket 15 lei for adults; children aged 0–7 enter free, those aged 8–18 pay 5 lei, and guides do not pay. The ticket includes a guided tour in Romanian, German or English. From June to September it also includes the Catholic chapel in the Maria Tower and the medieval prison; in the cold season you can visit them if you ask the guide. The Orgelsommer concerts have separate tickets, announced by the parish.
- What are the opening hours of St Margaret's Church, Mediaș?
- Opening hours at St Margaret's Church, Mediaș: Monday–Saturday 09:00 – 19:00, Sunday 11:15 – 19:00. Summer hours, June – August. In April – May and September – October: Monday – Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 11:15–18:00. In November – December: closed Monday, Tuesday – Saturday 11:00–15:00, Sunday 11:15–15:00. March: closed Monday, Tuesday – Friday 11:00–15:00, Saturday 10:00–15:00, Sunday 11:15–15:00. January – February: Saturday and Sunday only, 11:00–15:00. On Sundays visits usually start after the service, around 11:15. Organised groups should book in advance. The Trumpeters' Tower and the Bell Tower can only be seen from the outside.
- How long does a visit to St Margaret's Church, Mediaș take?
- A visit to St Margaret's Church, Mediaș takes about ½ – 1 hours (with the guided tour included in the ticket).
- Can you visit St Margaret's Church, Mediaș with kids?
- Yes, St Margaret's Church, Mediaș is suitable for children (free under 8).
- Where can I park at St Margaret's Church, Mediaș?
- There is paid parking at St Margaret's Church, Mediaș (centre, pay by SMS/app). Parking in the historic centre is paid, by the Tpark app or by SMS to 7402. The nearest car park is in Piața George Enescu, next to Piața Castelului; for coaches, parking is at Strada Johannes Honterus no. 33, about 5 minutes on foot.
- How do I get to St Margaret's Church, Mediaș?
- St Margaret's Church, Mediaș is located at Piața Castelului 2, Mediaș, Sibiu County. By car: Mediaș is on the DN14, ~55 km (~50 minutes) from Sibiu and ~90 km (~1 hour 15 minutes) from Sighișoara; from Cluj-Napoca it is ~150 km (~2 hours 30 minutes). The church is in the old centre, on Piața Castelului, next to Piața Regele Ferdinand I. Public transport: Mediaș railway station, on the Sibiu – Copșa Mică – Teiuș main line, is ~1.5 km from the centre, ~20 minutes on foot; from the station you reach the old centre on foot or by taxi.
- When is the best time to visit St Margaret's Church, Mediaș?
- The best season for St Margaret's Church, Mediaș: April – October (only a few hours in winter).
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