Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi)
About Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi)
The church known as “dintre Brazi” (“between the Firs”), dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, stands on Strada Reconstrucției, about a kilometre from Piața Mare (the Grand Square), and is regarded as the oldest Romanian place of worship in Sibiu. Its name comes from the fir trees that surround it.
It was built in 1778–1788 for the Romanian Greek-Catholic community. The plot had been obtained as early as 1734 by Bishop Inocențiu Micu-Klein, but the town council opposed the foundation; the building permit came after 1774, with Vienna's support, and the construction was financed by Bishop Grigore Maior of Blaj. Since 1948, after the Greek-Catholic Church was banned, the church and the parish house have been used by the Orthodox Church, and their status was disputed in the courts for a long time.
The building is a widened hall church in the Baroque style with Rococo elements, with a central area covered by a dome on an oval drum and a bell tower with a bulb-shaped roof above the entrance.
What you can see
The façade has four massive columns, pilasters and shell motifs, and on the sides, above the arched windows, garlands in relief. A small cemetery surrounds the church, with the funerary monuments of prominent Transylvanian Romanians: George Barițiu, Alexandru Papiu-Ilarian, Ioan Rațiu, Iosif Sterca-Șuluțiu, David Urs de Margina and Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, whose bust, unveiled in 2018, stands on the land next to the church. The present iconostasis, from 1992, was painted by Elena Roșca of Bucharest; the original, from 1795, was the work of Joseph Neuhauser.
- The Baroque façade, with four massive columns and the bell tower with a bulb-shaped roof.
- The shell motifs and garlands in relief on the façade and around the windows.
- The cemetery around the church, with the monuments of George Barițiu, Alexandru Papiu-Ilarian, Ioan Rațiu and Alexandru Vaida-Voevod.
- The bust of Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, unveiled in 2018, on the land next to the church.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Sibiu is on the A1 motorway; it is ~173 km from Cluj-Napoca (~2 hours 30 minutes), ~143 km from Brașov (~2 hours 40 minutes) and ~270 km from Bucharest (~4 hours). The church is on Strada Reconstrucției, next to Parcul Reconstrucției, ~1 km from Piața Mare.
Public transport: from the centre, it is a ~12-minute walk from Piața Mare. Sibiu railway station is ~2.7 km from the church, about 5 minutes by car.
- Where to park
Around the church you can park on the street and in the public car parks nearby, mostly paid, at a machine or through an app.
- Rules
The church is a working place of worship: quiet and decent dress (shoulders and knees covered), and services take priority over visiting. In the cemetery, graves are to be respected and not stepped on.
- Facilities
Parcul Reconstrucției next door · cafés and restaurants in the historic centre, ~1 km away
Frequently asked questions about Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi)
How long does a visit to Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi) take?
A visit to Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi) takes about 30 min (exterior and cemetery).
Can you visit Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi) with kids?
Yes, Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi) is suitable for children (short, quiet visit).
Where can I park at Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi)?
There is paid parking at Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi) (on the street and in nearby car parks). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi)?
Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi) is located at Strada Reconstrucției 17, Sibiu, Sibiu County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi)?
The best season for Church between the Firs (Biserica dintre Brazi): All year round (the exterior can be seen all year).
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