About Soldisch Bastion
The Soldisch Bastion, also called the Mercenaries' Bastion, stands at the corner of Strada Bastionului and Șoseaua Alba Iulia, where Sibiu's fortifications closed off to the west. It was raised in 1622–1627, the last of the town's five bastions, to defend the western side of the ring of walls; together with it the curtain walls linking it to the bastion in front of the Cisnădie Gate were built, the last fortification works in Sibiu's history. The name comes from the pay of the mercenaries the town hired for its defence. Of the five bastions only two survive, Soldisch and Haller.
It is built of brick filled with earth, to withstand artillery fire, and has a pentagonal shape, with walls ~2 m thick and up to ~10 m high. Cannon stood on the platform, and below were casemates with openings for firing. About a metre below the top edge the walls have a stone band that stopped siege ladders from being propped against them. In the fighting of 1659–1660 with Prince George Rákóczi II the bastion held out, and cannonballs from that siege can still be seen on the walls. The space between the two lines of walls later became a park, first called Soldisch.
What you can see
From the street and the surrounding yard you see the rounded wall of red brick, with the stone band below the crest, small openings and the low door at the base. To the right of the bastion a brick archway leads towards the surviving curtain wall. On the platform, vegetation has grown over the old gun terrace. Around it stand buildings from the early 20th century, among them the former orphanage built in 1903.
Good to know
The bastion can be seen from the outside; the interior cannot be visited. The buildings around it are in the care of the ASTRA Museum, which plans an education centre in the tower building attached to the bastion.
- The rounded wall of red brick, with the stone band below the crest, made to stop siege ladders.
- The cannonballs left on the walls from the siege of 1659–1660.
- The brick archway to the right of the bastion, leading towards the surviving curtain wall.
- The pentagonal platform, where the guns defending the western side of the town stood.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the bastion is at the western edge of the historic centre, at the corner of Strada Bastionului and Șoseaua Alba Iulia. Sibiu is reached from Cluj-Napoca (~180 km, ~2 hours 15 minutes), from Brașov (~145 km, ~2.5 hours) and from Bucharest (~265 km, ~4 hours).
Public transport: from Piața Mare it is ~1 km on foot (~13 minutes); from Sibiu railway station it is ~1.7 km, ~20–25 minutes on foot, or a short ride on the city bus.
- Where to park
Spaces on the streets around the historic centre are paid, at a machine or in the app, and fill up quickly in summer and at weekends. From the public car parks nearby you reach the bastion on foot in a few minutes.
- Rules
The usual rules of a historic monument apply: do not touch the masonry and do not climb on the walls. The buildings and the yard around it are not visiting spaces.
Frequently asked questions about Soldisch Bastion
How long does a visit to Soldisch Bastion take?
A visit to Soldisch Bastion takes about 15 min (a short stop).
Can you visit Soldisch Bastion with kids?
Yes, Soldisch Bastion is suitable for children (short walk on foot).
Where can I park at Soldisch Bastion?
There is paid parking at Soldisch Bastion (on the nearby streets). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Soldisch Bastion?
Soldisch Bastion is located at Strada Bastionului, la intersecția cu Șoseaua Alba Iulia, Sibiu, Sibiu County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Soldisch Bastion?
The best season for Soldisch Bastion: All year round (visible from the street all year).
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