Turnișor Evangelical Church
About Turnișor Evangelical Church
The Evangelical church of Turnișor, called Neppendorf in German, is the church of the former Saxon village on the western edge of Sibiu, which was absorbed into the town in 1950. The village is first recorded in 1327, but the settlement is older, and the church began as a Romanesque basilica built at the end of the 12th century (other sources say the 13th). Of the original building the apse, the choir, part of the south aisle with its small apse and the massive base of the tower survive, with walls about 3 m thick. The Romanesque side aisles were pulled down in a later rebuilding, and today's narrower tower was rebuilt above the choir. The church was once surrounded by a defensive wall, of which only traces remain.
From 1734 the village took in Landlers: Protestants from Upper Austria and the Salzkammergut region, driven out by Emperor Charles VI because they refused to return to Catholicism and resettled in Transylvania. Turnișor is one of the three Landler settlements in Transylvania, and the community long kept its dialect, costume and customs.
What you can see
The interior has Baroque furnishings: the altar dates from 1759 and the pulpit from 1782. On the tower, the wooden clock was installed in 1781 and replaced in 1862 by an iron one, and two of the bells were cast in Sibiu in 1922. In the courtyard stands a memorial to fallen soldiers, and next to the church is the parish house, a 16th-century building remodelled in the 18th–19th centuries.
The Landlers' Museum, opened in 2007 by the Evangelical community of Sibiu, is housed in the church and spreads over two floors: the first covers the religious life of the Landlers, the second their everyday life.
Good to know
The museum is visited by phone appointment. From the street, the tower and the roof of the church can also be seen from outside.
- The massive base of the tower, with walls about 3 m thick, left from the old Romanesque basilica.
- The Baroque altar of 1759 and the pulpit of 1782.
- The semicircular apse and the choir, the surviving parts of the Romanesque church.
- The Landlers' Museum, on two floors, about the religious and everyday life of the community.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Turnișor lies west of Sibiu's centre, towards the airport; it is ~3.7 km (~6 minutes) from Piața Mare and ~2.7 km (~5 minutes) from Sibiu International Airport. The church is on Eduard Albert Bielz Street, in the middle of the district.
Public transport: the district is linked to the town by city buses; the lines and stops can be checked in the local transport operator's app.
- Where to park
Turnișor is a residential district, outside the historic zone with paid parking; cars are left on the surrounding streets.
- Rules
The church is in use: keep quiet and dress decently, and the parish's activities take priority over visiting. Photography inside is agreed with the parish.
- Facilities
two-floor museum
Frequently asked questions about Turnișor Evangelical Church
How long does a visit to Turnișor Evangelical Church take?
A visit to Turnișor Evangelical Church takes about 30 min (church and museum).
Can you visit Turnișor Evangelical Church with kids?
Yes, Turnișor Evangelical Church is suitable for children (short, quiet visit).
Where can I park at Turnișor Evangelical Church?
There is free parking at Turnișor Evangelical Church (on the surrounding streets). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Turnișor Evangelical Church?
Turnișor Evangelical Church is located at Eduard Albert Bielz Street 62, Turnișor district, Sibiu, Sibiu County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Turnișor Evangelical Church?
The best season for Turnișor Evangelical Church: All year round (by appointment).
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