Ursuline Church of Sibiu
About Ursuline Church of Sibiu
The Ursuline Church, also called the church of St Ursula, stands on Strada General Magheru, a few minutes' walk from the Grand Square (Piața Mare). It began as a Dominican church: in 1474 the friars received permission to build a new monastery inside the fortified town, and the church is dated 1479. After the Reformation, in 1543, Sibiu's Catholic churches passed to the Lutherans. In 1728 the building was assigned to the Ursuline nuns, who arrived from Pojon (today Bratislava) and took it over in 1733; between 1728 and 1733 it was rebuilt in Baroque style, and in 1774 it was renovated with the support of Empress Maria Theresa.
The Ursulines ran a girls' school next door until 1949, when the order was dissolved and the school and convent were nationalised. The church stayed in use, and since 1992, under an agreement with the Roman Catholic parish, Greek Catholic services have been held here.
From the outside the building keeps its medieval origins in its buttresses, the trefoil windows in the upper part and the late Gothic portal on the west façade. The rest of its appearance is Baroque, the result of the 18th-century rebuilding.
What you can see
On the west façade, above the portal, in a Baroque niche with two Corinthian columns and a pediment, stands the statuette of St Ursula, with a crown, a palm leaf in her hand and a banner with a red cross. Inside, the church is a Baroque hall: the Gothic vaults were replaced by a ceiling, and only above the choir gallery has a semi-cylindrical vault survived. A side chapel and the sacristy have stayed Gothic.
The three altars are of relatively recent date. The main one has an icon of the Coronation of the Virgin, and the side altars show St Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline order, in the vision in which St Ursula appears to her and, respectively, teaching children. Statues of saints stand on the pilasters, and above the triumphal arch a Latin inscription about Maria Theresa can be read; its red letters, added up as Roman numerals, give the year of the renovation, 1774.
Good to know
The church is in use, and during services visiting is done discreetly. The building of the former convent nearby, with a separate entrance at number 34, is not part of the church visit.
- The statuette of St Ursula in the Baroque niche above the west portal.
- The late Gothic portal, the buttresses and the trefoil windows, left from the medieval church.
- The Latin inscription above the triumphal arch, whose red letters give the year 1774.
- The side altars with St Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline order.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Sibiu is on the A1 motorway; Cluj-Napoca is ~177 km away (~2 hours 30 minutes), Brașov ~142 km (~2 hours 30 minutes) and Bucharest ~266 km (~4 hours). The church is in the historic centre, ~400 m from the Grand Square, so the car stays in a nearby car park.
Public transport: from Sibiu railway station it is ~650 m on foot, about 9 minutes; from the Grand Square it is ~400 m, around 6 minutes along Strada General Magheru.
- Where to park
Parking in the historic centre is paid, at the machines or in the app. The church is ~400 m from the Grand Square, so a car park around the centre is a good starting point.
- Fees & discounts
Entry is by donation.
- Rules
This is a working place of worship: keep quiet and dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered); during services visiting is done discreetly. Photography without flash is usually accepted outside services. Animals are not allowed.
- Facilities
access for people with disabilities
Frequently asked questions about Ursuline Church of Sibiu
How much is a ticket to Ursuline Church of Sibiu?
Admission to Ursuline Church of Sibiu is free (by donation). More under “Fees & discounts”
How long does a visit to Ursuline Church of Sibiu take?
A visit to Ursuline Church of Sibiu takes about 20 min (the church only).
Can you visit Ursuline Church of Sibiu with kids?
Yes, Ursuline Church of Sibiu is suitable for children (short, quiet visit).
Where can I park at Ursuline Church of Sibiu?
There is paid parking at Ursuline Church of Sibiu (in the historic centre). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Ursuline Church of Sibiu?
Ursuline Church of Sibiu is located at Strada General Magheru 38, Sibiu, Sibiu County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Ursuline Church of Sibiu?
The best season for Ursuline Church of Sibiu: All year round (open all year).
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