“Saint Mary” Evangelical Cathedral — Attraction in Sibiu

Saint Mary” Evangelical Parish Church is one of the most impressive buildings in Sibiu. It was raised in the 14th century on the location of an old Roman church dating from the 12th century. The building is dominated by the seven level tower with the four towers on the corners, a mark showing that the city had the right of condemnation. With a height of 73.34 meters, the tower is the tallest in Transylvania. The cathedral’s tower is situated at the balcony on the southern wing and includes a Baroque style organ made by a Slovak craftsman in 1671 which replaced the first organ brought in Sibiu in 1585. The new organ was built by the Wilhelm Sauer Company (Frankfurt/Oder) and installed in this church in Sibiu in 1915. At the present there exist two other organs made by this company (in Berlin – Tempelhof and in Talin - Dom). In 1997 the organ undergoes complex renovation works, nowadays being the largest in the South-Eastern Europe. The mobile inventory of the Evangelic Church in Sibiu, one of the most impressive gothic halidoms in Romania, is particularly valuable. Even though a series of cult pots, made in gilded silver by famous craftsmen in Sibiu such as Sebastian Hann, are not accessible to the public, other valuable pieces can be admired by the visitors inside the church. In the choir, in the church axis, one can find one of the most beautiful bronze fonts existing in our country. It has the shape of a calyx with a sole, foot, knot and basin, being decorated with a series of gothic inscriptions. Also, 228 booklets in relief adorn its surface, most of them being figurative representations of Byzantine influence. The font dates back from 1438 being the work of master Leonhardus. It is supposed that it was cast in the bronze resulting from the Turkish cannons captured by the inhabitants of...

Beautiful church with a visitable interior and tower with views of the city for a small amount of money. The interior is majestic and beautiful in its gothic style, and it houses two remarkable organs: The Sauer Organ (built between 1914 and 1915 by the Wilhelm Sauer Company, this is the largest in Southeastern Europe, boasting 78 registers. It underwent extensive renovations in 1997 and continues to be a centerpiece for organ concerts held in the cathedral), and The Hahn Organ (Crafted in 1748 by Johannes Hahn, a Transylvanian organ builder, this Baroque-style organ was originally installed in a different church before being moved to the cathedral in 1948. It has been restored multiple times too). They organize organ concerts quite often too! Among the most important tombs in the church may be Samuel von Brukenthal's (Samuel von Brukenthal (1721–1803) was the Governor of Transylvania from 1777 to 1787 under the Habsburg Monarchy, a Saxon jurist, art collector, Enlightenment thinker and Freemason. Renowned for founding the Brukenthal National Museum and palace in Sibiu, one of the oldest in Central and Eastern Europe, his contributions to education, culture, and the arts left a lasting legacy.) The walk to up to the church tower is worth it as well, since the views...

Tickets cost 15 lei (3 euro) for the church and 25 lei (5 euro) for the church + the tower. I got a ticket for both the church and the tower and it was well worth it. Along with this, shortly after I entered there was a tour in Romanian, which I listened to. The tour was not a walk through the church, but was rather you sitting and listening to the guide give you information on the history of the place. The church was initially Catholic until the Protestant revolution when the parishioners were converted to Lutheranism. The organ inside is one of the largest in southeast Europe, and was the first organ in Romania! In fact, there are two organs inside the church, both being very beautiful. Along with this, there are many tombstones and carvings of the leaders of Sibiu and other important personalities local to the area. Both Catholic and Lutheran impressions have been well kept and preserved, so you can note the transition of faith over time, seeing Art styles from both creeds in one building. The bell tower, however, is the real treat. There are a lot of stairs, so be mindful that it is a brief climb to the top. On your way up, you also pass the gigantic bell! Once you reach the spire, the views are spectacular. Well worth the visit, both to the church...