The Church on the Hill, the pride of Sighisoara Citadel

The Church on the Hill

The Church on the Hill is undoubtedly one of the representative monuments of Sighișoara Fortress, and it holds great significance for all of Transylvania. Built starting in 1345, the church was erected on the site where, several hundred years earlier, another Romanesque church once stood. From the very beginning, the founders of this church aimed for it to be one of the largest, and today it ranks third in size in Transylvania.

Unique Elements

Another unique element is the crypt located directly beneath the church altar, which contains graves from the 16th to 18th centuries. The entire structure, completed in 1525, showcases several elements of Gothic style:

• Windows with pointed arches
• Ribbed vaults
• The shape of the choir

Historical Milestones

An important milestone is the year 1704, when the church was set on fire during the siege by the Kuruts, as well as the year 1838, when the church again required massive repairs to the choir vaults following an earthquake.

Restorations

Over the years, the Church on the Hill has undergone two major restorations:

1. The first was in 1934, during which several wall paintings dating back to the 16th century were discovered.
2. The second restoration took place between 1991 and 2004, and in recent years, new archaeological excavations have uncovered several graves from the migration period.