As some of you might already know, I recently traveled to Romania to attend the screening of my film at the ClujShorts International Short Film Festival. During my stay, I traveled to several cities in beautiful Transylvania and in yesterday’s post, I shared several photographs taken during an afternoon spent in the historic city of Sbiu in Transylvania.
Today we continue with a look inside (and outside) of the stunning Sibiu Lutheran Cathedral, aka the Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary (German: Evangelische Stadtpfarrkirche in Hermannstadt, Romanian: Biserica Evanghelică din 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 a maximum height of 73.34 meters, which makes it the tallest in Transylvania. At its highest point is the bell tower which offers some spectacular views of Sibiu.
Enjoy…
Outside the church is a bronze statue of Bishop Georg Daniel Teutsch by German sculptor Adolf von Donndorf. Teutsch (1817-1893) was a famous historian and bishop of Transylvania. The four turrets at the top of the bell tower were indications that the town was allowed to sentence wrong doers to death.
Inside views of the church…
The church is home to a Baroque style organ made by a Slovak craftsman in 1671 which replaced the first organ brought in Sibiu in 1585. Six thousand pipes were installed in 1914, making it the largest organ in Romania.
Inside the church, an exquisite fresco of the Crucifixion dating from 1445 (attributed to an Austrian painter, Johannes de Rozenaw)
The tombstones that covered the graves were removed from the church nave in 1853 and incorporated in the walls of the church, creating a gallery of 67 tombstones unique in Romania.
A long and treacherous staircase takes you to the bell tower, the highest point of the cathedral…
Sweeping views of Sibiu from the bell tower…
Back outside in Huet Square, the third of the three main squares of Sibiu.
Hope you enjoyed the pics!
