Mediaș [Meh dee' ahsh]

General Information

Fast Facts

Location: Central Romania

County: Sibiu

Size: 3.5 sq. miles (9.3 sq. kilometers)

Elevation: 935 - 1,007 ft. (285 - 307 meters)

Population: 55,100

First documented: 1267 AD (Villa Medies)

About Mediaş

Although evidence of human presence in the area dates back to the middle-Neolithic,
Mediaş was first mentioned, in a writen document, during the Roman occupation as Per Medias (meaning the town at the crossroads).
In 1283, after the Saxons settled in Transylvania, the city became Sacerdos de Medias, and in 1389, it was renamed Villa Medies.

During the Middle Ages, Medias, like most other towns in Transylvania, was strongly fortified.
The town's 33 craft guilds built, maintained and defended the citadel's towers and bastions meant to protect Mediaş from invaders.
The fortified church of St. Margaret represented the core around which the citadel gradually developed.
The center of the ancient settlement of Medias has maintained a medieval feel with narrow winding lanes, centuries-old houses and a large square surrounded by colorful facades.

Landmarks

Franciscan Church and Monastery
(Complexul Arhitectural Franciscan)

Address: Str. Mihai Viteazu 44
Telephone: +4 0269 841 904
Hours:
Mon. - Sun.: 9 am -- 5 pm

Built in gothic style in 1444, this church was renovated in 1742 in Baroque style;
a Rococo style altar was added in 1772.
The annex once served as silversmiths' workshops.

St. Margaret Evangelical Church
(Biserica Evanghelica Sfanta Margareta)

Address: Piaţa Castelului 2
Telephone: +4 0269-841-962
Website

Hours:
July -- September
Mon. – Sat.: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Sun.: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
April -- June
Mon. – Sat.: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Sun.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
October -- March
Mon. – Fri.: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Admission charge: 7 Lei (adults) and 3 Lei (children)

Erected in the 15th century on the ruins of a Roman basilica,
the St. Margaret Evangelical Church, dominates Old Town Mediaş.
Two rows of walls (24 ft. high and 3 ft. thick) surround the structure.
The church features three superb gothic altarpieces, a colorful baroque organ and early 15th century frescoes.
A wonderful collection of, 14th and 15th centuries, Oriental rugs and killims,
donated by local tradesmen, is on display.

Stephan Ludwig Roth House
(Casa Memoriala Stephan Ludwig Roth)

Address: Str. Johannes Honterus 10
Telephone: +4 0369 445 024

It was in this house that historian and Lutheran pastor Stephan Ludwig Roth (1796-1849) was born.
Roth challenged the 1884 Magyar Diet's decision to impose Hungarian as the official language in Transylvania.
As Romanians made up the bulk of the population, Roth claimed that Romanian was justified to be the official language. His progressist ideas led to his assassination in May 11, 1849.

Hours:
June 1 -- September 15
Mon. – Fri.: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. & Sun.: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
September 16 -- May 31
Mon. – Fri.: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission charge: 4 Lei (adults) and 2 Lei (children)

Trumpeters' Tower
(Turnul Trompetilor)

In 1450, the Tower of Trumpeters was added to the citadel's defense system.
The structure got its name from its intended role as an outlook post: guards on duty would search the horizon and sound an alarm by trumpet to warn people against enemy attack or fire.
In 1880, a huge clock, showing the phases of the moon, was set up in the tower.

Museums

Medias History Museum
(Muzeul Municipal)

Address: Str. Mihai Viteazul 46
Telephone: 0369 445.024

Hours:
June 1 -- September 15
Mon. – Fri.: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. & Sun.: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
September 16 -- May 31
Mon. – Fri.: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission charge: 4 Lei (adults) and 2 Lei (children)

Nearby Attractions

Explore the surrounding countryside, home to more than a dozen Saxon fortified churches,
some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Valea Viilor Fortified Church

Location: 5 miles south of Medias
Access: car

Located in smal village Valea Viilor (translation: Valley of Vineyards), this church was built in 1263 in Gothic style and was enlarged and fortified in the 15th and 16th centuries. 26-foot tall and 5-feet wide thick defending walls are surrounding the structure.
The chirch is home to a unique collection of Saxon furniture, dating from the 16th century.

More info about Valea Viilor Fortified Church

Moşna Fortified Church

Location: 10 miles south of Medias
Access: car, bus

An interesting 14th century fortified church built in late Gothic style.

Biertan Fortified Church

Location: 12 miles east of Medias
Access: car or bus

The 13th-century Biertan Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands strong, surrounded by 35-feet high walls,
on a small hill in the middle of village Biertan (Bierthalmen or Birthälm - Berth's hill in German).
From 1527 to 1867, Biertan was the seat of the Lutheran bishops.

Detailed info on Biertan Fortified Church

Bazna Spa (Bazna Bai)

Location: 10 miles northwest of Medias
Access: car, bus

The health resort of Bazna, first documented in 1302, uses mineral waters, mineral mud and local Bazna Salt to alleviate abarticular rheumatism, gout rheumatoid arthritis, spondylosis and spondylolysis, peripheral nerve lesions

City Essentials

Transportation

By air

The closest airports are located in:
Sibiu (SBZ) - 35 miles south;
Targu Mures (TGM) - 50 miles north-east
Cluj Napoca (CLJ) - 70 miles north-west

By train

Medias - main train station
(Gara Medias)
Address: Str. Unirii 1
Telephone: +4 0269 841 123
Medias Train Station ticket office offers train schedules information and advance ticket sales.

Daily train connections from/to several cities in Romania,
including Bucharest, Alba Iulia, Arad, Brasov, Cluj Napoca, Oradea, Sibiu, Sighisoara and Timisoara.

To check train and bus schedules for domestic routes please visit our
Domestic Transportation section

Note: For train departures from /to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord.

By Bus

Medias Bus Station
(Autogara Medias)
Address: Str. Unirii 11
Telephone: +4 0369 108 768

Daily domestic bus service from/to: Alma Vii, Bazna, Targu Mures

Distance from Mediaş to:

City	Distance (miles)
Bucharest	195
Arad	200
Alba Iulia	48
Bistrita	100
Brasov	98
Budapest (Hungary)	330
Constanta	325
Cluj Napoca	70
Hunedoara	98
Iasi	240
Sebes	55
Sibiu	30
Sighetu Marmatiei	190
Sighisoara	20
Suceava	215
Targu Mures	50
Timisoara	195
Tulcea	300
Vienna (Austria)	480

Medias Accommodations

Tourist Info

Mediaş Tourist Information Center
(Centrul de Informare Turistica Medias)

Address: Piata Corneliu Coposu 3
Telephone: 0269 803.885
E-mail
www.MediasTurism.ro
Hours:
Mon. - Fri.: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mediaş City Hall
(Primaria Medias) Address: Piaţa Corneliu Coposu 3
Telephone: 0269 803.803 or 0745 108 036

Mediaş Municipal Hospital
(Spitalul Municipal Medias) Address: Strada Closca 2
Telephone: 0269 842 550

Mediaş Main Post Office
(Oficiul Postal Mediaş) Address: Str. Ludwig Roth 21
Telephone: 0269 844.371
Hours:
Mon. – Fri.: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Closed: Sun.

Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.

Telephoning Mediaş from Abroad
International Access Code + 4 (country code) + 0269 or 0369 (area code) + six-digit telephone number

Mediaş — Useful Telephone Numbers

Medias Area Code (Prefix Medias)
0269 or 0369

General Emergency # 112
[ Ambulance (Ambulanta), Police (Politia), Fire Department (Pompierii) ]

Maps

- Regions Map - Historical-Regions-Map.html
- Romania - Detail Map - Romania-Detail-Map.html
- Medias - Area Map - www.RomaniaTourism.com/.../fgh456.html