Town of Mediaș - Transylvania, visitor information

Medias Fast Facts

Name:   Mediaș (pronounced: Meh dee' ahsh)
Location:   Transylvania - Central Romania
40 miles north of town of Sibiu
Nearest airports: Sibiu (SBZ) and Cluj Napoca (CLJ)
Size: 3.5 sq. miles (9.3 sq. kilometers)
Elevation: 935 - 1,007 ft. (285 - 307 meters)
Population: 55,100
First documented: 1146 / 1267 AD (Villa Medies)

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

During the Middle Ages, like most other towns in Transylvania, Medias 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.

At the beginning of the 20th-century Medias was one of Romania's towns with a sizeable manufacturing base, from metal fabrication to food production, garment and broadcloth production to crystal making.
The huge crystal chandeliers the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest were made in Medias.

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Medias Sights and Landmarks

Franciscan Church and Monastery
Complexul Arhitectural Franciscan
Address: Str. Mihai Viteazu 44
Telephone: (+4) 0269 841 904
Hours: Mon. - Sun.: 9 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
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 MargaretaWebsite
Address: Piaţa Castelului 2
Telephone: (+4) 0269-841-962
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.

Trumpeters' Tower
Turnul Trompetilor
Tower of Trumpeters was added to the citadel's defense system in 1450. 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.

Trumpeters' Tower - Medias facts:
~   Address:  Piaţa Castelului, Mediaș
~   Year Built:  1488 / addition made in 1551
~   Architectural style:  Gothic
~   Height:  226 feet / 68.5 m
~   Tilt:  1.95 degrees (7.5 ft.)
~   Function:   Belltower / Observation Tower.

Other landmarks of note include: Schuller Residence (Casa Schuller), the Piarist School (Şcoala Piariştilor or Casa Guggenberger), Rosenauer Residence (Casa Rosenauer), Schuster Dutz Residence (Casa Schuster Dutz), Roth Residence (Casa Roth), Masons'Tower (Steingässer) - the Northern Gate (Turnul Pietrarilor), Blacksmiths' Tower (Turnul Fierarilor), the Orthodox Cathedral (Catedrala Ortodoxa), Hermann Oberth Memorial House (Casa Memoriala Hermann Oberth), and Medias Sinagogue (Sinagoga Medias)

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Medias Museums

Town of Medias History Museum
MuzeulMunicipal Medias
Address: Str. Mihai Viteazul 46
Telephone: (+4) 0369 445.024

Admission charge: 4 Lei (adults) and 2 Lei (children)

Stephan Ludwig Roth Memorial House
(Lutheran priest and teacher)
Casa Memoriala Stephan Ludwig Roth
Address: Str. Johannes Honterus 10
Telephone: (+4) 0369 445.024
The house in which historian and Lutheran pastor Stephan Ludwig Roth (1796-1849) was born is now a museum, open to the public.
Roth was, for a time, principal of Medias High School. He was the first (professor) in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to introduce physical education and music into the school curriculum.
Stephan Ludwig Roth was against the forced union of Transylvania with Hungary and challenged the 1842 Magyar Diet's decision to impose Hungarian as the official language in Transylvania. Roth claimed that Romanian was justified to be the official language since Romanians made up the bulk of Transylvania's population. His progressist ideas led to his assassination in May 11, 1849.

Admission charge: 4 Lei (adults) and 2 Lei (children)

Hermann Oberth Memorial House
Casa Memorială "Hermann Oberth"
Address: Str. Hermann Oberth 23
Telephone: (+4) 0269 841.140
Hermann Oberth (1894-1989) was, probably, the most important pioneer of space science and rocket technology.
Important works by Hermann Oberth include “The Rocket into Planetary Space” (1923) and „Ways to Spaceflight” (1929). The other two founding fathers of modern astronautics are Robert Goddard (USA) abd Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky (Russia).
A larger museum dedicated to Hermann Oberth - the Hermann Oberth Space Travel Museum - is located in Feucht, Germany - the town in which he spent his retirement.

Museum of Natural Gas Extraction, Storage and Delivery
Muzeul Gazelor Naturale - Medias
Address: Șoseaua Sibiului 5
Telephone: (+4) 0374 401 636
A museum that documents the beginnings of natural gas extraction and storage in Romania.
The first natural gas pressure control and measuring in Europe, “Sonametan”, was opened in Medias, in 1925.
Museum is open on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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36 miles east of Medias, the village Sachiz is home to another unique pottery worshop,
Atelierul de Ceramica Saschiz renowned for its blue pottery.
Address: Saschiz nr. 463
Telephone: (+4) 0747 510.784

Saschiz - Transylvania – Blue Pottery,   photo courtesy Ceramica Saschiz

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Attractions Near Medias

Sighisoara Medieval Citadel
Where: 24 miles east of Medias
Access: car, bus, train
Optional stops/ visits: Biertan fortified church (12 miles detour)
Sighisoara info

Town of Sibiu
Where: 35 miles south of Medias
Access: car, bus, train
Town of Sibiu info

Bethlen Haller Castle / Jidvey Winery and town of Blaj
Where: 24 miles east of Medias
Access: car or bus to Bethlen Haller Castle,   car, bus or train to Blaj )
Bethlen Haller Castle info

Surrounding countryside and Saxon fortified churches - UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Valea Viilor Fortified Church
Biserica Fortificata Valea Viilor
Location: 5 miles south of Medias
Access: car
Located in 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 church is home to a unique collection of Saxon furniture, dating from the 16th century.
Valea Viilor Fortified Church more info

Moşna Fortified Church
Biserica Fortificata Moşna
Location: 10 miles south of Medias
Access: car, bus

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

Biertan Fortified Church
Biserica Fortificata Biertan
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.
Biertan Fortified Church more info

Bazna Medical Spa Town
Bazna Bai
Location: 10 miles northwest of Medias
Access: car, bus
Town of Bazna, first documented in 1302,is known for its mineral waters, mineral mud and salt extracted from the nearby mine (Bazna Salt - Sare de Bazna. Abarticular rheumatism, gout rheumatoid arthritis, spondylosis and spondylolysis, peripheral nerve lesions are to alleviated in the medical spas/ centres located in Bazna.

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Transportation

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

Medias train station
Gara Medias
Address: Str. Unirii 1
Telephone: (+4) 0269 841 123
Daily trains 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 RomaniaTourism Domestic Transportation section

Medias Inter-City Bus Station
Autogara Medias
Address: Str. Unirii 8
(10 minutes walk from Medias Old Town)
Telephone: (+4) 0756 077.276
Dailybus service from/to: major cities in Romania and Central Europe as well as to/from nearby villages (schedules).

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15 bus routes connect Medias’ neighborhoods and tourist attraction. Tickets can be purchased in advance at ticket kiosks or self-service bus ticket machines.

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Medias Accommodations

Accommodations in Medias include:

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Medias Tourist Info

Address: Str. Nicolae Iorga 2
Telephone: (+4) 0369 455.444
E-mail
Hours:   Mon. - Fri.,   9 a.m. -- 5 p.m.

Medias Local Authorities

Mediaş Town Hall
Primaria Mediaş
Address: Piaţa Corneliu Coposu 3
Telephone: (+4) 0269 803.803

Mediaş Main Post Office
Oficiul Postal Mediaş
Address: Str. Ludwig Roth 21
Telephone: (+4) 0269 844.371
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

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Medias Health and Emergency

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

Medias Pharmacies open non-stop:

Pharm SRL
Address: Strada Cloşca 4
Phone: (+4) 0269 843.203

Mediaş Municipal Hospital
Spitalul Municipal Mediaş
Address: Strada Closca 2
Telephone: (+4) 0269 842 550

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Medias Maps

Map of Romania Historical Regions
Romania Detailed Map
Region of Medias Map
Town of Mediaş Street Map