Mediaș, Medieval fortress city in Transylvania, Romania.
Mediaș sits at 420 meters elevation in Transylvania between rolling hills within the Târnava Mare River valley. The town spreads across the landscape with its medieval street layout, timber-framed houses, and fortified central district still visible today.
The settlement was first recorded in 1267 as Villa Medies and gradually became a fortified town with walls and towers. Thirty-three craft guilds built these defenses, reflecting how organized merchants and artisans shaped the town's expansion during medieval times.
Saint Margaret Church dominates the town center and holds one of Europe's largest private collections of Oriental rugs, accumulated through gifts from merchants over centuries. These textiles reflect how trade shaped the community's wealth and connections.
The town sits within reach of airports at Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca, making access straightforward for most visitors. Once there, the local bus network with 15 routes covers the main areas and walking works well for exploring the historic center.
The Trumpeters' Tower was built in 1450 as a defensive structure and leans roughly 2 degrees from vertical, making it one of Europe's most tilted towers. Visitors often overlook this peculiar engineering quirk when exploring the town.
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