Stairs Tower

The only element that survived from the first defensive belt of the old citadel is the Stairs Tower, one of the few Roman constructions of Sibiu. This one is dating since the 13th century, the current shape being due to the modifications of 1542.

The tower is shaped like a massive one-story brick construction, having at the first level an arched gangway that reaches the stairs which are connecting the Upper Town and the Lower Town towards Turnului Street, and on the side there is an arched gangway towards Redemption Corner (Busswinkel) below the curved wall that surrounds the garden of the parochial house.

Right below the Stairs Tower, though a patio you can reach the yard of the Asylum Church, where allegedly existed an older building made of stone which was mentioned in a document of the year 1292 as being a hospital. It is the oldest document confirmation of a hospital in Romania.

Below the arch of the Tower we go inside the Stairs Gangway (13th century), consisting of two stair lines and arcades – being one of the representative images of medieval Sibiu, as it is the exit gate towards the Lower City.