Moardăş Fortified Church

The initial medieval church in Metiş was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by a neo Gothic building, one of the so-called Gustav-Adolf-churches. The association Gustav Adolf is the oldest Evangelic relief organization and made donations for building new churches in the Diaspora in the 19th century. Only the western tower built in the 14th century was preserved from the first construction. The ring wall had three defence towers and an outer bailey, but only the northern tower with its timber frame parapet walk still stands today. Later the parish house was built next to it. On the exterior of one of the 14th-century bells in Metiş the Gothic majuscules are still visible.

At the beginning of the 14th Century a small hall church was initially erected. In order to defeat the many attacks the chancel is heightened and provided with machicoulis at the beginning of the 16th century. At the end of the same century, a wall boasting four defensive towers oriented towards the four cardinal points surround the church. The first floor of the bell tower was habitable, equipped with a smoke funnel. The second floor has small bays on every corner, each having three embrasures, a construction detail that can be found in Thuringia, Germany. Very interesting to visit is the gate tower, a massive structure on 5 levels, three of them equipped with defensive systems and a parapet walk on the highest level.

From the first church built in the 14th century the western portal is preserved, as well as stones used to build the eastern pairs of pillars in the hall church from 15th century. The construction of the new church, whose size and architecture are testimony of the importance of the settlement, was accompanied by extensive measures to fortify the assembly: a defence level was added to the chancel, the northern and southern entrances were strengthened by towers provided with loop holes. A parapet walk on arches was built on the curtain wall, as well as several defence towers and an outer bailey, which is divided in two parts and protected by a small watchtower.
The interior of the church impresses due to its dimensions and excellent sculptures, as well as the Gothic lierne vault on pairs of stone pillars.