Észrevételek a marosvásárhelyi középkori eredetű református templom legutóbbi helyreállításáról
Observations on the recent restoration of the medieval Reformed church in Târgu Mureș

Author(s): József Sebestyén
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Marosvásárhely; Reformed Church; monument restoration; medieval architecture; heritage conservation; dendrochronology; Gothic church; exposed brickwork; wall paintings; architectural preservation
Summary/Abstract: The study examines the recent restoration of the medieval-origin Reformed Church in the fortress of Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureș) and evaluates the project from both conservation-theoretical and practical perspectives. The article presents the historical development of the former Franciscan church and monastery complex from the late fourteenth and fifteenth centuries through later destructions, reconstructions, and Baroque transformations. Particular attention is given to the severe damage caused during the 1601 attack associated with Giorgio Basta’s troops and to the subsequent rebuilding campaigns that reshaped the church interior. The author discusses the eighteenth-century Baroque interventions, including the replacement of earlier ceilings and the creation of decorative stucco architecture inside the nave, while emphasizing that the medieval external massing largely remained unchanged. The paper also summarizes the extensive research preceding the latest restoration, including dendrochronological investigations, archaeological studies, structural surveys, and wall-paint conservation. Important discoveries included the identification of late medieval roof structures and the uncovering of fragments of the Saint Ladislaus legend mural cycle on the north wall of the nave. Sebestyén critically analyzes several restoration decisions, especially the choice to leave the sanctuary and adjacent monastery walls as exposed brick surfaces without protective plastering or sufficient weather-resistant treatment. He argues that this solution is historically questionable and technically problematic because medieval ecclesiastical buildings in the region were generally plastered and protected against moisture. The study repeatedly stresses that long-term sustainability, maintenance, and material compatibility are just as important in monument preservation as historical authenticity and scholarly reconstruction. Overall, the article presents the Marosvásárhely church as an instructive case study demonstrating both the achievements and the unresolved methodological tensions of contemporary architectural heritage restoration in Central Europe.

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