The Gothic spire of St. Michael's rises 80 metres above Piața Unirii, the focal point of central Cluj. Construction began around 1316 and dragged on into the early 15th century; the steeple was added much later, in 1860, but it has become the city's visual signature. From a distance, the church looks like one tall finger pointing at the sky.
Inside, the church feels surprisingly austere — a single nave with high vaulted ceilings, a few Gothic sculptures, and a quiet that contrasts sharply with the busy square outside. The pulpit, carved in 1740, is the most ornate surviving element. The square itself, with the statue of Matthias Corvinus in front of the church, is where every visit to Cluj begins.