Fortified Churches

A little bit of history

In the 12^th century the first Saxon colonists arrived in Transylvania from the left bank of the Rhine. A few decades later, their numbers grew significantly and the colonists established in Transylvania were joined by those coming from Franconia and southern Germany.

The central point of colonisation was the region of Sibiu; the core increased gradually and covered other Transylvanian regions, as well. At mid-14^th century, Sibiu was turned into the province of the Seven Seats and in 1486 the Saxon University was set up, reuniting all Saxons from the Royal Lands (Transylvania). Most of the colonists settled to the north of today’s county of Sibiu, in areas with hills and plateaux which allowed them to grow crops and practice various crafts.

The colonists built themselves big villages with streets concentrated around a central square. The community’s spiritual life was not at all neglected. As soon as they arrived, the colonists erected Romanesque basilicas similar to the ecclesiastical buildings from Saxony, Bavaria and Thuringia. In mid-13^th century, the ecclesiastical buildings are completed with early gothic elements - the most eloquent example is the Cistercian abbey from Cârţa, a basilica with three naves and a linked cross nave.

In mid-13^th century the first gothic influences appeared in the building of the churches and as of the 14^th century, the new churches built in rural areas were strongly influenced by the urban ecclesiastical styles.

In the third decade of the 15^th century, after the Ottoman invasions, the Transylvanian churches changed their role. If until then their customary role was to be the centre of the spiritual life, with the Turkish invasions they turned into symbols of resistance against the invaders. They were fortified by adding embrasures and machicolations, patrol routes and defence towers and walls.

The churches built after this moment (late 15^th century) had the structure of an all-round defence tower, like for instance the fortified church from Bazna.

There are over 150 fortified churches built in Transylvania; today, to the north of the county, there is no Saxon settlement without a fortified church. Over 50 such churches from the county of Sibiu were declared exceptional architectural monuments - among which the UNESCO heritage churches from Biertan and Valea Viilor - and many of them were or will be restored.

It is very difficult to make a top of the most beautiful fortified churches. They are each distinct in their own way because they each bear the print of a harsh history, each is marked by the spirit of the community it sheltered for centuries.

The Cistercian Abbey from Cârţa

Cârţa Str. Principală, nr. 111

Mobile phone no.: 0769 878 870

Fortified Church

In the years 1205-1206 a group of Cistercian monks came to these parts of Transylvania from (...)

The fortified church from Valea Viilor

Valea Viilor Valea Viilor, nr. 341

Mobile phone no.: +4 0745 519 173

Fortified Church

On the location of today’s church there was first a Romanesque basilica whose traces (...)

The fortified church from Agnita

Agnita Piaţa Georg Daniel Teutsch, nr. 1

Mobile phone no.: 0040 747 870 193

Fortified Church

In the 13th century there used to be a Romanesque basilica here but throughout the coming centuries, (...)

The fortified church from Alma Vii

Alma Vii str. Bisericii, nr. 56

Phone no.: 0770 510 435

Fortified Church

The church lies on a hill dominating the village. It was built in the 14th century and two (...)

The fortified church from Avrig

Avrig str. Gheorghe Lazăr, nr. 12

Mobile phone no.: +4 0743 765 412

Fortified Church

In the 13th century, the Saxon colonists arrived around Avrig built a small Romanesque basilica (...)

The fortified church from Axente Sever

Axente Sever str. Principală

Mobile phone no.: 0749 680770

Fortified Church

The church was erected in the early 14th century and fortified later on; the storehouses and (...)

The fortified church from Aţel

Aţel nr. 100

Phone no.: +40 754 867 913

Fortified Church

The name of the craftsmen and journeymen travellers who built the Evangelical Church from Sibiu (...)

The fortified church from Bazna

Bazna str. Aurel Vlaicu, nr. 2

Mobile phone no.: +4 0742 319 267

Fortified Church

The church was built in the 15th century by the local Saxon community. A century later, it (...)

The fortified church from Biertan

Biertan str. 1 Decembrie 1918, nr. 2

Phone no.: +4 0269 868 262

Mobile phone no.: +4 0749 231 199

Fortified Church

Placed on a hill in the centre of Biertan lies one of the most imposing and solidly fortified (...)

The fortified church from Cisnădioara

Cisnădioara nr. 221

Mobile phone no.: +4 0726 877 782

Fortified Church

In the second half of the 12th century they built a Romanesque basilica. In the early 13th (...)

The fortified church from Copşa Mare

Copşa Mare

Phone no.: +40 733 262 089

Fortified Church

Lost among the gentle hills, Copşa Mare is the perfect setting to (re)discover a well-preserved (...)

The fortified church from Cristian

Cristian str. X, nr. 40

Mobile phone no.: +4 0751 146 061

Fortified Church

At mid-15th century, the former Romanesque basilica from Cristian was almost entirely redecorated (...)

The fortified church from Dealu Frumos

Dealu Frumos str. Principală, nr. 13

Phone no.: +40 749 519 312

Fortified Church

Like most of the free communes of the "lordly county", Dealul Frumos had its own Romanesque (...)

The fortified church from Hosman

Hosman

Fortified Church

As you get close to Hosman you shall see the tower of the fortified church guarded from a distance (...)

The fortified church from Mediaș

Mediaş Piaţa Castelului, nr. 2

Phone no.: +4 0269 841 962

Fortified Church

The church whose patron saint was St. Margaret was first mentioned in a document in 1414. In (...)

The fortified church from Merghindeal

Merghindeal

Fortified Church

  In the old documents the settlement is called Maria’s Valley (Marienthal); legend (...)

The fortified church from Movile

Movile

Phone no.: +40 757 745 041

Fortified Church

The “one thousand hills” village, this is how Movile is called in the Saxon dialect (...)

The fortified church from Moșna

Moşna nr. 530

Phone no.: +4 0269 862 141

Mobile phone no.: +4 0744 624 776

Fortified Church

In the 13th century, the first Saxon colonists arriving at Moşna built a small Romanesque basilica.

The fortified church from Mălâncrav

Mălâncrav str. Principală, nr. 87

Phone no.: +40 744 645 473

Fortified Church

The church was built in the 14th century and the sanctuary was rebuilt in the 1400s in an international (...)

The fortified church from Richiș

Richiş Str. Principala 1

Mobile phone no.: +0772 267 784

Fortified Church

Initially the current church functioned as a Cistercian abbey turned into a catholic church (...)

The fortified church from Stejărişu

Stejărişu str. Principală, nr. 195

Phone no.: +40 743 093 963

Fortified Church

Stejărişu has always been a small village whose locals have been on a constant flee from floods. The (...)

The peasant fortress from Slimnic

Slimnic

Mobile phone no.: +40 748 547 143

Architectural Monument

In the 16th century Sibiu and Mediaş were two important burgs in the south of Transylvania (...)