Romania Saxon Village ???????? Villages With Fortified Churches in Transylvania
The Saxon villages of Transylvania appeared in the twelfth century when the Kings of Hungary settled German colonists in the area. They had a special status among nations in the province and their civilisation managed to survive and thrive, forming a very strong community of farmers, artisans and merchants. Being situated in a region constantly under the threat of the Ottoman and Tatar invasions, they built fortifications of different sizes. The most important towns were fully fortified, and the smaller communities created fortifications centered on the church, where they added defensive towers and storehouses to keep their most valuable goods and to help them withstand long sieges.
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Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (UNESCO/NHK)
These Transylvanian villages with their fortified churches provide a vivid picture of the cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. The seven villages inscribed, founded by the Transylvanian Saxons, are characterized by a specific land-use system, settlement pattern and organization of the family farmstead that have been preserved since the late Middle Ages. They are dominated by their fortified churches, which illustrate building styles ...
Source: UNESCO TV / © NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai
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Fortified Churches of Transylvania - UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Fortified Churches of Transylvania are a fascinating and intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Site in Romania. Mainly constructed by migrants from Saxony in present-day Germany, they were built to fortify the area against threats: from the Ottomans, the Mongols, and the Russians. But since they weren't rich communities and couldn't afford large castles or town walls, they opted for the next best thing: fortifying the largest building in town - the church. There's seven of these fortified churches on the World Heritage list, although hundreds more exist in the area. Let's have a closer look!
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Romania, Fortified Churches in Transylvania - UNESCO World Heritage
Photographer:Samuel Magal (samuel@sites-and-photos.com)
The south-eastern Transylvania region in Romania currently has one of the highest numbers of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries. It has more than 150 well preserved fortified churches of a great variety of architectural styles (out of an original 300 fortified churches).
Fortified churches in Transylvania Romania
Fortified churches:
1-2 Biertan Church,
3-4,Church Axente Sever
5-6 Church Saschiz
7-8-9 Viscri Church,
10-11-12 Church Prejmer
13-14-15 Church Calnic
Personal photos.
Background music Chopin - Waltz Op 70 February Bem M
Transylvania - Saxon fortified churches (2012)
Cycling holiday visiting Viscri (min 0:14), Valea Viilor ( 2:25), Biertan (3:58), Rasnov (5:23), Prejmer (6:33), Homorod (8:18) among others (8:48)
These Transylvanian villages with their fortified churches provide a vivid picture of the cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. Seven villages are inscribed by UNESCO as world heritage sites. They illustrate building styles and settlement pattern from the 13th to the 16th century.
In the 13th century the kings of Hungary encouraged the colonization of the sub-Carpathian region of Transylvania by a German-speaking population of artisans, farmers and merchants, mainly from the Rhineland. Known as the Transylvanian Saxons, they enjoyed special privileges granted by the Hungarian Crown. TheTransylvanian Saxons were able to preserve their language and customs intact throughout the centuries.
Exposed to danger from the Ottoman Empire, Saxons built defensive works in order to shelter from invaders. Lacking the resources of the European nobility and rich merchants, who were able to fortify entire towns, the Transylvanian Saxons chose to create fortresses round their churches, enclosing storehouses to enable them to withstand long sieges. The seven UNESCO churches are:
BIERTAN: Late Gothic hall-type building, completed around 1522-1523, with two (later three) lines of walls, at the foot of the hill, built at the same time as the church.
CALNIC: Based on a mid-13th-century dwelling tower, a chapel and an oval enceinte; presented in 1430 to the village community, which raised the walls fitted with two towers and transformed the dwelling tower into one for defensive purposes.
PREJMER: Early Gothic Church of the Holy Cross, in the shape of a cross; walled in the 15th century.
VISCRI: Romanesque chapel enlarged in the early 16th century to form a single-nave church, with a fortified storey resting on semicircular arches supported by massive buttresses; walls strengthened in the 17th century.
DARJIU: Late Gothic church fortified towards 1520, decorated with murals going back to 1419; rectangular enceinte restructured in the 17th century.
SASCIZ: Romanesque church and its enceinte replaced by a late Gothic church (1493-1525); defensive storey gives the church the appearance of a high bastion.
VALEA VIILOR: Church transformed into late Gothic style and fortified in the early 16th century; defensive storeys built above the choir, nave and tower, communicating with each other; porches of the northern and southern entrances protected by small towers with portcullises.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
Romania, Prejmer Fortified Church
Photographer:Samuel Magal (samuel@sites-and-photos.com)
The Prejmer fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Prejmer (Tartlau), Brașov County, in the Transylvania region of Romania and the ethnographic area of the Burzenland. The church was founded by the Germanic Teutonic Knights, and then was eventually taken over by the Transylvanian Saxon community. Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Together with the surrounding village, the church forms part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fortified Churches of Transylvania
This video is based on a blog post, but with more pictures! If you want a bit of the history and other info, read my post at
Romania, Viscri Fortified Church
Photographer:Samuel Magal (samuel@sites-and-photos.com)
The Viscri fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Viscri , Brașov County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Together with the surrounding village, the church forms part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Prejmer Fortified Church - Romania's UNESCO Transylvanian Treasure
Prejmer Fortified Church
Explore a fantastic fortified church founded by the Teutonic Knights in now Transylvania in Romania. The Ottomans tried to destroy the church over 50 times without success all the while destroying the town. The church is heavily fortified and we will be able to see inside where 4 stories of living and storage accommodation inside the church protected people and goods. The site is in pristine condition having been restored during Communist times
Prejmer Fortified Church
Biertan fortified Churches -- Romania.mpg
Biertan fortified Churches -- Romania- is one of the most important Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, having been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1993. The first documentary testimony about the village dates from 1283
Viscri | Charming saxon village in Transylvania Romania | Unesco World Heritage Site
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With a history that goes back to the 12th century, Viscri is today one of Romania’s most famous villages. Prince Charles’ repeated visits, its UNESCO World Heritage fortified church and the ceaseless activity of the local foundation Mihai Eminescu Trust have helped this small village dust off its last decades of oblivion. Viscri is right now one of Romania’s most popular off the beaten track attractions with plenty of activities for all those curious to discover the typical rural life from Transylvania.
The construction of the fortified church in the village center began in 1100 A.D., a fact confirmed by the tombstone inscription in the cemetery that surrounds the church. In 1185, Saxons colonized the area settling in the south-east of Transylvania. The Viscri settlement was officially named in 1400 – it was given the Latin title of Alba Ecclesia, or “White Church.”’
The church gave the village its name – as it was one of the most impressive in all Transylvania. The first towers were added around 1525. In the 18th century, a defensive wall and a covered passageway were built. An altar was added in 19th century with a painting as its centerpiece – “The Blessing of the Children,” by Rupean painter J. Paukratz.
Discover the wonderful craft and culinary traditions of this timeless village.
Romania, Biertan Fortified Church
Photographer:Samuel Magal (samuel@sites-and-photos.com)
The Biertan fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Biertan (Birthälm), Sibiu County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the ethnic community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Briefly Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Together with the surrounding village, the church forms part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Saxon Villages and Fortified Churches in Transylvania
Transylvania tour guide - Biertan Fortified Church
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This is a short tour of one of the best preserved fortified church in Transylvania. Biertan Fortified Church is listed in UNESCO Heritage.
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Romania, Saschiz Fortified Church
Photographer:Samuel Magal (samuel@sites-and-photos.com)
The Saschiz fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Saschiz (Keisd), Mureș County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Together with the surrounding village, the church forms part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Viscri - fortified church in Transylvania, Romania
This video is about unique castle - fortified church, situated near Brasov in Transylvania, Romania. We will take a walk inside the old keep (XI - XII century) and watch one of the most interesting building in the world.
You can see a video about castle in Nafpaktos (Lepanto) here:
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Fortified Churches of Transylvania - Part 2
A glimpse of several landmarks (Atel, Brateiu, Saros, Malancrav) in Trailsylvania's UNESCO World Heritage tour - Fortified Churches of Transylvania
Carpathian World Heritage - Prejmer Fortified Church (Romania)
The ensemble of Prejmer fortified church is widely considered as the most powerful peasant fortification in Transylvania and the largest fortified church in SE Europe. It is a part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage named Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania.It has the most fortified walls of any of the fortified churches of Transylvania. The height of ring walls is between 12 – 14 metres, with thickness of up to 5 metres. The construction of the Church of the Holy Cross began in 1218 by the Order of the Teutonic Knights. Inside the fortress complex, there are over 270 rooms for refuge and storage of provisions, making it one of the most advanced systems of its kind. It preserves ethnological and historical values illustrating the life of multi-ethnic community in permanent exhibition.
Transylvania - Fortresses and fortified churches
Transylvanian villages with fortified churches provides a lively cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. These villages are characterized by a pattern of settlement and organization of farms, preserved since the Middle Ages. Localities are dominated by their fortified churches,which illustrate building periods XIII century until the sixteenth century. Once the number of 300, the fortified churches have played a role both religious and military role for more than five centuries. At nearly 150 buildings in the early twenty-first century, the fortified churches in Transylvania form one of the densest system of medieval fortifications in Europe very well
kept.
Day 1: Arrival in Bucuresti
Arrival to Bucharest. Transfer to a 4* hotel, centrally located.
Day 2 : Departure to Sinaia -- Rasnov -- Bran
Sinaia mountain resort, located in a mountain area on the Prahova Valley,
at 800 m altitude. We visit : Sinaia Monastery - dubbed the 'Cathedral of the Carpathians', located in a wonderful natural environment, dating from the seventeenth century and represents the historical identity of the city, the first building in this area. Peles Castle - the summer residence of the kings of Romania, one of the most important historic edifices in Romania, with unique character with its historic and artistic value, one of the most important
monuments of this kind in Eastern Europe second half of the nineteenth century.
Lunch. Leaving for the medieval fortress Rasnov - one of the best preserved peasant fortress in Transylvania, built in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by inhabitants of the settlement of the same name, with the main goal to defend against attacks Tartars. Arrival to Bran . Dinner and accommodation
Day 3 : Departure to Brasov -- Prejmer
Breakfast. Visit Bran Castle - historical and architectural monument built by the Teutonic Knights between 1211-1225, strengthened and expanded in 1427.
Brasov: medieval fortress city, important historical and tourist center.
We visit : Black Church - symbol of the city, is the largest evangelical church in Transylvania, built around 1380, in the Gothic style. Barsov town - historical and architectural sec. XIV-XV, is a fortified ensemble, with an area of about 23.000 square meters, with high walls and thick of 1.70 to 1.80 m. Lunch. Departure to Prejmer. We visit Peasant Fortress and fortified church, founded during the
Teutonic domination and fortified over time, is part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage. Dinner and accommodation in Sanpetru -- Harman -- Prejmer areas
Day 4 : Departure to Harman -- Sanpetru -- Viscri
Breakfast. Visit to Harman and Sanpetru peasant fortress.
Lunch in Brasov. Departure to Viscri, which is one of the most spectacular fortified churches, besides being one of the six UNESCO World Heritage listed.
Peculiarities of this settlement attracted the attention and goodwill Mihai Eminescu Trust, a foundation under the patronage of Great Britain Crown Prince --Prince Charles himself who renovated the
church and some houses in the village. Is where Prince Charles is often taking holidays in the area. Dinner and accommodation in Viscri-Saschiz area
Day 5 : Departure to Viscri -- Saschiz -- Sighisoara
Breakfast. Departure to Medias - visits to the medieval fortress - has 7 towers and bastions, walls centuries over 7 feet tall, 3 main gates and 4 side access in the old city and Saint Margaret fortified church where there is a valuable set of Gothic murals and the tower has a clock that shows the moon phases. This church is important because here was closed ruler of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler -
Dracula, in 1476. Lunch. Departure to Alba Iulia - the capital of Transylvania between 1541 and 1711 and the first capital of Greater Romania. Visit Reunification Cathedral of Alba Iulia Fortress, the Roman Catholic Cathedral
and Bathyaneum Library, founded in 1798, which houses ancient works, since 1561, the early years of the occurrence pattern. Dinner and accommodation in Alba Iulia.
Day 6 : Departure to Alba Iulia -- Sibiu (European Capital of Culture in 2007
Breakfast. Departure to Sibiu - one of the most important and flourishing cities of Transylvania, one of the main centers of German colonists settled in the area. Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture in 2007, together with Luxembourg.
Along the way, we stop at Sibiel - Icons on glass Museum . Departure to Sibiu. Lunch. Visit the historic city center. Dinner and accommodation to Sibiu
Day 7 : Departure to Bucuresti -- through Fagaras Mountains
Breakfast. We visit the Brukenthal Museum where is important art collection. Paltinis mountain resort trip. Lunch. Departure to Fagaras and crossing the mountain on Transfagarasan, at 2000 m altitude. Dinner and accommodation
Day 8 : Bucuresti
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.