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.
Saes - The fortified church, Mures, Romania
The phenomenon of fortified churches, met in the territory colonized by the Saxons in southern Transylvania, is unique in Europe's architecture both as a scale and by the architectural diversity of solutions adopted. It is estimated that there were around 300 castles. Some of them have disappeared and others are endangered, as is that of Brateiu. Seven of these churches have been declared monuments of heritage, being included on the UNESCO list. Currently, several organizations are trying to restore some churches in order to save from oblivion the remains of Saxon culture The causes of building so many fortified churches are related to defense planning issues against migratory peoples. Initial measures of protection were primitive: deep ditches, with or without water, earth or wood fences, etc. During the 14th-16th centuries Saxon communities built castles, small sized, but strongly reinforced. Most of them used as the central point the church - because it was the most sustainable and well-located building in the area, but also because The Lord's name is the tower, the righteous one runs into it and stays safe. Besides the belfry there were built other towers, often by the guilds of the craftsmen who also had the duty to defend them when needed. There were guard towers, mouths for fire or throwing oil, secret passages.
In the church the medieval man felt protected by the deity. By a papal decree issued by Pope Nicholas II, people pursued by the authorities, criminals and debtors could be housed in churches, and if someone used force to enter was excommunicated. That is why the church was considered a refuge of maximum security.
The village of Saes was first mentioned in 1301 and the fortified church in 1302. The church was rebuilt in 1802.