Like many other Fortified Churches to be found in Transylvania, due to the numerous changes in building structure during time, the start of the construction is not really known for Apold Fortified Church. But still, we have an estimation of the period when the building was completed, somewhere around the 15th-16th century. Apold village, in Mureș county, was during those times one of the most populated villages around Sighișoara city, with 89 families. After 1990, when the local community left, very few Saxon origin people remained. Still, we are able now to visit this beautiful church, with the outside wall and the connecting tower.
https://romanian-romance.com/

Apold Fortified Church

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After the collapse of the original Romanesque church in Şaeș in 1802 the ruins were entirely removed and replaced with a neo-classical hall church with narrowed chancel and western bell tower, completed in 1820. The facades of tower and church show a subtle composition of pilasters and cornices. A pyramid roof covered with color glazed tiles caps the tower. On top of the pyramid a lantern is placed covered with metal sheets and decorated with garlands made of metal.
The interior of the church appeals by its consistent original design and inventory. A remarkable detail is the entrance door, an empire jewel.
The remains of the fortifications consist of parts of the curtain wall, a defense tower and a defense building. The latter is supposed to have served as a chapel during the construction of the new church. Unfortunately the total loss of this building must be faced because of its very bad condition. The church itself shows severe structural problems as well, that should be tackled in the near future.
Place and surroundings
The Hungarian name of the village, Segesd, derives from the word “seg”, which can be translated as “the back side of the hillock”. Yet, the village never was on the backside of history. During the last 400 years it was considered one of the most prosperous Saxon colonies around Sighişoara, its proximity to the city conferring it numerous advantages along the centuries.
The School on the Hill in Sighişoara, one of the oldest schools in Transylvania, has the name of “Josef Haltrich Theoretical Highschool” nowadays. Haltrich, an educator, a philologist, a priest and a renowned Saxon ethnographer was the rector of the institution beginning with 1869. He quit this position three years later, becoming a priest in Şaeş, where he worked until the end of his life, also being buried there. The name of the ethnographer is often associated with a collection of stories, which he published in 1856 in Berlin with the help of the famous Jacob Grimm, under the title “Popular German Stories from Transylvania, the Country of the Saxons”.
https://kirchenburgen.org/

Șaeș fortified church

The entrance of today’s church that was probably built in the 15th century from the remains of an older church, is located higher than it was initially. The floor of the nave was also raised by 2m, due to the repeated floods caused by a water stream which flows close to the fortification and which has brought over 3m of alluvial deposit over time, both inside the fortification and around it. The defence story comprises a first level built with stone, above which a second wooden level was raised and endowed with a parapet walk on buttresses and wooden consoles.
The circular palisade that defended the church for 200 years was replaced in the 16th century by a fortified wall with defence towers.
Inside the church there is a fountain from which villagers and tourists can obtain clean drinking water.
Place and surroundings
There is a remote historical mystery flowing along with the water of Hârtibaciu river passing by Brădeni: the enigma of the more than 300 Saxon chests that secretly doze in the attic of the fortified church. Although these medieval chests hide neither gold nor other treasures in their wooden wombs, they are considered to be unique historical assets in Europe. Their age and origin cannot be precisely determined. They are adorned with mysterious paintings of fantastic beings, the style being impossible to assign to a particular epoch. Students of the course of study „Architecture, Engineering and Conservation” of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hildesheim, Germany thoroughly researched and analysed the chests within the frame of a conservation project. Visitors can find out more about the work of the students as well as the history of the chests thanks to very informative boards boasted in the fortification.
This discovery is not the only peculiarity of the place. Long time ago it used to live here an earl named Kirr and his castle had a tunnel that led to the church. The end of the tunnel is still in place today. The earl is said to have buried a treasure, a clucking hen with gold-made chicken, right in the place where the shadow of the top of the church fell at noon. Nevertheless the Saxon name of the village can be translated as “The Hen’s Village” and the treasure couldn’t be found up to now.
https://kirchenburgen.org/

Brădeni fortified church

10 km from Daneș, in Cris, in the middle of a beautiful dendrologycal park, we can find a castle. The history of the castle is just as boisterous as that of its owners.
Long ago the Bethlen dynasty built a fortification here in German style, which in 1400 during the restoration was redesigned for a castle. The heirs of the Bethlen dynasty, Anikó, Éva, and Ágnes are living in Târgu Mureș.
Countess Anikó, the founder of the Bethlen foundation, revendicated the 1949 nationalized castle. After finally regaining the castle, in September 2004, the cultural minister appealed against the act. The countess hopes that after regaining ownership of the castle.
In November 2007 the Bethlen family heirs founded Pro Castrum Bethlen Union, which deals with restoration of the castle, and the inclusion of the tourist circuit.
https://www.welcometoromania.eu/

Betlen Castle (Criș)

Biserica evanghelică fortificată din Iacobeni, comuna Iacobeni, județul Sibiu, a fost construită în secolul XIV. Ansamblul bisericii evanghelice fortificate este monument istoric, cod LMI SB-II-a-A-12402, cu următoarele obiective:
cod LMI SB-II-a-A-12402.01 - Biserica evanghelică fortificată, secolul al XIV-lea - primul sfert al secolului al XVI-lea;
cod LMI SB-II-a-A-12402.02 - Incintă fortificată, cu turnuri, încăpere pentru provizii, turn de poartă și zwinger cu turn-casă a paznicului, mijlocul secolului al XVI-lea.
Istoric
Se pare că biserica-sală gotică, care datează de la începutul secolului al XIV-lea, ar fi fost construită pe locul uneia mai vechi, distruse probabil de tătari în invazia lor din 1241.
Descriere
Turnul-donjon din capătul de vest al sălii a fost construit în secolul al XV-lea și este cel mai mare dintre toate cele aflate pe Valea Hârtibaciului. Zidurile lui au o grosime de circa trei metri, înălțimea lui fiind de 26 de metri. Latura nordică a donjonului depășea biserica, el fiind mult mai lat. Acest fapt a determinat modificarea sălii prin lărgirea ei spre nord. De asemenea modificările aduse a determinat devierea intrării și la dreapta ei au fost făcute scările din piatră ce duc spre nivelul doi al donjonului prin interiorul zidului din vest. La nivelul doi, mai târziu, s-a păstrat tradiționala slănină. Nivelul al treilea avea accesul prin intermediul unei scări ce escalada înălțimea prin interiorul peretelui estic. Nivelurile al patrulea și al cincilea au metereze pentru arcași și trăgători. La ultimele caturi, al șaselea și al șaptelea care sunt deasupra nivelului bisericii se regăsesc pe toate laturile metereze. Drumul de strajă este suspendat prin intermediul consolelor din lemn și adăpostește trei clopote făcute în secolul al XX-lea.
Nava și corul au fost fortificate cu un etaj de apărare ce are prevăzut un parapet înalt de 2 m cu metereze sprijinit pe arcuri de apărare, care se desfășoară între cei 18 contraforți ce înconjoară biserica. Între arcadele contraforților sunt mașiculi prin care se arunca apă clocotită sau smoală topită asupra asediatorilor. Acoperișul a fost renovat în anul 1602, dovadă în acest sens stând inscripția de pe una dintre bârnele lui. Atât nava cât și corul au fost construite inițial la aceeași înălțime. Ulterior, nava a fost acoperită cu o boltă în rețea în stil gotic, rețea dotată cu nervuri din teracotă. Între ele, trecerea se face prin intermediul unui arc triumfal gotic a carui finisare este destul de simplă. Deasupra corului este construită o boltă-n cruce cu absidă pentagonală, bolta fiind lucrată rudimentar în rețea. Toate aceste caracteristici tind să antedateze nava și corul față de restul edificiului.
În frenezia lor pentru siguranță, locuitorii Iacobeniului au ridicat turn și peste sacristie, acesta având cinci etaje, cu drum de strajă placat cu scânduri. Pereții sacristiei au fost dublați, grosimea lor ajungând la circa trei metri la bază. Intrarea în turn se făcea prin partea vestică utilizând o scară mobilă de la nivelul al doilea, interiorul său fiind construit în întregime din lemn. Pe peretele nordic au fost construite tribune cu tăblii pictate, începând din anul 1784. Aceste tribune au fost lărgite în anul 1805, ele sprijinindu-se pe console din lemn și coloane.
După 1990 biserica a suferit modificări neconforme cu statutul unui monument istoric de o asemenea importanță, modificări făcute de către controversatul preot Don Demidoff. Acesta a prevăzut biserica cu geamuri termopane cu tâmplărie PVC, care înlocuiesc ancadramentele gotice iar portalul de intrare în biserică este înlocuit cu o ușă termopan. Treptele de piatră au fost acoperite cu gresie iar interiorul edificiului este bogat decorat cu neoane albastre, fosforescente.
Fortificația
Biserica este înconjurată de ziduri cu un traseu neregulat, a căror greutate se sprijină pe contraforți, pe partea abruptă a dealului. Turnul porții are două niveluri, un drum de strajă cu parapet și o intrare care se bloca printr-o hersă. În partea nordică s-a construit o curte ce era apărată de către un bastion care ulterior a fost transformat într-o casă cu destinația de locuință a paznicului. De asemenea în partea sud - estică a incintei exista un turn, astăzi demolat. A supraviețuit timpurilor, turnul ce se găsește în porțiunea de unde pornește dealul (sud-vest), turn ce are trei uși suprapuse în partea nordică a lui, câte o fereastră la catul al doilea și al treilea, ferestre prevăzute cu o ambrazuri pictate cu elemente geometrice de culoare brună, roșie și neagră.

Iacobeni fortified church

On a hill in the center of the village of Movile, there is a strong fortified church whose foundation stone was laid in the middle of the 13th century. Only the western tower and the walls of the church’s nave have been preserved from the former Romanesque construction. The church was fortified around the year 1500 in late Gothic style. Two fortification walls strengthened by several defence towers surrounded the ensemble. During the 19th century, under the pressure of an ever-growing community, the interior space of the church had to be enlarged by adding a gallery built on three sides.
Place and surroundings
The Transylvanian Saxons founded end of the 12th Century the village of 100 hillocks (Hunderbücheln in German). Nature blessed them with unusual landscapes, just perfect for giving birth to legends full of giants. One of these mythical figures is well known in the region. His apron filled with sand had a hole, a flaw that caused a hillock to appear every time he stopped walking. This is how the 100 hills after which the village was named appeared.
The fortified church also hides a lot of secrets. During the repairs in the 19th Century, a sacred altarpiece was discovered, which is one of the most valuable representations of the legend of Saint Anthony. This painting from the 16th Century shows Saint Paul and Saint Anthony apparently absorbed in a lively debate that started centuries ago and which will hopefully continue for a long time for the benefit of Movile. Nowadays the painting is to be found in the Museum of the Evangelic Church in Sibiu.
https://kirchenburgen.org/

Movile fortified church

The early Gothic hall church built in the 14th century with western tower and polygonal chancel was prepared for defence in 1495. The tower was fortified with a wooden defence level, as well as the nave and the chancel. While the vaults of the church were removed because of the risk to collapse during the renovation work in the early 19th century, the tower has been preserved in its medieval form. The fortification wall was protected with three defence towers, of which two are still preserved and an outer bailey was built in the 16th century in the south-western part. A part of this wall was demolished in 1888, allowing a school to be built in that space. The three sides wooden gallery, decorated with Baroque paintings and the winged altar from 1693 above which the 1914 organ is installed, dominates the interior.
Place and surroundings
If one follows the picturesque main street of Meşendorf up the hill, passing by fruit trees and old farmhouses one reaches the fortified church. The best time here is in spring during the tree blossom: dogs bark, rooster crow and horse carts pass by.A simple fortification wall with interesting details surrounds the church. During religious service one can hear the sound of a beautiful Wegenstein organ. There is an hourglass made of four glass cylinders in the pulpit. This allowed the priest and the congregation to ensure the length of the sermon was observed.
The enchanted atmosphere of the village is heightened by an old legend. The Kazkes, a mountain in the direction of Criţ is supposed to be the home of an evil spirit – the canter. This gruesome character will haunt those who dare to go on the mountain at midnight.
https://kirchenburgen.org/

Meşendorf Fortified Church

The fortified church of Malancrav is closely connected to the Hungarian family Apafi, as this family was given the whole village by the king of Hungary.
According to certain hypotheses, the originally large church with three parts within was built by Gregor, in the early 14th century, the son of Nicolaus. From the middle, or main part, there are four arcades which connects it to the side parts. On a stone it is still visible the emblem of the Apafi family and the following lines: Gentile scuttum appae appae (the shield of the Apafi family). In the 17th century below the sacristy was made a place for the sarcophagi of Apafi Mihaly II, and this is the hand-work of Illes Nicolai, being taken to Budapest in 1900, to the National Gallery.
In the church it can still be visible the most well-structured and visible gothic painting from the 14th century and on all of these pictures, all the 53 the New and Old Testament is being painted. The picture of the main altar which includes Saint Mihai angel along with Saint Clara looking upwards on the Virgin and her son, was given as a gift to the church by Clara, the wife of Mihai Apafi. The church was fortified in the 16th century.
https://www.welcometoromania.eu/

Malâncrav Evangelical fortified church

Have you ever seen yourselves in a centuries old mansion with rooms breathing history, old furniture and a fruit orchard?
The Apafi Mansion is one of the remarkable buildings of the Hârtibaci Valley. The history of the mansion from Mălâncrav goes back well over 600 years, to the 15th century when it was built by the Apafi royal Hungarian family.
In time the building has suffered numerous modifications, however they were all written down in documents. This happened because the mansion was the residence of Michael Apafi, lord of Transylvania and then that of his successors and of the Bethlen family of aristocrats.
In 2007, after several years of renovations, the mansion was opened to the public. It was renovated according to an initial blueprint from the 13th century with five bedrooms, one living room and one library with old, priceless books.
If you visit the mansion in summer you will also enjoy the flavour of the fruits from its garden, which was also restored based on models from old cards and drawings.
http://www.sibiu-turism.ro/

The Apafi Mansion in Mălâncrav

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.
Background and church
Construction of a large fortified late Gothic church began in 1493 on the site of a Romanesque basilica, and the main structure was completed in 1496. The church was dedicated to Saint Stephen of Hungary. A few payments from the authorities at Sibiu for building the church survive; these date from 1494 to 1525. From 1503 to 1507, the village received a Papal indulgence upon the request of a parishioner, and was no longer obliged to quarter troops or send provisions to the army of the Kingdom of Hungary.
The large structure, built of quarried stone, is a hall church strengthened by 22 high buttresses. The nave is very wide and long, while the choir is closed on three sides. A brick defensive level was built above the choir, while there are two such levels above the sacristy's vaulted ceiling. These floors are accessed through two small brick towers on the western part of the church. The defensive portion is slightly wider than the hall beneath. The nave ceiling, also vaulted, was rebuilt in 1878. The interior decor is mainly Baroque, with only the richly decorated choir pulpit being Gothic. Inscription fragments survive on the exterior walls. Among the church's features are the two arched portals at the north and south sides, the upper windows with their delicate Gothic details, the Baroque altar and its floral decorations made of carved wood, and the 1786 organ.
Fortifications and recognition
The complex was surrounded by a powerful defensive wall, the perimeter of which is today marked by a fence. The only surviving portion is the northern tower, which was fitted with a prominent spire in 1677, and is located 10 m away from the church. Its multicolored slate roof can be seen from afar; it has twelve dormers (three to a side) and four little towers at the corners. A nearby hill was once the site of a 14th-century citadel for protecting the peasants, but only ruins survive. It was located 2 km away from the village center so that people from nearby places could also shelter there, and was reportedly a gift from a childless woman who willed it to the residents. Legend has it that the hill is haunted by a noose-wielding protective giant who emits ghostly sounds on one night a year. This distance is one reason why the church was later fortified, so that the inhabitants would have readier access to a refuge.
Earthquakes in 1977, 1986 and 1990 damaged the church and tower, while the site's immediate proximity to European route E60 leaves it vulnerable. In 1999, Saschiz, together with five other places, was added to the already-listed Biertan to form the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, the church is listed as a historic monument by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, with the wall and tower being listed as a separate entry, as well as the citadel ruins.

Saschiz fortified church

After the old church was destroyed, a new construction was erected between 1521 and 1524 and finds itself in a well-preserved state today, as well as the polygonal ring wall strengthened by towers in each corner. The southern tower was replaced in 1819 with today’s bell tower. The aisle-less church with polygonal chancel was provided with defence level and machicolation between the buttresses from this construction phase.
The parapets of the 18th century three-side gallery inside the church are decorated with floral motives and paintings illustrating different fortified churches. The organ above the altar was installed in 1832 on the substructure of the original 1716 altar. One of the oldest inscriptions from Transylvania can be found behind this altar: 1524 is the year when the construction works of the church were completed.
Place and surroundings
The small settlement Cloaşterf in eastern Transylvania gave birth to many legends. Near the village are the ruins of a castle known locally as “Monkey Castle”. One says that a valuable treasure was once hidden behind an invisible iron door on the castle hill. From time to time this door appears out of nowhere. But it can only be opened with Mandrake, a magic plant.
In fact, once the remains of an urn and a golden coin with a Greek inscription of Alexander the Great were found here. The real treasure however remains undiscovered to this day.
According to another local myth the girl who finds the first vine with two small leaves on its tip will be lead to the man of her dreams by this branch. The girl should break the branch and put in on her hat. The first young man she meets on the way home from the vineyard she may kiss, as he will be her future spouse.
https://kirchenburgen.org/