Fortified Church Fişer

Şaeş / Schaas 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”. Keys are with: Mr. Gerhard Haigler phone: +40/265/712 147

Șoala / Schaal The church of Șoala is located on a hill in the middle of the small village, which consists of only one main street and a few side streets. In the 15th century, a late Gothic church with a polygonal choir was built here. It is dedicated to Saint Ursula of Cologne, who according to legend lived in the Roman Empire during the persecution of Christians. The curtain wall was probably built at the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century and reinforced with defense towers in the north, east and southwest, all three of which have been preserved. On the inside of the ring wall, the battlements run on wooden hanging blocks. Transverse walls subsequently divided the castle courtyard. Major construction work on the church and choir is recorded for the years 1832 to 1834. The church was extended by a little more than four meters to the west. The bell tower was repaired and raised in 1822, but had to be demolished in 1883 due to the danger of collapse. Today the bells hang in a wooden chair south of the church. Inside the church, the Classicistic altar program is structured around a crucifixion scene designed by Wilhelm Schadhauer in 1845. The organ, installed in 1851, is the work of Heinrich Meyerwald from Brașov and was renovated in 1931 by Andreas Scherer from Șomartin. Keys are with: the Ziegler family phone: +40/755/274 397 and +40/269/855 053 Parish house beside the fortified church.

Romos / Rumes Since the 13th century, a Romanesque basilica has stood in Romos. Its reconstruction into a hall church with a polygonal choir, from whose vault two consoles have been preserved, took place around 1500 with the help of the Seven Chairs. Between 1816 and 1819 the church was extended to the west and the Gothic south portal was bricked up. A bell tower was also built. During excavations in the cemetery in 1910, the remains of a strong curtain wall were uncovered; they can still be seen to the southwest today. The baroque altar was erected in 1740 and renovated in 1783. In 1865 Carl Fries from Sebeș carried out repairs and added two paintings by the painter Johann Reumann from Orăștie to the altar. During restoration work in 1902, two wooden sculptures of Peter and Paul were added to the altar. Keys are with: Mr. Johann Bauer phone: +40/722/740 054

Roşia / Rothberg Even though the fortified church in Roşia still bears the marks of the past, it also keeps several elements of the initial 13th century Romanesque basilica: the chancel, the triumphal arch, the piers between the main nave and the side aisles, as well as the clerestory windows. The church was fortified during the 16th century, and two centuries later the majority of the windows were built, as well as the church’s western entrance hall. The nave was covered with a vault buttressed by piers with capitals during the 19th century. The interior is dominated by a remarkable Biedermeier style painting above the triumphal arch. Greatly ornamental are the 1682 Baroque altar featuring six Corinthian columns and canopy, as well as the pulpit canopy from 1781. Place and surroundings Even though the village is only few miles away from Sibiu, it gives the impression that the time stood still decades ago. In the center of the village lies a well preserved Romanesque basilica, which still keeps some remains of its initial defense system. The fortification withstood many attacks in the past, such as the one in 1600, when Michael the Brave’s troops burned down the entire village. Eastern from Roşia, on a hilltop called “At the Fortress”, one can find the remains of a wall. Still its origin remains a mystery. Nowadays the name of the village is linked to Eginald Schlattner. Schlattner was serving here as priest until retirement and even today he is taking care of the souls of the imprisoned ones. He became famous due to the three novels he published between 1998 and 2005. Having a predominant biographical character, the books address the issue of Romania’s development beginning with 1930. Keys are with: Rev. Eginald Schlattner phone: +40/751 561 948 and with Mrs. Ioana Maria Bradescu phone: +40/743/494 140

Rothbach / Rotbav The small Romanesque hall church erected in the 13th Century with square chancel, apse and western tower was fortified in the 15th Century. The walls of the tower were strengthened and a parapet walk was built and it was provided two centuries later with a mighty machicolation. Even the curtain wall with loopholes and machicoulis was built in the first fortification phase. No remains have been preserved from its gate tower and the parish house later replaced the eastern side. The roof of the tower is inspired from the bell tower of the Black Church in Brasov and was built after a fire in 1738. The chancel with domical vault and the nave with flat ceiling are furnished in Baroque style. Valuable are the backless benches of the women whose beams are joined together with a single dovetail and the clock built by the company Zachariä from Leipzig, which was impeccably maintained. The clock got lost when the tower collapsed in february 2016. Place and surroundings The chronicles of the smallest village in Ţara Bârsei mention that during the 13th Century, hoping for a better future, 20 Saxon families settled on the banks of a river, approximately 1.5km to the West from today’s location. Yet, their peaceful living was violently interrupted by a devastating enemy invasion. The inhabitants are said to have washed the wounds they got in battle in the local river, whose water turned red because of their blood, from where came the German name of the place “Rothbach” (the Red River) and the Hungarian one „Vörösmart“ (the Red Banks). After this event the colonists moved East, founded the village and built the church. Three circles are sculpted in the girder of the entrance gate: before the Protestant Reformation these used to symbolize “The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit”, and after that the significance of “love, faith, hope” was added to them. The three circles still exist on the coat of arms of Rotbav nowadays. Keys are with: Mr. Erwin Schaal, phone: +40/721/788255, Mr. Oswald Paul phone: +40/747/644790

Râșnov / Rosenau Nothing of the initial fortification systems of the church in the town of Râşnov has remained, since it was completely demolished in 1831. Today the assembly comprises an initial Romanesque basilica, which was rebuilt in Gothic style. In this regard, the aisles’ arcades were modified and the chancel was rebuilt. On the northern wall, fragments of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ are preserved. The tower was constructed in the Gothic phase. The interior furnishing with altar and organ originates in the 18th century and the flat ceiling was built in the 19th century. High above the town, the villager’s fortress is to be found. Partially in ruins, partially rebuilt, the fortification is nowadays a famous tourist attraction. The oldest part was built in the 14th century, but the fortress, functioning as such well into the 18th century, was demolished and rebuilt several times. Next to the remains of a church, the assembly still preserves many fortification systems as well as several small chambers which today serve as souvenir shops and exhibition space. Place and surroundings “Rosenau”, the Saxon name of the town, can be translated as “The Glade of Roses”. Not only does the place have a wonderful name, but also two treasures: the Protestant church and the peasants’ castle. As a sign of peace, the defense wall of the church was demolished in the 19th Century in favor of the town hall. But the castle still watchfully guards the place from above, being dressed in its stone armor. A tour through the fortress, which hides houses, streets and even a small church, sends its visitors back in time in the Middle Ages. The highest peak of the mountain offers a vast panorama: they say that the first colonists settled here, charmed by a suave fragrance. Looking towards the valley, they were astonished to notice that it was sprinkled with thousands and thousands of roses that bloomed full of splendor and they decided to settle here. Instead of the flowers, sound houses were erected along the years, and they survived to this day, surrounded by the legendary fragrance of the roses. Keys are with: Mr. Georg Philipp phone: +40/742/517 458  or in the Parish Office  with Mrs. Marianne Roemer phone: +40/268/230 151

Ruja / Roseln As early as the 13th century, a Romanesque basilica was built in Ruja, of which nothing remains today. The church in its present, fortified appearance was built in the 15th century and is characterized by a massive west tower with a wood-covered battlement, a battlement floor above the choir, as well as cast iron embrasures and embrasures. The ceiling of the church room is a barrel vault with lunettes, in the choir there is a clay ribbed net vault. The interior is mostly Classicistic: altar and pulpit date from the middle of the 19th century. The organ, which has a Baroque façade, dates from 1803 and was made in the studio of the organ builder Samuel Joseph Maetz. It has been rebuilt and repaired repeatedly. In the period 2020 to 2022, extensive securing work on the nave, the tower and the churchyard will be carried out as part of a EU-funded project. Keys are with: Mr. Daniel Andree phone: +40/742/701 295

Rodbav / Rohrbach On a hill, a Romanesque pillar arcade basilica was built at the beginning of the 13th century. Badly destroyed by the Mongolian storm, the church was rebuilt at the end of the 13th century as a Romanesque basilica with a bell tower. The bell tower is integrated into the western facade and takes up the entire width of the central nave. In the 15th century, the basilica was redesigned as a fortified church. The side aisles were demolished and a fortified floor was built over the nave and the choir. The west portal was walled up and the tower was given a battlement. In 1676, the hall church was provided with a barrel vault with lunettes. The vestibule of the tower has been connected with the church since 1784. The triumphal arch, choir and the battlement were removed and a new polygonally closed choir was built in 1834. Major restoration work was last carried out between 1965 and 1973. The tower was consolidated with reinforced concrete belts, the tower first floor was secured with a concrete mantle and the west portal was opened. Through the opening of the portal, the preserved vestments and the tympanum of the portal are now visible. The defensive wall is closed in the east by a rectangular fortified building. In the southeast corner there is a shell tower open to the inside. Keys are with: Mr. Daniel Ongyert phone: +40/746/680 214

Zagăr / Rode The simple hall church in Zagăr was built in 1783/84. No traces of the smaller Gothic predecessor church have been preserved. The flat ceiling is decorated with Baroque stucco ornaments. The church is surrounded by a four to five meter high, square defensive wall. In three of the four corners, there is a fortification tower. The inscription 1653 can be seen on the northwest tower. At the same time as the church, a bell tower of 37 meters height was built in the west. The Baroque altar from the year 1791 is the work of the master carpenter Daniel Petersberger from Mediaș. The central picture shows the crucifixion scene with two female figures, above it the resurrection. Keys are with: Mrs. Katharina Wagner phone: +40/265/712 517