Fortified Church Zlagna / Schlatt

Nocrich / Leschkirch The 13th century Romanesque basilica was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, after a new church had been built in the neighbouring precinct in the same time. Disregarding the canonical orientation, the construction was built on the NS direction, with the chancel northward and the bell tower southward. The fortification, which was constructed in the 15th century around the old church, was enforced by five defence towers and had an outer bailey. End of the 18th century the number of towers raised to seven, but only for a short time: just few years later a big part of the wall was demolished and the resulting material was used for the construction of several administrative buildings. The interior furnishing of the church boasts a unitary neoclassical style. The original lining of the galleries is still preserved and it has the form of a shirred curtain. Place and surroundings On the side of the main road that crosses the village founded in 1150, the fortified church proudly appears, while across the street there is a rather dull little house. Its appearance may not be imposing, but its history is worthy of great esteem, this being the birthplace of the remarkable baron Samuel von Brukenthal, the only Transylvanian Saxon who ever held the position of Governor of the Great Principality of Transylvania. Born in 1721 in Nocrich and deceased in 1803 in Sibiu, Brukenthal studied history, philosophy, theology and administrative sciences in Germany. The beginning of his illustrious career was marked by his marriage to the daughter of the mayor of Sibiu, his success reaching a peak in 1753 with the audience he was granted by the Empress Maria Theresa, who would appoint him governor a few years later. A dedicated collector, Brukenthal possessed numerous art works, paintings and valuable coins that, together with an impressive library, he kept in the “Brukenthal Palace” in Sibiu. Years after his death, the stately museum was opened for the public in 1817, being one of the first such institutions in Europe. Keys are with: The Scouts Association in the parish house beside the fortified church Nadia Codreanu phone: +40/757/260 087

Dealu Frumos / Schönberg The Romanesque three-aisles basilica originated from the 13th century and was re-shaped through fortification systems in 1500. On the original tower-less church a strong dungeon with defence level was built on the western side and the square chancel was strengthened with walls in such a manner, that it was possible to build another defensive tower there. At the same time, the side aisles were heightened and the building became a hall church. The central nave and the aisles were covered with fine lierne ribbed vaults. In the course of this work the rectangular precincts wall with four corner towers were also built, possibly as a replacement for an older system. The fortified buildings erected in the 16th and 17th century were used in part as accommodation. The ensemble was completed in 1914 by the construction of the community hall on the southern side. The pre-reformation crucifix above the triumphal arch was created in 1425. Place and surroundings Over the wooded hills on the edge of the valley of the river Hârtibaciu one will reach the village Dealu Frumos. The well preserved and typical for Transylvania fortified church with its white walls and red tiled tower roofs can be seen from far away. The assembly was built in the center of the village to be easily accessible for all inhabitants in case of attacks. If time allowed, the cattle were driven behind the walls too, so it would not fall into the hands of the enemy. Groceries, cereals and bacon were stored within the massive walls. In the first half of the 16th Century the courtyard had to be enlarged due to the increase of the population. 100 years later another part of the wall was moved outwards to make space for more storage rooms. The whole community carried out the dismantling and rebuilding works, while the ongoing maintenance of individual sections was assigned to the various guilds in the village. Keys are with: Mr. Martin Maurer phone: +40/749/519 312

Cisnădioara / Michelsberg The church on the hill, today part of the communal property, is one of the few unchanged testimonies of the Romanesque construction time in Transylvania. The small three-aisles basilica was probably built before 1223. The western funnel-shaped portal exhibits particularly beautiful stone masonry. The interior, which nowadays only contains a memorial dedicated to the soldiers fallen in the WWI, impresses by its contemplative style. From the former defence ensemble only rests of the ring wall and its towers are still preserved. Equally remarkable is the village parish church, whose fortification system did not last until today, except for the western tower and its defence level. The single-nave Baroque church was built in 1764 on the foundations of a former Gothic building. The interior furniture, as the pews and the gallery, originates from different Baroque times and are ornamented with rural floral paintings. Place and surroundings The legend says that before their wedding the men of Cisnădioara had to roll a big rock up to the fortified church. This was not an easy task for them because the church lies on a high hill above the village. The stones collected in this manner were further used in case of a siege and rolled down the hill to crush the enemies. Part of this tradition is still practiced today. Many young men still push huge rocks up the hill on their wedding day in order to ransom their brides, who have been kidnapped during the wedding party, which is another old tradition. Inside the fortification above the village one can find one of the oldest churches in the country, built between 1200 and 1250. Two stairways lead from the church nave through the mighty exterior walls into the remains of the never completed towers. Cisnădioara was one of the few villages in Transylvania, which had been inhabited almost exclusively by Saxons until after 1989. Tourism The guest house “Elimheim”: This guest house is an ideal address for vacations or seminars in the proximity of Sibiu – 38 beds in double rooms with en suite bathrooms in the historic main building, 4 rooms with en suite bathrooms in the new building, and 3 rooms in the garden house – great for youth groups and families. Contact http://www.evang.ro/einrichtungen-werke/kirchliche-einrichtungen/elimheim-michelsberg/ for more information and reservation Additionally Cisnadioara offers many accommodation possibilities in hotels, motels and a very recommendable camp ground: www.ananas7b.de Events Musical Summers in Cisnadioara These events are part of the cultural summer program in the surrounding areas of Sibiu. From the end of June to the end of August the parish in Cisnadioara host an ensemble concert which takes place at 5 p.m. every Sunday. What began as a small concert series in 2007 in the baroque village church has become a real magnet for audiences. In the first year it was not easy to find renowned artists, yet shortly after the success of the event became known, it has become a top address in southern Transylvania for musicians from all over Europe – it is an honor to participate in the Musical Summers. After the concert the members of the evangelic congregation in Cisnadioara invite all visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee and some traditional baked goods in the garden of the parish house. Keys for the church are with: Mrs. Marion Henning phone: +40/727/111 575 Keys for the castle are with: Ms. Carmen Schaessburger phone: +40/726/877 782 Hotel: The Elimheim is currently hosting Ukraine refugees and is not available for guests.

Axente Sever / Frauendorf The Evangelic church in Axente Sever is an important witness of the hard times the region had to bare. Therefore not only the ring wall was strengthened for defensive purposes, but the church building itself was also fortified. The massive tower between hall and chancel, dating back to the 14th century has a parapet walk on the highest level and on the first and second floors simple, elongated loopholes that end as a niche towards the interior. Both the chancel and the nave were heightened with defence levels with loopholes. The arches built between the reinforced buttresses on the western facade support the defence level. A portcullis, whose guiding slides are still visible today, protected the western portal. Along the outer wall there are partially preserved and reconstructed storage rooms which are used as guest rooms today. Place and surroundings The fortified church of Axente Sever was not only the religious center of the settlement over the centuries, but also a secure place to deposit valuable goods. In the numerous storage buildings in the precincts of the castle wall, rooms were assigned to each family from the village for storing grain, meat and other food. Corn was not stored on farms, but brought directly to the fortification after harvest to protect it from possible attackers. A special procedure was the storage of the bacon in the so-called bacon towers, which were opened to families only on Sundays after church service. To ensure that no one was serving from a different piece of bacon, each family scratched an individual sign on the freshly cut edges. The storage rooms have been transformed into guestrooms in recent years so that today visitors can sleep inside the mighty walls. In addition, a museum was set up to report on the history of the village and the fortified church. Keys are with: Mr. Ladislau Ciocan phone: +40/749/680 770 and Mrs. Ilse Constantin phone: +40/269/847 328 Accomodation: Accomodation is possible within the fortified church walls 4 appartements: 16 beds Hotel: In the ancient granaries Apartments with two rooms and four beds each bathroom Information and Booking: Ladislau Ciocan phone: (0040-749) 680770 e-mail: ladislau.ciocan@turistintransilvania.com

Ruși / Reußen The land on which the fortified church in Ruşi was built was not very merciful to the first building erected in the Catholic time, which collapsed and was replaced by a new church in 1636. Despite many repairs, the second church also collapsed in 1780. Still the weak foundation soil, as with the well-known tower of Pisa, will bring fame to the actual church erected in 1782, whose bell tower has a tilt of 1,50 m. The hall church with square chancel and polygonal closure is home to many valuable Baroque pieces such as the 1641 altar, the 1764 canopy of the pulpit, and the 1805 organ. In 1783 Daniel Knobloch painted the railing of the gallery with Saints and the village’s coat of arms held by two men wearing traditional costumes from Ruşi. Place and Surroundings Pisa is famous around the world for its inclined tower, while the village of Ruşi is known only in its neighboring areas, despite the fact that its tower is more inclined than the one in the Italian city. The storm of history, the hurricane of time and the wrath of nature could not knock down this 72m giant. Built in 1748, it started to incline only a century later, after a landslide. It stayed in one piece due to its stable basis and its solid walls and today its inclination has reached 1.45m, experts estimating that it could incline for another 100-150cm before collapsing. This event is unlikely to happen in the near future due to the 1968 reinforcement works. The history of the tower is young compared to the old houses in the village. Still it had enough time to witness the invasions of the Tartars, the attacks of the Cossacks, the invasions of the Ottomans. It is said that the village remained deserted for 7 years during the invasions of the Kurucs. The settlement was guarded in that time only by a loyal dog. Keys are with: Mr. Andreas Hihn phone: +40/754/300 464 or Mrs. Katharina Bucur phone: +40/747/304 184

Richiș / Reichesdorf The Evangelic church in Richiş is a special appearance in the landscape of Transylvanian fortified churches, maybe also due to the fact that for a long time a monastic order resided here. During the Protestant reformation, the monks were banished by the villagers, thus being forced to leave the church to the community. The three aisles tower-less basilica was built in the 14th century and was protected with a curtain wall with two defensive towers and battlement walk. It stands out from other similar village churches due to its rich decorations: the funnel-shaped western portal, the pillars and columns with capitals supporting the ribs of the vaults, the keystones decorated with masks, the tracery of the mullioned windows. The doubled triumphal arch testifies that a tower was initially planned to be erected here. Place and surroundings Before Richiş became one of the most prosperous villages in Mediaş and before diligent people founded the locality, the place was rough and swampy. Only wild animals lived among the reed, the willow trees and the thistles. As a memory of those times, the elegant coat of arms of the village was created, showing a heron stepping gracefully through an infinite lake, guided by Venus under a red sky. Water birds often appear on European coats of arms, probably due to the allegory of the pelican, this bird being adopted in the iconography as a symbol of the Saviour, of Jesus. They say that the pelican tore up its chest, letting his hot blood gush out through its white feathers, in order to revive its breathless chickens. In the church of Richiş this mythical bird finds a reputed place on the crown of the chancel, being one of the precious art works of the place. Many other sculptures and ornaments are lively described by the curator Johann Schaas during the guided tours he offers to the tourists. The keys are with: Mrs. Anna Gherghely phone.: +40/745/280 146 or Mrs. Toni Timmermann phone: +40/741/183 404 Accomodation: Guest rooms in the former parish house La Curtea Richivini: 10 beds Mrs Toni Timmerman phone: +40/741/183 404

Stejărișu / Probstdorf In Stejărişu a small, well-preserved fortified church can be visited. The former church and its surrounding village located just few miles away had to be abandoned because of persistent flooding, the construction of the new house of God started in the 14th century. Directly on the riverside of Hârtibaciu the foundations of a church were discovered, which point to the historical location of the village. A few miles away and slightly uphill, in the middle of the new village a church was erected and surrounded by two ring walls. The two defensive towers were supposed to offer additional protection. A defensive level was built in the timber frame construction technique above the nave. Mid-19th century, the community dismantled the inner ring wall to use the stones for an extension of the church. Due to many extensive repairs, the fortification preserves a good structural condition today. Place and surroundings It is a miracle that Stejărişu still exists, because it was not easy for the forefathers of the place. In the 13th Century German settlers came to the Hârtibaciu valley and founded a village. They have built houses, cultivated the fields and built themselves a church. After severe floods, the village was destroyed and it had to be moved a few miles uphill. During this time, threatening came not only from Ottoman attacks, but more than 100 years fought the Saxon nobles and the people of Sibiu provost for the possession of Stejărişu. The inhabitants of the village could not be discouraged by all the problems and stayed.Today, more than 600 years later, the fortified church survived as a witness for those old difficult times. It is located in the middle of a picturesque Transylvanian Saxon village. An Austrian-Romanian Foundation supports local development and rural tourism. In the parish house close to the church guestrooms are available. Inside the fortification the visitors can buy homemade jams, honey, juice and other products made in the village. Tourism In Stejărișu there is the possibility to stay in the former German school in loving and high quality holiday apartments with own bathroom and kitchen. It is also possible to book a guest room in the parish house and visit the restaurant located in it. Visitors of Stejărișu can also get to know the project “Agramonia” during their stay. www.agramonia.com The keys are with: Mr. Michael Gierling phone: +40/743/093 963 Accommodation: Guesthouse Agramonia Julius Fabini phone.: +40/748/644 309 holidays@agramonia.com

Meşendorf / Meschendorf 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. Keys are with: Mrs. Doina Scoica phone: +40/740/903 744

Merghindeal / Mergeln The Romanesque basilica from the 13th century has been largely preserved, as is testified by the connection between nave and side aisles. Two centuries later, during the fortification phase, a tower with later demolished parapet walk was erected above the chancel. The defence level of the western tower and its timber frame parapet walk is still preserved. This type of church with two towers is also found in the neighboring village of Dealu Frumos. The square ring wall with two defense towers had loopholes and parapet walks. From the last one only the insertion holes of the beams are still preserved. The gate tower was once home of the castle guardian. Place and surroundings Not far away from the geographic center of Romania lies the small village of Merghindeal. On a high ground in its middle the mighty fortified church that still preserves many late Romanesque elements was built. Interesting for visitors can be also the mysterious underground room under the church. It is said in the village that the well-known animosity between wolf and fox started right here. They were set on having a feast on the occasion of a wedding in Merghindeal. The wolf, being lured by the pantry that was filled with provisions, rushed upon the goodies without any hesitation or remorse. On the other hand, the fox first inspected the little window that they had used to enter, to make sure that it would allow her to exit. When caught in the act of stealing, as the inevitable moment arrived, the fox swiftly ran outside, while the wolf, which had eaten plentifully and greedily, was too slow to escape before getting his well-deserved punishment. Because of this happening the wolf and the fox cannot stand each other since then and this situation spread much beyond the borders of Merghindeal. Keys are with: Mr. Marius Subțirel