Fortified Church Cristian / Großau

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

Metiș / Martinsdorf The initial medieval church in Metiş was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by a neo Gothic building, one of the so-called Gustav-Adolf-churches. The association Gustav Adolf is the oldest Evangelic relief organization and made donations for building new churches in the Diaspora in the 19th century. Only the western tower built in the 14th century was preserved from the first construction. The ring wall had three defence towers and an outer bailey, but only the northern tower with its timber frame parapet walk still stands today. Later the parish house was built next to it. On the exterior of one of the 14th-century bells in Metiş the Gothic majuscules are still visible. Place and surroundings Peacefully located at the foot of the mountains, comfortably wrapped in terry vegetable blankets, the village of Metiş has been sleeping for hundreds of years. Who would suspect that the dignified fortified church, the silent roads and the quiet old houses once hosted humorous funny events? As for example, an anecdote of a Tatar attack it is well known in the village. While the inhabitants retread behind the mighty walls of the fortress, some piglets escaped and ran out. Their owner, a bitter and grumpy old woman went out cursing to get them back. Suddenly from the bushes a Tatar jumped, grabbed the woman and abducted her. The husband who stayed inside the fortification watched them leaving with his mouth open. His old face with wet eyes expressed heartbreaking sympathy and pity. With trembling, hollow voice he barely managed to whisper: “Oh my God….you poor Tatar!”. Keys are with: Mrs. Johanna Hartmann phone: +40/269/587122

Moardăș / Mardisch The church in Moardăş was built in the 15th century as a Gothic hall church. the sculptures in the chancel are most valuable. The vault ribbing rests on richly and very fine decorated consoles. Moreover, the beautiful traceries of the three Gothic windows add more value to the chancel. They have been repaired in stages since the year 2010. These works are part of a project for preserving the fortified church, which started in 2008 on the initiative of the Fortified Churches Foundation (former Coordination Office) involving various partners. The repairs have been carried out especially on roof, walls and facades. The aim of this project is to prepare the church for further usage, and to organize different activities inside. Place and surroundings “There’s life in the old dog yet” one might think while dealing with the history of the village of Moardăş. It was always harder for the small settlement because of its location away from the major trade routes. And after 5 centuries of eventful history, the end seemed to be close after 1860: the priest complained about the poor condition of the church. The sacristy had to be demolished in 1874 and in 1880 the community finally decided to carry out repairing works. But while the men were cutting the wood in the forest for supporting the damaged tower, the tower couldn’t support the awaiting tension and collapsed. Of the following decades a local chronicler says that demoralization and mismanagement determined many inhabitants to leave their homes for America. Almost 100 years later the last Saxons left the place and thus the destiny of their church appeared to be sealed again. However, starting with 2008, on the initiative of the Coordination Office and former inhabitants the church was gradually repaired. Keys are with: Mr. Alexandru Stanila phone: +40/269/254 682

Șeica Mică / Kleinschelken The former importance of the locality Șeica Mică is reflected by the size of the 14th century three-aisled pillar basilica. The building was enlarged throughout the centuries and modified in Gothic style. It was provided with a western tower, which was later on heightened together with the chancel by adding of two defence levels. Two smaller towers were preserved, while the double curtain wall was partially demolished. The inner defence wall was secured on the western side by a gate tower. In order to protect the fountain which was vital to the villagers in case of besiege, the church tower and the western tower were merged through 14 m high wall, thus forming the so called “Fountain Yard”. Its enclosure walls were equipped all around with a battlement walk featuring watchtowers. During the 18th century the church’s interior was extended by building galleries above the side aisles. The naves were covered with a flat ceiling, while the chancel still exhibits its Gothic ribbed cross vault. Place and sourroundings The name of “Şeica Mică“ does not seem suitable for the village at all: starting with the 15th Century the settlement was already considered the largest village of the Şeica county. According to legends, the place was also visited by great personalities. The story goes that in old times, when the Apostles Lucas and Paul were travelling all over the country, they stopped to rest at a household in Şeica Mică. The hospitable host offered the illustrious guests the best food: maize porridge and cream. Delighted by the warm and delicious taste, the guests asked about the name of the dish. The host answered that it didn’t had a name yet, so the enthusiastic guests proposed that it should be called “Paul-Lukas”. And indeed, in the Saxon dialect the name of the maize porridge is “Palukes”, as a testimony that a grain of truth may be found in this legend. Keys are with: Mrs. Maria Pop phone: +40/269/514 738 or Mrs. Maria Nan phone: +40/269/514 555

Kerz / Carța Not actually a fortified church, the ruins of the former monastery, which is considered the easternmost establishment of the Cistercians, still impresses with its appearance, erected according to the rules of the order. First it was built in the Romanesque style in 1202, but only after the first destruction in the 14th century it was completed. The monastery remained unfortified, therefore stood unprotected under the attacks of the Ottomans, which burned it in the mid 15th century. The last repair took at the end of the 15th century, then the order was dissolved and the city of Sibiu took it under protection. Starting with the 17th century, the buildings of the ensemble and the nave of the church fell into disrepair to a large extent. The walls of the church ruins still bear traces of the basilica with three naves and transept. From the other buildings of the monastery only the eastern wall of the convent building still stands. Today, the chancel and the transept are used as a church. Place and surroundings One of Cârţa’s highlights is the ruin of a monastery settled by the Cistercian Order in the 13th Century. The monks were actively involved in the colonization of the sparsely populated region. However they brought little luck to the settlers around the abbey. Mongolians and Turks attacked the monastery repeatedly. One of the many legends originating in this time tells the story of the inhabitants of Cârţa escaping from the Turks into the forest. They took “Boflisch” – Saxon name for bacon – with them as emergency supplies. A traitor told the Turks about their hiding place. When the enemies closed in the people of Cârţa cut trees and built a wall in front of the forest trench. In their desperation they put the “Boflisch” on top. The Turks were not very impressed and set the wooden wall on fire. But when the fat started to burn, the smell was terrible. The Turks, who considered pork as impure, left the battleground disgusted. That is how the people of Cârţa were saved by their favourite food. To this day the place is called “Boflisch-Trench”. Keys are with: Mr. Michael Reger phone: +40/787/650 365

Hamba / Hahnbach Only the masonry of the tower of the hall church in Hamba originates from the Romanesque construction time. Most probably it was repaired after the destruction of the church in 1493 and it was strengthened with a wooden parapet walk. The church itself was not rebuilt, but surrounded by a ring wall. A new construction erected in 1749 survived only until 1830, being replaced by the actual church. The small neo-classical church of harmonious proportions stands empty today, as its inventory comprising the balconies, the pulpit and the pews has been moved to another location. Place and surroundings First documented in 1337, this village was about to be erased from the face of Earth because of a devastating Ottoman attack less than 200 years later. Only the tower of the heavy damaged Romanesque basilica could be preserved and repaired and a new nave was built next to it. This nave was also replace in the 17th Century by the construction that is in place today. Unthreatened by the dangers of war or fire and much stronger than the stone walls, the Saxon customs were preserved and passed from one generation to the following one. To those belonged the regular use of the so-called “Lichtert” (“Licht” means light in German) for Christmas. This was an oval wooden candle stand richly decorated with glittering globes and tinsel. When its candles were lit in the darkened church, the community or a choir used to sing Christmas carols. This custom was kept in Hamba until few years ago, when it got away with the emigrating Saxons. But the village church still stands and its history left valuable traces that must be visited. Activities/Partners Since Spring 2015 the association „Melikoleg“ has been developing a bee-keeping school next to the fortified church. They offer different courses from beginners to expert level. The wide variety of courses ranges from elementary knowledge of raising bees and making honey all the way to marketing courses, pest control and the introduction of bee products for medical purposes. Furthermore all types of their own biologically produced honey can be purchased directly from Wilhelm Tartler within the walls of the fortification. Further information and a course schedule can be obtained here: www.miereecologica.ro The keys are with: Mr. Wilhelm Tartler phone: +40/269/543 609 or: +40/749/417 077 Mr. Wilhelm Tartler sells various kinds of biologically made honey from own production. Internet: www.miereecologica.ro

Alțâna / Alzen The 13th century Romanesque basilica went through numerous transformations throughout its history: the original apse was replaced by the current Gothic polygonal chancel, the southern aisle received a Baroque vault, the central nave was covered with a late Gothic lierne vault in the 15th century. In the 19th century the bell tower with parapet walk was replaced by the current new Gothic one, built in the same time as the sacristy. The oval curtain wall was reinforced with an outer bailey and four defence towers located in the four cardinal points. The northern tower collapsed at the beginning of the 20th century and parts of the ring wall and storage rooms were demolished. Place and surroundings Alţâna has a famous history, whose tracks has materialized through time and is easy to notice in the fortified church. Dwelling on a mountain peak, close to heaven and its promised salvation, the church connects the earth and the sky.There is a stream near the village and its water whispers the story of a mysterious mill that used to be there in immemorial times. They say that strange sounds used to come from its attic and even from the depth of the dark stream water on New Year’s Eve. The last miller, unaware of these terrifying secrets, rented the mill, only to run away and leave the evil place in the very night between the years, scared to death by the terrible sounds he heard. By the next morning the mill had vanished completely, leaving behind only its name: even today the water stream is called “The Hollow of the Old Mill”. The field where it used to lie is still called “at the old mill”. Tourism Alţâna is home to a very unique interethnic museum: an extensive and well worth seeing collection of Romanian, Saxon and Hungarian cultural objects is displayed and invites visitors to an informative tour. If driving through the Valea Hârtibaciului everyone should stop by and include a visit to the museum to their travel itinerary. Keys are with: Mrs. Rosi Müller phone: +40/744/105620 Caution: Unfortunately a visit to this fortified church is currently not possible for safety reasons.

Ighişu Nou / Eibesdorf The fortified church in Ighişu Nou was built in the 14th/15th century as a hall tower-less Gothic church with narrow chancel. The chancel was heightened in the late 15th century with an additional defence level. A tower was constructed in the front hall, with the staircase built in the thickness of its walls. The small octagonal stair tower on the northern side has been built only later. Similar to many churches in the Mediaş area, this one also preserves some very valuable stone masonry: blooming roses on the impost of the tracery on the chancel windows and a very rich ornamentation on the profiled western portal. The massive western tower still maintains its original hip roof and the wooden defence level. The church is surrounded by a complete defence wall with the remains of a fortified granary on the north side, as well as a horseshoe-shaped bastion on the southern side, which closes the narrow outer bailey. Place and surroundings Ighişu Nou is situated in a side valley of the river Târnava Mare. A watershed forms the natural border to the valley of Moşna. At one location the parish boundary is strangely interrupted though. It is said that once the horse of an imperial rider fell here from a poorly maintained bridge and broke his leg. The people from Moşna were eager to avoid responsibility and pretended the bridge was on Ighişu Nou’s land. Since then the valley belongs to the people of Ighişu Nou. For centuries the inhabitants made a living from vineyards, agriculture, bull breeding and fruit orchards. The village was affluent and could afford to decorate the church with plenty of architectural sculptures and ornaments and to surround it with a strong wall. Only after World War II the farmers became commuters and factory workers in the neighboring town of Mediaş. The many farms in Ighişu Nou tell of the times when agriculture was still the main source of income and when one rarely left the village by way of the winding valley paths. Activities EU-Project “18 Fortified Churches” Responsible: General Consistory of the Evanghelical Church A. C. in Romania Costs: 190,000 EUR Time frame: 2010-2014 Keys are with: Mrs. Monica Aldea, phone: +40/765/038 408 Accomodation: Guest rooms in the old parish house, beside the fortified church: 27 beds in 6 rooms Mrs. Monica Aldea phone: +40/765/038 408 Hotel: Parish House 28 beds in 6 rooms 2 common rooms, kitchen, 3 bathrooms, car parking, soccer field, swings, cozy garden corner Information and Booking: Christi Buhazi e-mail: cristianbuhazi@yahoo.ro phone: (0040-767) 279717 or (0040-730) 651820