Fortified Church Felmer / Felmern

Seliştat / Seligstadt Although almost nothing of the fortification has been preserved, the church of Seliștat impresses as an example of an almost unaltered fortified church of the early 16th century. Situated on the top of a hill on the high plateau between the valleys of the river Hărtibaciu and Olt the one-aisle church without tower is said to have been built as early as the second half of the 14th century, probably on the site of an earlier building. Around 1500 the chancel was strengthened by adding buttresses, four more stories, and a wooden battle platform. Later the nave was fitted with a barrel vault and a defence level built of bricks and stones. Loops for pouring liquids were left between the buttresses and the wall of the church. Another defence building serving for storing grains has been preserved on the northern side of the site. On the southern side three more buildings were erected: Old and New School and the communal hall, today used as a youth hostel and community center. The modest interior of the church was renovated in 2010. Place and surroundings The name of the village points out that here must be a bit of paradise: as one of the oldest Saxon villages of Transylvania, the village was named once “Felix locus,” Latin name roughly meaning “happy place”. In the 15th Century the church was rebuilt as an impressive defensive assembly, which has been preserved almost intact until today. Battlements and loopholes of the fortress still seem alarming. However, there is no reason to worry: once it was built as mediator between God and humanity, then it became indispensable as a shelter for the inhabitants and nowadays is part of a youth community center. In Seliștat children, adolescents and adults have the opportunity to enter another world and to take a trip into nature. A wide range of recreational and leisure activities is available to guests: sleeping in the fortification, visiting traditional farmhouses and chalets, trails in the nature, horseback riding in summer and magical horse-drawn sleigh rides in winter. Keys are with: Mrs. Lucica Duicu phone: +40/731/430 260 Contact: Parish Office Făgăraș Tel.: +40/268/211 994 seligstadt@seligstadt.ro www.seligstadt.ro www.kinderspielstadt.ro Accomodation: Guest rooms in the Youth Center Seliștat, full board is possible. Appointments at the Parish Office Făgăraș phone: +40/268/211994

Jidvei / Seiden The Gothic church with doubled defence wall and three towers built on noble’s land in the 15th century was completely transformed four centuries later, when the defence level of the gate tower was replaced by a spire. The sail vaults that cover the interior of the church are supported by the walls on the southern side and by pilasters on the northern side. Between the pilasters basket arches were built to support the balcony covered with sail vaults. The organ built in 1804 by Samuel Maetz can be found on the western balcony. The neoclassical pulpit, the 1801 font and the Gothic tabernacle complete the valuable interior furnishing. Place and surroundings The fortified church in the village of Jidvei was protected until the 19th Century by a double curtain wall with two defence towers and a bastion. But the fame of the village has gone much beyond these massive walls and even beyond the country’s boundaries. Even though archaeological research has shown that in the area of the Târnave rivers grapes were being cultivated ever since the Dacians’ times, it is said that the Saxons were the ones to have changed the silvery fruit into golden grapes, making them noble. Ambrozie, a dedicated vine grower native of Frankfurt region, it is said to have skilfully obtained one of the most important kinds of wine, “The Royal Fetească”. Nowadays the vineyards occupy an area of around 1400ha, being coloured here and there by historical buildings as the grandiose castle of Bethlen-Haller in Cetatea de Baltă. Just like the wine of the region, its history is marked by mystery and adventure. The castle was sold or offered as a gift on numerous occasions and it is even said to have been lost in a game of cards. One thing is certain though: for our times, the fortified church and the castle represent a historical advantage. Keys are with: Mrs. Frau Johanna Stoia phone: +40/745/249 703

Jibert / Seiburg First mentioned in documents in 1289 as “villa Syberg”, Jibert built a Romanesque hall church with a west tower with a round-arched portal, remarkable stonemasonry work on corbels in the choir and round-arched windows in the 13th century. The bell tower was extended to a massive defense tower around 1450. After the church had already undergone major reconstruction in the 17th century, the west tower was demolished first in 1859 and in the following years the entire building was finally demolished. The laying of the foundation stone for the new church took place in 1868. During his visitation of the Rupea church district, Bishop Georg Daniel Teutsch reported in 1871 that the parish of Jibert was building “a new church in the pointed arch style, as it can be built here and now”. 15 years after the start of construction, the church was able to be consecrated. It is a spacious church with Classicistic interior. The Maywald organ originally comes from the old church (1841/1850), but was rebuilt and extended for the new church by Joseph Nagy in the late 1870s.   Keys are with: Mrs. Annmarie Ghindea phone: +40/742/371 305 or Mr Martin Albrecht phone: +40/268/285 591

Şona / Schönau Beginning of the 16th century a hall church with narrow chancel has been built in Şona. In the 19th century the church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style, but only after the bell tower has been erected southern from the church. The assembly was surrounded by a curtain wall with defence tower, of which only some remains are still preserved. The interior Neoclassical furnishing includes the organ from 1852 and the pulpit and altar from 1847. A field called “At Martin’s Church” is located 2,5 km away from the church. There the remains of an old church were found, which might be the one mentioned in a document dated 1252. The report stated that the son of Count Martin sold part of its land between the two Târnava Rivers, where three villages and a Martin’s church were to be found, to another Count. Place and surroundings The village and its heavenly surroundings seem to be both under the patronage of the glorious Apollo, and under the protection of the cheerful Dionysus, the place being surrounded by a harmonious landscape with vineyards. The vintage was never regarded as simple work, but as an occasion for joy and celebration. It usually started in October: early morning the entire family gathered in the vineyard, eagerly waiting for the signal of the watchman who opened the grape hunting season with a loud shot. As reward for his work he received the traditional schnapps. While their parents were working, the children used to gather around a campfire fed with branches and dry wood for singing, smoking (according to custom, children in Şona were allowed to smoke during harvesting – but only then!) and for telling fantastic stories. Keys are with: Mr. Nelu Feldiorean Tel: +40/787/660 989 Accommodation: in the former parish house Nelu Feldiorean phone: +40/787/660989 address: Şona, Str. Lungă 24

Cenade / Scholten The Gothic hall church in the formerly subservient village of Cenade originally dates from the late 15th century and until the middle of the 19th century also had a west tower. Fragments of the oval ring and the southern gate tower are still preserved today. The dilapidated choir was demolished in 1906 and replaced by a new building. The Rieger organ with a Neo-Gothic façade dates from 1917. In the 1930s, 1980s and 1990s, church and state authorities undertook extensive consolidation work and archaeological investigations of the church and the remains of the curtain wall. Keys are with: Mr. Simon Binder phone: +40/745/513 481 și +40/258/789 180

Sighişoara / Schäßburg The three-aisled Romanesque basilica called The Hill Church (Biserica din Deal) evolved from the chapel of an early Szekler- or Noble castle. It had a bell tower at the western side, which was later incorporated into the new hall church during alterations in the 14th century. Soon after the reformation the church was not used as a parish church anymore but as a chapel for the Saxon school. Wooden vaults replaced the Gothic vaults of the chancel end of the 19th century. On the interior walls medieval paintings were preserved and they were uncovered during the restoration works financed by the Messerschmitt Foundation in 1995. Remains of the original inventory are valuable Renaissance tombstones, the beautiful tabernacle and a carved Gothic pew. Today the church has been converted to a museum, where a variety of important altars from abandoned or endangered churches and a collection of storage chests dating to the 17th and 18th Century are on display. The former Monastery’s Church (Biserica Mănăstirii) of the Dominican order was used as parish church after the reformation as of 1555. The other buildings of the monastery were then converted to accommodate the town hall. Later in the 19th century they were dismantled by the Hungarian administration. The Gothic hall church derived from an earlier Romanesque basilica first mentioned in 1298. The four-bayed nave is followed by the long narrow chancel, which still preserves its original Gothic vault. Today the interior appears cramped because of the galleries that were built into the aisles. The original inventory is reduced to the baptismal font of bronze dating to 1440 and the splendid baroque altar of 1680. Hanging on walls and galleries there is a collection of precious carpets originating from Anatolia in eastern Turkey dating back to the 17th and 18th century. Place and surroundings Sighisoara – the “Jewel of Transylvania” – is a medieval castle town still entirely inhabited and unique in Europe. The historic center was therefore appointed in 1999 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally, the mighty fortress had 14 towers and five bastions. Nine of these towers have been preserved until today. They bear the names of the guilds that built them. Every year in July, here is organized the Medieval Festival. The historic houses of the inner city, as the “Venetian House” or the “House with deer” and the eight churches create a special atmosphere. One of them, the monastery’s church was first documented in 1298 and belonged once to the Dominican Order. A cloister it was connecting the church with its monastery. After 1550 the monastery became the seat of the town hall. It is said that the faces of the disciples in the scene of the Last Supper on the alter features similarities with the faces of the former City Council members and the pastor, which underscores the important role of the church for the religious and social life of the community. Contact: Parish Office Sighișoara, phone: +40/265/771195, address: str. Cositorarilor 13, Sighișoara Internet: www.ev-kirche-schaessburg.ro e-mail: bergkirche@elsig.ro Touristic guides are possible, groups are kindly asked to make an appointment.

Şaroş pe Târnave / Scharosch an der Kokel Şaroş could probably pride itself during the 14th century with a large community who was able to build such an imposing three-aisles Gothic basilica. Similar to all fortified churches, this one too was subject to a great number of changes over the course of time. Out of spatial and security reasons, the main nave and chancel were fortified, the side aisles were demolished and the bell tower was built on the western side during the 16th century and was also provided with a battlement walk on wooden consoles. Considering the constructive measures as well as the details, the fortified church shows many similarities to the Evangelic Cathedral in Sibiu. Equally remarkable is the so-called “round bastion”, actually the remains of a Romanesque chapel. Place and surroundings In the monograph of the village named Şaroş pe Târnave a legend full of wisdom can be read: by approaching the village, the first place that presents its view to the traveler is the graveyard, a symbol of grief and human transience. And yet, after entering the village as such, the graveyard disappears, being replaced by a new symbol: the fortified church, a bastion of faith. While the image of the graveyard reminds of the awful spirit of death, the sacred church offers hope and faith in eternal life. The imposing building impresses from its very entrance: the pilasters, which withstand the weight of ages with dignity, flank the main portal. In the middle of the altar, which dates back in 1774, the wood carved sculpture of the crucified Savior dominates. On each of its sides there is a real size statue showing Moses and Aaron. Both these art works and the spiritual values of the village stand as proof of a rich cultural past, which still faces the centuries to the benefit of generations to come. Keys are with: Mrs Johanna Stoica in the parish house phone: +40/752/882 290 and +40/757/840 476

Şoarş / Scharosch bei Fogarasch Built in the mid 15th century, it is possible that today’s Gothic hall church with equally high chancel and nave replaced a former Romanesque basilica. As a rarity in the Transylvanian fortified churches, the church in Șoarș bears the remains of a jube at the base of its triumphal arch. The jube used to separate the chancel from the nave, just like the iconostasis separates the altar from the naos in the orthodox churches. The gallery, accessible by stairs, was the place dedicated to lectures on religious topics. The fortified church still preserves the in the meanwhile lowered bell tower, but lost its defence wall, which was dismantled in the 20th century, the resulting material being used for the building of the in the meantime ruinous school. A fortified house formerly used as granary is preserved on the southern side. Place and surroundings Already mentioned in a document from 1206, Șoarș is one of the oldest settlements in Transylvania. Located in the middle of crop areas, which colour its surroundings in thousands of shades, the name does not suit the village at all. It derives from the Hungarian “saros”, which can be translated as “muddy” or “swampy”. Even though centuries ago swamps might have been located here, they disappeared long time ago under the fields and meadows. Weaving, as craft and art, played an important role in the past of the village. During the summer, sheep were sheared and, according to their breed, a softer or a more coarse kind of wool resulted. The wool was first washed and sorted according to its colours, then carded, placed on the spinning wheel, manually rotated and spun on the spindle, and later made into a ball of thread. Technical skills met then imagination and diligence, and these three generated warm sweaters, waistcoats for pampering the loins, comforters for sensitive necks and all kinds of gloves. Keys are with: Mr Reinhold Schindler phone: +40/754/560 111

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