Fortified Church Fişer

Bălcaciu / Bulkesch The irregular polygonal shaped chancel of the church in Bălcaciu was erected in the 14th century and heightened with three defense levels in the 16th century. Its upper level shows one of the rare wooden defence platforms that are still preserved. On the northern side a two level sacristy was built in the same period. The old church and the interior curtain wall were demolished and the materials were used to build the current three-aisle hall church with profiled pairs of buttresses and barrel vault. In 1856 the spire tower was built. Four defensive towers and a gate tower that are still visible today strengthen the exterior circular ring wall. The neoclassical interior of the church is decorated in white and gold with few stucco works. The organ built in 1820 by Samuel Maetz and the richly decorated canopy of the pulpit are both painted in the same colors. Place and surroundings It is said about the village located between the rivers Târnava Mică and Târnava Mare that it was a witness of the legendary competition between the two rivers. Up in the Gurghiu mountains, each water stream made a bet to be the first to reach the town of Blaj. The Târnava Mare, being cautious and wise, only flowed during the day, in order to notice the obstacles in its way on time and thus be able to avoid them. Its younger sister, being full of enthusiasm, rushed to the valley without taking into account the darkness that was around. Thus, the Târnava Mică lost the bet, being forced to make long detours and turns and even flow backwards in order to be able to avoid the obstacles on its way. But we owe to this bet the “Mesopotamian” territory where Bălcaciu is located, surrounded by legends that tell of secret tunnels and damned treasures. Pieces of ancient pitchers were found buried in the ground and they are said to have been filled with priceless treasures that the devil would have changed to ashes. The mythical gold will never be found on this land, but its location and its eternal natural treasures await to be discovered over and over again. Keys are with: Mr. Friedrich Zikeli phone: +40/258/881 985

Fortified Church Bod / Brenndorf The fortified church in Bod went through difficult times, strongly affected by fire and earthquakes. The Romanesque basilica with a bell tower built in the 13th century was partially destroyed by fire only two centuries later. Starting with the late 18th century, the events precipitated: the bell tower collapsed only to be rebuilt nine years later. But after three years the church was massively destroyed by an earthquake, together with its fortification wall. The polygonal wall with outer bailey and defence towers was almost completely dismantled after this episode. Today in Bod one can admire the church built in 1806, whose tower damaged by the earthquake in 1977 was subsequently stabilized. The interior of the church houses the altar from 1869, which forms a whole together with the organ built in 1816. Original bells, dating back to Catholic times were destroyed when the tower collapsed. One bell that escaped the damages of war and further two bells made of bronze in 1922 accompany the Sunday service today. Place and surroundings Although the inhabitants of the village Bod have endured many strokes of fate over the centuries, they never gave up. Thus their eventful history can be nowadays traced on the church in the centre of the village. After the village was first mentioned in the 14th century, the number of devastating attacks increased: only between 1421 and 1658 the village has been set aflame and burned almost completely at least 5 times. During the same period the villagers were forced to participate in building the fortification of the town of Brașov and also to contribute with construction materials. Between 1718 and 1719 the plague caused around 500 victims in Bod. In 1779 floods caused major damage, closely followed by two earthquakes (1790-1802) that caused new destructions. To all these two major fires in 1844 and 1867 are added, which affected extensive ares of the village. However the villagers have repeatedly rebuilt and repaired the church. In recent years the building underwent significant repairs due to the involvement of the Federal German Government and of the Saxons emigrated from Bod. Keys are with: Mrs. Emilia Schuster phone: +40/268/283 172 Hotel: former parish house 4 guest rooms with wet cell kitchen, day room, children's playground, campfire place in the yard Information and Booking: Manfred Copony adress: Str. Tudor Vladimirescu 135 phone: (0040-721) 982431 e-mail: copony.manfred@yahoo.com Internet: www.gaestezimmer.brenndorf.ro

Bruiu / Braller The initial Roman basilica from the 13th century went through numerous changes due to the many demolitions and reconstructions that occurred mainly in the second half of the 19th century, when the aisles were rebuilt with galleries and an apse was erected. Yet, a Romanesque door frame with a round arch was preserved on the southern facade. A circular wall strengthened by a western tower with parapet walk surrounded the church. Another polygon-shaped ring wall was built around the first one, being endowed with 4 bastions and a 3-level parapet walk, whose traces – the 3 rows of loopholes – are still visible in the northern wall. On the south-eastern side, a long construction on 3 levels was used both for storage and accommodation purposes, strengthened by defensive systems. Place and surroundings Local legends tell of a gravedigger who, while digging in the cemetery at night, would have found a skeleton. Laughing sarcastically and kicking it, the man invited him over for dinner. Later, the man’s peaceful dinner with his family was interrupted by a strong knock on the door: the skeleton had taken the invitation seriously and, either as a sign of gratitude for the invitation or as revenge, it kidnapped the man and took him on a mythical journey. It is said that the gravedigger returned home the same night, but he was a hundred years older and that he had visited paradise in his secular travel. But Heaven could not have been much more beautiful than his birthplace protected by the walls of the fortified church. The fortress defended both the history and the lives of the inhabitants. The pulpit of the Evangelic church in Bruiu is a real masterpiece, and the 860 tubes of the organ still preserve in their metal the spiritual memory of the chants. Keys are with: Mr. Michael Ehrmann, phone: +40/269/568515,

Batoș / Botsch Significant parts of today’s church originate from a Gothic church whose first construction phase dates back to the 14th century. The side aisles speak for this dating, suggesting that the church was originally a basilica. In addition, a parish priest in Batoș was first mentioned in a document as early as 1332. A major fire considerably damaged the church in 1728. Less damage was done to the bell tower built in 1638 in the southeast of the church. The reconstruction of the church began in 1781 with the Baroque reconstruction. The nave was covered with late-Baroque sail vaults with Rococo-style ornaments and galleries were added on three sides. On closer inspection, Gothic details can still be seen today: the Gothic doorframe to the sacristy, the pointed arch of the triumphal arch or the two-part Gothic seating niche in the south wall of the choir. The neo-Gothic altar dates from 1864; in its three niches, there are statues of Jesus and two Apostles. Thirty panels from around 1700 have been preserved, which represent seasons and months symbolically, but also show biblical scenes. Village The most beautiful parish festival in Batoș was always celebrated on June 24, Blasitag. It was a popular children’s festival in all Transylvania, where the whole village gathered in the parsonage. A few days before the Blasitag, the best four pupils of each class got themselves officer’s uniforms and the corresponding sabers. In the morning of the festival day the big procession was formed, preceded by the brass band, then the major surrounded by the flag bearers. Major was always the best student of the last class. He sat high on horseback with a chako and a saber. He was followed by the schoolgirls in their bright costumes, then the boys of the same class. Order was ensured by the officers in uniform. In the afternoon the girls and boys performed folk dances and later the village band played in the square behind the community hall. Only the schoolchildren were allowed to dance here in the afternoon. The older ones watched or went to the inn next to the bowling alley. Keys are with;: Mr Roland Bierfeld phone: +40/760/373 158 Hotel: guest apartment in the back of the rectory 4 beds in 2 rooms common room, kitchen, bathroom Tents can be pitched and cars can be parked in the vicarage Information and Booking: Reghin parish office phone: (0040-265) 511025 e-mail: pfarramt.reen@gmail.com

Boian / Bonnesdorf The church in Boian was erected around the year 1400, but it is difficult to determine which parts of the initial construction have been preserved to this day. Nevertheless, it is known that around 1500 the religious edifice was fortified, a defence level being built above the chancel. The fortification wall was designed to include a parapet walk, partly built on two levels and strengthened by a gate tower. The latter also served as a bell tower having its entrance protected by a portcullis (sliding wooden lattice reinforced with iron). Another detail that is worth mentioning is the decoration of the cornice with angled bricks, a method often used for the Orthodox churches in Moldavia and Muntenia regions. Furthermore, on both gate tower and northern entrance of the church one can find the coat of arms of the Moldavian prince Stephan the Great, to whose fief Boian briefly belonged. Place and surroundings It is utterly uncommon to find the symbol of the ureox at the entrance to an Evangelic church. And yet, in Boian, on the Northern portal of the fortified church, one can see the symbol of Moldavia carved in the shape of the relief of two ureox heads. Unlike most of the Saxon villages, this place was not part of the Royal Land (a self-administered Saxon territory), but it was part of The County of Cetatea de Baltă (Moorland Fortress). The colonists on the Royal Land were loyal only to the Hungarian king and used to enjoy a special status and privileges, while the inhabitants of the counties, Hungarian admininistrative areas, were all serfs under the authority of the feudal lord. In 1498, Matei Corvin, king of Hungary, offered The County of the Moorland Fortress as a gift to the Moldavian prince Stephan the Great. The prince supported the completion of the massive fortification around the sacred church, fact that is suggested by the presence of his coat of arms on the wall – the ureox head. Keys are with: Mr. Ciprian phone: +40/743/156 948 A visit to this fortified church is currently not possible.

Orăștie / Broos The ring wall of the fortified church in Orăştie has an almost rectangular shape and was strengthened to the corners and at center of all lines with several towers, some of which have been preserved to this day. In the precincts two protestant churches stand side by side: the southern one, used nowadays by the Hungarian reformed congregation was built in the 14th century as a Romanesque basilica, later transformed into a Gothic basilica. A tower was built in 1400, about the same time as the chancel. Between 1820-1823 the Evangelic congregation of Orăştie built a new church for their community. After 1839, when the common bell tower collapsed, each community built from the ruins one of their own. Place and surroundings There are many things that the old Dacian walled city of Orăştie can be proud of, and the foremost of them is a magnificent history. Already mentioned in 1224 in the Diploma Andreanum (The Golden Charter of the Transylvanian Saxons), Orăştie was the most western settlement of the German settlers in Transylvania. Even today the city is the gateway to the unique landscape of the fortified churches. Mostly in the 15th Century, the population was seeking protection in the precincts of the fortified church against the repeated attacks of the Ottomans. The ensemble has a particularity: surrounded by the fortification wall, an evangelic church and a reformed one stand side by side. Between them some archaeological remains can nowadays be visited: the traces of 8th century houses and the ruins of a 10-11th Century castle.The ruins of the Dacian castle in the Orăştie mountains are much older. The ensemble, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, is opened for visitors. Keys are with: Parish Office Oraștie phone: +40/254/241 961 and Priest Nick Fernolend phone: +40/745/603 453 Hotel: Parish House Adress: Str. Nicolae Bălcescu 15 2 persons, kitchen, bathroom Information and Booking: Pfarramt Broos phone: (0040-254) 241961 oder (0040-745) 603453 e-mail: broos@evang.ro

Băgaciu / Bogeschdorf The fortified church is located on the main street of the village. In the village center a church existed around 1420, which was secured with a ring wall, a gate tower, and three defence towers in the course of the 15th century. Beside the gate tower, the north-eastern tower has also been preserved until today. At the end of the 15th century the church was enlarged with a bell tower, which shows a seven-fold staggered funnel-shaped portal. Shortly afterwards the church was fortified. Above the hall of the church and above the bell tower a defence level rests on buttresses. In the 18th and 19th century it was gradually removed, but the bell tower was rebuilt in 1973. The existing pew in the chancel dated 1533, is one of the most valuable of its kind in Transylvania. Place and surroundings Regardless of the moment in which the fortress is looked at, in the fresh morning light, under the bright sunlight in the middle of the day or in the soft fog of dusk, its walls seem to have been made of history and legends. Built on the location of an old basilica, the church impresses due to its dimensions and rich ornamentation. Both west and south portals adorned with high quality stone carvings are counted among the best-made stone art works in Transylvania. Fragments of the once lush mural paintings inside the church, a representation of the Apocalypse, were revealed on the northern wall. An organ built in 1804 by Samuel Metz rests on its wooden gallery. Impressive are the eroded drolleries on the chancel, strange masks that have been interpreted both as saints and as demons. Keys are with: Mrs. Susanne Sălceanu phone: +40/740/243 853

Bistrița / Bistritz In place of the original church built in the 13th century, the present building was erected a century later. The economic prosperity of Bistriţa at that time favoured the construction of a basilica with three naves, polygonal choir and two towers on both sides of the main entrance. The importance of the church for the community can be observed in the successive stages of reconstruction that followed: rebuilding in the shape of a Gothic basilica with the naves separated by octagonal pillars and transformation to a Gothic hall with a surrounding wall and a watch and defence tower for the city. Initially self-standing, the new tower, built in several stages, was included in the body of the church in 1487 and is the highest medieval church tower in the country. Today the church is a worthy representative of the architectural transition from Gothic to Renaissance. The tower, which was heavily damaged by a fire in 2008 was repaired and tourist may today ascend the 75m high tower by elevator in order to admire the panorama of Bistriţa. Place and surroundings The city of Bistrița is the historical centre of Năsăud County, which forms the Northern borders of the Transylvanian Saxon Lands. In the 12th century, German- speaking colonists have settled in these places, who had the right of self- administration and eventually formed the majority population until 1944. Two destructive attacks of the Mongols and the Tatars in the 13th century could not stop the economic development of Bistrița, which was called Năsăud at that time. In the 15th century the city was given the right to hold a market-place and to have its own seal. In the following period numerous buildings of great value were erected, such as the Evangelical parish church, which together with the 75m tall tower represents one of the landmarks of the city. Over the centuries, Bistrița belonged to the Principality of Transylvania, which until 1918 was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and then decided to unite with the Kingdom of Romania. By the end of World War II, most of the Germans had left the county of Năsăud and only few of them have ever returned. However, an important german-speaking community which belongs to the Lutheran Evangelical confession still exists there. Keys are with: Parish office Bistritz P-ţa Centrală Nr. 13 RO-420040, Bistritz phone: +40/263/214679 or Mrs. Lungu phone: +40/758/101 761 Hotel: Town parish office 4 renovated guest rooms with bathrooms, some with kitchenettes Information and Booking: Ana Lungu adress: Gemeindeamt, Piaţa Centrală 13 e-mail: kirchengemeinde.bistritz@yahoo.de phone: (0040-263) 214679 office hours: weekdays 8:00-15:00 Uhr The mansard of the German Forum 15 beds in 4 rooms, each with TV parking in the courtyard, terrace (suitable for barbecues), kitchen adress: Forum, B-dul Republicii 43, 20053 Bistrița phone: (0040-363) 104148 or (0040-744) 844703 e-mail: germanforumbistrita@yahoo.de Internet: www.forumbistrita.ro

Idiciu / Belleschdorf The small hall church was built in the 15th century on a mountain ridge in the west of the community of Idiciu. In consequence of a storm in 1690, the vault collapsed. Between 1825 and 1827 a larger choir took the place of the medieval one due to alteration works by Conrad, a master builder from Mediaș. Major renovation work was carried out in 1904, including the installation of a new roof truss. In 1927 the old wooden belfry was taken down and a new bell tower was built on the west side. When the old church of Senereuș was demolished in 1870, the villagers of Senereuș sold their organ far below value to the comparatively poor community in Idiciu. It had been built in 1753 in Sibiu and was sold on to the Roman Catholic St. Michael’s Church in Cluj-Napoca in 1991. One of the most valuable things the church once housed was the Renaissance coffered ceiling from 1690. 98 panels contained panels with geometric and plant decoration. In spring 2016, the roof of the church collapsed, leaving a ruin. An altarpiece is located in the chapel of the Drabenderhöhe nursing home in Germany. The church of Idiciu is a ruin.