Fortified Church Petrești / Petersdorf

Cund / Reußdorf On the western side of the 15th century hall church a bell tower was erected in 1804. The pilasters of the tower show late Baroque features. From the original fortification wall almost nothing survived to this day, but the fence surrounding the yard of the church marks the initial perimeter. The chancel still preserves its original late Gothic ribbed vault, while the paneled ceiling of the hall was replaced early 20th century by a flat plastered ceiling. The most valuable piece of the interior furniture is the pre-reformation winged altar depicting the Passion of Christ. Today this altar is displayed in Sighişoara inside the Hill Church. In the chancel one can admire the late Gothic pews from 1532. Place and surroundings The village of Cund first mentioned in 1323 is located in a secluded location between the rivers Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică. Around 50 years later a big part of the settlement was passed on from one noble family to another one. Only 8 homesteads remained free, outside the noble possessions. Around 1790 are mentioned the so-called “libertines”, peasants living in 16 homesteads in Cund free of feudal influence. Over the centuries different noble families repeatedly disputed the right to rule over Cund. Most of the last 700 Saxon inhabitants left the place in the ‘90s. Mainly Romanian and Hungarians took over the Saxons farms, but a small number of German immigrants moved to the village as well. Several homesteads have been restored in recent years and converted into holiday houses. Tourism The “Valea Verde Resort” offers high-class accommodation and a delicious cuisine created from regional and seasonal products. The resort is suited for business travelers as well as families and offers rooms, spaces and equipment for large festivities or events. Keys are with: Mr. Jonas Schaefer phone: +40/265/714 399 Accomodation: About 40 guest beds are available in different summer cottages in the village, appointment through Valea Verde: phone: +40/265/714 399, fax: +40/265/714 395, e-mail: info@cund.de, Internet: www.cund.de, address: Cund, nr. 119

Rupea / Reps In the 15th century a Gothic hall church was built in Rupea. The Gothic vault in the hall was replaced 200 years later by a coffered ceiling that was renovated in 1713, according to a Latin inscription. Roof truss works must have taken place in 1665, because on one of the beams there is the date May 1, 1665. Moreover, in 1727 the organ loft was painted. In order to finance the repair works in 1930/31, the parish sold 16 Persian carpets. Part of the tracery on the west gallery is preserved to this day. The church windows still have their stone framing, only the northwest window has tracery. In addition, on the south wall above the gallery, there are remains of pre-Reformation frescoes, which show similarities to oriental paintings. Also preserved is a late Gothic sacrament niche, the wooden door of which is painted in Saxon peasant Baroque. Today, 17 oriental carpets can be seen inside the church. Keys are with: the Wagner Family phone: +40/268/260 417

Reghin / Sächsisch-Regen The beautiful church of Reghin is one of the most significant buildings of the city and was built as a Catholic church in the year 1330 and dedicated to Saint Mary. The inscription that proves this fact is the oldest majuscule inscription in the entire region of Transylvania. The church became Evangelic Lutheran in 1551 in the course of the Lutheran Reformation. In the following years the church was victim to a number of severe strokes of fate: during a revolt in the year 1708 a huge fire ruined the entire church, the parish house and the surrounding fortification. The building remained roofless for the following 70 years before the congregation began rebuilding it towards the end of the century. But it was not to be spared for long. Another 70 years later the whole town was raided and the church was set on fire once again. Only in the following years it could be renovated step by step. Thanks to the support of the emigrated Saxons from Reghin as well as to the involvement and dedication of the remaining population, the church is now open again and welcomes visitors – it is a real jewel for the cityscape and home to a lively and active community. Keys are with: Mrs. Erika Bencze phone: +40/754/580 824

Roandola / Rauthal Since the 15th century, a small Gothic hall church has stood in Roandola. The polygonal choir has net and cross vaults and is supported by buttresses. In the south there is an entrance with an pointed stone enclosure. The hall, which is lit by three round-arched windows, must have been rebuilt at a later date. On the northern wall of the choir there are two wooden porches one above the other, and an organ loft on the west side. The organ was built in 1857 by Samuel Binder. Its case shows Classicistic features. The Classicistic altar from the 19th century has a brick altar table above which the wooden altar rises. Since 1792, the church is flanked by a low bell tower. Keys are with: the Decker family phone: +40/269/428 218

Roadeș / Radeln The fortification in Roadeş consists of the former aisle-less hall church with polygonal chancel and bell tower built in the 14th century. The church was fortified in the 15th century and the tower was surrounded by a massive wall, which enclosed the former open entrance atrium. The chancel and the nave were provided with defence levels on buttresses and loopholes. Sideways a two-level sacristy was built and the tower was heightened by five levels and a defensive platform. Most of the defensive systems of the chancel, nave and the tower were demolished in the 19th century. The church was surrounded by a curtain wall with outer bailey and five defensive towers. Only three of them still stand today. The interior features a late Gothic chancel vault, a partially two-level gallery painted with images of the Roadeş church in its Baroque phase, before the demolition of its defence levels, as well as the 1838 organ. The valuable winged altar from 1533 has been moved to the Saint John’s Church in Sibiu. In February, 2016 it came to a partial collapse of the tower. Place and surroundings The past has not always been kind with the village of Roadeş. It was mentioned for the first time in a document in 1356, when the villagers were accused of having looted together with the colonists of the neighboring villages the domains of the count Jakobus. In the following centuries the settlement’s name is mentioned in relation to several tax deductions due to severe destruction caused by fires. Later on, in 1496, 1523 and twice between 1552 and 1557 Roadeş was again destroyed by flames. Even in the 19th century the village wasn’t spared from arson. Despite all these strokes of fate, the villagers have not lost their courage and kept rebuilding the settlement. Moreover already in the 13th -14th century they had built an imposing fortified church. Nowadays, peacefully situated in the middle of an idyllic valley, the monument doesn’t bear the dark imprints of the threatening past anymore. At its foot, the Peter Maffay Foundation has built for several years a holiday home for traumatized children and youth. Keys are with: Mrs. Katharina Fritsch phone: +40/757/224 815

Boz / Bußd bei Mühlbach In the middle of the center square in the small village of Boz near Sebeș stands the late Gothic hall church surrounded by a low ring wall. According to the inscription the erection dates back to 1523. The hall and choir of the church merge together in the same width. The vault of the hall has a decorative ribbed ceiling made of clay bricks. The facades are separated by buttresses. These and further consoles arranged in between are the support for the two defence floors. The crenels were accessible through the consoles of the lower defence level while the embrasures served as defensive systems in the second defence level. Both stories can be accessed through a spiral stairway on the north-eastern side of the church. Similar fortified churches can be found in Cloașterf and Dupuș. The church of Cloașterf was built by the famous architect Stephan Ungar and he is most probably also responsible for the other two churches. A gateway tower with a wall-walk is on the northern side of the fortification. Besides the altar dating back to early Baroque the remaining décor in the interior is mostly from the 19th century. Activities In the mid-1990s, Daniel Schuster, a Saxon citizen of Transylvania from Boz, began to save the towerless fortified church of his home village from decay. He founded a foundation and collected donations. In 1998, major repair work was thus carried out on the roofs and the circular wall. Almost 20 years have now passed. Thanks to the voluntary and continuous commitment of Mr. Schuster, the ensemble has survived to this day. Nevertheless, the ravages of time gnaw at the substance and further monument preservation work has to be carried out. The Fortified Churches Foundation  is very impressed by the untiring commitment of Mr. Schuster and would like to support his work at the fortification in Boz with the roof and monument preservation programme. A brief report on the condition of the plant and preparations for initial safety measures are in progress. Our partners Daniel Schuster, foundation_agenda2023@yahoo.de District Consistory Sebeș Keys are with: Family Crișan phone: +40/258/764 334

Buzd / Bußd bei Mediasch Although the construction date of the church is unknown, its chancel was built in the late 14th century. In order to offer protection from the hillside, the chancel was fortified by adding three more defence levels, thus rising far above the nave. The upper fortification system can be accessed through a small spiral staircase and is situated above the rib vault. The ring wall built one century later, once over 6m tall, was downsized and its gate tower converted to a house for the castle guardian. The western Gothic portal features stylistic characteristics specific for the Mediaş area. A Neoclassic side gallery characterizes the nave’s interior, while the Baroque altar dominates the chancel. Here, next to the Gothic tabernacle and dated to the same period, one can find the beautiful portal to the sacristy. Another interesting characteristic is the wooden roofed staircase leading to the fortress. Place and surroundings The imposing fortified chancel is what impresses at first sight about the evangelic church in Buzd. The respectable old building settled on a steep slope seems as trying once to climb up the mountain, but losing its strength halfway up, it had to surrender and remained to rest its massive body on the abrupt slope. In fact the building underwent two distinct stages of construction, which explains its appearance. The chancel and the nave were not built in the same time. The unusual height of the fortified chancel stands for the requirements of a good defence: to offer protection against possible attacks coming from the hill side by allowing lookouts over the nearby hilltop into the side valley of the Târnava Mare river, in order to observe the approaching enemies in time and to avoid the surprise attacks. Activities Roof maintenance program Responsible: Districtual Consistory  of Mediaș Description: Rehabilitation of the choir framework and of the church’s lateral nave elements, moreover workings done to the covering and other smaller repairs were made. Costs: 5.000 EUR Period: June – September 2009 Keys are with: Mr. Nicolae Rafa who lives in the fortification

Vurpăr / Burgberg The basic structure of the 13th century Romanesque basilica is still recognizable today. Furthermore, there are many details preserved from that time. The initial church had been later provided with a bell tower, which collapsed in 1602 and it was rebuilt only in 1750. The church with three aisles, square chancel and apse is covered by a 19th century flat ceiling, while the chancel was provided with a domical vault during the 18th century. The side-galleries were also built in that time. The Romanesque clerestory windows are placed in the attic due to the new ceiling, however the northern portal dating back to the same era and bearing depictions of mythical creatures on its tympanum is still preserved. Only the curtain wall remained from the 14th century defense assembly. The house of the castle guardian was built in 1720 on the western side, as well as the old school built in 1845. Place and surroundings Located in the center of the country, the county of Sibiu has been always a meeting point of cultures and people. The village of Vurpăr is located in the middle of the county, having as a central point one of the oldest Romanesque basilicas in Transylvania. On top of the Northern portal two strange figures guard the entrance: one of them resembles a lion, while the other has the head of a cat, the body of a fish and feline legs. Both of them flank a plant, which could be either a lily or the Tree of Life. The lily is considered a symbol of worshiping the Mother of God. In Christianity the Tree of Life appears in the middle of paradise and it represents often the symbol of the Saviour himself. In mythology, this tree is located in the center of the world as axis mundi. Its branches rise high towards the sky and its roots go deep down in the ground, the tree becoming thus a bridge between heaven, earth and the underworld. Similarly to this mythical tree, the stone-made plant and the fortified church in Vurpăr become mediators between the sacred and the laymen, between culture and modernism, between past and present. Keys are with: Mr. Daniel Lederer phone: 40/269/544325

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