The Evangelical Fortified Church in Viscri

The fortified church in Hărman was repeatedly besieged and attacked especially in the 16th and 17th century, but it was never taken. In January 1612 the villagers even succeeded to defend the castle against a strong 7,000 men army of the Hungarian prince Bathori. The three-aisles Romanesque basilica, already strengthened by a defence wall, was equipped with a bell tower on the western side in 1290. At the beginning of the 15th century, both the tower and the nave were adapted to the Gothic style and a second ring wall was erected. The first defence wall was heightened up to 12 m and strengthened by seven defensive towers and an outer bailey. A third wall, which did not survive to this today, surrounded the moat that was filled up in 1814. A parapet walk was built on the inside of the first defence wall, which is partially preserved today. Remarkable are the granaries and the rooms attached to the southern side of the church. The western tower, the tallest in Ţara Bârsei, was provided with a new spire in 1794. The inner furniture mostly dates back from the 18th century. A pre-reformation chapel in the eastern tower is richly decorated with outstanding frescoes depicting the Last Judgement and the Punishment of Sinners among others. Contact: Dan Ioan Ilica-Popescu phone: 0040729745210 Opening times: in the summer: Monday-Saturday 9-18h, Sunday 10-18h in the winter: daily from 10-16h (it is possible that visiting is not allowed during certain events) Text and photo source: http://kirchenburgen.org/

Due to its strategic location, the fortified church of Prejmer was particularly strengthened. The building of the church was started by the Teutonic Knights in 1218 and continued by the Cistercians after their expulsion. The floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross was modified between 1512-1515 by adding two unequal side aisles and by extending the main nave. Above the crossing a high bell tower was build in 1461. The church itself was never fortified, but protected by a surrounding 14 m high wall, strengthened by five towers, a kennel and a moat. A special feature, preserved until today as a whole is the four-story residential rooms and pantries, and behind them the parapet walk. The simple interior of the church preserves no frescoes and the 19th Century painting was removed during late restoration. The highlight is the Gothic winged altar with the Crucifixion scene in the midfield. Contact: Parish Office Prejmer phone: 0040268362042 Opening times: Summer Monday-Saturday 9:00-18:00 Sunday 11:00-18:00 Winter Monday-Saturday 9:00-16:00 Sunday 11:00-16:00 Text source: http://kirchenburgen.org/ Video: https://www.youtube.com/webTVBrasov

From the newly refurbished square in Codlea one can admire the fortified church and picture its centuries-old history. The bell tower dominates the fortified church in Codlea. Its walls reach a thickness of 5 m after having undergone several construction phases. The church was built during the 13th century and was transformed into a Gothic single-nave church two centuries later. The first Ottoman invasion convinced the villagers of the necessity of a good defensive system. Thus an 8m high and 2m thick defence wall equipped with embrasure and machicolation surrounded the church. Granaries were also constructed in its interior, and so not only the lives of the residents were protected, but also their goods. The interior of the church is dominated by the painted panelled ceiling, which was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century and consists of 252 panels. Also impressive is the 1783 organ, one of the most valuable instruments in Transylvania built by the craftsman Prause of Silenzia and decorated by the artist Oelhan. Contact: Codlea Evangelical Parish Office phone: 0040268251853 address: Lungă Str., no. 110 e-mail: zeiden@evang.ro, or Mrs. Hedda Bardon phone: 0040747169859 address: Măgurii Str., no. 52 Text source: http://kirchenburgen.org/