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The Evangelical Fortified Church in Cața
Fortified church
About
„The Cats’ Village” (Katzendorf) appears relatively late in written documents (around 1400), but the aspect of its church testifies immediately to an origin over a century before.
The edifice is among those well preserving the basilical structure of the nave (end of the thirteenth century), with semicircular arches and tower on the western facade. One can still see today the twin towers of the main nave, located above the side naves. Unhappy about the choir, anyway too long in comparison to the naves, the villagers extended it in the fifteenth century, provided with polygonal ending and only furbished its vault.
Some of the old decorations were on the western facade and can still be seen there today, making viewers wonder how such elements ended up there and what might their meaning be. The bell tower is the result of late restoration and building works (from the nineteenth century), when the strange sacristy was also added to the southern side of the choir.
Unlike other churches, when the defense buildings in Caţa had to be consolidated, they did not affect the church, only its surroundings. The result was a prolonged polygonal curtain wall, provided with four rectangular towers placed on the outside. Two of them are located on the north; one of the southern towers was demolished during the nineteenth century, while the gate tower, on the west, seems to have been only built along the second, outer curtain. The latter might have been built sometime after 1550, as indicated by the constructive family of the south-eastern tower, with the corner along its axis. Another tower, on the northern side, was also demolished.
It is significant that despite other complexes, the outer curtain in Caţa proved to be high and long lasting.
Contact:
Mrs. Markus Anna, phone: 0040268248564, address: Cața, no. 282
Text and photo source: http://www.rupeaturistica.ro/
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Fortified church
Tourist attraction - Ghimbav
On the settlement founded in the 13th century by the Teutonic Order, the 15th century Gothic basilica evolved by altering the preceding Romanesque church.
Later on it was fortified and surrounded by a curtain wall with five defence towers, an outer bailey, a moat, and the tower of the church was provided with arrow loops.
After battle damages, the church was re-built in its original shape in 1658, but the vaults of the nave were added later in 1775.
Remaining details of the Gothic period, besides the plan composition of the ground floor, are the Gothic cross rib vault of the chancel and the domical vault of the apse as well as the trefoil tracery windows.
In the reconstruction phase the distinctive roof of the tower in form of a truncated pyramid with an open level for the bells was built.
The interior setting was created during the 18th and 19th century. Unique in Transylvania is the 1902 colourful floral and ornamental painting covering all walls and vaults.
Contact:
The keys are with Mr. Ioan Matei,
phone: 0040746403310,
address: Ghimbav, Morii Str., no. 170.
Text and photo sources: http://kirchenburgen.org/; http://www.ghimbav-turism.ro/
Strada Școlii, Ghimbav 507075, Romania
Fortified church
Obiectiv turistic - Cristian
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The church in Cristian with its double ring wall and the eight well preserved defence towers represents one of the most impressive examples of medieval military architecture.
The bell tower is the only remainder of the former Gothic basilica, which was entirely demolished in 1839 and replaced by today’s neoclassical hall church.
A pointed spire and four corner turrets were built on the tower in 1803. Its portal and the rose window originate from an earlier construction phase. Pairs of pillars that support the domical vaults segment the church’s interior. The altar and the pulpit were built at the same time as the church.
The assembly is still surrounded by a double defence wall, which was constructed, enlarged and endowed with nine defence towers across more than three centuries. Only eight towers still stand today.
Contact:
Mr. Erhard Porr
phone: 0040268257191
Text and photo source: http://kirchenburgen.org/
Piaţa Libertăţii 8, Cristian 507055, Romania
Fortified church
Only the triumphal arch is preserved from the 13th century Romanesque basilica. A vault carried on stone ribs, which end on consoles decorated with face-masks, covers the late Gothic chancel that was built two centuries later.
After the church was destroyed by the troops of Gabriel Báthory, the community needed more than 50 years until it started rebuilding in 1665. The vault of the chancel and the paneled ceiling of the nave were built in that time. More than a century later the bell tower was erected and in the same time the wooden galleries inside the church.
On the baptismal font from 1741 two inscriptions in German and in Latin can be read. They are also mentioned in a church book dating back to the 18th century. A portcullis and a machicolation secured the entrance of the 14th/15th century curtain wall. The view of the main entrance is blocked by the town hall today.
Inside the fortification several good preserved granaries can be visited.
An interesting visit can be the one of the Evangelic cemetery located behind the church. The tombs sheltered on the perimeter under a common roof and the stories about those resting there are worth paying a visit.
Contact:
The keys are at the Parish Office Vulcan.
phone: 0040268256477
or Uwe Seidner
phone: 0040745108974
e-mail: pfarramt@kg-wolkendorf.ro
Text and photo source: http://kirchenburgen.org/
Vulcan 507270, Romania
Fortified church
Between Codlea and Feldioara lies Hălchiu – in the year 1377 the village was first mentioned in a royal privilege.
A special feature is the altar of the fortified church: the choir of the Gothic hall church is rich in colour and unusually large, but its oldest structural elements date back to the 13th century. The double-winged altar is 8.1 m high and 7.7 m wide. The predella shows the visitor five figures, namely Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Peter and Paul. The figures trace the path to the divine redemption of mankind to the former parish priest Johannes Reichart. With the proclamation of the Gospel by Peter and Paul, this path is complete.
Above the predella is the central shrine; the altar has two fixed wings and two movable wings painted on both sides, mainly in red, green and gold. When the altar is open, four saints appear to the observer: each picture is also a story. The depictions with the saints show the martyrdom of the apostles Andrew and Peter and the execution of James. In a fourth picture, Saint Andrew saves a bishop from temptation by the devil. The middle of the holiday side of the altar is decorated with a Christ figure flanked on the left and right by the four evangelists.
Text and photo source: http://kirchenburgen.org/
Hălchiu 507080, Romania
Fortified church
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.
Contact: Mrs. Emilia Schuster; phone: 0040268283172; address: Hărmanului Str., no. 276
Text and photo source: http://kirchenburgen.org/
Strada Tudor Vladimirescu 134, Bod 507015, Bod, Romania
Fortified church
Open
The church in Sânpetru was built in 1794, replacing a medieval basilica from the 14th century, which was demolished after its tower had collapsed twice.
The new church was unusually provided with a western chancel and a tower was built in 1817. The interior was endowed in neoclassical style, from organ and scarcely decorated pillars to the column-altar in the chancel. Only ruins are still preserved from the exterior and second curtain wall. But the first fortification wall stands complete even today, preserving its five towers and the two level rooms built on its interior.
On the southern side of the assembly the old school and the old town hall were erected. The 13th century pre-reformation chapel was fortified in the 15th century by addition of two levels. Valuable mural paintings from 1400 decorate the chapel’s walls.
Contact:
Parish Office Sânpetru, phone: 0040268360550
fortress, phone: 0040268250778,
e-mail: petersberg@evang.ro,
Internet: www.petersberg.sitew.org
Opening times:
Tuesday - Saturday 11:00-17:00h
Sunday from 12:00h
Monday closed
Church service every Sunday at 11:00h
Text and photo source: http://kirchenburgen.org/
Sânpetru 507190, Romania
Fortified church
Open
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/
Harman, Romania
Fortified church
Fortress
UNESCO landmark
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
Strada Mare 2, Prejmer 507165, Romania
Fortified church
Tourist attraction - Codlea
Closed
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/
Strada Lungă, Codlea 505100, România