Another indulgence was obtained in 1416 by the bishop Stefan, and another one was given in 1466 by Johann, the Catholic bishop of Moldavia, to the vicar of the bishop of Alba Iulia. The result of these indulgences was that, the church developed into a pilgrimage site and so was well maintained. It is known that the fortification works were completed by 1507, but what is unsure is whether the church itself was built on the ruins of an older 14th century one.

 The church

Besides the structural purpose of the 1.2 metre thick and over 12 metre high walls, they also served a defensive purpose. In spite of the opaque and sterile appearance of the exterior, the church is richly decorated on the inside. The only entrance into the nave and pentagonal choir is via a doorway on the western wall, which had probably been equipped with a portcullis. The organ loft rises above the altar and can be reached by a cork screw staircase. The defensive levels above the main nave could only be reached from inside the church by two sets of stairs next to the wall of the vestry and the northern one of the nave. Once the portcullis of the western doorway was lowered, the church became an impenetrable stronghold. When in perilous situations, the church had a well with drinking water inside the walls and several storage rooms for lard. If the attackers did somehow manage to break into the church, they would still have to climb up four levels, each of which could be isolated from the one below.

The fortification

The rectangular walls that form the precinct, initially 5-6 metres high, were built right after the church was finished at the beginning of the 16th century.

You can find more information about this church and many others on this CD dedicated to the fortified churches in Transylvania.