Fortified Curches from Transylvania - Locations

Brasov | Sibiu | Sighisoara

Find a location

Transylvania, with its name coming from Latin ultra silvam (beyond the forest), is one of the most interesting and surprising regions of Romania. Its German, Hungarian and Romanian cultural traditions play a great role in its cultural and ethnic diversity. The Transylvanian plateau is surrounded by mountain peaks and drained by sparkling rivers which makes it both a pleasant place for a relaxing holiday with a landscape pleasing to the eye and an exciting place for adventure-seeking travellers.

|find out more about Transilvania|

CALNIC / KELLING

The keep
The first great movement in the evolution of military architecture in Transylvania took place after the Tatar invasion of 1241. This mainly involved changing previous types of fortifications using wood and earth with construction in stone. In the first period, pressing events and the need to improve defensive systems caused the master carvers and masons to ignore the aesthetic aspects of their work in favour of a more swift building process.

The fortification

Surrounding the keep inhabited by Chyl's descendents an oval-shaped mantle wall was built. It was doubled by a ditch dug around it and included a tower towards the south and a gate-tower on the northern side. The workers who built it were probably from the village though a certain master carpenter called Henc of C�lnic is also reported to have worked in Alba Iulia.

The stronghold was restored from 1962 to 1964 and is now a centre for cultural and scientific events. Several documentary and art exhibitions have been organised on its premises and the chapel is used as a meeting room. The fortress of C�lnic is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Church on the Hill

The old parish house lies a short distance away from the stronghold. Built in the 16th century and later enlarged in 1779, this building opens up the way to the Church on the Hill. The church is surrounded by a cemetery and was built in the 15th century.

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

Council Square

| view the gallery |

Fortified Churches Multimedia CD - 15 EUR

Over 400 images revealing 44 saxon villages from Transylvania and their Fortified Churches, historical facts and architectural information, 19 local legends, an interactive map of the site, explicit hand-made drawings on how were the churches made, a see-through section ; all this toghether with a large, easy-to-use dictionary which will accurately explain all the specific or not so well-known terms you will come upon. Available in 7 languages: Romanian, German, English, Hungarian, French, Spanish, Catalan

| click to buy |

In April and May you can witness the beginning of spring by admiring the blossomy fields and fruit trees, the fresh green of the grass, the flowery scents and the clear blue sky. This is an ideal time for experiencing the rebirth of nature and for taking fabulous pictures.

| read more |

These are some of the things you don't want to miss when you get here.

| read more |

You have to "taste" the local stuff for a real Transylvanian experience.

| read more |

The Fortified Churches are an unique and interesting fenomenon. They can be found in only a few places throughout Europe and there were more than 300 Fortified Saxon Churches in Transylvania.

| read more |

Proiect finantat de Guvernele Islandei, Principatului Liechtenstein si Norvegiei prin Mecanismul Financiar al Spatiului Economic European.
Pentru informatii oficiale despre Mecanismul financiar SEE si Programul Norvegian de Cooperare, accesati: http://www.eeagrants.org.
Continutul acestui site web nu reprezinta in mod necesar pozitia oficiala a Mecanismului Financiar SEE. Intreaga raspundere asupra corectitudinii si coerentei informatiilor prezentate revine initiatorilor site-ului web.