Fortified Curches from Transylvania - Locations

Brasov | Sibiu | Sighisoara

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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.

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MERGHINDEAL / MERGELN

The current name of the culprits' settlement is Mergeln (in German) or Morgonda in Hungarian, but in those times it was called Mergenthal or Marienthal ("the Valley of Mary"). While in 1910 the Protestant community had 1204 members, in 1995 the priest of Dealul Frumos held the holy service for only 14 Lutherans. The commune of Merghindeal lies 58 km from Sibiu and 8 km from Agnita.

The church

Even though the settlement was first mentioned in 1336, the church had already been built in the second half of the 13th century. The church is the simplest kind of reduct building that can also be found at Homorod, Dealul Frumos, Bruiu and Veşeud. The bell tower in the west was separated from the main body of the church and turned into a veritable bastion. The lower part of its walls was massively reinforced up to the first storey which was also equipped with a gallery protected by a wooden breastwork. All of the tower's three floors are equipped with battlements. A wooden defensive corridor was built on its last floor, right below the pyramidal roof. The choir itself was incorporated into the massive structure of a second, eastern tower. This one has five floors of which the last three have narrow rectangular battlements.

The fortification

The mantle wall follows a trapezoid path, 37 m long and not more than 17 m wide.

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

Council Square

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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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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