Fortified Churches in Transylvania

Most of the villages and towns in Southern and Eastern Transylvania have their own fortified church or other medieval ruins. Because of the Turkish invasions, the once serene religious buildings also had to be provided a military function and this is why they have been surrounded with high stonewalls. It did not happen only once that the local people found shelter in these fortifications when the hard times came.

The most interesting such buildings can be found around Sighisoara and Brasov. We can list here a few examples only to give the image about such great sites. Around Brasov there are: the fortified church in Harman (13th century building with many small rooms meant for the peasants and for preserving the cereals in hardships times); the one in Prejmer (15th century); Rotbav or Maerus (15th century).

Sighisoara is the center that gathers around many such churches: Racos (16th century), Homorod (13th century), Rupea (12th century), Saschiz (15th century), Viscri, Biertan (two of the most interesting fortified churches in Transylvania), Cris, Richis, Mesendorf.

A bunch of fortified churches lie in the area called Szekelyfóld (Sfantu Gheorghe - Gheorgheni). We can list a few of the many religious buildings in this area: the Reformed fortified Church in Sfantu Gheorghe, the fortified church on the hill in Carta (14-15th century), the fortified church in Ghidfalau (13th century), Biborteni (15th century), Olteni (15th century), Baraolt (16th century), Aita Mare (16th century), Cristuru Secuiesc (11th century), Feliceni (12-13th century), Misentea (13th century), Santimbru (15th century), Armaseni (17th century), Delnita (17th century).