Apoș / Abtsdorf bei Agnetheln / Apátfalva Szászapátfalva / Åppesstref

In a side valley of the Hârtibaciu River near Agnita lies the village of Apo?. The houses of the village line up picturesquely along two parallel streets. In the northeastern part of the village, there is a church. In the Middle Ages it was surrounded by a ring wall, but today it is no longer preserved. Next to the church there is a free-standing bell tower, on which traces of an earlier extension can still be seen. In Apo?, as in other fortified churches, after the attacks ceased in the 18th century and more peaceful times returned, the defensive fortifications were dismantled. The material thus obtained was often used for the construction of new public buildings. The ring wall of the former fortified church of Apo? was removed only at the beginning of the 20th century.

Orăștie / Broos / Szászváros / Brooss

The town of Or??tie is also called the western gateway to Transylvania and thus to the fortified churches landscape. Already in the Golden Charter of 1224 the village is mentioned as the westernmost point of the King's Land and is therefore known as the border of the settlement area of the Germans in Transylvania. Surrounded by a defensive wall, there are two churches in Or??tie. The southern church, today Hungarian Reformed, was built in the 14th century and later extended by a choir. At the beginning of the 19th century a second Lutheran church was added. After the collapse of the common bell tower in 1839, a separate tower was rebuilt for each church.

Daia / Denndorf /Szászdáya / Dändref

The photo shows stonemasonry work on the brick pulpit parapet in the church of Daia. Of the remaining interior, only the gallery and the pews have been preserved today. A keystone in the choir dates the completion of the construction of the Gothic hall church to the year 1447. A church tower was added at the beginning of the 16th century and replaced by a new neoclassical bell tower between 1829 and 1834. This tower, which stands outside the fortified church, is one of the highest in Transylvania and can be seen far across the vast countryside surrounding Daia. In the course of the 19th century, the fortifying elements of the Daia fortified church were gradually dismantled.

Ighișu Nou / Eibesdorf / Szászivanfalva / Eibessterf

A Gothic hall church was probably built in Ighi?u Nou in the 14th century. The surrounding castle is dominated by the massive west tower, which was built at the end of the 15th century and has an open battlement. A battlement was also built above the choir. Inside the church, both in the nave and in the choir, there are rich wall paintings, which show, among other things, figures of Saints. The church of Ighi?u Nou is also decorated with rich stonework. This includes a west portal with fivefold gradation, which is decorated with blossomed roses. Remains of paint indicate that the portal was formerly colored. The tracery of the choir windows is also decorated with architectural sculptures.

Brădeni / Henndorf / Hégen / Händerf

In the center of Br?deni stands an imposing and strongly fortified church. The position in the center of the village was of particular advantage in the event of an enemy attack, as it meant that the entire population from all parts of the village could quickly reach the protective walls. Above the church hall, the choir and the sacristy, there are defensive floors as well as a wooden battlements, which significantly shape the appearance of the fortification. In the attic of the church, 127 gallery chests have been preserved, which were probably made between the 16th and 18th centuries. Originally, these were used to store clothing and seeds, which could thus be kept protected in the fortified church during uncertain times. The chests of Br?deni are unique in Europe due to their large number as well as their design.

Hamba / Hahnbach / Kakasfalva / Hune(m)bich

The first mention of Hamba dates back to 1337. About 200 years later, in 1529, the village was burned down by Moldavian troops. The church was also severely damaged. Only the tower was preserved together with the clockwork. Since the 16th century the church was fortified. The tower was raised with a wooden battlement and embrasures, and the church was surrounded with a circular wall. In 1829, a new, more spacious hall church was built in place of the one built just 100 years earlier. In the course of this, the ring wall was also demolished.

Ungra / Galt / Ugra / Goalt

In the 13th century, a Romanesque basilica with a western tower was built on a hill north of the village of Ungra. The oldest parts of the circular wall, which have been preserved until today, also date from this period. During the construction of the church, stones from former Roman buildings in the area were reused - the two lion heads, which were walled up for a long time on the left side of the west protal, were removed in the 19th century. One can be found in the courtyard of the church, the other is in the Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu. The photo shows the artistically designed pulpit lid in the church of Ungra. Pulpit lids have an acoustic function. They reflect the sound of the sermon back into the church interior, ensuring that it can be easily understood throughout the church.

Axente Sever / Frauendorf / Asszonyfalva / Fräenderf

A Gothic hall church with a tower was built in Axente Sever in the 14th century. Inside there is a lot to discover. This includes an organ from 1777, a brick pulpit decorated with figures of Saints, and a wooden gallery painted with angels making music. The Baroque altar also dates from 1777 and is adorned with paintings by the painter Stephen Valepagi. The photo shows the wooden statue of the Apostle Paul on the right side of the altar. He can be recognized by his attributes - a book and a sword - with which he is usually depicted. Opposite him, on the left side of the altar, Peter is found holding the key to the kingdom of heaven in his hands, along with a book.

Hărman / Honigberg / Szászhermány / Hooentschprich

Originally, the H?rman fortified church was surrounded by three ring walls and a moat. This impressive structure protected the inhabitants from a 7,000-strong army led by Prince Báthory in 1612. In the eastern fortified tower of the church there is an inconspicuous small chapel. Inside it covered with extensive wall paintings, which show numerous motifs. Among others, there is a depiction of the Last Judgment together with scenes of Hell and Paradise. Since the 1990s, conservation work on the paintings have taken place, some of which had been hidden under a layer of white paint since the 18th century.

Ormeniș / Irmesch / Szászörményes / Ürmesch

The small village of Ormeni? is located in the area between the Large and the Small Târnava on the banks of the Johannisdorfer Creek. In the 16th century a small hall church with a three-sided wooden gallery and a polygonally ending choir was built here. Nowadays, the view of the church and the tower with the open half-timbered weir (see photo) is almost fairytale-like. However, the village also lived through dark times. Like many communities in Transylvania, Ormeni? was raided and plundered by various attackers. For example, in 1704 the Kurutzen, a group of Hungarian anti-Habsburg insurgents, attacked the village. For the period between 1700 and 1719, five witch burnings in Ormeni? have also been recorded.

Cața / Katzendorf / Kaca / Kaznderf

Once, the tranquil village was located on one of the main arteries of European traffic. Between the world wars, the Orient Express passed through Ca?a. Incidentally, not only the name (in German it is translated "village of the cats"), but also the history of the village has a connection with animals. In the past, the village was colloquially called the horse village because of the many resident horse breeders. In 1684, after the siege of Vienna, returning troops stole a total of 337 horses from the village. And the view of the fortified church in the center of the village is also dominated by animals: storks have built their nest on the roof of the tower.

Curciu / Kirtsch / Körös / Kiirtsch

The village of Curciu nestles in the vineyards, hills and forests northeast of Media? in an very picturesque way. In its center, you can find a church, which was built from the 14th century onwards and has survived the time almost unchanged since then. Particularly impressive are the richly designed stone carvings on the building - typical for the region around Media?. The west portal was created in 1427 together with other sculptural works and is particularly remarkable with its sixfold gradation and its ornate design. Other architectural sculptures can be found on the west facade, on the tracery of the choir windows and on the keystones.

Apold / Trappold / Apoldya / Puult

Originally, a small Romanesque basilica stood on a hill in Apold, which was expanded in the 15th century into a late Gothic hall church with a bell tower. The rich interior decoration is remarkable. The walls are decorated with paintings from the 14th century. Among other things, there is a representation of the biblical parable of the wise and foolish virgins. In it, the story is told of ten virgins who, equipped with oil lamps, were to go out to meet a suitor. However, five of the virgins did not take any extra oil with them and their lamps went out prematurely. Thus, the suitor was received only by the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins were excluded from the subsequent feast. The photo shows the representation of one of the five wise virgins in Apold.

Tătârlaua / Taterloch / Felsotatárlaka / Tåterleuch

Southwest of Media?, in the middle of a hilly meadow landscape lies the small village T?târlaua. In the village there is a towerless hall church dating from the 15th century, as well as the separate wooden bell tower shown in the photo. The fortifications are no longer preserved. Inside the church, the winged altar, dated to 1508, is particularly remarkable. The altar shows brightly colored depictions of martyrs and scenes of the Virgin Mary. It was originally made by the Sibiu painter Vincentius for the church of Jidvei and sold to T?târlaua at the beginning of the 19th century.

Nocrich / Leschkirch / Üjegyház / Leschkirch

Firmly interwoven with the history of Nocrich is the history of the Brukenthal family. Its most famous offspring is undoubtedly Samuel von Brukenthal, the only Saxon who was ever governor of Transylvania. In 1721 he was born directly opposite the fortified church. Both his father and grandfather were royal judges of the chair of Nocrich. In the center of the village a Romanesque basilica was built in the 13th century. This was replaced by a new church building at the beginning of the 19th century. Unusually, this does not have an east-west orientation, but is instead oriented from north to south. There is still a pew for the Brukenthal family in the church today.

Ruși / Reußen / Rusz, Oroszfalu / Reissen

In the hilly landscape between Sibiu and Media?, the fortified church of Ru?i can be easily recognized from afar by its leaning tower. The church in the east of the village stands slightly elevated and with a good view over the village, however, it is also built on precarious ground. Twice - in 1780 and 1858 - it was severely damaged by earth movements. Since then, the bell tower leans about 18°. However, it is not in danger of collapse, mainly because shoring works were carried out in 1968. Inside, the church, newly built in 1782, is adorned with a three-sided gallery, which was designed by Daniel Knoblauch with an impressive cycle of Evangelists.

Vingard / Weingartskirchen / Vingárd / Wenerschkirch

On the west portal of the church of Vingard there is an inscription stating that the church was built in 1461 by Johannes Gereb de Vingard. From the year of construction, a baptismal font and the parish pews are still preserved today. Originally, the building was a towerless hall church in the late Gothic style. Later, a sacristy and a freestanding bell tower were added. The church is decorated with a total of 77 stone carvings, which include the rosette on the exterior facade shown in the photo. The present baroque interior dates back to the 18th century and includes a barrel vault, an altar from 1715, and a pulpit.

Valea Viilor / Wurmloch / Nagybaromlak / Wormloch, auch Wormlich

The 15th century fortified church of Valea Viilor is one of the most magnificent fortified churches in Transylvania and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Particularly impressive are the fortified elements built around 1500, which are still well preserved. Above the choir, a tower was built with three defensive floors as well as an open half-timbered battlement. The nave and the bell tower shown in the photo were also extended with defensive floors. In addition, the church is surrounded by a ring wall with a battlement, which is reinforced with two bastions, a tower and a gate tower. A medieval portcullis is still preserved on the gate tower. The church in Valea Viilor is still used for church services.

Codlea / Zeiden / Feketehalom / Zuidn, auch Zeoiden, Zäöeden

The colorful coffered ceiling of the church of Codlea consists of 252 panels and dates back to the first half of the 18th century. Together with one of the most important organs in Transylvania, it decorates the interior of the church, which originally dates back to the 13th century. Since then, the village of Codlea has suffered several times from enemy sieges and devastations. In 1432, after a Turkish invasion, a ring wall with embrasures was built around the church. According to legend, this also protected the people of Codlea from Prince Gabriel Báthory, who besieged the castle. By his false promise to spare the people in case of voluntary surrender, he gained sovereignty over the frotification. However, thanks to the cunning of Thomas Göbbel from Codlea, who distributed wine spiked with sleeping pills to the conquerors, the fortified church was quickly recaptured.

Fișer / Schweischer / Sövényseg / Schwaescher

Around the place Fi?er entwine some stories and myths. Among other things, a farmer is said to have once found a chest full of treasures in a mountain. Although this is a legend, it is certain that art-historical treasures can be found inside the church of Fi?er. These include the organ by Samuel Mätz from 1825, the artistically designed pews and the two-story gallery decorated with paintings. The 16th-century baptismal font and the sacrament niche are also noteworthy. The late Gothic altar from the 16th century was stolen at the end of the 1990s. After its recovery, it is now exhibited in Sibiu. The photo shows the bell tower of the fortified church, which was built in 1862 in place of the medieval gate tower and has a Baroque spire.