Our road-trip in the magical land of Transylvania continued ahead to Biertan a small but charming medieval village with a rich history written by the Saxons who lived there.
The main attraction of Biertan is the Fortified Church with its Gothic architecture rising up like a guardian angel dominating and defending the village.
The fortified churches of Transylvania are unique settlements in Europe and this is why they contribute to the enrichment of the cultural heritage of Romania. These churches were built by the Saxons with the purpose of defending the people during the invasions. There are many fortified churches in Transylvania, 7 of them belonging to UNESCO World Heritage: Câlnic, Valea Viilor, Biertan, Saschiz, Dârjiu, Viscri and Prejmer.
A stop in Biertan is a perfect day trip from Sighisoara, the medieval town located only 30 km away or from Sibiu, the city located 80 km away. We spent 1 beautiful day in Biertan discovering the history of the Saxons who lived there, wandering the narrow streets, admiring the pastel colored houses which surround the church and buying some local souvenirs. Later that day we went for a hike looking for a panoramic viewpoint over the church and over the village which turned out to be a perfect picnic spot with a view.
The highlights of The Fortified Church of Biertan
- with its Gothic and Renaissance architecture, Biertan is the largest and strongest fortified church in Transylvania.
- the church hosts the largest wooden altar in Transylvania which is over 500 years old.
- the entrance door has an intelligent defense mechanism featuring 15 locks which are activated simultaneously by 1 key. This is the reason why the door was appreciated during World Expo Paris held in 1900.
- the Prison Tower is a room designated as a therapy for married couples who had decided to get divorced. For two weeks the couples were supposed to share only 1 small bed, 1 chair, 1 table and 1 set of cutlery. Finally the therapy seemed to work very well since there was only 1 case of divorce in 400 years.
Some useful travel tips
- Biertan Fortified Church is one of the most impressive and beautiful of its kind in Transylvania.
- The entrance fee for the fortified church is 10 RON (approximately 2 euros).
- There is a parking area very close to the city center just in front of the church.
- Also just near the church is one of the most popular restaurants in the village.
- Visiting Biertan can be combined with touring other fortified churches belonging to UNESCO site including: Câlnic, Valea Viilor, Saschiz, Dârjiu, Viscri and Prejmer.
- Biertan is located 30 km away from Sighisoara, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Romania.
- Since is a very small village if you want to stay overnight take into account that there are only few accommodation options, which is why it’s better to book it in advance.
- Don’t miss a panoramic view over the church and go for a scenic hike up on the hill.
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