Biertan

Among nearly 300 Saxon fortified churches and villages, Biertan, nestled in the vineyards of Transylvania, 80 kilometres from Sibiu and not far from Sighișoara, ranks among the most significant. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, Biertan’s architectural complex not only possesses considerable aesthetic value but has also exceptionally preserved its 15th–16th-century core.

Three concentric levels of defensive walls 35 metres high, connected by towers and gates, encircle the complex and transform the church into a genuine fortress. The village’s principal building, constructed on a hill at the very centre of the settlement, is the three-aisled church built between 1495 and 1516 in late Gothic style with Renaissance and Baroque elements. The interior walls were frescoed in 1500, whilst the wooden sacristy door, built in 1515 with a distinctive locking mechanism, is unique of its kind.

The entire site features seven towers, among which we highlight the Clock Tower, the bell tower and the Bishop’s Tower, which houses the tombs of priests. The church also boasts Transylvania’s largest wooden altarpiece and an organ with 1,290 pipes.

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