Cincsor Fortified Church: The Place Where the Past Saves the Present

If you’d link to visit Cincsor Fortified Church and more of Transylvania, check our tours on www.uncover-romania-tours.com

You have every reason to visit the fortified church of Cincsor if you want to uncover one of the unique pieces of legendary Transylvania. Dreamy green landscapes with the imposing Fagaras Mountains in the background, centuries-old history, a beautiful fortified church, and a one-of-a-kind accommodation if you decide to spend the night in this small village.

A small garden between the two fortification walls

The first church was built in the 13th century

First mentioned in the 14th century, the village of Cincsor was part of the Cincu Chair, the administrative unit used for the Crown Land or the land colonized by the German colonists. The first religious edifice dates, however, from the previous century when a Romanesque-style basilica with a west tower was built.

Start with a walk along its walls if you want to understand its history, one in which faith in God and fortified walls occupied the same space.

The initial construction went through major architectural changes in the following hundreds of years, like all the churches from the southeast border of Transylvania that needed to be fortified to withstand Tatar and Ottoman attacks.

Traditional objects exhibited in the church towers

Rebuilt in the Gothic style in the first two decades of the 15th century, the church was significantly fortified after 1421. The choir was provided with a wall-walk, the towers were heightened, an enclosing wall with four 6-7 meters high towers was built around the church. One century later, a second fortified wall was added on the southern side to increase the defensive capacity of the monument.

No efforts were spared in trying to make the fortified church as resistant as possible in the face of the many raids and attacks that threatened locals’ life.

The 19th-century organ

Step inside the church to discover the spiritual life of the monument. The church is simple and small, yet too big for the few members left of the village’s Evangelical community. The 17th-century folding altar is now kept in the Brukenthal Museum, in Sibiu, but you can still admire the 19th-century altar painting, organ, and pulpit.

The past becomes present

Cincsor had the chance very few of the old Saxon villages enjoy. Its fortified church was wonderfully restored along with the parish house which is also the oldest private house in the village and the 1910 Art Nouveau-style Evangelical school. Both buildings were saved from sure decay and are transformed now into lovely guesthouses.

View from the church tower

A precious case study of sustainable tourism oriented towards the local community and its cultural heritage, promoted by lady Carmen Schuster who returned to the village to save it years after she migrated to Germany.

Where to stay

If you decide to set base in Cincsor, you’re only one hour away from Brasov and Sibiu, the iconic cities of medieval Transylvania. You can easily take day trips to explore more fortified churches or you can simply enjoy long walks around the village.

For the best authentic experience, book a night at the Transylvania Guesthouses we mentioned above.

Travel tips

You can visit the fortified church of Cincsor from 10 am to 6 pm.

Take your bike and start exploring the nearby villages.

Don’t miss a visit to the fortified church from Cincu. Fagaras Fortress, the cave church from Sinca Veche, or the Cistercian Abbey from Carta are also a short drive away.

If you’d link to visit Cincsor Fortified Church and more of Transylvania, check our tours on www.uncover-romania-tours.com