The Village of Alma Vii: The Place Where Traditions Come Back to Life

Alma Vii is included in our private tours in Transylvania. More tours on www.uncover-romania-tours.com

The small village of Alma Vii is a rare presence even in a region like Transylvania that’s world-famous for its traditional rural landscape and multicultural heritage. Forever shaped by the cultural identity of the German colonists who created throughout the centuries one of the strongest legacies in Romania, Alma Vii is today the core of a bold experiment of preserving this culture in the absence of the ethnic Germans who migrated after 1989.

Involving the locals in the conservation and interpretation of local heritage is the stepping stone, and just like centuries ago, the medieval fortified church is the heart of the community and of its efforts of safeguarding it.

Alma Vii Fortified Church

Living in the time of fortified churches

Documented for the first time in 1298, Alma Vii is one of the many villages founded by the German colonists who settled the south-east of Transylvania starting with the 12th century. The fortified church was in this case also the main religious, spiritual, and defensive outpost of the village. The monument is one of the hundreds of edifices of this type built in the region centuries ago.

Initially, a small hall church dating from the 14th century, the monument was fortified at the beginning of the 16th century when the choir was heightened and loopholes and machicolations were added. A curtain wall with five towers was built around the church, dominated by the gate tower that during peacetime was used by locals as storage space for their bacon.

Alma Vii Fortified Church

Following the decline of the Ottoman threat and the incorporation of Transylvania into the Habsburg Empire, the church regained its dominant spiritual function. The organ was installed in the 18th century, the altar in 1851, and the fortifications were no longer used for military purposes.

The fortified church from Alma Vii went through two ample restoration processes in the past 50 years, one in 1966 and a more recent one, finalized in 2016 when almost 70 medieval graves were discovered outside the ring wall.

Things to do in Alma Vii

Alma Vii is a must-see village if you want to unwind and have some extra quality time with your loved ones. Located at the end of a country road, the village is far from any urban headache. If you’re planning a more active vacation, rent a bike and explore the village, the meadows, and the forests.

Visit the local carpenter and blacksmith, learn how charcoal is done traditionally, taste cheese directly from a sheepfold, and indulge yourself with all the home-made local delicacies you can eat. If you’re interested in more nature-based activities, you should know that the area of the village — protected as a Natura 2000 site — shelters over 100 bird species, 70 species of butterflies, and 50 species of mammals.

View of the village

Alma Vii is the very essence of what makes Transylvania a magical destination for your vacations. A place for all seasons and for all ages, Alma Vii is more than you expect to find. We hope you’ll have a wonderful time discovering one of the best-kept secrets of Transylvania.

Where to stay

For the best local experience, choose an authentic Saxon-style guest house where you can enjoy home-cooked meals and traditional architecture.

Travel tips

Book your visit in advance as there are limited accommodation options in the village.

Bike to Richis and Biertan to visit more fortified churches.

Save a couple of hours to visit beautiful Medias.

Alma Vii is included in our private tours in Transylvania. More tours on www.uncover-romania-tours.com