Home » Visit » Travel Ideas » 10 Fortified Churches from Transylvania You Should See
Most of these monuments are included in our tours in Transylvania.
The fortified churches from Transylvania are some of the most authentic and inspiring travel attractions in Romania. A core heritage that transforms this region into a great destination, these landmarks should be on any must-see list.
If you don’t know where to start, check our guide to 10 of the most impressive fortified churches in Transylvania. You can easily see them all in one weekend if you’re staying in Brasov or Sibiu.
Read also Top Things to Do in Transylvania for the Curious Travelers
Location: Biertan, Sibiu County
Included in the UNESCO Sites like many of the fortified churches from Transylvania, this landmark from Biertan is only a 30-minute drive from Sighisoara. Centuries ago, Biertan was a prosperous village competing with nearby Mosna and Medias for regional control. The construction of an imposing fortified church was yet another element used to increase its influence.
Biertan Fortified Church
This fortified church is one of the few that preserves its original altar, pews, and stone-carved pulpit, all from the 16th century. Not to mention its unique locking system of the vestry door and the marital prison organized in one of its towers.
Cycle from Biertan to Copsa Mare and Malancrav. It’s one of the best ways to explore the region.
Go on a day trip to the nearby medieval towns of Medias and Sighisoara.
Location: Prejmer, Brasov County
This fortified church, also part of the UNESCO Sites, is the strongest fortification of this type from Transylvania. Attacked 50 times, but conquered only once, in 1611, this almost invincible monument dates from the early 13th century. Enlarged and fortified with high and solid enclosing walls in the following centuries, this site also offered ample protection to villagers during sieges given its impressive number of built-in rooms.
Prejmer Fortified Church
Location: Harman, Brasov County
Located only a few kilometers from Brasov and Prejmer, this fortified church dates from the 13th century. It was massively reinforced between the 15th and 17th centuries, becoming one of the strongest in the historical Country of Barsa.
One of the most beautiful monuments in Transylvania, this fortified church has solid enclosing walls, seven defense towers, storage rooms, and a chapel with rare 15th-century mural paintings. In the church, you can see a small collection of oriental carpets, a Baroque altar, and hundreds of years old furniture and decorations.
Location: Viscri, Brasov County
Probably the most famous village of Transylvania, Viscri is a travel destination of its own. Its pastoral landscapes, traditional houses, local artisans, and Prince Charles’ visits have transformed this old village into one of the trendiest attractions in the region.
Viscri Fortified Church
Its white UNESCO Site fortified church is one of the oldest in the region. Built and fortified in several stages, it still partially conserves its bastions, towers, and fortification walls. One of the former towers is now a small museum of traditional objects from the local community.
Rent a bike and spend a full day traveling from village to village.
Location: Hosman, Sibiu County
This 14th-century fortified church is only a short drive from Sibiu but is less known than other nearby attractions. Throughout history, the village and the church suffered tremendously because of the Ottoman attacks, being even temporarily depopulated hundreds of years ago.
Fortified with two enclosing walls, five towers, a bastion, and a tall tower provided with loopholes, the church also conserves a beautiful Romanesque-style portal.
Hosman Fortified Church
Location: Calnic, Alba County
One more of the fortified churches from Transylvania from the UNESCO Heritage, this monument was initially an aristocratic residence. Sold to the local community in the 15th century, the small castle was fortified with a wall curtain, while storage rooms and even a small chapel were built in the enclosed space. Today, only the chapel and two of the towers are open for visitors.
Calnic Fortified Church
Calnic is only 30 km outside Alba Iulia, one of the best historical sites in Romania.
Location: Saschiz, Mures County
Built a few decades after the crushing Tatar invasion in 1421, this fortified church was planned with a clear defensive purpose in mind. The result is spectacular and the church impresses through its original architectural mix of military and religious elements. Located only a few kilometers outside Sighisoara, this landmark is also a UNESCO Site.
Saschiz Fortified Church
You can buy hand-made jams and other delicious sweets from a small boutique shop in the village.
Walk up to the 14th-century hilltop fortress.
Location: Malancrav, Sibiu County
Located in the village with the largest German-ethnic population in Transylvania, this fortified church is a must-see. Built in the 14th century, it conserves some of the most interesting and rare pre-Reformation mural paintings in the region. The Gothic altar is a veritable work of art done more than 600 years ago, decorated on top with a crucifix and the statues of Saint Mary and Saint John.
Malancrav Fortified Church
For a panoramic view of the village, go up to the church tower.
Visit the local artisans to find out more about local traditions.
Location: Valea Viilor, Sibiu County
The last UNESCO Site of our fortified churches from Transylvania list, Valea Viilor is one of the best examples of this unique architectural style. Dating from the 15th century, the church dominates the village with its imposing dimensions and two strong towers that rise above the fortification walls. Besides the Western tower, both the choir and the nave have loopholes and interior corridors that connect the wall walk from the towers. Not surprisingly, its defensive system was one of the most advanced in medieval Transylvania.
Location: Alma Vii, Sibiu County
Last but not least, stop in Alma Vii, a small village with a beautiful fortified church of its own. Built two centuries after the village was first mentioned in 1289, the first hall church was fortified gradually to resist potential attacks.
Alma Vii Fortified Church
Recently restored through the care of the Foundation Mihai Eminescu Trust, the church is one of the many attractions of the village. Its local traditions, green surroundings, and typical architecture make it a great weekend destination if you’re looking for a more slow-paced trip. Not to mention that around the village, you can spot around 100 species of birds and 70 species of butterflies.
Many more fortified churches from Transylvania are worth visiting. These original historical sites best represent the legacy of the German colonists who came to Transylvania hundreds of years ago, protecting the borders in exchange for land and freedom.
Dominating the landscape of their villages, these fortified churches are amazing works of art, combining the spiritual, cultural, and defensive roles to save their communities for centuries.
Most of these monuments are included in our tours in Transylvania.
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