Visit

Nowhere in Europe can there be found such a region so devoted to maintaining the traditions of the past. The churches and walled citadels of Transylvania are a fascinating mix of diverse religions, diverse artistic eras, diverse traditions, cultures, and people, all concentrated in a single region, and left untouched for centuries, hidden within the Transylvanian valleys and forests. Almost 250 churches, decorate the hills, transporting you into a long-forgotten time.

In stark contrast to the accepted practices of the time, the churches were not built by noblemen, but by the villagers themselves. In the process, the churches became sophisticated examples of ecclesiastical art and also highly skilled examples of military engineering. To survive the repeated attacks of the Turks and Huns, the locals surrounded their churches with massive protective walls, sometimes two or three rows of them. Behind these walls the entire population of the village could survive for weeks at a time. Within these walls were schools, stables for the animals, hallways for food storage, and huge crates for cereal.

Unlike their rough exteriors – designed for defensive purposes – the interiors of the citadels were decorated carefully. Inside one can find altars of rare beauty, comparable to those from Renaissance Italy. The galleries and benches are painted with flowery motifs and on most of the church doors a Lutheran quote is hand-carved into the wood: “Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott / A mighty fortress is our God." For the inhabitants of Transylvania, the first line of defence for Western Europe, these words were more than just a metaphor.