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Defensive Architecture
A short dictionary
As you stroll past Biertan's imposing walls, let’s dive into the world of defensive architecture—a storybook dictionary, if you will. Castles and medieval structures carry a romantic or idyllic air for us today, but looking back in history, we remember that these grand forms tell a tale of life-and-death struggle. Here’s a look at how the Saxons and others defended themselves over the centuries, up to modern times:
Let’s start with a few terms!
Buttress
This is a massive reinforcement of concrete or masonry shaped like a pilaster, built into a wall to increase its strength. Simply put, it’s a section of wall built perpendicularly to support and reinforce the structure. You’ll find it everywhere in medieval defensive architecture, as well as in old stone churches in Moldova, which were built by Western craftsmen who brought with them Gothic forms. In church architecture, where vaulting is frequent, these buttresses play a critical structural role by supporting the walls against the natural tendency of vaulted ceilings to flatten and push walls outward. Although buttresses sometimes appear in traditional-inspired architecture today, unfortunately, they are often just decorative without a structural purpose.
Bastion
This is a rectangular, cylindrical or polygonal fortification usually built at the corners of a fortress. Sometimes it’s a semicircle or polygon integrated into the defensive wall, allowing defenders to see along the length of the fortress walls. Unlike towers, bastions are closer in height to the defensive walls. Biertan’s three concentric defensive walls each feature a bastion—from outermost to innermost: the weavers' bastion, the prison bastion (later used as the administrator’s house), and the marital prison bastion, which you may already know about.
Crenelation
This term refers to the openings at the top of the defensive wall, designed to allow defenders to launch projectiles at attackers. And what kind of projectiles? Firearms began to appear on the battlefield in the 14th century, though crossbows and other weapons were still widely used in the 15th century.
Embrasure
This small firing window is large enough for defenders to aim in multiple directions but small enough to make it difficult for enemy shooters to hit. Related is the machicolation, a horizontal opening through which boiling water, pitch, or other hot substances could be poured onto attackers.
Portcullis
This is the metal grill covering the gate for added protection. For increased durability and speed, it was designed to slide vertically within the masonry, eliminating hinges and latches that might become vulnerable points. Attackers were met with a sturdy iron grid set into the wall on three sides.
Curtain Wall
The term “curtain wall” refers to a defensive wall.
Watchtowers
Biertan’s fortified church features no less than six towers, including a clock tower, a bacon tower, a mausoleum tower for local bishops, a town hall tower, and gate towers. You’ll often encounter the term “donjon,” which refers to the highest tower in a fortification, serving both as a lookout for the entire perimeter and as the last stronghold of safety if attackers breached the inner compound.
Zwinger
Rarely known but fascinating, this term refers to the narrow space between two defensive walls. This space was intended to hinder attackers who managed to breach the first wall, making it difficult for them to organize and launch an assault on the next defensive line. Its German origin is telling—zwinger refers to something that constrains. Not infrequently, these spaces between fortification lines were reserved for livestock in case of siege.
The existing defensive architecture of Transylvania represents more than just a testament to difficult times; it is a symbol of the adaptability and ingenuity of medieval communities. Fortifications, fortified churches, and defensive walls are not only impressive structures but also architectural monuments that have withstood the passage of time and have become an integral part of the cultural landscape, shaping the environment and serving as landmarks.
This entire family of defensive elements offers a valuable lesson about solidarity, survival strategies, and the ability of people to build together, adapting to the challenges of an uncertain era. Today, these structures help us understand and compare the capabilities of medieval humans with our own. We relate to other human characteristics, different sets of skills, distinct fields of knowledge, and of course other ways of living and exploring life.
These builders of fortifications bring with them at least two powerful messages: one speaks of the importance of solidarity, which moves mountains, stones, and builds in a broad sense, and the other speaks of care for our shared heritage, as a foundation for growth and a framework for each of us and for the future.
Now, you’re well equipped with defensive terms. Please continue on to the final stop of the audio tour to learn about Via Transilvanica – the path that unites.
Text by Andrei Tache and Alexandra Mihailciuc, documented and written as part of the 2024 Heritage Lab workshop. The audio guide is a project by the Designers, Thinkers, Makers Association and the Biertan Town Hall in the Culture & Cultures: Connecting the dots project, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration.
Auaudio realizat în cadrul proiectului Culture&Cultures. Connecting the dots în anul 2024.
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Proiectul nu reprezintă în mod necesar poziția Administrației Fondului Cultural Național. AFCN nu este responsabilă de conținutul proiectului sau de modul în care rezultatele proiectului pot fi folosite. Acestea sunt în întregime responsabilitatea beneficiarului finanțării.
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