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The Fortified Church
Guardian of the hill
A first encounter with the site is enough to notice the positioning of the Fortified Church, built between 1492 and 1516 on the site of an older one. Central, sober, imposing, yet approachable, it held symbolic significance for almost 300 years, serving as the seat of the Episcopate from 1572 to 1867.
Like other fortified churches, its role was more complex than mere defense during attacks. The bastions and towers housed the village administration, food reserves, the bishops' mausoleum, and even served the less common function of a matrimonial prison, which you’ll learn more about later.
As you ascend the steps, you'll likely be tempted to take a closer look. The fortification consists of three rings of stone and brick walls climbing the hill toward the late Gothic-style church. I encourage you to look around. After climbing the long, shingle-covered staircase, you'll reach the church’s enclosure. Here, three towers rise proudly: the Bell Tower, the Clock Tower, and the Mausoleum Tower, standing like three giants solemnly guarding the place of worship. Walking leisurely along the cobblestone path, you glimpse the eastern bastion, also called the "Matrimonial Prison," a unique place meant to reconcile couples.
As you head towards the entrance, don't rush. Before eagerly venturing into the inner world that awaits you, seek out the door with Baroque-style carved decor. The stone frame around it belongs to a style about two hundred years older—Renaissance. This beautiful blend of styles is a testimony to the harmonious flow of time, leaving distinct marks at every step.
I invite you inside. Here you'll find some remarkable elements, which I'll introduce one by one:
With your gaze fixed on the altar, you'll discover that its wooden sculpture was crafted by artisans from Nuremberg and Vienna around 1500. It contains 28 paintings depicting scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary. The pews, equally old and beautifully decorated, were reserved for the priests (on the right) and the church committee (on your left).
The pulpit, from where the priest delivers the sermon, is Gothic with more recent Renaissance influences. Learn that it was carved from a single block of stone.
Looking towards the altar, you'll notice the door to the sacristy on the left. This door itself holds remarkable historical value, not only for its inlaid decoration but especially for its ingeniously designed lock, which operates no fewer than 19 bolts. You can learn more about it at a dedicated station.
In the center of the space is a stone-carved baptismal font from the 16th century. Looking back, you'll notice the organ, far from modest, with 1,290 pipes, two keyboards, and 25 registers. You can learn more about the organ in dedicated story.
Looking up you will find guild flags standing high above the space, the oldest dating back to the 17th century. Wool weavers, tailors, leatherworkers, cobblers, and furriers—all represented here at the heart of the community. Another unusual textile element you’ll find on the upper level are the refined Oriental rugs. Highly valued at the time, these were donated as a sign of gratitude by merchants returning safely from long, uncertain journeys in past centuries.
The door you entered through is the north portal. In the past, it was reserved for priests and elderly men. The southern entrance was used by the less privileged social groups, while the western entrance, still in use in the 20th century, was for women and children. This entrance is decorated with coats of arms, the Mediaș city crest, and an emblem with a crescent moon. Teachers, choir members, and young men entered through the tower door in the northwest.
Take a moment to reflect on all these beautiful things accumulated over nearly a thousand years of existence. It’s a valuable heritage if we manage to grasp its depths.
At the end, I invite you to listen to the stories about the organ and the sacristy door, and then conclude the tour by descending towards the Town Hall Tower, which connects the two fortification walls. As you pass through this space, draped here and there in the fresh green of vegetation, take a moment of peace. It's an opportunity to reflect on life as it once was. How did the value of life feel when the threat of invasions loomed over the citadel? How did such an organized and precisely ordered society feel? What is there to appreciate? What might be worth learning or reclaiming today from the experience of these ancestors?
Text by Patricia Mihai and Andrei Tache, documented and written as part of the Heritage Lab workshop in 2024. Audio guide by Designers, Thinkers, Makers Association and Biertan Town Hall, in the Culture & Cultures project. Connecting the dots co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration.
Audio guide produced in 2024 via the Culture&Cultures. Connecting the dots project.
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