The Fortified Church of Biertan, Biertan

The Fortified Church of Biertan houses a rare example of a medieval "matrimonial prison," in which couples were confined for two weeks before they could end their marriage. The church belongs to the group of Transylvania villages with fortified churches that are listed as a World Heritage Site. The church building, surrounded by three rows of fortifications and nine gate towers, stands high on a hillock, offering views over the village, valleys, vineyards, and forests. Notice the 16th-century frescos on the southern tower, as well as the wooden bell tower on the north. The mausoleum tower houses the tombstones of the Saxon priest who built the church between 1486 and 1524.The interior features a carved stone pulpit and an altarpiece with 28 panels. Look for the intarsia door of the sacristy with a complex lock, exhibited at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. For travelers who use our international travel planner, Biertan holidays become easier to arrange, with trips to the The Fortified Church of Biertan and other attractions mapped out and timetabled.