Thursday, September 17, 2009

Prejmer (Tartlau)

Teutonic knights started building the church early in the 13th century. The church has a cross-like shape unique in Transylvania, but similar to some churches in North-East Germany. Cistercians were the ones who finished it, which explains the Gothic influences.
The painted altar dates back to the year 1450, making it the oldest such piece in Transylvania.
The walls around the church are 3-4 meters thick and 12 meters tall and they used to be surrounded by a water ditch. The fortification was famous for its Death Orgue, a contraption which allowed for more weapons to be fired at once.
Prejmer has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1999.

































Monday, September 14, 2009

Halmeag (Halmagen, Halmágy)

The church was built in the 12th century, with plenty of elements of cistercian influence. In the 15th century a Turkish invasion left the town unpopulated and Hungarians settled in the area.


























Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Cisnadioara (Michelsberg)

Romanesque style Basilica built out of stone in the 12th century. The walls around it were built in the 13th century, and because the slopes of the hill on which the church was built are very steep, even though they only measure 2-3 meters on the inside, on the outside they are 4-5 meters tall.
The door at the entrance of the fortification is the original oak door.