Three rings of defensive walls, linked by towers and gates, surround the hilltop church. Inside, look for the large altarpiece of 28 painted panels and the sacristy door, whose intricate lock secures it at many points and was shown at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair. In the walls stands the famous “matrimonial prison”, where quarrelling couples who wanted a divorce were shut in together, sharing one bed, one plate and one spoon.
Sighisoara, Romania
Biertan Fortified Church
Rising from the centre of a quiet Transylvanian village, the Biertan Fortified Church is among the most impressive of the Saxon fortified churches. Built in Late Gothic style between 1486 and 1524, it served as the seat of the Lutheran bishops of Transylvania from 1572 to 1867. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993, as part of the Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania.
- Altarpiece
- Matrimonial prison
About Biertan Fortified Church
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