Fortified Churches in Transylvania
1. Biertan fortified church
The first documentary testimony about the village dates from 1283 in a document about the taxes paid by the inhabitants of 7 villages and so it is believed to have been founded sometime between 1224 to 1283 by Transilvanian Saxons. The village settlement quickly developed into an important market town and by 1510 Biertan supported a population of about 5,000 people. Between 1468 and the 16th century a small fortified church (die Kirchenburg) was constructed and developed. After the medieval period the town declined in importance with the rise of neighbouring Sighisoara (formerly Schäßburg in German), Sibiu (Hermannstadt) and Medias (Mediasch).
In the census of 1930 Biertan had 2331 inhabitants, of whom 1228 were Transilvanian Saxons. During World war II many men were conscripted into the Romanian army and later the Waffen SS. After the war many Transilvanian Saxons were expelled from the region. Following the collapse of Communism in 1990 many more left for Germany.
Today the whole commune has a population of about 3,000 and the village of Biertan alone has about 1,600 people. It is one of the most visited villages in Transilvania, being the historically important place of the annual reunion of the Transilvanian Saxons, many of whom now live in Germany.
2. Calnic
The castle, first mentioned in 1269, is very well preserved. Built as a noble's residence, it was bought in 1430 by local peasants and fortified. It consists of a large court surrounded by walls and some buildings adjacent to the walls. In the middle of the court there is a large donjon as well as a chapel. The castle differs from most other constructions of this type in that it is not situated on a hilltop but rather in a depression, much lower than the surrounding hills. This position, clearly inconvenient in case of a siege, can be explained by the castle's first function as a residence, not meant as a defensive construction
3. Village of Darjiu
The toponym "Székelyderzs" was first mentioned as "De ers" in a papal list of tithes taken in 1334. In 1525, it was recorded as Ders, while in 1760, it was already mentioned by its modern Hungarian name as Székely Derzs.
The first written mention of the toponym Székelyderzs as De Ers is from a list of papal tithes taken in 1334. In 1525, it was mentioned as Ders, while in 1760, the modern form of its Hungarian name was already used as Székely Derzs. The name Derzs is thought to be from the Old Bulgar.
4. Prejmer
The Teutonic Knights constructed the fortress Tartlau in 1212–1213 as part of their colonization of the Burzenland region. The town of Prejmer near the castle had begun development by 1225, and was the eastern-most settlement of the Transylvanian Saxons. Prejmer was repeatedly invaded throughout the Middle Ages by various groups, including the Mongols, Tatars, Hungarians, Ottoman Turks, Cossaks, and Moldavian. However, the castle was only captured once, by Gabriel Bathory in 1611. Most of Prejmer's German population fled the town during World War II.
5. Saschiz
6. Valea Viilor
7. Viscri









