Biertan: UNESCO World Heritage Site and fortified church

The architectural ensemble of Biertan, with its fortified church, led to the community being included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

Culture

Biertan preserves a fortified church. Those interested in church architecture will encounter a building here that was constructed at the beginning of the 16th century as a late Gothic hall church. The historic architectural form and the multiple defensive structures are therefore jointly part of the ensemble’s traditional appearance.

The church is surrounded by three concentric walls, or defensive rings. Its fortifications also include six defensive towers and three bastions. The complex thus displays several interconnected elements of defence: the walls, towers and bastions have each been preserved as distinct components of the church ensemble.

Those who examine the church furnishings will find 28 painted scenes on the altar. This number makes the altar a particularly clearly identifiable detail within the fortified church and adds an aspect of the interior furnishings to the view of its architecture.

Landscape

Those who consider the landscape as well as the church architecture will find Biertan among wooded hills, terraced slopes and orchards. The three named landscape elements shape different views of the village: wooded areas lie alongside the slopes divided by terraces, while orchards form another component of the surroundings.

The village is home to old houses in the Transylvanian Baroque style. The houses have thick walls and stone foundations; their façades are pastel-coloured and decorated with vine motifs. Thus, the villagescape is shaped not only by individual buildings but also by recurring features such as building materials, colour schemes and façade ornamentation.

Crafts and Culinary Delights

Those wishing to include historic craftsmanship in their exploration of the village will find the old cooper’s workshop at 43 N. Bălcescu Street on the Ecomuseum tour. The address is therefore named as a specific stop on this tour.

The workshop of the craftsman Irofim Vedislav, who is a carpenter, is also part of the same tour. The cooper’s workshop and the carpenter’s workshop thus represent two different craft stops within the Ecomuseum tour.

Biertan’s old communal mill dates from the early 20th century. It too adds to the village’s historical traces with a building whose period of origin has been preserved in the record.

Broderleavend is a Transylvanian Saxon soup. It is prepared with meat, potatoes and bay leaves; it can be enjoyed in Biertan. The name, regional classification and the three ingredients mentioned are among the characteristic details of this dish.

You can access further travel destinations via the following links: Pojana, Dealu Frumos, Bazna, Șura Mare, Valea Viilor, Arpaşu De Sus, Şelimbăr and Miercurea Sibiului.

During the tourist season, craftspeople and beekeepers from the surrounding area display their handicrafts and products for sale in Biertan’s central square. The central square thereby becomes a seasonal venue offering both handicrafts and products from the surrounding area.

Cycling Route

Those planning a bicycle tour starting in Biertan can choose the BIERTAN-RICHIS-ATEL-DUPUS via COPSA MARE cycling route. The route begins in Biertan. Its full name also includes Richiş, Atel, Dupuş and Copşa Mare as components of the designated route, in addition to the starting point.

For the overarching travel overview: Hermannstadt.