The Fortified Church of Biertan — Attraction in Biertan

The Biertan fortified church, a Lutheran fortified church in Biertan- Sibiu County, in the Transylvania region of Romania, built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community, part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a central system that blocks the door in 19 points, built around 1515 by master Johannes Reichmuth from Sighişoara, which ensured the safety of the valuables kept in the sacristy. It sets the world record for being the World's Most Complicated Church Lock.

The church has three rows of exterior fortifications linked by gate towers, nine in total.

The grounds contain a "matrimonial prison" where couples wishing to divorce were confined so they could be sure they wished to end their marriage. The lockup lasted for two weeks, although the pair could leave early if they reconciled. They had to share a single bed, plate and spoon. During the three centuries that bishops resided at Biertan, just one couple ended up divorcing.

In 1993, Biertan and its fortified church were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was joined by six other places in 1999 to form the villages with fortified churches in...

The UNESCO listed Fortified Church of Biertan was built in late Gothic style by the Transylvanian Saxons in 1522 (they think construction began somewhere around 1500). It was originally Catholic but with the Reformation became Lutheran. There are old flags of the guilds hanging in the Church marking where they sat. Oriental rugs donated by merchants returning from the East also decorate the interior. There are 8 towers. Catholics were allowed to erect one of the towers showing tolerance. Another tower contains the Divorce "Prison". Two weeks before an intended divorce the pair were locked up together in a small room with one spoon (but no knife), one plate and one chair. There was only one small bed with one pillow, too. Almost always the couple were dissuaded from divorcing. In over 300 years only one couple got divorced. The Church's Sacristy has a thick oak door with an elaborate lock to safeguard the valuables.This 19 point dead bolt lock was made in 1515. It won an award in 1889 at the Paris...

Beautiful fortified church on the hill. There are some really old priest coffins that are carved frome stone portraying the burryed priests. There is a 10lei entry fee and unfortunately there is no discount for students. The toilets are clean but be very careful about the PARKING. You have to pay for the parking right next to the church and the parking is administered by the local city hall but there is no number to call to if tou have a problem. The parking machine does not give change back and in case you want to pay for two cars in one payout that is not possible. Also if you insert the money and you cancel the transaction you won't get the money back, you just loose the money and you get a ticket saying you should contact the administration but there is no number anywhere witch you can call and also no place to go to speak with the administration. When asking the locals for help they said i shouldn't have payed the parking at all because no one checks for...