Saxon Peasant Fortresses Tour

The Saxons settlers invited by the Hungarian kings in the late 12th and early 13th century in the Subcarpathian areas of Transylvania soon found themselves faced with the threat of Mongol and Ottoman invasions. The answer to this was building fortified precincts surrounding the church and offering shelter for the families and their assets. Most ethnic Germans, or Saxons, by their popular name, said 'Good-bye' to their homelands after WWII and the end of communism, but their citadels were left to tell the story of 800 years of German presence in Romania, part of the Transylvanian cultural mix, so much appreciated by tourists and Prince Charles alike.

We start from the Clock Tower in Sighisoara (we can start from Brasov alternatively) or from the hotel and head for Viscri (Germ. 'Deutschweisskirch'), with one of the best-known fortified ecclesiastical citadels in Romania, highly-praised by Prince Charles of Great Britain, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, just like the other fortresses in our tour. The next stop is at Saschiz (Germ. 'Keisd'), with slender Gothic church dominated by a majestic belfry tower. Our third visit is at Biertan (Germ. 'Birthaelm'), with the largest still preserved peasant fortress and once headquarters of Saxon Lutheranismf from Transylvania, Our last stop will be given by the fortress in Valea Viilor (Germ. 'Wurmloch'), to round up our glimpse at this 'Saxon island' in Eastern Europe.