Description Viscri fortified church

the hall church interior wooden gallery

in 13th century, saxons built romanesque hall church integrated chapel introduced changes, such wooden seat gallery @ western end. apse, altar possibly of romanesque period, features scalloped capital unique transylvania. design popular in 12th-century germany disappeared after reaching austria, suggesting church dates no later first half of 13th century.

in 14th century church became community church. apse replaced larger trapezoidal choir. church fortified around 1500: hall lengthened , linked keep, formerly freestanding , belonging family of count. level added keep, used bells , fitted battlement stayed on corbels. roof featured sixth level embrasures firing. choir s defensive level demolished in 1743. due peaceful nature of period, church battlement taken down after time, replaced grain storerooms villagers. interior ceiling has ceiling divided squares, 1743, around time austere furnishings put in place.

fortifications , recognition

plan of fortified church

in 12th century, fortifications began built around chapel. forming oval , made of river , field stone, south, east , northeast walls have survived; these 7 m in height. entrance through southeast wall, 2 towers , 2 bastions added in 14th century. south tower, built wall exterior, had 3 floors , battlement resting on wooden corbels. sharing roof south bastion, tower s lower levels joined hall entered east. topmost level kept parapets, oak border , moveable logs shut in defenders. south bastion battlement , roof joined of south tower.

in 1999, viscri, 5 other places, added already-listed biertan form villages fortified churches in transylvania unesco world heritage site. additionally, church listed historic monument romania s ministry of culture , religious affairs, following being listed separate entries: inner walls , towers, outer walls, , 19th-century outdoor space festive dances.