Biertan Fortified Church

The fortified church of Biertan (German: Birthälm) was built between 1486 and 1524 and was the last hall church of its kind in Transylvania. It is surrounded by three rings of defences, linked by nine gate towers, including the clock tower, the bell tower and the Catholic Tower with rare 16th-century murals. The outermost ring dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. From 1572 to 1867 Biertan was the seat of the Transylvanian Saxon Lutheran Church. In 1993 the complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 1999 it became part of the extended site of the Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania.

Particularly remarkable is the sacristy door, with elaborate inlay work and a lock that bolts the door at several points; it was displayed at the 1889 Paris World's Fair. One curiosity was the “marriage prison”, where couples wanting a divorce were meant to reflect for two weeks. Climb the covered staircase.