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The first of the Saxon Villages that we visit is Rupea. With a documentary certification of over 5000 years, Rupea is one of the oldest Dacian settlements from Transylvania. Located on an extremely important strategic point, at a crossroads, the stronghold played a vital role for the defense of Dacia, but also Transylvania. During the XIII Century, the documents of that time mention the existence of some locals with financial potential that, having privileges, were able to build constructions from stone, durable in time. It is known that during the Hungarian, and later, the Austro-Hungarian occupation, the Romans were not allowed to use the stone as construction material, being able to use only clay and wood, a reason for which many constructions built by the locals were unable to hold up over the centuries. Another documentary certification, left this time by the Turkish historians, is associated with the ottoman invasion from 1421 (Murat the IInd, known also as Murat Bey), and it reports that the local population found its salvation inside the walls of the stronghold. Rupea citadel dominates the scenery through its position and impressiveness. It was destroyed multiple times by the Tatars, Ottomans and the Habsburgs, and it was rebuilt, every time. The population consists predominantly from Romans, Ethnic Saxons and Hungarians, but also a strong community of gypsies. The cultural and historical wealth harmoniously interweave over this regions. It is said that the stronghold always belonged to the people, and every time someone would get married, had the obligation to place a stone at the foundation of the fortress, in order to protect the future generations.
One of the most raw beauties from our Saxon Villages Tour is shown to you by Viscri. You arrive into the village on an unpaved road, and when the road conditions are bad, you take a horse drawn cart that was designed for these roads a few hundred years ago. The little houses lining the 2 or 3 roads are the original Saxon houses, many of them lovingly restored, and painted pale blue, typical of Saxon villages. As you walk down the road, chickens are happily roaming the yards and pecking for food, residents are spotted working on some type of archaic implement that is still used for their farming. Viscri is also home to a cottage industry for knitted goods – socks, hats, sweaters and scarves, whose income is the sole source for many households. Here, Prince Charles bought his first property in Romania. A Saxon House from 1750. Today there are over 15 properties in several exceptional rural areas in Romania. Viscri, part of the Unesco World Heritage, will spell you right away!
The next stop on this Saxon Villages Tour in Transylvania is Mesendorf. An isolated village, with strong German features, that has the name of the fortified church from the settlement, and was built at the half of the XIV centry from rough sandstone. The first documentary attestation is related to the Cistercian monastery Carta, in 1322. Like all the citadel churches from Transylvania, the church from Mesendorf was transformed into a stronghold, with two levels of fortifications, both for the defense against the invaders. The west tour has a gallery open to the public. The exterior defense wall is made exclusively from stone while the interior wall is built from stone and wood. Mesendorf is considered a strong representative German center. The shrine of the church dates back to 1653, exhibiting distinguished paintings realized by Petru Orendt. It is a special attraction that deserves our attention and consideration.
Like all the fortress churches from Transylvania, the fortress church from Saschiz is part of the UNESCO patrimony, being considered the only living testimony of the German history. Located in the southern part of Transylvania, the fortified church from Saschiz was built in 1493, on the place of a former Roman basilica, made from quarry stone. The church has a large naval, a central tower, and a choir closed in three sides. The church has been surrounded by a defense wall. Near the Saschiz church it’s located a peasant fortress, built in XIV century. The large roads, the orchards full of flowers and fruit trees, the old houses, painted in the pure German tradition, turn the Saschiz village into an especially welcoming and picturesque place that induces serenity, contemplation and inner peace. At a couple of km away from the village, in the north, are located the ruins of a fortress dating back to 2500 B.C., known under the name of “the fortress of the giants”.
The simplicity, discretion and hospitality of the people from Crit became the subject of some writings that were passed on from generation to generation. Crit, an authentic Transylvanian village, astonishes through its abundance and serenity. The wars, and then communism marked the life of the people from this Saxon village. The name of the village, Crit – Deutschkreutz, signifies a German cross. These villages were established by the Saxons, Walloons and Flemish from between Rin and Maas, sent and encouraged by the Hungarian king Geza the IInd at thousands of km away to populate and to control the newly conquered territory (Transylvania), offering them unlimited fertile lands, privileges and protection, to the disadvantage of the local roman population. Over time, the locals endured countless abuses, as they were displaced and forced to live at the outskirts of society, the edge of the community or in forests, and those that refused to obey or to convert to the new religion (Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran church…) were often massacred. History, unfortunately, is filled with such atrocities, when women, children and the elderly, and sometimes whole villages, were killed without mercy. Today, those times have been forgotten, the local communities living in complete harmony. The legacy entrusted by the European Saxons, to all of us is unique, part of the Romanian identity. The fortified church from Crit dates back to 1270, and between 1810-1814 there were made significant changes, the current church acquiring a neoclassical style. Annually, the village alleys are crossed by hundreds of thousands of tourists that come to admire these enchanting places, almost frozen in time. Thank you for reading about our Saxon Villages Tour, we hope you will join us soon!
The first of the Saxon Villages that we visit is Rupea. With a documentary certification of over 5000 years, Rupea is one of the oldest Dacian settlements from Transylvania. Located on an extremely important strategic point, at a crossroads, the stronghold played a vital role for the defense of Dacia, but also Transylvania. During the XIII Century, the documents of that time mention the existence of some locals with financial potential that, having privileges, were able to build constructions from stone, durable in time. It is known that during the Hungarian, and later, the Austro-Hungarian occupation, the Romans were not allowed to use the stone as construction material, being able to use only clay and wood, a reason for which many constructions built by the locals were unable to hold up over the centuries.
Another documentary certification, left this time by the Turkish historians, is associated with the ottoman invasion from 1421 (Murat the IInd, known also as Murat Bey), and it reports that the local population found its salvation inside the walls of the stronghold. Rupea citadel dominates the scenery through its position and impressiveness. It was destroyed multiple times by the Tatars, Ottomans and the Habsburgs, and it was rebuilt, every time. The population consists predominantly from Romans, Ethnic Saxons and Hungarians, but also a strong community of gypsies. The cultural and historical wealth harmoniously interweave over this regions. It is said that the stronghold always belonged to the people, and every time someone would get married, had the obligation to place a stone at the foundation of the fortress, in order to protect the future generations.
One of the most raw beauties from our Saxon Villages Tour is shown to you by Viscri. You arrive into the village on an unpaved road, and when the road conditions are bad, you take a horse drawn cart that was designed for these roads a few hundred years ago. The little houses lining the 2 or 3 roads are the original Saxon houses, many of them lovingly restored, and painted pale blue, typical of Saxon villages. As you walk down the road, chickens are happily roaming the yards and pecking for food, residents are spotted working on some type of archaic implement that is still used for their farming.
Viscri is also home to a cottage industry for knitted goods – socks, hats, sweaters and scarves, whose income is the sole source for many households. Here, Prince Charles bought his first property in Romania.
A Saxon House from 1750. Today there are over 15 properties in several exceptional rural areas in Romania. Viscri, part of the Unesco World Heritage, will spell you right away!
The next stop on this Saxon Villages Tour in Transylvania is Mesendorf. An isolated village, with strong German features, that has the name of the fortified church from the settlement, and was built at the half of the XIV centry from rough sandstone. The first documentary attestation is related to the Cistercian monastery Carta, in 1322. Like all the citadel churches from Transylvania, the church from Mesendorf was transformed into a stronghold, with two levels of fortifications, both for the defense against the invaders. The west tour has a gallery open to the public. The exterior defense wall is made exclusively from stone while the interior wall is built from stone and wood. Mesendorf is considered a strong representative German center. The shrine of the church dates back to 1653, exhibiting distinguished paintings realized by Petru Orendt. It is a special attraction that deserves our attention and consideration.
Like all the fortress churches from Transylvania, the fortress church from Saschiz is part of the UNESCO patrimony, being considered the only living testimony of the German history. Located in the southern part of Transylvania, the fortified church from Saschiz was built in 1493, on the place of a former Roman basilica, made from quarry stone. The church has a large naval, a central tower, and a choir closed in three sides. The church has been surrounded by a defense wall. Near the Saschiz church it’s located a peasant fortress, built in XIV century. The large roads, the orchards full of flowers and fruit trees, the old houses, painted in the pure German tradition, turn the Saschiz village into an especially welcoming and picturesque place that induces serenity, contemplation and inner peace. At a couple of km away from the village, in the north, are located the ruins of a fortress dating back to 2500 B.C., known under the name of “the fortress of the giants”.
The simplicity, discretion and hospitality of the people from Crit became the subject of some writings that were passed on from generation to generation. Crit, an authentic Transylvanian village, astonishes through its abundance and serenity. The wars, and then communism marked the life of the people from this Saxon village. The name of the village, Crit – Deutschkreutz, signifies a German cross. These villages were established by the Saxons, Walloons and Flemish from between Rin and Maas, sent and encouraged by the Hungarian king Geza the IInd at thousands of km away to populate and to control the newly conquered territory (Transylvania), offering them unlimited fertile lands, privileges and protection, to the disadvantage of the local roman population. Over time, the locals endured countless abuses, as they were displaced and forced to live at the outskirts of society, the edge of the community or in forests, and those that refused to obey or to convert to the new religion (Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran church…) were often massacred. History, unfortunately, is filled with such atrocities, when women, children and the elderly, and sometimes whole villages, were killed without mercy. Today, those times have been forgotten, the local communities living in complete harmony. The legacy entrusted by the European Saxons, to all of us is unique, part of the Romanian identity. The fortified church from Crit dates back to 1270, and between 1810-1814 there were made significant changes, the current church acquiring a neoclassical style. Annually, the village alleys are crossed by hundreds of thousands of tourists that come to admire these enchanting places, almost frozen in time. Thank you for reading about our Saxon Villages Tour, we hope you will join us soon!
From 10 € / person
From 40 € / person
From 15 € / person
From 50 € / person
From 60 € / person
From 30 € / person
From 15 € / person
From 30 € / person
From 35 € / person
From 35 € / person
From 55 € / person
From 10 € / person
From 50 € / person
From 40 € / person
From 70 € / person
From 35 € / person