‘Ein Feste Burg’ – Romania’s Saxon Lands

Romania has an extraordinary rich heritage. Hidden away in its woods and valleys, it has some of the most important architectural treasures in Europe. The painted monasteries of Bucovina are one.

I recently spent a weekend in the ancient Saxon villages of Transylvania. My guide was the British conservationist, William Blacker, author of “Along the Enchanted Way: a Romanian story”.

William is passionate about the beautiful Saxon churches and houses that stretch down the valley from Sighisoara to Sibiu and I found his enthusiasm infectious. The churches date from the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries when German communities first occupied this outpost of the Hapsburg Empire to defend it against the Turks. They are masterpieces of ecclesiastical architecture combined with military engineering – their bastions, gatehouses and rings of fortifications keeping the village and all its inhabitants safe in the house of God to resist an extended siege.

But unfortunately, after seven hundred years, this Saxon tradition could not resist the forces of liberty that Romania won in 1990, and many left for Germany to a new life in the West.

Now there are only a few Saxons living in the Saxon lands, and there is an urgent need to preserve their unique architectural heritage before it too vanishes from Transylvania. Organisations such as the Mihai Eminescu Trust are doing great work in repairing roofs and maintaining plasterwork in the medieval style and they have the strong support of HRH Prince Charles who cares passionately about Romania’s special landscape. In time this will bring tourism and new life back to the villages supporting local craftsmen and rural development.

Romania boasts an extraordinarily rich heritage that combines Romanian, Magyar, Saxon, Ottoman and Orthodox influences. It’s a heritage of huge importance not just to Romania but to all of Europe. It was great to see how British organisations and individuals are working with Romania to ensure it is preserved for future generations. Please follow me on Flickr for more pictures from my visit.