Fortified Church of Prejmer

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I recently spent some of my holiday in Transylvania where I visited several old churches. Here are some interesting facts about the Fortified Church of Prejmer.

History

The fortified church of Prejmer is one of the most important medieval historic monuments in Transylvania.

The church was founded by the Germanic Teutonic Knights, and then was eventually taken over by the Transylvanian Saxon community. Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation.

Due to this strategic position, the church was strongly fortified in the 15th-16th centuries. High, strong walls were built and surrounded with a water-filled moat. The circular walls are up to 5 m thick and reach nearly 12 m in height. The circular walls surround the church, while a second and smaller wall sits atop the arched passage at the entrance gate. Other defensive features include five towers and a battlement.

On the interior side of the wall, there are four levels containing rooms and storage space and backed by the battlement. The over 270 rooms could offer shelter to some 1600 villagers in case of attack. Entry into the complex is made through a 30 m long tunnel protected by a portcullis with wooden grilles strengthened by iron and powerful oak doors.

Recent Renovations

In 1993 the roofs have been repaired and the rooms restored. In addition, permanent museum exhibitions have also been created.

In 1999 became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Val Juhasz is an Electronic Engineer with a Master’s Degree from the Manchester Business School (MBS), currently undertaking a PhD in Architectural Conservation. He is researching various aspects of moisture movement in porous materials and the effect of the electromagnetic environment onto the movement and retention of moisture in old buildings. He is the co-founder of Core Conservation Ltd, a building conservation company advocating traditional, building-friendly materials and practices. He regularly attends conservation workshops and seminars in Italy and Venice, learning about the traditional Roman architecture, materials and technologies. He held numerous talks and CPDs to private architectural and surveying practices throughout the UK.