Biertan Fortified Church

About

Of the many fortified churches throughout the country, this 15th century bastion was the last to be built in Transylvania. Erected by Saxon settlers when the Ottoman threat began to draw near, its ring of double walls, seven towers, and two bastions still stand today. Inside, the altar was built by Austrian and German artisans between 1483 and 1513, and is the largest in Transylvania. A wooden door with an ingenious 16th century locking mechanism, which would simultaneously activate 15 bolts, was shown at the Paris World Expo in 1900. Visitors can also visit several other buildings, including the towers. The Prison Tower was used to ‘imprison’ couples considering divorce until the could resolve their issues. Of all the couples that went in, only one went through with the divorce.