Richiş Fortified Church

Biertan gained its importance as a marketplace in competition with Mediaş and Moşna during the Middle Ages and was the seat of the bishop of the Evangelic Church from 1572 to 1867 . Therefore three mighty ring walls, two outer baileys and several defence towers protected the ensemble.
The towerless three-nave hall church, almost completely preserved was built in 1500 on the foundations of a previous Romanesque building. The chancel had two defence levels, but the wooden one was demolished in 1803. The interior, covered by lierne vaults with ribbing shelters great treasures such as the stone pulpit from 1523, decorated with relief scenes or the late Gothic winged altar with 28 panel paintings and a delicate truss frame.
The late Gothic sacristy door is a testimony of great craftsmanship. Richly decorated with inlay work, the door has a lock that was presented at the World Fair in Paris in 1889, a complicated system that centrally locks at 13 points simultaneously in order to safely keep the church treasure in the sacristy.

The small towerless one-nave hall church in Pelişor was built in the 15th century and has remained almost unchanged until today. Only the nave was provided with a new stuccoed flat ceiling in the 19th century. In 1500 a polygonal curtain wall was built and endowed with four defensive towers, of which only the impressive gate tower with battlement walk survived the centuries. The assembly was strengthened on its western hillside with another wall with outer bailey built in 1600. The construction is still more than 10m high and preserves several defensive systems such as loopholes and embrasures.
The neoclassical white-golden altar consecrated in 1832 dominates the interior. The late Baroque organ however was moved to the evangelical church in Bucharest after restoration.

From the first church built in the 14th century the western portal is preserved, as well as stones used to build the eastern pairs of pillars in the hall church from 15th century. The construction of the new church, whose size and architecture are testimony of the importance of the settlement, was accompanied by extensive measures to fortify the assembly: a defence level was added to the chancel, the northern and southern entrances were strengthened by towers provided with loop holes. A parapet walk on arches was built on the curtain wall, as well as several defence towers and an outer bailey, which is divided in two parts and protected by a small watchtower.
The interior of the church impresses due to its dimensions and excellent sculptures, as well as the Gothic lierne vault on pairs of stone pillars.