Description:
Biertan is a market-town in the middle of the Transsylvanian highland; it was founded in the Saxon period (Saxons came from the Rhine and Moselle Rivers regions during the mid 1100s). The church with its castel, being located in the middle of the village on a hill, is one of the typical examples of the fortified churches, better church-castel, built in the area of the (Kokel) Tirnava-river as a defense against the Turks. The monument becomes impressive by its harmonic integration in the village as well as for the original substance. The restoration had become necessary after the earthquake in 1977, when cracks appeared in the vault and in several parts the ribs loosened and fell down . The ample work of restoration began with consolidating the damaged vaults that had to be renewed in some parts, and the reinforcement of all ribs. Later, among others, the missing parts of the window frames made of stone were replaced and bull's-eye panes set in, thus improving the light conditions in the church interior.