1. University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest,
MIEADR, IMAPA
2019
Coord. Teacher: Student:
Lect. Univ. Dr. Mihai Daniel Andrei Toma
Frumușelu
2. Biertan is a commune in central Romania, in the north of the Sibiu
County, 80 km north of Sibiu and 29 km east of Mediaş. Biertan is one
of the most important Saxon villages with fortified churches in
Transylvania, having been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage
Sites since 1993. The Biertan fortified church was the see of
the Lutheran Evangelical Bishop in Transylvania between 1572 and
1867.
The commune is composed of three villages: Biertan, Copșa Mare
(Gross-Kopisch; Nagykapus) and Richiș (Reichesdorf; Riomfalva),
each of which has a fortified church.
5. History
The first documentary testimony about the village
dates from 1283 in a document about the taxes
paid by the inhabitants of 7 villages and so it is
believed to have been founded sometime between
1224 and 1283 by Transylvanian Saxons. The village
settlement quickly developed into an important
market town and by 1510 Biertan supported a
population of about 5,000 people. Between 1468
and the 16th century a small fortified church (die
Kirchenburg) was constructed and developed. After
the medieval period the town declined in
importance with the rise of
neighbouring Sighișoara.
6.
7. During World War II many men were conscripted
into the Romanian army and later the Waffen-SS.
After the war many Transylvanian
Saxons were expelled from the region. Following
the collapse of Communism in 1990 many more left
for Germany.
Today the whole commune has a population of
about 2,500 and the village of Biertan alone has
about 1,600 people. It is one of the most visited
villages in Transylvania, being the historically
important place of the annual reunion of
the Transylvanian Saxons, many of whom now live
in Germany.
8.
9. The fortified Church of Biertan was the Evangelic
Episcopal See for 300 years (1572 – 1867), and the
religious centre for the Saxons in Transylvania. In
1993 it was included in the UNESCO world
patrimony, being considered the most valuable of
the seven Saxon attraction points included on that
list.
Built between the 15th and 16th century, in Gothic
style and with Renaissance influences, this
monument is the one that keeps best its initial
aspect. The total surface of the complex covers
almost 1 hectare.
