The village of Viscri, Weiskirich in the Saxon dialect, is located in the south-eastern part of Transylvania, about 8km (5mi) from the town of Bunesti, the last one been located on E60, 35km (22mi) from the famous Sighisoara. Once you have passed by the town of Bunesti you’ll drive on a bad road flanked by the Transylvanian hills. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Viscri is a small village, with no more than 500 inhabitants, from which only about 27 are Saxons. People say that Viscri hide the most picturesque fortified church of the Saxons from Transylvania. Unlike other Transylvanian fortified churches, Viscri was built around 1100 by the Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists in 1185. This explains why this unique gothic church displays a plain straight ceiling rather than a traditional vaulted one. In the 14th century, the eastern section was rebuilt and around 1525, the first fortification walls with towers were added.  Viscri is also known due to the great job in restoring done by the Mihai Eminescu Trust, the foundation patroned by The Prince of Wales. What is less known is that the work and the efforts of the foundation covers not only Viscri, but many other Saxon villages in Transylvania. Do not miss the Museum of the Church which has many interesting objects. There are furniture and typical tools of ancient crafts. And the few original clothes reveal amazing, charming decoration. Enjoy the view from the Tower. Looking all arround from the tower, you will see the tiled roofs of the village between the trees and all the natural surrounding.

1. Viscri – Saxon Village
Marius STANCA, MIEDAR IMAPA, GROUP
8113
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania, 59 Mărăști Blvd, District 1,
011464, Bucharest, Romania
Keywords: viscri, transylvania, saxon village
Viscri is one of the most beautiful Saxon villages in Transylvania,
designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It’s being like this since
Prince Charles of Wales had discovered this amazing location, a fairy tale
from the forgotten medieval times. Today, almost there is no travel
book, brochure or advertise which would not present the image of this
frozen in time town.
ABOUT VISCRI
The village of Viscri, Weiskirich in the Saxon dialect, is located in the south-eastern
part of Transylvania, about 8km (5mi) from the town of Bunesti, the last one been
located on E60, 35km (22mi) from the famous Sighisoara.
Once you have passed by the town of Bunesti you’ll drive on a bad road flanked by
the Transylvanian hills. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian
Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary.
Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation.
Viscri is a small village, with no more than 500 inhabitants, from which only about 27
are Saxons. People say that Viscri hide the most picturesque fortified church of the
Saxons from Transylvania.
INCREDIBLE FACTS
• Unlike other Transylvanian fortified churches, Viscri was built around 1100 by the
Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists in 1185. This explains why
this unique gothic church displays a plain straight ceiling rather than a traditional
vaulted one. In the 14th century, the eastern section was rebuilt and around 1525,
the first fortification walls with towers were added.
• Viscri is also known due to the great job in restoring done by the Mihai Eminescu
Trust, the foundation patroned by The Prince of Wales. What is less known is that
the work and the efforts of the foundation covers not only Viscri, but many other
Saxon villages in Transylvania.
• Do not miss the Museum of the Church which has many interesting objects. There
are furniture and typical tools of ancient crafts. And the few original clothes reveal
amazing, charming decoration.
• Enjoy the view from the Tower. Looking all arround from the tower, you will see the
tiled roofs of the village between the trees and all the natural surrounding.
“This is wonderful. It’s just like the picture books of childhood.”
- John Akeroyd
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Coordinating teacher: Mihai Daniel
Frumușelu
References:
- http://http://iloveromania.com/viscri/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscri_fortified_church
- http://www.viscri-info.ro/