Biserica Fortificată Hărman

The Fortified Church of Harman, located near Brasov, is one of the best-preserved ensembles of its kind in the Barsa Land, a testimony to the defensive architecture of the Transylvanian Saxons in the Middle Ages. The Gothic church, built by the Saxon community, is surrounded by massive defensive walls fitted with towers and a wall walk, which turned the place of worship into a genuine peasant fortress where the inhabitants could take refuge during invasions. In the towers and chambers at the base of the walls, spaces still remain that recalled their role as storehouse and shelter, including the famous bacon hung in the communal larder.

Inside a defensive tower, fragments of valuable medieval frescoes can still be seen. The ensemble belongs to the category of internationally recognised fortified churches of Transylvania. Practical note: the visit can easily be combined with the fortified church of nearby Prejmer, on the UNESCO list, in a tour of the Barsa Land.