Churches

Romania is a country with a strong religious inheritance. Both Romanian Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Churches abound as do those of various Protestant congregations such as the Lutheran Church.

The architectural styles vary from quite austere Gothic to the very ornate Romanesque and Baroque. Fortified churches can be found on hill tops while many villages have wooden churches that are decorated with murals both inside and out. Murals are few and far between in the Lutheran Churches, having been plastered over.

However some murals have been uncovered and one such is the largest to be found in a medieval European church. Many churches are decorated with Islamic prayer mats that were gifts to the parish from travelers upon their return from abroad. The Saxon Church featured here is at Bagaciu noted also for its fine Altar.

Medieval Marriage Guidance

This Saxon Church has a very unusual feature

There is a small building in the churchyard that was used to solve marital problems. When a man and his wife were in dispute, they would be locked in the house for a week with a single knife, spoon, plate and cup that they would have to share. They would have a single bed and food would be brought to them by the villagers.

Should they have been unable to settle their differences within seven days, then they would remain locked up until they did!