Biertan

Biertan is mentioned for the first time in a written document in 1283. It developed into a flourishing crafts and trade centre during the Middle Ages, always in competition with its neighbour market town of Medias.
The fortified church of Biertan was built in the place of on old basilica at the end of the 15th century with architectural elements from the late-Gothic and renaissance style. The walls, which surround the church in three rows, were built in several stages: the inner enclosure was already built in the 14th century to protect the old basilica. The second enclosure was erected in the 15th century and the third one as well as the 8 towers and the bastions were built during the 16th century. The altar is the "gem" of Biertan church, as it is considered not only one of the biggest, but also the most beautiful Gothic folding triptychs in Transilvania. It is made-up of 28 pre-Reformation plates, dating from 1483 and attributed to the Vienna "Schottenmeister" school. The Sacristy Door is another of the churches "jewels". The oak door, with inlaid work, dates from 1515 and has a huge lock with a complicated mechanism on its backside. This was awarded a prize at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900 as it was considered a masterpiece of Transilvanian arts and crafts. The Church of Biertan, served, for 300 years as the residence of the Lutheran bishop of Transilvania.
Today, it is one of the Romania's most important historical and architectural monuments, included in 1993 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage.