Romania: Saschiz Fortified Church

Another truly spectacular Transylvanian fortified church is the one in the village of Saschiz. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The current gothic structure was erected in 1496 on the place of a former Romanesque basilica. The sheer size of the central building of the church is impressive, as is the wall completely surrounding it. Similar to other fortified churches, it served as the main refuge for the Saxon inhabitants of Saschiz village during invading raids from Ottomans. There is a lot to explore here – you can get to the roof of the church itself, as we as climb all the step to the top of the tower.