Romania: Viscri Fortified Church
When German Saxon settlers came to Transylvania in the 12th century, they founded a lot of churches and chapels in their villages. During the next couple centuries, invasions from Tartars and Ottomans became a gruesome reality when villages were attacked and ransacked over and over. The solution was to fortify the churches and hide there during the attacks. Hence the over 150 fortified Transylvanian churches. Viscri Fortified Church is one of the best preserved and a UNESCO World Heritage site – it’s absolutely spectacular, standing on a high hill surrounded with two layers of white-washed defensive walls. What’s even more amazing – you can climb to the rooftop of the church (beware of old wooden creaky stairs that look like their are about to collapse any second) for absolutely surreal views of the Romanian countryside.
