Merghindeal has a clear cultural focus: a largely preserved Romanesque basilica and the defensive architecture added later. If you are interested in history and architectural forms, the site can be understood in terms of this development: the church and the fortifications belong to different periods. The altar, bells and underground structures add further specific details to the picture.
Church and fortifications in two phases
The three-aisled basilica was built around 1260 by the Transylvanian Saxons. It dates from the 13th century, is Romanesque and is largely preserved. In 1500, the church was fortified with a perimeter wall and defensive towers. This makes it possible to view the older church building and the later fortifications as two distinct phases of development.
A defensive tower was built above the chancel during the fortification works; it originally had a wall walk. A wall walk also survives on the defensive level of the bell tower, where it has a half-timbered parapet. A wall walk is a protected walkway within a fortification; the parapet is a distinct detail of its construction.
The perimeter wall had four corners and was fitted with two defensive towers, loopholes and a wall walk. The gate tower housed the castle guard. These structures give the fortifications a specific layout: the wall, towers, loopholes and gate tower are different parts of the complex.
Room, well, altar and bells
Beneath the church is a mysterious room, probably created around 1500 in connection with the fortification works. There is also a well beneath the church floor. It once supplied the inhabitants who sought refuge in the church during invasions. The well thus also points to the church’s former role as a place of protection.
The furnishings include a Baroque altar. It originally held seven carved statues; only one survives today, depicting the Saviour. Three bells remain in the church tower. The largest appears to date from the 15th century and bears an inscription in capital letters. The altar and bells offer a different perspective from the fortifications, drawing attention to the artistic furnishings and the individual surviving objects.
Landscape and regional route
The landscape also has a geographical distinction: Merghindeal is one of the places in the Transylvanian Basin where extensive glimee landslides occur. Thus, alongside the architectural history, the region’s geomorphological features are also part of the picture.
The “The greenway of Hârtibaciu Valley” route passes through Agnita, Dealu Frumos, Merghindeal, Cincu, Bruiu, Şomartin, Nou Român, Săsăuş, Chirpăr, Marpod and Sibiu. In the listed order, Merghindeal lies between Dealu Frumos and Cincu. This places the town on a route with several named stops without replacing the local focus on the basilica and its history of fortification.
When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider the focus of your trip: would you like Merghindeal’s church and defensive history to be the main theme, or would you prefer to include the town as one stop on the route mentioned above?
For the broader travel overview: Merghindeal.
