Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Str 1 Decembrie, 1; mains 16-24 lei; 10am-10pm; )
With its high-backed chairs,
wood- raftered ceilings, ornately carved bannisters and oil paintings of knights and maid-
ens, this is an atmospheric place for lunch. Omelettes, breaded pork, tartar steak and pan-
fried trout. Next to the church entrance.
Getting There & Away
Four daily buses connect Biertan with Mediaş (11 lei, 40 minutes). You should be able to
hire a taxi from Sighişoara for about 80 to 100 lei for the day.
AROUND BIERTAN
Five kilometres south of Biertan is the small village of
Richiş
, likewise dominated by a
fantastic stone church. From Biertan you can also head east for 3km along a dirt track to
Copşa Mare
(Grosskopisch), a quaint town in a tight valley. The church there dates from
the early 14th century.
A rough dirt road leads northwest from Biertan to
Aţel
(Heteldorf), but it's far easier to
reach by looping back via the main highway. In 1959 the northern tower was levelled to
uncover a secret tunnel leading to a neighbouring farmstead.
Back toward Sighişoara, 13km down an unpaved road south of Laslea, is the isolated
village of
Mălâncrav
(Malmkrog), boasting the highest proportion of Saxons of any vil-
lage in the region. The village church, in addition to possessing vast frescoes that are
among the finest in Transylvania (some dating from 1375 to 1405), has an altarpiece
(1520) said to be the best-preserved of its kind still occupying its original location.
The 15th-century Hungarian
Apafi Manor House
( 0723-150 819, 0745-924 558;
cvranceanu@mihaieminescutrust.org; per person 245 lei)
, painstakingly restored to its
18th-century layout, reopened in 2007. Built by the Hungarian princely family of Apafi,
the manor is one of only a handful of manor houses ever built in a (Hungarian-governed)
Saxon village. Renovation work on this highly atmospheric living museum (and guest-
house) was executed using traditional methods.
Cazare
in some of the local houses (built using traditional tools and building methods)
can be reserved using the same contact information (per person without breakfast 122 lei).
Adjacent is an 80-hectare orchard and organic apple juice factory that can be visited.
SAXON CHURCHES AROUND MEDIAŞ
With its grim factories and power plants, Mediaş town may be an ugly vision of industry -
but for its medieval centre - yet around it are some magnificent Saxon churches you
should definitely not miss.
