Biertan

Tuesday

This morning we did some more exploring of Sighisoara, visiting the Clock Tower and nearby Church of the Dominican monastery. The Clock Tower, also known as the Council Tower was built in the second half of the 14th century and expanded in the 16th century. After a fire in 1676, Austrian artists rebuilt the roof of the tower in its present baroque style and in 1894, colorful tiles were added. The interior now serves as a museum, and from the top you can enjoy fine views over the red-tiled roofs of the Old Town and intact 16th century Saxon houses lining the narrow cobblestone streets. Laura had read that there were free guided tours of the town, but when we asked in the tourist office, we discovered they didn't start till later in the season. However, we were told that there was someone who could give us a private tour for a voluntary donation, and he could be there in 20 minutes! He turned out to be a very pleasant youngish guy, and took us on a very informative tour of the highlights of the town. In the afternoon we drove out to the fortified church at Biertan. Surrounded by quaint streets and vineyards, the 15th century fortified church at Biertan is perched high on a hill in the middle of the village. Three tiers of 35-foot-high defensive walls, connected by towers and gates, encircled the complex, making the church impossible to conquer during medieval times. One of the unusual highlights of the church itself is a remarkable wooden door which once protected the treasures in the sacristy. The door has a particularly ingenious locking mechanism with 15 bolts that can be simultaneously activated by a key (shown in my extras). After seeing the fortified church, we went for a little walk around the village where my blip was taken.