Kirchenburg Deutschweisskirch (Viscri)

            Background and church

The weißkirch ("white church") in the village's German name refers to a chapel built by the Székely inhabitants who lived there prior to the Saxons' arrival between 1141 and 1162, during the reign of Géza II. The building was rectangular, with a semicircular altar of greenish-white limestone. Four Romanesque capitals that survive in the choir, including one used as a baptismal font, also originate in this period. Coins and earrings found in graves both inside and outside the chapel were initially thought to date from the reign of Coloman (1095–1116), but a re-evaluation found that the oldest coin came from the late reign of Géza II, suggesting the remains were of Saxons rather than Székely. 

The hall church interior with its wooden gallery
In the 13th century, the Saxons built a Romanesque hall church that integrated the chapel but also introduced changes, such as a wooden seat gallery at the western end. The apse, its altar possibly of the Romanesque period, features a scalloped capital unique to Transylvania. The design was popular in 12th-century Germany but disappeared soon after reaching Austria, suggesting the church dates to no later than the first half of the 13th century.

In the 14th century the church became a community church. The apse was replaced by a larger trapezoidal choir. The church was fortified around 1500: the hall was lengthened and linked to the keep, formerly freestanding and probably belonging to the family of a count. Another level was added to the keep, used for bells and fitted with a battlement that stayed on corbels. The roof featured a sixth level with embrasures for firing. The choir's defensive level was demolished in 1743. Due to the peaceful nature of the period, the church battlement was taken down after that time, replaced by grain storerooms for the villagers. The interior ceiling has a ceiling divided into squares, also from 1743, around which time the austere furnishings were put in place.

Fortifications and recognition

Plan of the fortified church
In the 12th century, fortifications began to be built around the chapel. Forming an oval and made of river and field stone, the south, east and northeast walls have survived;[1] these are 7 m in height. The entrance is through the southeast wall, to which two towers and two bastions were added in the 14th century. The south tower, built into the wall exterior, had three floors and a battlement resting on wooden corbels. Sharing a roof with the south bastion, the tower's lower levels were joined into a hall entered from the east. The topmost level kept its parapets, with their oak border and moveable logs that could shut in defenders. The south bastion battlement and roof were joined with those of the south tower.

In 1999, Viscri, together with five other places, was added to the already-listed Biertan to form the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, the church is listed as a historic monument by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, with the following being listed as separate entries: the inner walls and towers, the outer walls, and a 19th-century outdoor space for festive dances

Taken on: July 16, 2019

Tags:

kirche

kirchenburg

roumania romania

Unesco

templon

church

fortified « less

Sets appears in: • transylvania • Viscri - Deutschweisskirch

Groups appears in: • The Photographer's Club • Colors of the World more » • Leica • FlickrCentral • Images of Romania • Photography • Magic Moments • Romania • Rangefinder Cameras • !Catchy Colors • Color and Colors - No computer-generated posts. • Flickr Addicts • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Amateurs • Churches - Please read the rules before posting • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • Churches, Chapels, Domes, Mosques, Temples, Shrines and Monaster • FlickrToday (only 1 pic per day) • Nice pictures • ANYTHING ALLOWED!!!!!! • Leica Digital • Your photo goes here! no 30/60 • Leica D-LUX series • Leica M Users • Fortified Churches • The Flikr Group • Transylvania Pictures • Erdély képei • Szekelyfold • A+++ Photo (Post 1, Give 3 awards ONLY) Not commenting = Ban • An Awesome Shot! Invited Photos ONLY!! • Romania, Best of • Blue Ribbon PHOTOGRAPHY (INVITE ONLY) • Romania Roumanie România • Transylvanian Castles, Fortifications (Read the RULES, please) • Beautiful Capture • The Unforgettable Pictures ~ Post 1, Comment 3 ~ NEW RULES!! • Your Best Photography • We travel the World • Flickr Travel & Eco_photos • I am flickr! - No 30/60 Limit • Erdély képekben • Official National Geographic Group • Flickr Number One !! • Special Romania • LEICA AROUND THE WORLD • Leica M photography • Flickr's Biggest Group • National Geographic | World Wide • FlickrCentral With No Posting Limit • !* CHURCHES of the WORLD ✧ Post 1/Award 2 • World Wide Web Portal * Joy to the World! • ***Flickr Global • National Geographic Group • Flickr Community (INVITE ALL CONTACTS) • Leica Moments • Leica Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH • LEICA PICS • Leica Camera M Digital • THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB! CORDIALLY YOURS! • Leica M (Deutsch) • Fine Gold • Leica D-Lux 5 • The International Leica Club • The " Leica Force " • Flickr OBSESSION' • Transylvania - 'The Land Beyond the Forest' • ♦♦♦ PHOTO VERY NICE ♦♦♦ • Favorite Images Of Romanian Photographers 10+ Faves • flickr (unofficial) • Leica M (Type 240) • Leica M Typ 240 • flickr clickx • Leica M / M-E / M9 / Monochrome • m240 group • Leica M/M-P/M-D (Type 240/262) • leica m240 group • leica m240 • flickr every day! • Leica enthusiast • Photo's passion of the world • We love cameras • !*ALL ARE WELCOME*! • Amateur Photographer Magazine • This is Why I Bought A Camera • Today's Flickr • !*Flickr All Stars*! • flickr world wide • ★ EUROPE ★ ЕВРОПА ★ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ ★ EUROPA ★ • Show All Your Photos From Around The World. NO SL/AI • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • Transylvania, Maramures & Banat Architecture • Leica M Type 240 & all other digital M • leicas best • FlickrCentral2 • Art With Your Heart • The best photographs from around the world. • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD • Flickr Addicts Two • Nice Places to Visit - No 30/60 Limit - Photos & Videos Welcome. • Europe - History & Beauty « less

Camera: Leica D-LUX 5, f/3.5, 1/500 sec, 5.5mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Leica D-LUX 5
Aperture:	f/3.5
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	5.5mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Landscape
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7 (Windows)
Show full info

Stats: 3,090 views / 10 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: