The year 2024 brought long-awaited and important structural reinforcement measures for the fortified church of Zendersch, located in the Târnava Mică area (Sighișoara Church District). This year, the Fortified Churches Foundation, in collaboration with the Local Community Association (HOG) Zendersch, undertook the repair of the enclosing wall.
During the summer, the foundation team, led by Sebastian Bethge, managed to restore a ten-meter-long section of the northwest defense wall, which had collapsed about four years ago. After the damage had been temporarily secured with a tarp, specialists repaired the masonry using lime mortar, paying special attention to creating a strong bond with the existing structure. The wall’s current concrete covering is intended only as a temporary solution and will eventually be replaced by a more suitable covering, such as roof tiles.
The costs for planning, construction management, and actual construction work amounted to around 9,000 euros, with about one-third covered by the Fortified Churches Foundation and two-thirds by the HOG.
Good Cooperation as a Foundation
Sebastian Bethge, conservationist at the Fortified Churches Foundation, praised the cooperation with those responsible: “The collaboration with Mr. Alfred Back from the Church District, the HOG Zendersch, and the Mayor’s Office was straightforward and efficient. This pleases me especially because there will still be much to do in Zendersch in the future.”
“The neo-Gothic hall church in Zendersch was built toward the end of the 19th century, replacing a medieval structure. Despite its relatively young age, the vault has several cracks that need to be examined and monitored,” Bethge explained. Moreover, the outbuildings, which still contain medieval structural elements (the northeast tower, southeast tower, and gate tower), show damage that requires analysis and, if necessary, repair.
The proven and successful collaboration of all involved can and should serve as an ideal foundation for further reinforcement work at the fortified church of Zendersch in the future.
