The fourth workshop of the educational program School in the Citadel / Schulwerkstatt – Lernort Kirchenburg marked the end of the pilot edition—but not the end of the initiative. On the contrary, the success of all four sessions gives us confidence that more editions will follow, equally valuable and inspiring.
This time, the participants were 3rd-grade students from the “Octavian Goga” National College in Sibiu, who already had introductory knowledge about fortified churches—a joy and a solid foundation for our discussions and activities.
A new element in this workshop was the interactive quiz, enriched with interesting facts about the development of the fortified church in Cristian, the local community, and specific architectural features. The quiz captured the children’s attention and sparked many curious questions from our young visitors.
The hands-on activity took place right inside the fortified ensemble—more precisely, in the former barn within the old Zwinger, now transformed into a festive hall and, in our case, a space for education and imagination.
The students were invited to propose new uses for the fortified church and its surroundings. To give form to all the ideas generated, we extended the working area beyond the fortress walls. Thus, not only the courtyard, towers, and walls, but also the banks of the Cibin River—located nearby—were included in the children’s plans.
The creative space expanded beyond the citadel walls to encompass all the ideas of the 3rd-grade students from CNOG Sibiu. The courtyard, towers, walls, and the riverbanks came alive with color and fresh, bold ideas—true to the spirit and age of these young creators.
We hope—and truly believe—that through these playful yet meaningful workshops, we have planted a seed of curiosity and connection with these monuments. Perhaps someday, some of the children will actively contribute to the future of fortified churches, or at least look at them with more care, respect, and appreciation.
We would like to thank the children, the teachers who were open to taking part in this program, the wonderful architects from De-a Arhitectura Sibiu—who are an inspiration to us as well—and our warm hosts in Cristian for welcoming us.
Once again, we let the photos tell the rest of the story of this final workshop, closing with the hope that this is just the beginning of a long-term, meaningful initiative.
