What a wonderful day we spent at the small but charming fortified church in Tarteln (Toarcla)! On June 21st, the fourth Transylvanian Brunch of the season took place here – a well-known concept, but as always, with new moments and discoveries.
Under the arches of the old village school, 109 guests were welcomed with a rich and varied buffet – savory dishes, sweets, vegetarian options – all carefully prepared and mostly made from local ingredients. The host of the event was the Association Friends of the Tarteln Fortified Church / Asociația Prietenii Bisericii Fortificate Toarcla. No fewer than 18 different dishes and 4 warm meals were served. Among the guests’ favorites were the horseradish soup and the tomato soup with chicken. Fresh bread came from the recently opened bakery Martinsberg Transylvania in Șomartin (Martinsberg). A wine tasting was offered by Terra Regis from Bagaciu/Bogeschdorf.
Among the participants were Mrs. Carmen Schuster (Guesthouse Cincșor), a group of priests from the Sibiu District Consistory accompanied by Dietrich Galter, a group of future brunch organizers from Cincu accompanied by Marlene Herberth (Craftmade Cincu), and Gerhild Rudolf from the Teutsch House Museum Sibiu.
The local team responsible for preparing and serving the meal consisted of 12 people – half Saxons, half Romanians – supported by 16 enthusiastic volunteers. All dishes were skillfully cooked in three households in the village.
In the shade of the lindens in the churchyard, guests enjoyed not only the delicious food but also the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. This was followed by a special moment: the choir from the Hârtibaci Valley in Agnita filled the church with warm and cheerful sounds – a real highlight!
Thanks to Sebastian Bethge, participants discovered fascinating details about the history and development of the fortified church, presented with passion and expertise. Additionally, host Joachim Gherghel, representative of the Friends of the Tarteln Fortified Church association, led a short but informative tour through the village and surroundings – a pleasant walk scented with nature and summer colors, with a refreshing stop at the village water reservoir.
The little ones had a great time with a quiz in a new version specially prepared for them. The adults had the opportunity to contribute directly to the preservation of the place through a symbolic action: uncovering a 4-meter-long section of the old paved path in the churchyard, covered by 20 cm of earth – all in a relaxed and joyful spirit. 😉
The donations from participants totaled 515 euros, which will help co-finance the repair work on the apse roof, scheduled to begin in the fall.
Thanks to everyone who joined us, contributed, or simply supported the preservation of this special place by being present!
The next Transylvanian Brunch: July 5th in Meșendorf – we can’t wait to see you again!
