Two weeks after the successful launch of the first Transylvanian Brunch in Movile (Hunderbücheln), a new event followed in mid-May in Curciu, near Mediaș. A quick reminder: these weekend events are organized by the Fortified Churches Foundation, which invites all those interested to spend a few hours around one of the many Saxon fortified churches in Transylvania – with a highly attractive culinary offering, a touch of art, culture, and history related to the church, engaging conversations and exchanges among passionate guests, a walk or short hike, and even activities for children – who can participate in a quiz on fortified churches and thus playfully discover this unique monument and learn more about it alongside their parents.
This time, it was the fortified church in Curciu’s turn, first mentioned in documents in 1322 and today an attraction in the landscape between Mediaș, Târnăveni, and Sighișoara. More than that – and it’s worth stating from the outset: this location can be seen as an example of how such historical monuments can be used in the future.
The Fortified Churches Foundation, together with its partners and with financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany, managed to carry out restoration work on the historic ensemble’s annexes in order to turn it into a tourist site. More precisely: Sibiu-based architect Tudor Pavelescu created a unique space inside the fortified church, transforming several rooms (the former gate tower, the former castle keeper’s house, and the former chapel) so they can be used as a living or accommodation space for tourists.
Pavelescu combined traditional elements and the old structure with a modern living style, thus offering guests the chance to spend their stay in a truly special place. Available are two bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining area, a relaxation space – and everything needed for a comfortable stay.
Responsible on site is Dana Crișan, who also led the Saturday midday tour. Crișan is a German and English teacher in the village and, as she proudly shared, grew up alongside the Saxon children in the village, which is why she still speaks the dialect fluently.
During the guided tour, she also addressed the social aspects of Transylvanian Saxon life, which sparked great interest among the mostly Romanian guests. She spoke about the well-organized neighborhoods, the brotherhoods that existed, how well thought-out life was around the fortified church, the harmony among people, and the mutual help that was simply natural. She concluded by expressing her regret that the German minority has (almost entirely) left the country – a great loss, she said.
And of course – not to omit what was perhaps the most anticipated part: the culinary offering was outstanding. Guests praised the variety of spreads – a true paradise for vegetarians and even vegans. Both the soup and the “Cluj-style cabbage” were cooked without meat. All of this was prepared by Mrs. Aurora.
Event organizer and Fortified Churches Foundation manager Cristian Cismaru consistently emphasizes in his opening remarks how important it is for people from towns near these fortified churches to be made aware of the need to preserve and find new uses for these monuments, to keep them alive. For this reason, a small portion of the participation fee goes directly toward a current project – in this case, plans are underway to convert the sacristy into an exhibition space – a mini-museum.
Once again, it was noted that most visitors came from large cities – mainly families with children from Bucharest, Brașov, and Sibiu – who, on the one hand, wanted to spend a pleasant and diverse day, but also showed genuine interest in the culture and history of the Transylvanian Saxons. Cismaru’s hope and goal is for families to join forces, perhaps form an association, and take responsibility for the care of a fortified church. As he says, he has already received some inquiries in this regard. But he also knows that it will take a lot of patience to bring this plan to fruition.
The next Transylvanian Brunch event will take place in Bazna on May 24, starting at 11:00 a.m.
Author: Hans Königes
