Dârjiu

Introduction

Located in Harghita County, the village of Dârjiu is recognized as the seat of the commune that bears its name, situated in Transylvania. With over 653 inhabitants, the village remains a frequently visited area, both by the relatives of the locals and by new tourists.

The Unitarian Church

One of the most imposing fortifications built on the territory of Dârjiu is the Unitarian Church. Of Szekler origin, it is home to numerous elements of mural art, especially sculptures, many of which have been destroyed over time. Nevertheless, the remnants of these works suggest that there is much more to explore, created in the same manner as the conception that underlies the church in Ghelnița.

Murals and Their History

Regarding the period of existence of the murals, they lost their integral appearance during the Protestant Reformation. To withstand the test of time, the fortified church of Dârjiu has been designated a UNESCO monument. Among the remaining elements, the most important is the fresco, an artistic feature that intricately depicts a Cuman migrant wearing traditional clothing and the iconic cap. Each artistic element has its own legend, and the one referring to this passage alludes to a legend concerning the battle of Chiraleș during the 11th century.

Unique Features of the Fortified Church

Another aspect that makes the fortified church of Dârjiu unique is the existence of a storage room located within the walls of the structure. Here, locals can store their food, which is why the fortification is also known as the "citadel of the lard."

Architectural Aspects

Additionally, the fortified church of Dârjiu features a sundial located on the southwest tower, an extremely important and quite unique aspect in today's world. In terms of dimensions:

• The church's curtains rise to a height of up to 5 meters.
• Bastions at oblique angles are scattered throughout.
• The average height is approximately 15 meters, with the tallest point reaching 20 meters.

Historical Context

However, returning to historical elements, this church dates back to the 15th century, when the construction was completed. To be more precise, the final moment was marked in 1530, a year that coincides with the idea of building storage rooms. In this way, that region was used for storing food such as grains, lard, and many other extremely useful supplies.

Today, it can be visited at any time, across its entire area of 1852 square meters.