Hosman

Introduction

As you approach Hosman, you will see the tower of the fortified church standing guard in the distance against the peaks of the Făgăraș Mountains.

Historical Background

The double enclosure surrounded a Romanesque basilica at the beginning of the 16th century, whose very eloquent stylistic elements place the monument in the eighth decade of the 13th century, with the same plan layout found in the basilicas of the Sibiu area during that century.

Fortification and Attacks

Attacks from enemies necessitated its fortification two centuries later, when two rows of defensive walls, towers, and bastions were added.

Even so, the locality fell prey to the army of Vlad the Impaler, who, in 1456, set Hosman on fire. Evidence of this can be found in the stone cannonballs embedded in the walls of the enclosure.

• The wall surrounding the church was built in the 15th century, featuring:

- A double curtain with two towers on the outer wall

- Four towers on the inner wall

The gate tower connects the two enclosures and still retains the wooden drawbridge, above which the year 1502 can be read.

Discoveries and Iconography

In 1903, when the 1-meter-high debris left from the collapse of the aisles was removed, the old hexagonal brick pavement of the aisles, often found in ancient Transylvanian Romanesque basilicas, was discovered.

The church stands out for its iconographic theme throughout the decor. From the moment we enter, the exterior of the portal catches our attention, adorned with fabulous animals and fantastic characters that correspond to the portal of *St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna*. This resemblance is not purely coincidental; it is said that apprentices from Vienna participated in the construction of the church.

Painted Scenes

The painted scenes inside the church invite us on a true journey into the realm of the fantastic, while also providing a lesson about life:

• Zoomorphic characters
• Biblical or fantastic figures
• Supernatural beings
• Dramatic scenes

These elements draw our attention to the eternal struggle between good and evil, between matter and spirit, between the divine and the diabolical.

Conclusion

Source: [Sibiu Turism](http://www.sibiu-turism.ro/)