Rodbav

Introduction

Located in Brașov County, the village of Rodbav is part of the Șoarș commune. Undoubtedly, the locality is well-known for its history and, on the other hand, for the remarkable monuments that have marked the existence of a set of monumental aspects.

Notable Personalities

We are talking here about the renowned personalities that trace their origins to the village of Rodbav, namely the folklorist Ion Mușlea (born in 1899 and passed away in 1966). The village is situated at over 460 meters above sea level and has a population of 270 residents.

Nevertheless, Rodbav is home to one of the most important fortified churches, built during the 14th century.

Rodbav Baths

In addition to what has already been mentioned, the existence of the Rodbav Baths has made the name of the village well-known. Thus, during communism, they were extremely recognized and famous due to the offers available within all related institutions. The main beneficial effects on the body were the reasons why these baths were renowned – effects such as:

• balneotherapy
• The mud provided by the earth’s bounty

These factors made it so that word spread, and sooner or later, the entire population would come to these health resources.

Religious Significance

However, the village of Rodbav has a completely different purpose – alongside the fortified church, there is also the Evangelical Church in the locality, an additional reason why the village attracts an ever-increasing number of tourists and visitors each year.

Historical Context

Even though the completion of the fortified church was marked by the 14th century, its tower is much older, dating back to the 13th century. Given that time leaves its mark on everything, this was no exception – which is why today, the church tower no longer exists. At the beginning of 2016, it collapsed, leaving behind dust, debris, and nothing more than long-lost memories.

It is no wonder that any historical site, if not restored, cannot last more than a few centuries. Well, the one in Rodbav can truly be considered a hero, as it existed for over eight centuries.

A Difficult Fate

Looking back a bit in history, the village of Rodbav had a difficult fate. In 1732, both the fortress and the village were burned to the ground. At that time, restoration works were in trend, as a few years later (specifically 6 years, in 1738) the church was restored, while the tower did not require further fortifying aspects.