Saint Michael Fortress Church – Cisnădioara

The Journey to Cisnădioara

Just a 15-20 minute climb on a stony path, eased by steps, separates you from the ineffable beauty of the representative building in the village of Cisnădioara. You might wonder how difficult it is to reach here, to Cisnădioara, the village whose history remains eternally alive on the dusty streets shaped by late events. Cisnădioara is located about 10 km from Sibiu, perched atop a hill, emerging from nowhere in Transylvania.

The Fortified Church of Saint Michael

The construction of the fortified church of Saint Michael, known to the Germans as Michelsberg, dates back to 1180. From this moment, the construction expanded over a period of more than 20 years, a sanctuary enjoyed by its first "owner," namely the Chapter of Sibiu. From the first "owner," the fortified church passed, through donation, into the hands of the Hungarian King Andrew/András II and shortly thereafter to a close associate of the King and finally to the Cistercian Abbey of Cârța.

Legends and Mysteries

Returning to the charm of years gone by, the legends of the fortified church of Saint Michael still amaze visitors who hear them today.

Marriage Traditions

One of the legends refers to a true tradition before marriage, whereby any young man had to climb to the Fortress with a round stone, one of those found inside the fortification used in case of attack. Thus, each of the future grooms was obliged to test his strength during those 15-20 minutes of climbing we mentioned earlier, but great care was needed – with a massive round stone in hand.

The Divorce Legend

There is another legend that again refers to marriage and keeps the fortified church shrouded in true mystery. This legend applies to couples wishing to divorce – such legends are commonly found among the fortified churches of Transylvania, but something different makes the fortified church of Saint Michael stand out. Such couples were kept in the small house inside the fortress until they reconciled.

The question is what happened to them if they did not reconcile? Well... they never came out of there. Never.

Enduring Legacy

Could it be history, mystery, or just divine will that this fortress withstands the test of time? One fascinating aspect of the fortified church of Saint Michael that you will undoubtedly notice once you arrive there is that the fortress has stood for over 800 years without problems – thus, more than 70% of the current landscape has delighted our ancestors. Mainly, the interior paintings are the ones that have suffered, while everything else has been preserved impeccably.