The Organ of Death at Prejmer: Between Legend and Reality

The Village of Prejmer

Those who know nothing about the story of the village of Prejmer should learn that the locality was once one of the best fortified in Transylvania. Located right on the edge of the region, near the Buzău Pass, a route often taken by Turkish invasions, the church in Prejmer has had the most innovative means of defense over time. But with these defenses also came legends, each more beautiful than the last.

The Legend of the Organ of Death

One of these legends tells the story of an organ of death. However, not many know that this tale also has roots in assistance. It is said that during the reign of King Sigismund of Luxembourg, the fortress became one of the most fortified:

• The church was surrounded by a wall enclosure four meters thick
• Bordered by a very wide water ditch
• The fortress received bastions 12 meters high equipped with firing ports
• Access to the fortress was only possible via two mobile wooden bridges and through thick iron gates

At that time, it seems that a powerful combat device known as the organ of death also arrived in Prejmer. Essentially, it was a device on which several weapons were positioned, capable of inflicting massive losses on the enemy. The effectiveness of this weapon became so famous that tales about it began to circulate throughout the land, and it was only a step away from being mythologized.

The Revival of the Legend

Several hundred years later, a new organ was brought into the church, which made the elders remember the legends of their childhood. Moreover, the organ built in 1803 was special because the sounds it produced even frightened attackers. Thus, the legend of the *organ of death from Prejmer* was reborn.

Visiting Prejmer

Beyond these legends and stories, the fortress of Prejmer remains one of the most beautiful in Transylvania, and if you find yourself in this area, be sure not to miss a stop here.