This historic church is a bit harder to find. Bahnea (“Bachnen” in German, “Bonyha” in Hungarian) is a small village off the main roads, which you can only reach by driving on narrower county roads. The church itself is also hard to spot even when you’re in the village, because it’s hidden away behind the houses and backyard gardens, on a small hill. Here is a link to its location on Google Maps. It is a beautiful structure though, with lots of history, and the priest is an easygoing Hungarian fellow who is glad to talk with you and show you around.

The village is first mentioned in written documents in 1291. The church dates to the beginning of the 14th century, sometime between 1300-1350. The owners of the church (and the village) were the Bánffy family, an old Hungarian aristocratic family with lots of history and properties (castles and palaces) in Transilvania.

Just like the Saxons, the Hungarians who came to live in Transilvania were initially Catholic and later became Reformed. The Saxons became Evangelical around 1500 and the Hungarians became Reformed around 1600. So it was with the Church. Built Catholic, its walls were adorned with frescoes and its columns with various sculptures and Green Men. Come the Reformation, the frescoes were whitewashed and some of the sculptures defaced, and they stayed that way until the 20th century, when a restoration effort uncovered some of them.

Enjoy the photographs!

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

Somewhere near Bahnea, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

In Bahnea, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

Somewhere near Bahnea, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

Somewhere near Bahnea, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

Somewhere near Bahnea, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania

At the fortified church in Bahnea, Transilvania, Romania