Category Archives: Places

Thoughts and photos from various places in the world.

Places

The fortified church in Saschiz

This kind of architectural structure which combines a regularly-used church with fortified walls is typical of the region of Transilvania, where Saxons built them as places of refuge against invading tartars and turks. While larger settlements (such as Medias) could afford to build fortified walls around the entire town, villages such as Saschiz built fortified churches. There were originally 300 of these churches in Transilvania. About 150 of them remain standing.

Known as Keisd in German and Szászkézd in Hungarian, Saschiz (“Sas” = Saxon, “chiz” = Keisd) is unique because it also has a separate fortress built on one of the hilltops above the village. It (along with six other villages) is named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortress, being relatively far from the village, didn’t see much use during times of invasion and the fortified church itself became the place where people would take refuge and do their best to withstand sieges. The fortified church was built in 1493-1496 and the fortress was begun in 1496.

The photos you’ll see here were taken in and around the fortified church. We haven’t visited the fotress yet, but we intend to do it.

Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Saschiz, Romania
Saschiz, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
In the hills above Saschiz, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania
Fortified church in Saschiz, Transilvania, Romania

I hope you enjoyed the photos! I took them with my Canon EOS 5D and the EF 24-105mm f/4L lens.

Canon EOS 5D (front)

Canon EOS 5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

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Places

The Rupea Fortress

We visited the Rupea Fortress a number of years ago, before the restoration work began. Now the work is complete and it’s amazing to see the difference. We visited it recently and took another set of photos. Those are coming soon. In the meantime, here is a set of the photos taken back when it was still falling apart.

There’s a lot of history packed into that hilltop where the fortress is built. Archeological digs found evidence of settlements dating back to 5500-3500 BC. When Romania was known as Dacia, before it was conquered and colonized by the Romans, the place was known as Rumidava. Afterward, it became known as Rupes, from the basaltic rock of the hill where it’s built. When the Saxons colonized Transilvania, the fortress became known as Castrum Kuholm, the word “kuholm” refering once again to the same basaltic rock. There is more information here, should you be interested.

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
Outside the Rupea Fortress
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania
The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

I hope you enjoyed the photos! I took them with my Canon EOS 5D and the EF 24-105mm f/4L lens.

Canon EOS 5D (front)

Canon EOS 5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

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Places

The Neamt Fortress

This medieval citadel was built on the peak of a mountain near Tg. Neamț in Moldova, Romania. The origins of the original fortifications are somewhat unclear, but there is clear historical proof that the citadel as we know it now took shape during the reign of Peter I, toward the end of the 14th century and was enlarged and further fortified during the reign of Stefan cel Mare in the 15th century. After being destroyed in the 18th century, it underwent significant restoration work in the 20th century and became a museum.

While I appreciate the architectural and structural work that was put into the restoration process, I am less than enthused about the way the interiors were decorated, with puppets and props and modern light appliances. The Neamt Fortress isn’t the only one to be done in this way. The Rupea Fortress has only recently been restored and it’s the same story there. Other places I’ve visited in Europe and in the United States were done the same way. The problem is that it gets to a point where it’s too fake to be believable, even though it all seems period-appropriate at first sight. Maybe it’s just me, I don’t know. Luckily all these faults are only window-dressing, so they can be addressed gradually and without too much expense.

Enjoy the photos!

Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania
Cetatea Neamt, Moldova, Romania

Btw, I took these photos with my Canon PowerShot G10.

Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

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Places

The Suceava Castle

The Castle of Suceava (Cetatea de Scaun a Sucevei) was the ruling place of a Romanian historical figure who has become the stuff of legend, namely Ștefan cel Mare, also known as Stephen III of Moldavia. He was “voivode” (ruler) of Moldavia from 1457 until his death in 1504. I’ll let you read more about him here.

Stefan cel Mare

Stefan cel Mare

The castle was built and extended in multiple stages. The initial medieval keep was completed in the 14th century and was called Fort Mușatin. The exterior wall around the keep was built during the reign of Stefan cel Mare, between 1476-1478. The moat was dug at the end of the 15 century. The counterattack wall around the moat was built in the second half of the 15th century. The castle’s architecture allows for the walls at the main points of cannon attack to be as thick as 3.5 meters. It’s an impressive structure and once inside its walls, there’s a certain air of history that will take hold of you, provided you’re not surrounded by crowds of tourists.

Enjoy the photos!

Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.
Cetatea de Scaun, Suceava, Bucovina, Romania.

I shot these photos with my Canon EOS 5D and the EF 24-105mm f/4L lens.

Canon EOS 5D (front)

Canon EOS 5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

 

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Places

Images from historic churches and monasteries in Bucovina and Moldova

In August of 2*** (regular readers will know the year 😁), we took a tour of the historic churches and monasteries in the provinces of Moldova and Bucovina (within the territory of Romania).

A clarification is in order here. When people hear Moldova they automatically think about the Republic of Moldova, which used to be part of the Romanian province of Moldova but was taken by the Russians in 1940. That whole region has a fairly tumultuous history which you can read here. Just keep in mind these photographs were taken within the current-day borders of Romania and yes, there are two provinces called Bucovina and Moldova in Romania. I’ve lost track of how many times people have tried to correct me on this, all of them foreigners…

romania-historical-provinces

I could have published individual posts of each place but that would have been tedious for me (and for you too). I know it was tedious for me when we visited these places, one after another, day after day, dealing with heat, huge crowds and the hospitality industry (you know, the three Hs of travel; they add together to form a fourth H which is a four-letter word)… but we had made a plan and we stuck to it. Romanians in general tend to make trips to these places yearly for religious reasons. We visited these places because of their historical and architectural value, so while we were there we saw as many as we could in the time we had allotted ourselves.

In this gallery of photographs (there are 134 of them), you will see images from the following places:

  • The wooden church in Șurdești (Maramureș), a UNESCO monument and also the highest wooden church in the world
  • Moldovița Monastery
  • Sucevița Monastery
  • Chilia lui Daniil Sihastrul
  • Putna Monastery
  • “Dragoș Vodă” wooden church
  • Voroneț Monastery, famous for the blue used in its exterior murals, called Voroneț Blue
  • Humorul Monastery
  • Arbore Church
  • Dragomirna Monastery
  • Agapia Monastery
  • Văratec Monastery
  • Neamț Monastery
  • Secu Monastery
  • Sihăstria Monastery

Since I arranged the photos in chronological order, you’ll see them just as they’re listed above. You’ll probably want to know which was my favorite place. Dragomirna Monastery, definitely! Enjoy the gallery and thanks for being a subscriber!

Biserica de Lemn “Sfintii Arhangheli Mihail si Gavriil”, Surdesti, Romania, a UNESCO monument
Biserica de Lemn “Sfintii Arhangheli Mihail si Gavriil”, Surdesti, Romania — the tallest wooden church in the world.
Biserica de Lemn “Sfintii Arhangheli Mihail si Gavriil”, Surdesti, Romania — the tallest wooden church in the world.
Biserica de Lemn “Sfintii Arhangheli Mihail si Gavriil”, Surdesti, Romania — the tallest wooden church in the world.
Biserica de Lemn “Sfintii Arhangheli Mihail si Gavriil”, Surdesti, Romania — the tallest wooden church in the world.
Crossing the Carpathian Mountains in the province of Maramures, Romania
Main gate, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Lovely stone architecture, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Cloisters, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Flowers at the cloisters, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Main gate, interior courtyard, Manastirea Moldovita, Bucovina, Romania.
Entrance to Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Stairway to cloisters, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, church, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, garden, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Defense wall, cloisters, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, defense walls, cloisters and church, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Defense wall and cloisters, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church and interior courtyard, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church and interior courtyard, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Cloisters, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Cloisters, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Church exterior, Manastirea Sucevita, Bucovina, Romania.
Langa Chilia lui Daniil Sihastrul, Bucovina, Romania
Langa Chilia lui Daniil Sihastrul, Bucovina, Romania
Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania
Cloisters, Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Putna, Bucovina, Romania.
Biserica de Lemn “Dragos Voda”, Bucovina, Romania.
Biserica de Lemn “Dragos Voda”, Bucovina, Romania.
Biserica de Lemn “Dragos Voda”, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Voronet, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Voronet, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Voronet, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Voronet, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Voronet, Bucovina, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Late afternoon, Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania
Historic district, Mediaș, Romania
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Humorul, Bucovina, Romania.
Biserica Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Arbore, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania. Ligia enters the fortified walls by one of the doorways.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania
Outside the fortified walls, Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Dragomirna, Bucovina, Romania.
Manastirea Agapia, Romania.
Cloisters, Manastirea Agapia, Romania
Manastirea Agapia, Romania
Manastirea Agapia, Romania
Manastirea Agapia, Romania
Manastirea Agapia, Romania
Manastirea Varatec, Romania.
Manastirea Varatec, Romania.
Ceiling murals, Manastirea Varatec, Romania.
Manastirea Neamt, Romania
Manastirea Neamt, Romania
Manastirea Neamt, Romania
Inside the cloisters, Manastirea Neamt, Moldova, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Neamt, Bucovina, Romania
Manastirea Neamt, Romania
Manastirea Neamt, Romania
Inside the ossuary, Manastirea Neamt, Moldova, Romania.
Manastirea Secu, Moldova, Romania.
Interior courtyard, Manastirea Secu, Moldova, Romania.
Manastirea Sihastria, Moldova, Romania
Manastirea Sihastria, Moldova, Romania
Cloisters, Manastirea Sihastria, Moldova, Romania.
Manastirea Sihastria, Moldova, Romania
Manastirea Sihastria, Moldova, Romania.
Manastirea Sihastria, Moldova, Romania

I kept things simple in terms of photo gear for this trip, because there were four of us in the car and I knew I’d have to deal with the 3Hs of travel I mentioned above. I shot mainly with my Canon EOS 5D and the EF 24-105mm f/4L lens. My backup camera was the Canon PowerShot G10.

Canon EOS 5D (front)

Canon EOS 5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens

Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

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