Situated about 20 minutes drive out of Brasov is the small town of Prejmer. Here you will find Prejmer Citadel one of the paramount fortified churches on the globe. What stands this apart from many of its contemporaries are its size (it’s large), and the numbered rooms lining the inner walls of the bastion. These rooms, arrayed on four floors, are each allocated to a family from the vicinity. It is to these rooms that these locals would come for safety in times of danger.
Built originally in the 13th-century by Teutonic Knights, the castle was a safe haven during many times of strife from invading Ottomans, Tatars, and Hungarians. Its impressive defences meant that this redoubt was only ever captured once, that was in 1611.
The church and surrounding defences were extensively and considerately preserved in the 1960s, making Prejmer is an excellent place to visit. There is plenty to keep you busy for a couple of hours. We really enjoyed walking around the raised internal walkway, which circumnavigates the whole of the exterior walls. From this path, you can glimpse into internal rooms, and gaze outwards through the embrasures.
The main purpose of the fortifications was to defend the populas and their place of worship. The beautiful church sits within the inner ring of defences and has a feeling of peace at odds to its military surroundings.
The whole site is well maintained, and fact sheets in a number of languages can be borrowed from the informative staff in the ticket office – entry is 15 Lei (£2.84/$3.50). As well as the structures of the castle, the church is a visual treat, with some beautiful decoration. In addition to these, there are also many rooms dedicated to historical artefacts and exhibits.
