Fortified Churches
BrateiuThe church-fortress lies in the centre of the village at the northern end of the green. The Early-Gothic basilica dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene was built in the 14th century. The choir has a polygonal apse and a star-ribbed vault. The arcades between the nave and the south aisle were demolished and the south wall was raised, so that a church hall was formed. Three ogival arcades with their profiled pillars and capitals survived in the north. A Gothic font stands in the choir. The village experienced its heyday towards the end of the 18th century. After complaints to Emperor Joseph II about the poor condition of the fortified church, which was in danger of collapsing - it had been built on swampy terrain - the village was expanded in the direction of Sighisoara, the natural river of the Tarnava mare river was diverted and the swamp surrounding the village was drained. After the phylloxera plague, a massive emigration to America begins.
Rosemarie Popşor +40/269/863/019
Fortified Churches
BrateiuThe church-fortress lies in the centre of the village at the northern end of the green. The Early-Gothic basilica dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene was built in the 14th century. The choir has a polygonal apse and a star-ribbed vault. The arcades between the nave and the south aisle were demolished and the south wall was raised, so that a church hall was formed. Three ogival arcades with their profiled pillars and capitals survived in the north. A Gothic font stands in the choir. The village experienced its heyday towards the end of the 18th century. After complaints to Emperor Joseph II about the poor condition of the fortified church, which was in danger of collapsing - it had been built on swampy terrain - the village was expanded in the direction of Sighisoara, the natural river of the Tarnava mare river was diverted and the swamp surrounding the village was drained. After the phylloxera plague, a massive emigration to America begins.
Rosemarie Popşor +40/269/863/019
Remnants of mural painting have been preserved on the walls of the chancel end. A depiction of worship by the Magi can be seen. The year 1481 can be read on a banner with Gothic minuscules.
Johann Jakobus Augustin installed an organ with 10 registers in 1797. The organ has manual, pedal and 10 registers.
The stone Gothic baptismal font has late Gothic decoration, quatrefoil and trefoil forms.
An altar from 1512 was painted over in the 18th century. The altar was removed in 1904 and also destroyed. Today's neo-Gothic altar was erected in 1904. In the center is a depiction of Christ flanked by the apostle Petru on the left and Paul on the right.
The bell tower to the west of the church is framed by the side aisles. The capitals of the pillars are decorated with masks and animal figures, including a woman's head that could represent a nun. The tower porch is covered with a simple net vault.
A bell from the 15th century hangs in the tower with the inscription "o rex glorie veni cum pace". It has a relief with a crucifix and two female figures. A second, also pre-Reformation, small bell shows four reliefs: bird, pelican, griffin and bird with lion head.
The west portal with a pointed arch ending, is partially dug in and is decorated with vine leaves motifs. The upper end is formed by an arch. The two consoles in the upper ekken represent human faces. Another face mask can be seen in the intersection of the pointed arch.
In the south of the complex is the five-story gate tower with a barrel-vaulted entrance and portcullis.
Today's Bering shows stylistic features of the time around 1500. It has an irregular polygonal plan. Two square towers reinforce the walls. The terrain slopes down to the north and west of the fortified church. Loopholes and cast holes are served from a wooden battlement inside the fortified church.
| 1283 | The village is mentioned for the first time, it is part of the Medias see. |
|---|---|
| 1300-1400 | Construction of an early Gothic basilica, from which the small Romanesque arched window in the east of the church possibly comes. |
| 1441 | On the occasion of the transfer of the office of count of Birtan, Michael from Brateiu is mentioned as head of the Medias deanery. |
| 1450 | The Gothic bell tower is built. |
| 1500 | The chancel is covered with a star network vault. At the same time the defense of the church are built. |
| 1516 | Brateiu is a community in the upper part of the Medias see, in which 94 Saxon and Romanian families, 6 widows, a settler, 4 shepherds and a schoolmaster live. |
| 1605 | During the clashes between Prince Stephan Bocskay and imperial troops, Brateiu is plundered. |
| 1710 | Date in an inscription on the oak door of the south entrance. |
| 1773 | Emperor Josef II visits the church. |
| 1797 | Johann Jakobus Augustin sets up an organ with 10 stops. |
| 1904 | Today's neo-Gothic altar is erected. |
| 1959 | Archaeological finds from the period between the 4th and 7th centuries were discovered in a sand pit between Brateiu and Ațel |
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