Name: Evangelical Church Râșnov
Address: The village is located 15 km southwest of Brasov. The church stands on the market square in the east of the village., Râșnov, Romania
Telephone: +40/742/517/458

Evangelical Church Râșnov

Monument

Râșnov

The 1394 church dedicated to Saint Matthew stands in the town, at the intersection of two streets. The first building was a Romanesque basilica, of which the chancel arch stands as proof. The choir square has a sexpartite vault. There are three ogival arcades between the nave and the aisles. The corbels and the keystones display reliefs. The bell tower was built in the west side of the church. There are fragments of mural paintings on the north wall of the choir and dating from circa 1500.

Visitation contact:

Georg Philipp +40/742/517/458

Evangelical Church Râșnov

Monument

Râșnov

Visitation contact:

Georg Philipp +40/742/517/458

Altar

There is an altar wall with lateral passages in the choir from 1776, displaying a lower register with a predella in the middle with an image of the Lord’s Supper, modelled on Leonardo da Vinci; further up, are four Corinthian columns with a crucifix in the middle. In the two side alcoves with oyster calotte stand the statues of Saint Peter and of Saint Paul and the crowning is the Eye of God with aureole.

Pulpit

The pulpit has a brick chair and stucco decorations from 1826/27. The pulpit cover is dated 1680.

Organ

An organ from 1680 is replaced in 1781 by an organ by Johannes Prause. It has a late baroque case. The organ has two manuals, pedal and 22 registers.

Frescoes

Remains of frescoes from around 1500 have been preserved on the north wall of the chancel.

Capstones

The ribs rest on corbels and end in capstones with reliefs depicting flowers, chalices, crowns and stars.

Ring wall

The church used to have a polygonal wall. In 1831-1833, parts of the circular wall were demolished in order to build the new town hall.

History

1200-1300	Construction of a Romanesque basilica, of which the triumphal arch remains.
1331	Râșnov was first mentioned in a document in connection with the return of the Black Castle (a castle on the mountain near Codlea).
1377	Râșnov forms with the 12 other free communities of the Brasov Region a judicial and administrative unit with Brasov.
1394	The church dedicated to the apostle Matthias is mentioned for the first time.
1413	A hospital for lepers is mentioned in a document.
1427	King Sigismund and the Queen are staying in Râșnov. The king granted the right to hold a weekly market every Wednesday.
1437	Vlad II Dracul, voivode of Wallachia, grants trading privileges to residents of Kronstadt district. Among others, two judges travel from Râșnov to Tîrgovişte as negotiators.
1456	The Râșnov judge took part in a Brasov delegation that concluded an anti-Turkish agreement with the Wallachian prince Vlad Ţepeş.
1510	In Râșnov live 140 families, 24 widows, 10 poor, 4 servants, 14 shepherds, 8 widows of poor people, a Romanian clergyman and a Romanian noble. In the village are 9 deserted houses, a school house and a bell ringer's house.
1523	The expelled Wallachian prince Radu de la Afumaţi is granted refuge in Râșnov.
1530	The widow and daughter of the Wallachian prince Neagoe Basarab find refuge in Râșnov.
1544	There is a powder maker in Râșnov.
1585	Large parts of the place are destroyed by fire. Sigismund Báthori donated 500 guilders for the reconstruction.
1600-03	Soldiers from the army of Michael the Brave plunder the place. The preacher Paul and his son are cut to pieces.
1603	Basta's troops move into winter quarters in Ghimbav, Cristian and Râșnov and cause great damage. The battle between Prince Radu Şerban and the Transylvanian Prince Moses Székely takes place near Râșnov.
1611	Prince Gabriel Báthori's troops burn down Râșnov and other Brasov region communities. The castle was occupied by Gabriel Báthori and only returned to the Saxons in 1613 together with the Bran castle after paying 3000 guilders.
1621	There is a glassworks in Râșnov.
1623	The church burns down.
1658	Râșnov has to buy himself free from the Turks and after payment it is cremated anyway.
1704-1707	Râșnov suffered a lot from the kurucs.
1773-1775	The church wall is raised, the windows are remodeled and the bell tower is raised by one floor.
1802	Earthquake damage to vicarage and castle.
1831-1833	Parts of the ring wall were removed in order to be able to build the new town hall.

Evangelical Church Râșnov

Evangelical Church Râșnov

Visitation contact:

Evangelical Church Râșnov

Visitation contact:

Altar

Pulpit

Organ

Frescoes

Capstones

Ring wall

History

Places in the surroundings