Cetati si biserici fortificate
In centrul vechilor asezari ruraIe infiintate de colonistii sasi in provincia romaneasca Transilvania in secolul al XII-lea se afla cate o biserica intarita cu ziduri de aparare, care servea altadata si ca loc de refugiu in caz de primejdie. Aceste biserici fortificate (secolele XIII-XVI), avand aspectul unor mici cetati, au fost ridicate indeosebi dupa marea invazie tatara din 1241, in urma careia regiunea a fost pustiita.
Rural fortresses and fortified churches
In the centre of old rural settlements set up by the Saxons in the Romanian province of Transylvania in the 12th century stands a church fortified with defensive walls which also used to serve as a retreat in times of danger. Most of these fortified churches (13th-16th centuries) resembling small fortresses were built after the great Tartar invasion in 1241 when the land was plundered.
