Apold Fortified Church

The fortified church complex stands on a hill encircled by the Șaeș stream in the centre of Apold, seat of Apold commune, about 16 kilometres from Sighișoara. The church is surrounded by a well-preserved outer enclosure, joined by several towers and defensive buildings: the White Tower, the gate tower with the old town hall, the school tower and two fortified granaries. The inner enclosure was largely demolished in the nineteenth century. In the thirteenth century a towerless basilica with a flat ceiling was built here, of which the sanctuary and the Romanesque triumphal arch survive. The village is first recorded in 1309. In the fifteenth century the church was converted into a Gothic hall church, and a massive bell tower was added on the west side. In the early sixteenth century the complex was fortified: the tower was raised and given a wall walk, defensive levels were built above the chancel and nave, and two concentric walls with towers and bastions were built around the church. The nave has cross vaults resting on four octagonal pillars, which give it the look of a three-aisled church. The chancel has Gothic windows. The upper granary on the north side is a fortified building about 20 metres long, with loopholes and machicolations. After the Saxon community emigrated in the twentieth century, the complex was left without regular maintenance. The fortified church complex is a historic monument with LMI code MS-II-a-A-15594 (the church, MS-II-m-A-15594.01, and the fortified enclosure, MS-II-m-A-15594.02). The church and fortifications are managed by the Casapold Association, which carries out restoration and conservation work.