RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Evangelical Church in Bistrita

Bistrita was built after the model of the medieval cities in Western Europe

The Evangelical Church in Bistrita
The Evangelical Church in Bistrita

, 28.07.2018, 13:09

First documented in 1241, the city of Bistrita, in central Romania, actually started to develop a century earlier when the first German settlers, also known as Transylvanian Saxons, had arrived in the area. Bistrita was built after the model of the medieval cities in Western Europe to later grow into one the main seven Saxon-inhabited cities of Siebenburgen, as Transylvania was called back in the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Like most of Transylvanias medieval burgs, Bistrita developed around a church, which was Catholic at first then turned into a Reformed one. Here is historian Vasile Duda with more on the issue.



Vasile Duda: “The church, a Roman-Catholic one at first had St. Nicholas as its patron. Upon the Reformation in 1543 it was turned into the Evangelical church we see today. Its history includes several construction stages, beginning with the Gothic style, which is still visible today, with a series of architectural elements reminiscent of the style before the 14th century. The church has also seen a series of reconstruction stages but initially it was built as a basilica with one central and two lateral naves as well as two steeples on its western side. In late 15th century, the church was more imposing and through its masonry elements belonged more to the Gothic style. Around 1560, an Italian stonemason called Petru Italus of Lugano added it a series of architectural elements specific to Renaissance. The final result was a Gothic structure with properly assimilated Renaissance elements.



A distinctive element of the church in Bistrita is its 76 meter high steeple, which is believed to be the highest in Transylvania.



Vasile Duda: “There is also an interesting legend recalling the rivalry with other medieval burgs in Transylvania, particularly with Sibiu, which wanted a higher steeple for their church. One of these legends has it that when the authorities of Medias started the construction of their church, those from Bistrita came and secretly cut their reel measuring tape so that they could not build a taller steeple. And that is true: the tower in Bistrita is taller than the ones in Sibiu and Medias. Even the famous Clock Tower in Timisoara is not much taller than that. Even the Black Church in Brasov, the tallest medieval church in Transylvania, doesn’t have a taller steeple than the one in Bistrita.



What makes the Evangelical Church unique is not just its steeple, but also the furnishings, a few centuries old:



Vasile Duda: “One memorable piece, a downright landmark, is the so called Master Anton’s Pew, which was made in 1508, signed by the latter. Another signature on the bench, dating back to 1516, was that of a master Johannes Begler. He wrote there himself: ‘Johannes Begler fecit’. It is a beautiful Renaissance pew, with insertions and carvings. It is spectacular because it is similar with furniture made in France. It shows us the ties between these distant regions were fairly close through workshops and monasteries.



In addition to the furnishings, the banners of the guilds in the church are another important piece of the heritage. It is true that they were replaced in 1852, but the traditional symbols were preserved, as well as the pews of the guilds, depending on their weight within the community, with the most important being closer to the altar. The Evangelical Church in Bistrita, recently renovated after the fire in 2008 that destroyed the steeples, the bells, as well as the clock, has made a comeback as a major tourism and cultural objective, as well as a symbol of the city.


(translated by: Daniel Bilt, Calin Cotoiu)

banner-Pro-Memoria.-960x540-1.jpg
RRI Encyclopaedia Sunday, 27 October 2024

Colțea Street

Over 1703-1707, Mihai Cantacuzino, a member of a famous noble family, built a hospital and a school on the estate of Colțea Doicescu. The first name...

Colțea Street
Axiopolis
RRI Encyclopaedia Saturday, 12 October 2024

The Cerchez family of architects

We’re more likely to come across the name of Cerchez, in the history of Romanian architecture, than other names of architects. The name of Cerchez...

The Cerchez family of architects
Ion Ratiu sursa foto: Copyright © 2024 Ratiu Family Charitable)
RRI Encyclopaedia Saturday, 05 October 2024

The Ratiu family, an important Romanian family in Transylvania

The Rațiu family (Rațiu of Noșlac in Turda) is one of the oldest and most respectable aristocratic families in Transylvania with a history...

The Ratiu family, an important Romanian family in Transylvania
Axiopolis
RRI Encyclopaedia Sunday, 29 September 2024

Axiopolis

Dobrogea is considered the densest and most varied province of Romania from the point of view of the civilizations that inhabited it. On a territory...

Axiopolis
RRI Encyclopaedia Sunday, 22 September 2024

The Kiseleff Agora

Kiseleff Park in Bucharest has become a model of good practice in managing historical parks and gardens, thanks to a project called the Kiseleff...

The Kiseleff Agora
RRI Encyclopaedia Sunday, 11 August 2024

The neurologist Gheorghe Marinescu

Considered to be one of the most important Romanian physicians, Gheorghe Marinescu’s name is linked to the beginning of the study of mental...

The neurologist Gheorghe Marinescu
RRI Encyclopaedia Saturday, 27 July 2024

Old Romanian books

The printing press emerged in mid-15th century. It was arguably the most important revolution in the history of the book and the circulation of...

Old Romanian books
RRI Encyclopaedia Saturday, 20 July 2024

Macca Family and their residence in Bucharest

Macca House is currently hosting the Romanian Academy's Archaeology...

Macca Family and their residence in Bucharest

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company