Cisnădie

Cisnădie (Romanian pronunciation: [t͡ʃisnəˈdi.e]; German: Heltau; Transylvanian Saxon dialect: De Hielt; Hungarian: Nagydisznód) is a town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt).

Located along the Cisnădie River, at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, the town is known for its Transylvanian Saxon heritage, as well as for the communist-era carpet factories.

The altar inside the Lutheran church, which forms the centre of this complex, is a wing altar/triptych from 1520, realised by the school of Veit Stoss Jr.[3] The complex is very well preserved and besides being a medieval architectural place of interest, it offers a variety of theme exhibitions: Cisnădioara (German: Michelsberg; Hungarian: Kisdisznód; Transylvanian Saxon dialect: Mächelsbärch) is a village located 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Cisnădie.

The fortified church, dedicated to Saint Michael and built entirely of stone, was first referred to in a document dated 20 November 1223, which mentioned its donation to the abbey.

The oldest Romanesque style church in Romania, it stands atop a 100 m (330 ft) high hill, surrounded by circular fortifications, with a defensive turret above the entrance.

The layout of the church, composed of a small basilica with three naves, as well as the decoration of the carved western entrance portal, dating from 1260, attest to the strong influence of Rhineland architecture.

Cisnădie on the Josephine Map of Transylvania , 1769–73
The medieval fortified Evangelical Lutheran church of the local Transylvanian Saxon community in Cisnădioara (overview from January 2020)