Tags
church, crumbling, photography, road, Romania, rural, rustic, Saxon, tranquil, Transylvania, UNESCO, Viscri
Time to move on, so we loaded up our bikes, left the cobbled streets of Sighişoara behind and headed south east to the small Saxon village of Viscri. One of the oldest and best preserved fortified churches of the area is to be found in this sleepy little village – and on the UNESCO World Heritage list. If you could close your eyes to the inevitable pylons and handful of cars it was a trip back in time to a simpler, and arguably less complicated, way of life. Pastel houses, set back from the road, formed a wide avenue and an occasional horse and cart trundled by. Ducks and geese owned this highway, heckling us as we approached, but more than happy to forgo their position and settle into the small stream trickling down the wide, grassy verge. 
Turning off the dirt onto cobbles we headed up to the twelfth century church and its heavy fortifications. The view from the top of the main tower across rural Transylvania was beautiful (if only the light had been better for photography 
), a panoramic vista that stretched for miles in every direction.
…. and the view down the inside was one to lighten your footsteps as the floor creaked, the slender hand railing swayed and holes in all four floors provided a shortcut to terra firma. 
After whiling away a pleasant few hours we had to leave, so we reluctantly turned our wheels to the dusty winding track that lead us past sheep and cattle milling around water troughs and out into the gently undulating countryside we’d surveyed from the tower. 
(All images are copyright to Noeline Smith)
I love the view down inside the tower Noeline. Fabulous shot!
Thank you
I’m really pleased it turned out as well as it did as I was in a pretty precarious position at the time. How refreshing though not to have H&S rules and regs spoiling all the fun and atmosphere!
A rural idyll …..great pictures and narrative.
Thank you – it really was a rural idyll. Such a beautiful part of the world – I only hope it can change, as the country undoubtably will, without losing its charm.
There is a real feeling of place about these pictures and a delightful marriage between your text and the images.
Thanks Louis. It was a place that I empathised with at felt very comfortable in – maybe that comes through …..
It does, without doubt!
That third image is a real keeper Noeline, beautiful Sounds like you are having a great trip.
Thank Leanne. Yup – it was a wonderful trip and slowly going through my photos to select ones suitable for here is like doing it all over again!
Great photos! How did you like Romania?:) I live in Romania, I am romanian and I’ve never been to Sighisoara
I have to ..
Thank you!
It’s a wonderful country with incredible landscapes, history and culture. The people we met we were all friendly, welcoming and helpful. In fact, we enjoyed our time there so much that we are planning on returning in 2014.
I fell in love with Romania
…… and you’re right – you really have to go to Sighisoara!
What a fascinating place. It looks as if the locals are sympathetic to their past.
It was a lovely unspoilt village which at the moment has achieved a really good balance of tourism whilst maintaining the charm of the place.