Biertan, just 8 kms off the main road that links the cities of Medias and Sighisoara, is one of the most impressive medieval strongholds in Transylvania. Perched on top of a hill the church is the heart of a fortress with 3 defense walls and 6 towers. Unlike other Saxon fortified cities, tourists visiting the fortress of Biertan must pay an entrance fee, for which they get a guide.

Biertan (German: Birthälm, Romani: Biyertan, Hungarian: Berethalom) is a commune in central Romania, in the north of the Sibiu County, 80 km north of Sibiu and 15 km east of Mediaş. It is one of the most important Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, having been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1993. It was the seat of the Lutheran Evangelical Diocese in Transylvania between 1572 and 1867. It is one of the most visited villages in Transylvania, being the historically important place of the annual reunion of the Transylvanian Saxons, many of whom now live in Germany.

Biertan is one of the first German settlements in Transylvania placed between the two "Seats" (Mediaş and Şeica) in the Andreean Diploma from 1224. The first attestation of its name has been certified since 1283, in a document about the taxes demanded by the Catholic Capital from Alba Iulia to the Catholic priests from the Transylvanian Saxon communities. As any other Transylvanian Saxon Community, it had an urban organization, being noticed the franconic style of the rows of houses around the central square overlooked by a grandiose fortress-church.

This heavily fortified church sits on a hilltop in the center of Biertan village. The church was mentioned for the first time in 1402; most likely a Gothic basilica, it was completely demolished. The only remains of the original church are some stone vault ribs and a few bosses.

Today’s church is a hall-shaped church with a chief nave and two side-aisles. The four-bay church has a 5/8 apse and was built between 1500 and 1525, during the time of Priest “Baccalaureus Johannis”. The church has net-shaped brick-ribbed vaults over its entire ceiling.

Late-Gothic and Renaissance stone masonry is also preserved, including doorways, brackets, the pulpit, and other items. The wooden furniture, the doors, and the folding triptych date back to the beginning of the 16th century. Inside the church the late Gothic shrine, in the form of a triptych was realized in more stages between 1515-1524. The pews are made between 1514-1523 by Reychmut from Sighişoara and are ones of the most valuable pews of this kind from Transylvania. The Europa Nostra restoration from 1978 to 1991 revealed parts of the former paintings and inscriptions.

The pulpit was made in 1523 by the stone carver Ulrich, from Braşov. The painting on the wood of the pulpit is from 1754. The pulpit is impressive for the biblical scenes reproduction and for the adornment with architectural and vegetal motifs very carefully painted in the transition style from Gothic to Renaissance.

An organ existed in a church since 1523 (the organ player Bartholomaeus is mentioned); it was replaced in 1731, in 1785 (by Samuel Metz), then in 1869, when the Hessian Company in Vienna built a new organ with 1290 tubes, 2 manuals, pedals and 25 registers.

The artist Johannes Reichmuth from Sighişoara made in 1515 the special door of the vestry. The vestry has an intricate blocking system of the door which moved simultaneously 15 lockers. The room of the vestry shielded the treasure of the church and of the village when there was a siedge. In this room there can stil be seen tools of the Transylvanian crafters, paintings, jugs and bowls in Renaissance style.

On the southern part of the upper plateau, the "Catholic Tower" contains preserved fresco paintings from the mid-15th century. The two shielding walls, which partially lie on arches, are strengthened by many towers and a bastion. To reach the upper plateau of the fortress, one must pass four gate-towers. The outer wall, situated mostly at the base of the hill, is strengthened to the west and south by two fortified zwingers with gate towers.

The Evangelical Church of Biertan was built between 1490 and 1524 replacing a former smaller one. This church is one of the biggest Saxon peasant churches in Transylvania. It was built in the Gothic style and was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1993. This church boasts the biggest Transylvanian painted multi-paneled wooden altar screen, which resembles the pages of a book . The altar was built by Viennese artisans and by artisans from Nurenberg between 1483 and 1513. The icons feature numerous scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and from Jesus’ childhood. In the center, where one can now see a crucifix, there was originally an icon representing the Virgin Mary, indicating the fact that the church was initially a Catholic one. The lecterns were built out of lime wood between 1514 and 1523 and they were particularly valuable due to their exquisite inlays. The font dates back to the 16th century. It is firmly secured to the ground and is decorated with lilies. One can also observe the pulpit, carved from one single Ulrich stone that came from Brasov, dating back to 1523. In the back of the church is the organ. It is the 5th organ built by Karl Hesse from Vienna . It has 1,290 tubes, 25 registers and a pedal. It works even today, though it is used increasingly rarely. Most of the Saxons living in Biertan left for Germany, as happened in all other Saxon villages.

Worth mentioning is also the door to the vestry. Built in 1515, the door has a particularly ingenious locking mechanism with 19 bolts that can be simultaneously activated by a key. Visitors can also admire the towers surrounding the church, namely the Clock Tower, the Bell Tower, the Gate Tower and of course the Bacon Tower. There is also a tower called the Prison where married couples seeking divorce were incarcerated in the Middle Ages. After having been given just a knife, a fork, a spoon and being forced to share a bed, the couple could make their final decision . Every year, on the second or third Saturday of September a General Assembly of the Saxons is held in Biertan, accompanied by a parade of traditional costumes and a party, involving plenty of singing and dancing.