Cisnadie
Encyclopedia
Cisnădie is a town in Sibiu County
, Transylvania
, Romania
located approximately 10 km from Sibiu
. As of 2002, it has a population of about 17,871. One village, Cisnădioara, is administered by the town.
In the 12th century Saxon colonists settled here, and in 1323 the German name Heltau is mentioned. The town flourished, particularly the guilds of blacksmiths and wool weavers (weaving remained the traditional occupation of the town population until the 20th century, when large textile factories were built).
Cisnădie shared most of Transylvania's eventful history. The town suffered several raids, starting with the 1241 raid of the Mongols and continuing with Ottoman attacks. The plague did not spare the town, neither did the fire nor political agitations.
In 1806 under Emperor Franz of Austria, Cisnădie/Heltau renewed its market rights, proving prosperity.
In 1945, large parts of the German population was deported to the Soviet Union
(see also Expulsion of Germans from Romania after World War II).
In 1948 all factories were nationalized and run under the Communist regime
. Along with its fall, most of the factories collapsed, but in the last years the economic situation has been ameliorating.
there was a total population of 15,648 people living in this town. Of this population, 96.07% are ethnic Romanians, 2.47% are ethnic Germans
, 1.08% Hungarians and 0.23% ethnic Rroma.
The most important architectural sight of Cisnădie is the fortified complex located in the town center. Originally built in the 12th century as a Romanesque basilica, the church was fortified during the 15th century, to protect the local population of Saxons against repeated Ottoman raids. The fortification process included the construction of fortified towers over the two side entrances and the choir, the building of a double structure of defence walls, a moat and several defensive towers along the walls. Simultaneously to the fortification work the church itself suffered a gothicization process. The altar inside the Lutheran church, which forms the center of this complex, is a wing altar/triptych from the 15th century, realized by the school of Veit Stoss Jr.
The complex is very well preserved and besides being a medieval architectural place of interest, it offers a variety of theme exhibitions:
. The fortified church, built entirely of stone, was first referred to in a document dated November 20, 1223, which mentioned its donation to the abbey. The oldest Romanesque style
church in Romania, it stands atop a 100-meter high hill, surrounded by circular fortifications, with a defensive turret above the entrance. Some of the original walls have been preserved to this day. The layout of the church, composed of a small basilica
with three nave
s, as well as the decoration of the carved western entrance portal
, dating from 1260, attest to the strong influence of Rhineland
architecture.
Sibiu County
Sibiu is a county of Romania, in the historical region Transylvania, with the capital city Sibiu.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 421,724 and the population density was 78/km²....
, Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
located approximately 10 km from Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
. As of 2002, it has a population of about 17,871. One village, Cisnădioara, is administered by the town.
History
Cisnădie was mentioned for the first time in a document from the year 1204 under the name "Rivetel".In the 12th century Saxon colonists settled here, and in 1323 the German name Heltau is mentioned. The town flourished, particularly the guilds of blacksmiths and wool weavers (weaving remained the traditional occupation of the town population until the 20th century, when large textile factories were built).
Cisnădie shared most of Transylvania's eventful history. The town suffered several raids, starting with the 1241 raid of the Mongols and continuing with Ottoman attacks. The plague did not spare the town, neither did the fire nor political agitations.
In 1806 under Emperor Franz of Austria, Cisnădie/Heltau renewed its market rights, proving prosperity.
In 1945, large parts of the German population was deported to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(see also Expulsion of Germans from Romania after World War II).
In 1948 all factories were nationalized and run under the Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
. Along with its fall, most of the factories collapsed, but in the last years the economic situation has been ameliorating.
Demographics
According to the census from 2002Demographics of Romania
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Romania, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
there was a total population of 15,648 people living in this town. Of this population, 96.07% are ethnic Romanians, 2.47% are ethnic Germans
Transylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons are a people of German ethnicity who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards.The colonization of Transylvania by Germans was begun by King Géza II of Hungary . For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the...
, 1.08% Hungarians and 0.23% ethnic Rroma.
Sights
The complex is very well preserved and besides being a medieval architectural place of interest, it offers a variety of theme exhibitions:
- the "Cisnădie/Heltau throughout 12 centuries" Museum located over the old Ossarium
- the Museum of Medieval Defensive Structures located in the northern side tower
- the Museum of the History of the Communist Era
- some alternating Art Expositions.
Cisnădioara village
Cisnădioara is a village located 2 km west of Cisnădie. Initially, it was listed as one of the ten possessions of the Cistercian abbey at CârţaCârta Monastery
Cârţa Monastery is a former Cistercian monastery in the Ţara Făgăraşului region in southern Transylvania in Romania, currently a Lutheran Evangelical church belonging to the local Saxon community...
. The fortified church, built entirely of stone, was first referred to in a document dated November 20, 1223, which mentioned its donation to the abbey. The oldest Romanesque style
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church in Romania, it stands atop a 100-meter high hill, surrounded by circular fortifications, with a defensive turret above the entrance. Some of the original walls have been preserved to this day. The layout of the church, composed of a small basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
with three nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
s, as well as the decoration of the carved western entrance portal
Portal (architecture)
Portal is a general term describing an opening in the walls of a building, gate or fortification, and especially a grand entrance to an important structure. Doors, metal gates or portcullis in the opening can be used to control entry or exit. The surface surrounding the opening may be made of...
, dating from 1260, attest to the strong influence of Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
architecture.