Archita Arkeden Fortified Church and Village, Transylvania , Romania

Fortified Church and Village of Arkeden / Archita, Transylvania, Romania

A Kogainon Films Production see – Directed by Sorin Iliesiu (Video Dialog, Bucharest, Romania)

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The village of Arkeden / Archita was settled in the 1300s by ‘Saxons’ originating in the Luxembourg-Flanders region of Europe. In return for land and autonomy over their affairs, the Holy Roman Emperor (German) required them to offer armed men in times of war along the Empire’s eastern Transylvania borders. Many of these communities, settled for 700 years, were then depopulated of nearly 1 million ‘Saxon’ inhabitants who left in recent decades when Germany offered full citizenship rights. Most villages are centered around medieval fortified churches that survive today as unique architectural complexes some of which are now under UNESCO Heritage site protection.

Photos © Dan Dimancescu

Archita.mp4