Romania's Medieval Marital Prison.
Posted by on 13 July 2017
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It may sound like a nightmare, but records show that this form of marriage counselling in Transylvania was rather effective. |
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Picturesque Biertan, one of Transylvania's seven Saxon Unesco World Heritage villages, feels frozen in time. Horse-drawn carts are still a part of daily life, and local residents gather to trade their wares in a cobbled village square. At the heart of the village, a 15th-Century fortified church towers over the surrounding structures from its hilltop perch. |
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"Thanks to this blessed building, in the 300 years that Biertan had the bishop's seat we only had one divorce," said Ulf Ziegler, Biertan's current priest. |
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Lutheranism, the religion of the Transylvanian Saxons, governed most aspects of life, and although divorce was allowed under certain circumstances - such as adultery - it was preferred that couples attempt to save their union. So a couple seeking divorce would voluntarily visit the bishop, who would send them to the marital prison to see if their differences could be reconciled before they parted ways. |
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Walking through the streets of Biertan as the sun begins to disappear behind the rolling hills, a few locals sit outside drinking beers and a farmer moves his hay cart through the village. The imposing church, with its nine surrounding fortification towers, is illuminated by bright lights and its purpose evident: it was a central point for the early Saxon settlers - a place of safety and worship. |
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