Fortified Church of Harman
Fortified Church of Harman
Fortified Church of Harman
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.5
135 reviews
Excellent
104
Very good
27
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
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Emil C
Attalens, Switzerland37 contributions
July 2021
This a rare gem close to Brasov. For a complete experience I recommend the option of having a guided tour. Is worth it and it will put in perspective not only the church in Harman, but the entire history of Eastern Trasylvania. The little museums organized within the old rooms will give you a glimpse into how people lived in this area for the last few hundred years. The guides have taken special interest in updating the entire experience and are very knowledgeable being personally involved in renovating and maintaining the fortress.
Written 5 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander Woywodt
Lancaster, UK358 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We visited this place in January 2020 after a visit to the fortified church in Prejmet which is in the next village. It is quite different from Prejmet more elegant and less sinister looking. It has a wonderful chapel full of frescoes. Bring a head torch and if you have a little scope to look at the wallpaintings more closely. Definitely worth a visit.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robbycox
Welwyn Garden City, UK1,562 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
Fascinating to walk round this beautifully preserved fortified church. To be able to go inside the fortifications themselves and to see the numerous rooms was fantastic, we were there for about an hour and a half and our guide was very knowledgeable indeed. The church itself (which you can also go inside) is beautiful and I’d definitely recommend a visit. My photos don’t really do it justice unfortunately but will hopefully give you enough detail to see how impressive it is.
Written 23 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denisa I
Bucharest, Romania158 contributions
Jan 2022
Superb place to visit. The fortified church of Harman is one of the best preserved in Romania: it is well maintained with nice museum-rooms and a very nice church and garden. You can also visit the Tower to enjoy the great views.
The entrance fee is only 10 RON/person
The entrance fee is only 10 RON/person
Written 10 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
T-SGlobetrotters
Preston, UK4,097 contributions
Oct 2022
This Saxon church, once ringed with three concentric walls (the outermost has now gone) is smaller than Prejmer but is better maintained. In order to enter you walk through a long passageway that pierces the inner wall, some 12m high and reinforced with seven towers lined with storage rooms on two levels. A number of rooms are well presented (a little better in our view than Prejmer) and the lady in the ticket office/gift shop also hands out an information sheet in English to take around as you go and this provides an excellent description of the attraction. It is possible to walk around about 75% of the wall perimeter and you can also gain access to the bell tower giving good views over the area although a warning, access in some areas in difficult requiring climbing of narrow stairs and ladders so the bell tower in particular is not for the faint hearted.
There are toilets inside the complex and free parking is available just outside the walls.
There are toilets inside the complex and free parking is available just outside the walls.
Written 24 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas G
Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,876 contributions
Mar 2022
The fortified church of Harman is definitely worth visiting from Brasov. It is very nice to walk in the church, especially when you go all the way, but look out for the bells, because they are still in use and make a lot of noise. It is also great fun to go into rooms and walk on the walls of the fortress and learn about the church. It is nice to combine this church with the fortified church of Prejmer (although Harman is my favorite of the two). Don't forget to walk around the fortress because it is beautiful. Harman will take about an hour.
Written 16 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
538reinv
Hilversum, The Netherlands996 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
This weather church is very special. Not particularly large, but beautifully situated and inhabited at the time. Steep and narrow stairs to accommodations. Many spaces are now filled with local artefacts. You can also walk all the way around the complex over the covered protective wall. It does not have UNESCO status, but it is definitely worth a visit.
Written 16 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beemie
England, UK42 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We stopped on the way to the more popular Prejmer fortified church. Wife and I personally liked Harman better than Prejmer. It is smaller but felt more accessible and trip up the bell tower is worth making. Watch out for the old stairs and steps though. They are very steep and large gaps in between some of them. It is a working clock tower so worth timing visit up not to coincide with the bells ringing every half an hour. We didn’t and were treated to a chime on the way down. It was only on the half hour so wasn’t too bad
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania18,192 contributions
July 2022
The church at Harman - or Honigberg in German as the place was called for centuries - was first mentioned , together with the village itself around 1240 ... so its been a while, after you pay your ticket at the ticketing booth you receive a description of the place so as you walk along you can read about what you see , so it is a kind of self guided tour, very interesting and educative.
After the arrival of the Saxons in the land of "Barsa", as the area around Brasov is known (or Burzenland) , started fortifying the churches of the villages - hence all major villages had a fortified church in the area ...originally the fortification of Harman had 3 circular walls - 1 small in front of the of the water mot, then another 1 behind the water mot and the 3rd that can be see today with its tall towers that are interconnected by the "walk of the guard" the covered inside of the wall where the defenders could move undetected from a portion of the wall to the next. Very interesting - don't miss to walk the wall.
Also on the rooms near the entrance there is a small museum where you have a glimpse into the past and the lives of the Saxons of Harman.
The church itself has gothic elements to it , but the majority of the construction is in pure Transylvanian "Saxon" style ... interesting.
More interesting is the chapel tower with its frescoes - during the reform of the church between 1460-1470 the catholic frescoes were whitewashed , this action saved these frescoes for centuries they were re-discovered during some works done in 1920 ... and brought back to light ... a nice thing to see and the "piece du resistance" of the entire complex - from my perspective.
Overall a very nice place - great to see it, I just pity the fact that there is no guided tour ... but I urge you to go and see for yourself.
After the arrival of the Saxons in the land of "Barsa", as the area around Brasov is known (or Burzenland) , started fortifying the churches of the villages - hence all major villages had a fortified church in the area ...originally the fortification of Harman had 3 circular walls - 1 small in front of the of the water mot, then another 1 behind the water mot and the 3rd that can be see today with its tall towers that are interconnected by the "walk of the guard" the covered inside of the wall where the defenders could move undetected from a portion of the wall to the next. Very interesting - don't miss to walk the wall.
Also on the rooms near the entrance there is a small museum where you have a glimpse into the past and the lives of the Saxons of Harman.
The church itself has gothic elements to it , but the majority of the construction is in pure Transylvanian "Saxon" style ... interesting.
More interesting is the chapel tower with its frescoes - during the reform of the church between 1460-1470 the catholic frescoes were whitewashed , this action saved these frescoes for centuries they were re-discovered during some works done in 1920 ... and brought back to light ... a nice thing to see and the "piece du resistance" of the entire complex - from my perspective.
Overall a very nice place - great to see it, I just pity the fact that there is no guided tour ... but I urge you to go and see for yourself.
Written 15 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PatMurff
Ballymoney, UK649 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
Harman fortified church is another wonderful example of the Transylvanian fortified church in all it's glory. These churches are a UNESCO world heritage site and it is easy to see why, they are magnificent.
This one has a fabulous bell tower that you can ascend. It is not for the faint hearted though as there are many steep wooden steps which are not in the best repair, and two narrow spiral staircases, one going up and one that seems longer coming down! It is best to avoid quarter hours in the bell tower as the bells is very loud and you really don't want to be atop the bell tower when it sounds!
Some rooms have been done out as a charming museum featuring aspects of life in bygone days. One is an old schoolroom with an audio loop playing of a child learning her lessons. Utterly adorable!
Another room is decked out with period musical instruments.
You can go up in to the battlements which are wonderfully dusty and atmospheric. You can't go the full way around but there is enough to give you a very strong flavour.
Left lying around are old items of farm equipment, like an old wooden roller from a time when life was simpler but harder!
For me the highlight was the Chapel Tower which has some amazing and very beautiful pre reformation murals. These are a must see I think.
If you find that this or any of my reviews is helpful, please don't forget to give a helpful vote. It will be much appreciated!
This one has a fabulous bell tower that you can ascend. It is not for the faint hearted though as there are many steep wooden steps which are not in the best repair, and two narrow spiral staircases, one going up and one that seems longer coming down! It is best to avoid quarter hours in the bell tower as the bells is very loud and you really don't want to be atop the bell tower when it sounds!
Some rooms have been done out as a charming museum featuring aspects of life in bygone days. One is an old schoolroom with an audio loop playing of a child learning her lessons. Utterly adorable!
Another room is decked out with period musical instruments.
You can go up in to the battlements which are wonderfully dusty and atmospheric. You can't go the full way around but there is enough to give you a very strong flavour.
Left lying around are old items of farm equipment, like an old wooden roller from a time when life was simpler but harder!
For me the highlight was the Chapel Tower which has some amazing and very beautiful pre reformation murals. These are a must see I think.
If you find that this or any of my reviews is helpful, please don't forget to give a helpful vote. It will be much appreciated!
Written 9 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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