Sânpetru

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sânpetru (German: Petersberg, Hungarian: Barcaszentpéter) is a village in Braşov County, Romania, located only 5 km north of the county capital Braşov.

Sanpetru's landmark: The german fortified church, seen from just outside the center, near the small stream Ghimbasel.

Many Transylvanian Saxons lived there. After 1989 an important part of this community emigrated in Germany.

The landmark of the village is the 13th century fortified church. The original 3-nave basilica was demolished in 1794. There are still a few traces of the original 13th century paintings on the defensive walls that surrounded the church. The Order of Cistercians (White Monks) received it in 1240. The fortified church was severely destroyed during a Turkish invasion in 1432. Most of the village was also destroyed then. After the invasion in order to protect both the church and the inhabitants of Sanpetru, the local community built an 8-meter high defensive wall fortified with 5 towers and a water trench. Following a devastating fire the church suffers more damages in the 17th century. The local archives were destroyed in the fire. The bell tower collapses in 1713 and it is rebuilt in 1778-1782, but the new tower would collapse too. The local community decides to tear down the old church. In 1795 construction works on the new building will be started. Sânpetru (petersburg) Apart from the german center, in a small,crowded area is the romanian center, with its small church and houses. The first half of the village is also romanian built, with a history of under 60 years. Sânpetru's main turist attractions are the aeroclub and the Lempes hill- a hill partially covered with forest which is a reservation for wild flora. Apart for some vary rare flowers, its more delicious posesions are wild and woodland strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and others. It fauna included deer, which seem to have been hunted until they disappeared, rabbits, snakes, lizards, crows and ravens etc. The hill is in a delicate balance due to paragliding enthusiasts a close artificial lake for depositing tar waste and also a herd of sheep.