Biserica Neagră

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Biserica Neagră (German: Schwarze Kirche) is the main cathedral in Braşov, a city in south-western Transylvania, Romania. It was built beginning in the 1384 by the German community of the city and stands as the main Gothic style monument in the country, as well as being one of the most important Lutheran (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania) places of worship in the region.

[edit] History

The originally-Roman Catholic cathedral was know as the Church of Saint Mary until it was partially destroyed during a great fire set by invading Habsburg forces on the April 21, 1689 (during the Great Turkish War). Afterward, it became known as the Black Church (Biserica Neagră in Romanian).

The current structure was probably erected on top of an older chapel destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1241. Completed in 1477, the architects planned a three-nave basilica, all the same height, as was preferred during the 15th and 16th centuries in the German lands, where most of the architects and masons originated.

Following the fire of 1689, Biserica Neagră was repaired with the help of masons coming from Danzig (today Gdańsk, Poland), as local craftsmen did not master the craft of completing the enormous vaults; these were to be completed in Baroque style.

[edit] Features

The structure is 89 meters in length and 38 meters from the floor level to the highest point of its only bell tower. The Black Church has a six ton bell, the biggest in Romania, an impressive 4,000 pipe organ played during the weekly concerts, as well as a rich collection of Anatolian carpets (donated in the Middle Ages by Transylvanian Saxon merchants).

Today the cathedral is a major symbol of Braşov, and a museum open to visitors of the city center. A Lutheran service is held each Sunday for the small German community in the city.