The reformed church in the village of Biborțeni preserves murals of a special artistic quality that represent scenes from the cycle of the legend of Saint Ladislaus, painted at the beginning of the 15th century. Art historians have long studied the frescoes and placed them among the known mural paintings from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Slovenia.
The place was built in several stages with consecutive expansions. The oldest part of the ship is the western part, dated to the end of the 13th century - the beginning of the 14th century. The eastern part was built at the beginning of 1760, and the southern extension of the nave through a vestibule was made in 1897.
The construction of the belfry lasted 10 years and started in 1783. In the tower there is an old bell made in the famous foundry of master János Kiss in Sfântu Gheorghe, in 1797.
Representation of the legend of Saint Ladislaus
As soon as you enter the church, on the northern wall, you will notice the impressive fresco representing scenes from the Legend of Saint Ladislaus. The preserved scenes show in the upper register some fragments of horses, which remind us of what was once the scene of the Going to the battle. The scenes of the Battle of Kerlés and the Pursuit of the Cuman are not separated by the vertical decorative band, but only by a stylized tree, and, unfortunately, the scene of the Battle between Ladislaus and the Cuman in the lower register of the wall is almost completely destroyed. From the Cuman's Beheading scene, only the crowned head of Ladislaus, the gesture of the girl who is about to deliver the coup d'état, and some decorative trees can be seen to suggest the place where the action took place.
The composition of the Battle of Kerles also includes the episode of the abduction of the girl by the Cuman. Art historians believe that the Legend of Saint Ladislaus from Biborţeni is a derivative of the Italian Trecentist painting, finding its closest equivalent in the artistic achievements of Bijakovce, in Slovakia.
The Reformed Church in Biborțeni is not only a religious building, but an authentic testimony of medieval history and art.
The story of the place
The life of the local community is closely linked to the exploitation of natural mineral water deposits. The first information about the existence and use of mineral waters in the locality area dates back to the time of the Romans. Over time, the use of mineral waters became very popular, and knowledge about the healing effects was transmitted, most of the time, orally, sometimes even becoming legends. The stonemason and poet István Prázsmári from Baraolt rhymed the popular explanation of the origin of mineral water springs in the fairy tale Biborcz.
Thus, the story says that once upon a time, there was a fairies' castle in the forest. The lord of the place was called Tiborcz or Biborcz. His power was great and extended over the entire area (Baraolt Depression). He wanted a wife from among the fairies around Lake St. Anne. The chosen one's name was Faila.
"I will be your wife," said the girl, "only if you grow like that, water from the earth. If I bathe in it, I shall never grow old, and if I drink of it, I shall always be healthy, and death with the scythe shall never be able to take me." Biborcz stepped on the ground and water gushed out. "You can take a bath," he said. Then he struck the golden rod into the ground and another spring of water sprang to life, and the girl drank from it and agreed to be married. They organized a big wedding that the news spread to the world, and since then the sick have been seeking the healing waters of this region. One spring was called Biborcz, hence the name Biborcfalva (Biborțeni), and the other spring was called Faila.
Unique experiences
If you have arrived in Biborțeni, it is important to taste the mineral water that flows from the two public fountains in the village or to visit the ruins of the Tiborcz fortress, a castle built in the early Middle Ages. And if you want to continue your visit to the area, you can dine at the Daniel castle restaurant in the village of Tălișoara or go to Baraolt to visit the Baraolt Depression Museum.
If you are equipped for a hike, then you can complete your experience by going through the Vârghișului Gorges.
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