Traditional households in Cloașterf

Cloașterf, also known as the "Little Vienna" of Romania, is a picturesque village located in the heart of the Saschiz commune, just one kilometer away from the national road connecting Sighișoara to Brașov. Here, the architecture of the households harmoniously intertwines with nature, and the houses, built following the model of the citadel on the hill, have a special charm.

You will discover that the architectural landscape preserves intact the distinctive elements of Saxon architecture: the "closed" households, with imposing walls and courtyards protected by massive gates, include annexes such as barns, granaries, and stables, arranged carefully to delineate living spaces from the garden.

Stone and brick are the basic materials in house construction, and wood is found in the beams supporting the floors between levels. The roofs are made of scale tiles, giving them an authentic touch. Refined decorations, inscriptions on gypsum medallions and rectangular niches, as well as pastel colors enrich the ornamentation of the houses.

Discover in Cloașterf a corner of fairy tale, where tradition intertwines with authenticity and the beauty of nature. Here, traditional households are true architectural gems that keep alive the memory of bygone times, but not forgotten.

Throughout Transylvania, including the villages of the Saschiz commune, inhabitants who practiced craftsmanship were organized into guilds that regulated the relationships between craftsmen, conduct norms, obligations for firefighting, production and distribution, as well as organizing meetings and celebrations.

Guilds were led by a guild master, with roles in economic, legal, and administrative leadership. Craftsmen were chosen for guilds based on certain conditions related to gender, religion, nationality, age, and the obligation to practice only one craft. They were required to pay a fee in money and nature. The initial phase, the apprenticeship, lasted four years, during which the apprentice had to demonstrate exemplary behavior.

The Giants' Citadel, or in German Huhnenburg, is located in a pasture area popularly known as Volsoc, about 4 km north of the Saschiz commune. The building dates back to around 2500 BC-1800 BC and served as a defense against attackers and weather conditions. A characteristic element of the citadel, specific to the developed Neolithic, is the "earth rampart", which aims to defend the citadel.

The Peasant Citadel was built as a refuge, sheltering residents from Saschiz, Archita, Criț, Cloașterf, Adamsdorf, Diavaldia, and Abzen during times of war and danger.

The Fortified Church of "Saint Stephen" was built with the support of Saxon authorities from Sibiu by the locals of Cloașterf at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1714, a large part of the building was destroyed in a devastating fire.

Another building constructed in the village of Cloașterf is the Evangelical Fortified Church of St. Nicholas, a splendid ensemble built on the site of the former fortification ravaged by flames.