Harman
Harman (Huntschprich in the Saxon dialect or Honigberg in German) means The Honey Mountain. It is a small town located 11km north-east of Brasov and known today especially because of the fortified church.
It seems that the Teutonic Knights were the first inhabitants of this place but because of some disagreements with the Hungarian King they were forced to live. Bella IV, the Hungarian King, mentions Harman for the first time in a written document on March 21st, 1240, 15 years after the Teutonic Knights had left. He donated several churches, Harman being among them, to the Cistercian Order. In 1445 the town is inherited by the Saint Bartholomew Church from Brasov which will control it until the 19th century when the industrial boom will have a major impact in the agriculture life of the locals. Later, this economical development will intensify the agriculture based on industrial plants. In the 20th century Brasov, the most important city of this area, absorbed the labour of the surrounding towns, including Harman. Today it has a population of 3800 inhabitants.

Harman fortified church
It is believed that the Romanesque basilica of Harman was already under construction when it was taken by the Cistercian monks in 1420. Most of the elements from this time had survived despite the fact that the church was affected in 1595 by a great fire which destroyed not just the church but also a large part of Harman. The central nave has a vaulted ceiling built after 1595 and presents reminiscences of the original Catholic fresco which once had covered the entire church. Thre frescoes were covered with plaster after the Reformation. But the best preserved frescoes, dating back to the end of the 15th century, are to be seen in a chapel of the eastern tower. The bell tower is 32m (105ft) high and for a while it was the highest tower in the area. The tower clock represents an interesting aspect because the clock has just one arm pointing the hours. The bell tower has beside the main spire, other 4 spires located in each corner of the roof which symbolize that the town had its own jurisdiction and autonomy.
The fortification around the church was built in the 15th century and once was formed of concentric curtain walls. The interior wall, 12m (40ft) high, had 7 towers. The entire defensive system was surrounded by a watching gallery. The entrance, located beneath the Butchers’ Tower, was formed by a barbican which had two herses.
The church of Harman, as well as the community, suffered many invasions. In 1241, when the church was not yet finished, it was attacked by the Mongols and then by the Turks in 1421. In 1552 the Prince of Moldavia attacked it again but with no success.
Today it is renovated at open to the public.

The Schedule of the Harman fortified church:
Tuesday – Saturday: 09:00 – 17:00
Sunday - 10:00 – 17:00
Monday: closed