Cincșor Fortified Church
Cincșor, Brașov County · Transylvania
About Cincșor Fortified Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Cincșor, Brașov County. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Cincșor (Kleinschenk in German) is a village in the commune of Voila, on the bank of the Olt at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains. The Evangelical church does not stand on a hill, as many in Transylvania do, but right in the middle of the Saxon village, and its walls and towers can be seen from far away. It is among the best-preserved fortified churches in the Făgăraș area, as it has changed very little over the centuries.
A place of worship stood here as early as the second half of the 13th century. Today's Gothic church was completed in 1421, a year marked on the wall of the nave, and the bell tower is part of it. Towards the middle of the 15th century the villagers surrounded it with a wall and four defensive towers and added a fighting storey above the choir, with a timber gallery projecting outwards, made of wattle-and-daub walls. Stones from a Roman military camp on a nearby hill were also used for the walls. After the village was burned down in 1599, the community built a second enclosure wall in 1637, mostly on the side facing the Olt, which was also the border with Wallachia.
Today the Saxon community in the village has dwindled to very few people. The association Contrafort Pro Kleinschenk/Cincșor has made the church a cultural venue, with exhibitions, concerts and an annual art residency.
What you can see
Inside the church, look for the altar painted in 1868 by Carl Dörschlag and the organ built in 1805 by Samuel Maetz, one of the best-known in Transylvania. A bell from 1644 hangs in the bell tower, and the sacristy holds an exhibition on the musical life of the Saxon community. The old triptych altar, from the 17th century, is now in the Land of Făgăraș Museum. In the courtyard between the walls you can climb one of the towers, set up as a small museum, to the top floor, from where you can see the village and the Făgăraș Mountains. The former parish house and the former Saxon school next to the church are now guesthouses.
Good to know
The church has no opening hours posted by its administrator; the key is collected from a person in the village, and groups are asked to announce their visit in advance. Do not confuse it with the church in Cincu (Großschenk), a neighbouring village with a different, larger fortified church.
- The 1805 organ by Samuel Maetz, one of the best-known church organs in Transylvania.
- The top floor of the museum tower in the courtyard, with views over the village and the Făgăraș Mountains.
- The two enclosure walls and the four defensive towers, with their half-timbered upper floors, preserved almost unchanged.
- The altar painted in 1868 by Carl Dörschlag and the 1644 bell in the bell tower.
- The concerts and exhibitions in the church, especially during the art residency in September.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Cincșor is ~14 km from Făgăraș and ~3 km from Voila, in the west of Brașov County, ~80 km from Brașov. From the DN1 (E68), between Făgăraș and Sibiu, take the local road to the village; the church is in the centre.
Public transport: there is no direct public transport to the village; the simplest way is to come by car or by taxi from Făgăraș.
- Where to park
Leave the car on the village street near the church; there is no paid car park.
- Rules
The church stays locked between visits, so ask for the key in advance. Visitors are asked to behave discreetly in a place of worship and not to enter the closed areas of the towers.
- Facilities
guesthouses in the former parish house and former school · small museum in the tower · exhibition in the sacristy
Frequently asked questions about Cincșor Fortified Church
- How long does a visit to Cincșor Fortified Church take?
- A visit to Cincșor Fortified Church takes about 45 min (church, courtyard and one tower).
- Can you visit Cincșor Fortified Church with kids?
- Yes, Cincșor Fortified Church is suitable for children (wide grassy courtyard).
- Where can I park at Cincșor Fortified Church?
- There is free parking at Cincșor Fortified Church (on the village street, near the church). Leave the car on the village street near the church; there is no paid car park.
- How do I get to Cincșor Fortified Church?
- Cincșor Fortified Church is located at DJ105, nr. 103, Cincșor, Brașov County. By car: Cincșor is ~14 km from Făgăraș and ~3 km from Voila, in the west of Brașov County, ~80 km from Brașov. From the DN1 (E68), between Făgăraș and Sibiu, take the local road to the village; the church is in the centre. Public transport: there is no direct public transport to the village; the simplest way is to come by car or by taxi from Făgăraș.
- When is the best time to visit Cincșor Fortified Church?
- The best season for Cincșor Fortified Church: April – October (hours: April–October).
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