Saschiz

Saschiz, village and commune, Mureș județ (county), central Romania. The villages of Saschiz, Mihai Viteazu, and Cloașterf make up the larger commune of Saschiz. Located in the old region of Transylvania, it lies about 12 miles (20 km) east of Sighișoara.

First documented in the 14th century, Saschiz is known for its medieval fortress and church constructed by Transylvanian Saxons, a population of German speakers who settled in Transylvania when it was part of Hungary. The ruins of the 14th-century fortress sit atop a hill overlooking the village. The late 15th-century fortified church has Gothic details and an imposing clock tower. Along with five other villages with fortified churches (Prejmer, Viscri, Dârjiu, Câlnic, and Valea Viilor), Saschiz was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites in 1999. (Another such village, Biertan, had been the first to be so inscribed, in 1993.)

Saschiz, a historic centre of carpentry and painting, became known in the 18th century for its metallic-blue ceramics. Economic activities today include agriculture, wood processing, and tourism. Although Saschiz retains a distinctive Saxon flavour, the inhabitants are now predominantly Romanian. Pop. (2005 est.) Saschiz commune, 2,050.