THE BLACK CHURCH IN BRASOV

In the theart of our country, in an environment of a rare beauty Brasov - capital of the region with the same name - regards a history of nearly 800 years; nowadays it is trobbing of modern life. At the foot of the Carpathians on the old highways of migrations between the Lower Danube and the Carpathian basin her site decided her roll as a centre of industry, commerce and culture not only for Transylvania but also for Moldovia and Valahia. Amongst the cultural monuments of our country the "Black Church" - has a predominent position; it dominates the medieval building in the centre of Brasov - got this name ofter the great fire in 1689. It was then that the old walls got their tint by smoke and fire, which could not destroy the magnificence of the old building. The "Black Church" with a lenght of 89 m is the largest church between Viena and Constantinople.
The Gothic bulding began in 1383 under the vicar Thomas Sander on the place of an elder romanic church dating from the first half of the 13th century. In 1421 it was nearly finished but almost destroyed by the 1st Turkish invasion. The building was essentially completed in 1477. Out of 2 towers projected only one of the south was constructed.
The Black Church belongs to the so-called "Hallenkirchen" having naves of equal height thus differing from the "Basilicas" with naves of various heights. The choir also - a work of the mature phase of the Gothic style - has 3 naves as un uprising hall. The rich architectural forms and sculptural decorations on its outer buttresses remind of those of the choir of the lutheran church in Sebes. They show the influence of the famous architectural school of the Parler family - whose culmination were St. Sebald in Nurnberg and St. Vit in Prague. This influence is stronger in Brasov than in Sebes. The high and well shaped windows give way to the full day light which renders the choir large and bright. The 6 portals - beautyfully and originally shaped - ar