Biserica fortificată Rotbav

Current status (checked 12 October 2026)

The church tower collapsed on the night of 19 February 2016. It was about 60 metres tall and fell down to the level of the church wall, destroying the 1908 organ, the clock and the bells. We found no source from 2024–2026 on the present state of the ruin, on any works or on visitor access. Do not set off as if to an open monument: the ensemble can be seen from outside, and for anything else ask beforehand.

The smallest village in the Burzenland

Rotbav, Rothbach in German, belongs to the commune of Feldioara and is described by the Fortified Churches Foundation as the smallest village in the Burzenland. The first Saxon settlers lived by a stream about 1.5 kilometres west of today's village, then moved east.

What was lost in 2016

The church was built around 1300 and fortified in the 15th century. It was a class A historic monument, but found no funds for consolidation; locals said the tower had last been repaired in 1977. Before the collapse, the local authorities estimated the rehabilitation at about three million euros.

Opening hours and prices (checked 12 October 2026)

Opening hours, prices and a visiting contact are not published — check the official source, the Evangelical Church A.C. in Romania or the Fortified Churches Foundation (kirchenburgen.org), before your visit. The length of a stop is not published.

Getting there

Rotbav lies north of Brașov, on the E60 European road towards Sighișoara; the church stands on the main street, in the village centre, at Str. Progresului no. 82 according to an aggregator. From MAX International drive towards Brașov, then north on the E60. On the same road you can combine the stop with Feldioara Fortress.