Photos taken around Alvinc and Borberek
(Vințu de Jos and Vurpăr, Transylvania - Romania)
Shot with an Olympus E-510
2015
Borberek (also known as Vurpăr in Romanian, Burgberg in German, and Burpriχ in Saxonian) is a village in Transylvania (Romania), located 14 kilometers south-west of Gyulafehérvár city (Alba Iulia in Romanian). The word "berg", from its German name (Burgberg, meaning "fortress mountain"), refers to the Zebernik fortress, which is located approx. 1.5 kilometers north-west of the village. My friends and I headed to locate the ruins of this place, however, since there's no trail leading to the exact location, luck wasn't on our side that day.
The Zebernik fortress was built by the Saxons of Alvinc and Borberek in the 13th century, used as a safe haven in the times of war. However, in 1450, the fortress burned down. Later on, the prince of Transylvania, Bethlen Gábor, donated the fortress to the Hutterites, who reinforced the building. In 1723, Zebernik was still guarded by the military, although it burned down again, in 1728, and was also abandoned.
The church on the upper picture served first as an Evangelical-, later as a Reformed Protestant church, built in the first half of the 14th century. Despite its current state, the building was redefied and even fortified in the 15th-16th century. Read more here.
Despite the unfortunate story behind these historical buildings, the village and its surrounding nature is truly breathtaking, with a wonderful view of the close-by mountains.
(source)
The Reformed Protestant church of Borberek (Vurpăr) - abandoned building
The Reformed Protestant church of Alvinc (Vințu de Jos) - abandoned building
More here.
Our tour guide and one of my oldest friends, Robert.
