Richiș Fortified Church
Carved masks on the vault keys and a deeply recessed west portal — unusual ornament for a village church, minutes from Biertan.
- How long to allow
- Half an hour to an hour
- Best for
- Pairing with Biertan
The background
Richiș is a short run from Biertan and almost nobody goes. Its church is worth the detour for the stonework, which is more ambitious than a village of this size would lead you to expect.
The west portal is recessed in successive orders. Inside, the vault ribs come down onto slender columns and capitals, and the keystones where the ribs meet are carved as masks — a decorative programme that stands out sharply against the plainer churches around it.
It is the sort of place that repays having seen Biertan first. Against the famous example you can see what is standard and what is not, and here almost the whole ornamental scheme is not.
The church keeps its own hours and is often locked; a key-holder lives nearby.
Prefer to have the route organised for you?
Guided private trips and custom itineraries are arranged externally, with a local driver-guide.
View private tours