Prejmer Fortified Church, Transylvania

Around the mid-12th Century, the Hungarian king Andrew invited German-speaking Saxons to settle the southern portions of his territory in Transylvania and defend it against invaders from their south, especially the Cumans and Turks. 

A deeply religious people, the Saxons built many churches, first Catholic, then Lutheran. As the centre and lifeblood of the town, it made sense to fortify them, both to protect the treasures within and to provide a refuge when raiders descended the mountains.