Fortresses and fortified Churches - Apold
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Apold
APOLD
The parish of Apold lies in the Mures county, between Agnita and Sighisoara, in the valley of the Saes river.
Apold, first mentioned in writing in 1309, has an older history though. On its territory was found a Dacian treasure (1st century B.C.) which comprises 6 silver pins, a necklace and a belt made of a silver chain, as well as 563 Roman coins which date back to 217-249 A.D.
At Apold there is a Peasant Fortress with a precinct Evangelical Church. It is placed in the centre of the village, to the east, towards the Saes river. The Fortress was raised in the first years of the 16th century. It is impressive by its shape, picturesque towers and the cluster of century-old trees around.
The Fortress has two rows of defence walls flanked by picturesque quadrilateral towers. The tower over the western entrance, as well as the fortification of the nave and of the church's choir, alongside the watch-way yield the whole a severe aspect.
The Church, mentioned in writing in 1504, but having been built beforehand, has valuable pieces of furniture dating back to 1762. Inside the Fortress a deep well was dug (filled up today), which would provide the parishers with drinking water at times of war. One of the bastions would shelter a mill that supplied villagers with flour to bake bread. It is interesting to notice that two of the bailey bastions, of a rectangular shape, and comparatively larger, were used as barns for grains.
The tower of entrance to the second precinct was called the Oats Tower, and it also sheltered animals in case of siege. Villagers would keep their ham supplies in the White Tower since medieval times to the day.