Nosta{giicitsd,ine

Parcdrevld strbzile cu calupurile de granit rdnduite pe mijloc, incinse pe margini de pavajul

m6runt al pietrelor de rdu, printre care seleseaudesecovoarede portulacepolicrome. Florile de piatrd
se intindeiu intre casele atdt de cunoscutedin burgul medieval peste tot, ldsdnd loc doar laigelor gi
bdncilor de pe la porfi. Pe acestea,la umbra teilor qi castanilor,in dupd amiezlle de vard, tdinuiau
molcom vecinii, despremulte din celetrecute,vdztfiesauauzite.
Linigtea dupd amiezelorera ingdnatd,in rdstimpuri, doar de bdtdile sobre ale ceasului din
Turnul Saqilor,care qi pe atunci orinduia treburile. Rareori se avzeatropotul cailor de la birjele ce
duceausprecasdcfiteun doctor sauavocatostenitde licoareavinului Steinigersaua celui de Lechinfa,
servit la Restaurantullui Braedt.
Ordgenii, a$acum se numeau cei ce locuiau in caseledin fosta cetate,alcdtuiau cu hrubenii,
podenii qi cei din hendergass ,intreagapopulafie a Bistrilei, ce seridica, la mijlocul secolului trecut, la
18.000de suflete. Comunitatea era alcdtuitddin germani, romAni, evrei gi maghiari, ce se cunoqteau
bine,ducdndo vialdpatriarhaldintr-o deplindarmonie.
in viala de zi cu zi, grupurlleacesteanu se deosebeaupreamult, doar in zilele de sdrbdtoarese
rr uuruDwl'w@ tradijiilor
revdrsauorgolii in a-qi dovedi unii altorafrumuselea rrourr'rvr strdmoqegti
r'o'rv9vvur gi
tr e obiceiurilor, pdstrate
a vvrvvrur'vr' vwv!rwev cu
vE I
121
sfinfenie, din generalie in generafie.
Sdrbdtorile gi tdrgurile numeroase erau tot
atdtea prilejuri de etalare a costumelor populare, a
cdnteculuiqi jocului qi, mai ales, ocazii a numeroase
concursuri,intreceri qipetreceri.
Seara,grddinile de vard,,Bombardir",,, Tu!7",
,,Stefan", sau ,,La Figdnoaia" deveneauneincdpdtoare.
Aici, bistrilenii, cu "responsabilitatea" lor binecu-
noscutd, inecau micii gi grdtarele in berea sau vinul
autohton.Comesenilorli se aldturaude cele mai multe
ori vestilii muzicanJi din figdnime. Yirtuozitatea
multora, de careimi amintescAiastdzicu pl[cere, fbcea
ca agapeles5 seterminetdrziuinnoapte, intotdeaunain
mare veselie, dar intr-o decenfdcitadind remarcabil5.
Nu arareori,ldutarii ii urmau in miez de noaptepe cei ce
doreausd facd serenadeiubitelor. incurajate de Bachus
qi generatedeAmor, suspinelecavalerilor sedistingeau
printre tangourile sudamericane,liedurile nemleqti sau
a romanfelor lui Fernic, interpretatecu mult patos de
lSutari.
Un chibrit, ce strdluceala ferestreleintunecate,
aducea intotdeauna rispunsul mult agteptat qi nu
arareori, chiar impdcarea gi iertarea r6vnit6, ca apoi
totul sd se scufunde in noapte qi linigte, ca Burgul sd
adoarmi in liniqte.
..,.,1;x;*!*9*:ii**:ii;*a.*;**i'* ;;**,"-i
Trdsurile a;teptau in Piala Centrald
Droshkenwartenauf demHauptplatz
Carriageswaiting in Centralsquare
 Vedereaeriand a centrului vechi. I9l4 Luftbild des alten Stadtzentrums I 91 4 Old Centre air view, 1914

,rl

vedereaerianddinspresud,19I6 Luftbitdgegensiidenlgt6 southsideairview,

l9l6
 Std,dtisehe
Nostulgie
Mir ist, als konnte ich die StraBen wieder sehen, mit den in der Mitte aufgereihten
Pflastersteinen,am Rand umgebenvon den kleinen FluBsteinen,zwischen denensich dichte Teppiche
von bunten Portulak-Roschenwebten. Diese ,,Steinblumen" breiteten sich zwischen den so gut
bekanntenHdusernder mittelalterlichen Stadtiiberall aus,unterbrochennur von den Sitzgelegenheiten
und Bdnken an den Haustoren.Auf diesen erzdthltensich die Nachbarn im Schattender Linden und
Kastanienan den ruhigen Nachmiuagen des Sommersvieles aus der Vergangenheit,Gesehenesoder
Gehortes.
Die Nachmittagsruhewurde nur vom gleichmiiBigenTicken derUhr desSachsenturmes gest<irt,
die damals den Tagesablauf bestimmte. Hie und da horte man das Klappern der Hufe eines
Droschkenpferdes,das einen Arzt oder Rechtsanwaltnach Hause brachte, der erschopft war vom
siiffrgen Steiniger-Weinoderjenem ausLechnitz,die imRestaurantdesBraedt serviertwurden.
Die Stiidter - so nannten sich diejenigen, die in den Hdusern innerhalb der ehemaligen
Stadtmauernlebten - setztensich ausdenenausder Hrube zusammen,den Podeniund den Bewohnern
der Hendergass.Die gesamtePopulationvon Bistritz hatteum die Mitte desvergangenenJahrhunderts
18.000Seelen.Die GemeindebestandausDeutschen,Rumdnen,Judenund Ungarn,welche sich alle lzs
untereinandergut kanntenund ein patriarchalischesLebenvoller Harmonie fiihrten
Im tiiglichen Leben unterschiedensich dieseGruppennicht sehr,nur an den Feiertagensetzten
sie ihren Stolz darein, einer dem anderen die Schonheit der uralten Traditionen und Briiuche
vorzufiihren, die von Generationzu Generationsorgf?iltigaufbewahrtworden waren.
Die Feiertage und die zahlreichen Mdrkte waren ebenfalls eine solche Gelegenheit, die
Volkstrachten zur Schau zu stellen, die Lieder und Tdnze. Vor allem waren sie Gelegenheit zu
zahlreichenWettbewerben,Treffen und Unterhaltungen.
Am Abend waren die Sommergdrten,,Bombardir",'\rt7", ,,Stefan'ooder ,,La Figanoaia"
iiberfirllt. Hier efirdnkten die Bistritzer mit ih,rer allbekannten "Vera,ntwortlichkeif' die Mici und das
Gegrillte in Bier oder bodenstiindigemWein. Den Tischgesellschaftenspielten oft die beriihmten
Musikanten aus der Ziganime auf. Durch die Virtuositdt vieler, an die ich mich auch noch heute mit
Vergniigenerinnere,dehntensich die Festessenbis spiit in die Nacht, immer mit groBerFrohlichkeit,
jedoch mit bemerkenswerterstiidtischer Zurtickhaltung. Nicht selten folgten die Musikanten um
Mitternacht demjenigen,der seinerGeliebtenein Stiindchenbringen wollte. Von Bacchusangespornt
und vonAmor geleitet unterschiedensich die Seufzerder Kavaliere durch siidamerikanischenTango,
deutscheLieder oderdie RomanzendesFernic, immer mit viel Pathosvon denMusikantenbegleitet.
Ein Ziindholz, dasin einem der dunklen Fensteraufleuchtete,brachteimmer die lang erwartete
Antwort und nicht selten auch die Versohnungund ersehnteVergebung,damit danachalles in Nacht
und Stille versinkeund die Stadtin Ruhe einschlafenkonnte.
 TMtrcwlsmekotJ,
I can still seewith my mind's eyesthe granitemoulds arrangedin the middle, surroundedby the
tiny paving madeup of river gravel like carpetswoven in polychrome portulacae.Stoneflowers were
all over betweenthe well-known housesof the mediaevalburgh leaving enoughroom for the benches
in front of the gates.Under the lime and chestnuttrees'shadowdown on benches,neighboursusedto
linger in summeraftemoons,abouteverything seen,heard,or happenedbefore.
The afternoonpeacewas at times accompaniedby the sombreticking ofthe clock in the Saxons'
Tower which, even then, ordered their work. One could seldom hear the clatter of horses from the
carriageswhich took back home somedoctor or lawyer worn out by Steinigeror Lechinta wine, served
at Braedt,Europeor Piparestaurants.
The citizens, asthe people living in the former forhess houseswere called, togetherwith those
living in undergroundhomes, those living in lofts and those in Pendergrassrepresentedthe whole
population of Bistrifa which reachedabout I 8,000peopleat the middle of the 19th century.
The community was made up by Germans,Romanians,Jews and Hungarianswho knew one
anotherwell andwho were leadinga peacefuI life in completeharmony.
,ol In everyday life, thesegroupswere not very different but on holidays they could show offthe
beautyoftheir ancienttraditions andcustoms,piously preservedover generations.
The numerousholidays andmarketswere also opportunitiesfor displaying their folk costumes,
their songsand dancesand for organizingcontests,competitionsandparties.
In the evening,the public gardens"Bombardir","TtJtT", "stefan'or "At Figdnoaia's,,were
cramped. Here, the people of Bistrifa were "responsibly" drowning steaks and highly seasoned
sausagesin native wine or beer.FamousGipsy singerswould join them most of the time. Their artistic
perfection,which I gladly rememberevento this day,madepartiesend late at night, alwayshappily but
in a remarkablytown-like decency.
Fiddlers would sometimesfollow, in the middle of the night, thosewho wantedto serenadefor
their beloved. Inspired by Bachus and generatedbyAmor, the gentlemen'ssighs were heard through
South-Americantango,Germanlieds orFernic's romancesinterpretedby enthusiastfiddlers.
A match lighted behind the dark windows would always bring the long-waited for answeror
eventhe reconciliation or forgivenessandthen everythingmergedinto night and silenceand the Burgh
wouldgoto sleep.
 Edilicii
Afirmam cd multd vreme bistrilenii nu au putut indlfa construc{ii din piatrd, fiind obligali prin
dispozifiile Principilor Transilvaniei ca gi prin cele ale Curlii regale gi imperiale, sd-qiridice casedoar
dinlemn.
Abia dupd cdteva incendii de mari propor,tii, cdt gi ca urmare a necesitdlii de stdvilire a
hoardelormigratoare,s-apermis construireaedificiilor din piatrd gi cirdmidd,
Prosperitateaeconomicda orbqenilordin secoleleXVI-XVIII gi invaziaperpetuda ndvdlitorilor,
au impus ridicareaunor construcfii temeinice,de o mare diversitatestilisticd, cu ro1strategic,militar, in
mdsurd sd asigure stdvilirea hoardelor barbarc, venite din Asia gi Europa Rdsdriteand.In numele
cregtinismului gi a apdrdrli pdm0ntului strdbun, oamenii acestorp[mdnturi gi-au fbcut datorra aici,
laoIaItL,romAni, germani, maghiari, secui, evrei qi de alte nalionalitdli, frrd sd bdnuiascdcdva veni o
vreme, ca ceade azi, cdnd o mare parte dintre nafiunile europeneau uitat rolul de scut al inaintagilor
nogtri in caleapaloqului,focului qi a barbarieihoardelormigratoare.

lru
t.

$l!ri*11!a.isltre6rrrl *. irrr$Xtrhr- r. ii:i{.lfi-liir*sriti.1a;terrltle Birjrii-Aeiutlr*g

261
Nationalbank1938
The Nationol Bank, 1938

Fe
,!"
l r
f..
 Sediul Societdlii "Regna", 1926
"Regna" -Gesellschaft1926
The "Regna"societyHeadquarters, 1926

#**et*rq* lri4ti*- #i*trfts Fc f14Sri 1*l+n_vi*lr*ri*

tr. t

1,,

***#*
CentrulCultural,1918
Kulturzentrum I9I8
The Cultural Centre, I9I8

Sediul asocialiei meseriasilor bistrileni, I 914

Sitz desBistritzer Gewerbeyereins 1914
The centre of Bistr\a craftsmen,I 914
 sry@w
I have said that the people of Bistrifa were forbidden (for a long time) to raise stonebuildings,
being forced by The PrincesofTransylvania'sordersand thoseof the Imperial and Royal Court to build
onlywoodhouses.
Only after somebig fires and consequently,out of the necessityto stop the migratory hordes,
were they allowed to raisestoneandbrick buildings.
The welfare of the townspeoplein the l6th 18th centuriesand the permanentinvasions of the
migratory people imposedthe constructionof safebuildings, stylistically varied and having a strategic
andmilitaryrole,abletostopthebarbarianhordeswhichwerecomingfromAsiaandEasternE.t op".Itt
the name of Christianity and defending their ancestors'land, the people here did their duty toglther,
Romanians,Germans,Hungarians,Szecklers,Jews and other nationalities, without thinking that one
day many Europeannationswould forget our ancestors'shield againstthe swords,fire andbarbarismof
migratoryhordes.

lru
 &rpr*r$ntns,
Aparifia curselor regulate^ale poqtalioanelor in oraqul nostru a fost legatd,de inceputurile
activitdlii poqtalein Transilvania. In Elul mediu existao refeade c[l[re!i qi curieri pogtali ce stribdteau
voievodatul la dispozifia Principelui autonom, acegtiaduc0nd corespondenfala nevoie. In perioada
154 1- 1688 incepeor ganizareaprimelorpogtelocale.
Organizareapogtelorlocale a fost impusd de introducereapogtalioanelorce asigurau,pe ldngd
serviciilepogtale,qi pe celede transportdepersoane.Oraqelein careacesteaajungeauerauobligatesd
asigure caii de schimb, pentru o deplasaremai rapidd, ca gi gdzduirea gi cinstirea cdldtorilor.
Cheltuielile trebuiausuportatede citre municipalitate.
in anul 1667 aufostnumifi la Bistrila primii doi directori depoqt[, in persoanadomnilor Johann
Rosenauerqi GeorgParlaghi,cu sarcini de a seocupade acestelucruri.
La sfdrqitul secolului al XVIII-lea se stabilesc curse regulate intre principalele orage ale
Transilvaniei,careaveauleg[turi gi cu ldrile invecinate.
I
li

rol

:'i:::::"':I
ift:::r!vl1iiil11i:6'
-1
lx*.,
ii$i,l ,'3,
'{11*.,,i":l -,',
Plecarea poStalionului din Bistrila, picturd I 896 - Malerei von I 896-Abfahrt des Postillions von Bistritz - Mail coaches leaving Bistrila, painting 1896

Din ,.CALENDARIUM NOVUM ET VETUS MAGNUS PRINCIPATUS TRANSILVA-

NIAE", ediliile 1796-1836,cunoagtem itinerariile poqtalioanelordin Transilvania,nominalizarca
principalilor magistrafi de pogtd, precum qi localitdlile in care existau pogte. Astfel, pe actualul
perimetru al judelului nostru, principalul traseu al poqtalioanelorera cel ce lega Sibiul de Cagovia.
Acest itinerar era strdbdtutin 44 de ore, cu halte mai importante la Sighigoara,Tdrgu-Mureq,Bistrifa,
Suceavaqi Cern[ufi, cu legdtur6spreViena.
Pe ruta de mai sus existau la noi in jude! urmdtoareleoficii pogtale:Teaca,Bistrifa, Prundul
BArgdului, Iliufa qi, ceva mai tdrziu, dupd construirea actualei variante a drumului spre Bucovina,
Tihula.
Timpul necesarpentru parcurgereaetapelordintre oficiile poqtaleera: Reghin-Teaca o or[ gi
jumitate, Teaca-Bistriladoudore,Bistrila - Prundu-Bdrgdului- o ord qijumitate.
 Sosesc
poStalioanele,
I 850

Ankunftder
Postkutschen
1850

Mail coachesare
coming,1850

Existau gi doudtraseeinterne,parcursede doui ori pe sdptbmdnS:Bistrila-Cluj ,in7 oreqi 45 de

minute, cu po$tela Ciceu- Cristeqtigi $intereag,qi BistriJa-Baia Mare, cu o duratdde 10 ore.
Dintre magistrafii de poqtb din aceastdperioadd ii amintesc, la Bistrifa: Sambori, Fagarasi,
Daniel Schuster,JohanesDrexler; la Teaca:Budai, Dinges gi Miiller; la Prundu-BArgdului: Maria
BecheggiIacobusKhol; la Iliufa: Roterichgi Iosif Held, iar la TihuJa:Martin Bohnergi Iosif Scrabal. I
Cu diligenJa,pe traseulde la Tihufa la Poiana$tampei,in Pasul B6rgdului se va deplasagi 131
JonathanHarker, eroul celebrului roman al lui Bram Stoker ,,ConteleDracula", care,in noapteade 4
mai a anuluilST3,ora 0, ,,seint0lneqteaici curenumitulvampir", dup[ o cSldtorie,,cupoqtalionul,de-a
lungul rAuluiverzui al Bistrfei, prin satulPrundu-Bdrgdului".
"3

{
;
*
It

OficiulpoStallliula, 1870
Postamt lliula 1870
Iliula Post-ffice, 1870
 The&{sit Cacscl*
The setting of regular mail coachjourneys in our town is connectedto the beginning of mail
activiry in Transylvania.In the Middle Ages there was a systemof riders and mail couriers *ho .'.r.
rroving acrosstheprincipality at the self governingprince'sorder.They usedto takemail, ifneeded.
BefweenI54Iandl688thefirstlocalmailofficesareorganized.Thishadbeenimposedbythe
appearanceof mail coacheswhich ensured,besidesmail services,the public transport.The towns
n*'herethey arrived were compelledto have sparehorsesfor a fasterjourney and
ensureihesleepingand
t,"-rod
facilitiesfor thetravellers.The expenses hadto bepaidby themunicipality.
In 1667 the first two post-office directors were appointed at Bistrifa; they were Mr. Johann
RosenauerandMr. GeorgParlaghiin chargeofthese things.
At the endofthe 18thcenturywere setregularjourneysbetweenthe main towns ofTransilvania,
o,rhich werealsoconnectedto theneighbouringcounties.
FTOM "CALENDARIUM NOVUM ET VETUS MAGNUSP RINCIPATUS
TR{NSILVANIAE", the editionsof 1796 1836we know the itinerariesofTransylvaniamain coaches,
the appointing of the main mail magistratesand the towns where there were post offices. Thus, in the
presentareaof our district,the mainjourney of the mail coacheswas the one linking Sibiu to Casovia.
| oo
Thisjourney was madein 44 hours, with important stopsat Sighigoara,Tdrgu Mur.f Birtrilu, Suceava I ""
andCerndufi,leadingon to Vienna.
On the above-mentionedjourney, in our district there were the following post offrces: Teaca,
Bistrita, PrunduBdrgaului,Iliula and,a liule later Tihu{a,afterthe actsalvaiant of the road to Bucovina
hadbeenestablished.
The time necessaryto reach the post offices was: Reghin Teaca:t hour and a half, Teaca
Bistrita: 2 hours,Bistrifa PrunduBdrgaului 1 anda halfhour.

Therewere also 2 local journeys, madetwice a week: Bistrila CluJ 7 hours and,45minutes,with post
otf-tcesat Ciceu Cristeqtiand$intereag,andBistrifa Baia Mare 10hours.Among themain magistrates
in this period are: in Bistrifa: Sambori,Fagarasi,Daniel Schuster,JohanesDreiler; in Teaca:Budai,
Din-eesand Mriller; in Prundu Bdrgaului Maria Bechesand IacobusKhol, in Iliufa: Roterich and Iosif
Held and in Tihuta: Martin Bohner andIosif Scrabal.
JonathanHarcker, the hero of the famousBram Stoker'snovel "Dracula" also goesby the mail
coachfrom Tihutato PoianaStampeiacrossBargauPassandon the night of May 4th I8i3 ,aimidnight
"meetsherethe famousvampire" after a journey "by the mail
coachalong the river of Bistrifa through
ther.illageofPrunduBargaului".
 C twx&rd&tw
Unul dintre edificiile vechi ale oragului, cu valoare arhitectonicdqi istoriograficd,aparte,este
,,CasaIoanZidaru", situatdin Centrul Vechi al oraqului ( vis-d-vis de Tribunal), pe coltul strddulei ce
ducesprePiefigor.
Edificatd de meqterii autohtoni pentru Prim-judele Bistrifei, Andreas Beuchel, ea a fost
terminatd in jurul anului 1520. Spafioasi, cu numeroasecamerecu tavaneboltite in ogive gotice, cu
portaluri de piatr6, ornamentatecu motive geometricegi florale, ea arecoridoare de accesla nivelul
etajului,precum gi mari spalii de depozitare,fiind o re alizarearhitectonici de excepfiea acelorvremuri.
Valoareaarhitectonicda acesteiclddiri estecompletatdgi de o istorio grafie aparte.
Dupd cddereaRegatului Ungariei la 1526,sub
loviturile otomane, incepe, la scurtd vreme, lupta
pentru supremaliaTransivanieidintre loan Zapolya qi
Ferdinand de Habsburg. Acegtia, degi antrenali cu
armatele pe mai multe fronturi, nu au putut sd-gi
impund superioritateaasupra provinciei fErd sprijin
341 extern.Astfel, ambii igi dau seamade rolul strategicAi
militar pe care l-ar putea avea Domnul Moldovei,
Petru Rareq,in dobdndireaacesteiprovincii. in aceste
incercdri Petru Rareq sprijind, mai intdi, tabdra lui
Ferdinand, trecdnd apoi de partealui Ioan Zapolya,
care, in schimbul acestei alian[e,oferd domnitorului
moldovean,ca recompensd,Cetateade BaltS,Cetatea
Ciceului cu cele 60 de sate,Unguragul cu 34 de sate,
Bistrila qi Valea Rodnei, ambele cu cele 23 de sate
apa\indtoare.
In acestecondilii, cind lupta dintre cei doi era
incert6, se pare c5 Prim-judele Bishifei, Andreas
Beuchel, a ezitatin a se aldturadin weme grupdrii ce
vadeveni invingdtoare,Acest lucru i-a fdcutpe bistrileni sd-l consideretrdddtor.Urmagulsduin funcfia
de Prim-jude al Bistrifei il condamn[ la moarte prin decapitare,ceea ce s-a 9i intAmplat in Piala
Centrald a oragului, in iulie 1532, cdnd cdldul oraqului a primit recompensade un galben pentru
executareasentinlei.
Tot acum sehotdrdgteca efrgiain basoreliefa celui pedepsitsd fie expusdspreluare aminte pe
pereteledemiazdzial Bisericii sisegti,undepoatefi vdzut[ gi astdzi.
Oragulsechestreazdbunurile executatului,printrecaregi casaamintitd,cevafldndutdulterior
lui Ioan Zidaru ( Pietrarul ), megtervenit din Moldova. Acesta, la rdndul sdu, a fost urmdrit de Petru
Rareg qi urmagii gdi, pentru neonorareaunor datorii qi astfel a fugit la Sibiu. in urma acestui fapt,
clddireaa fost din nou v0ndutd, cu 200 de florini, cetdfeanuluiPaul Budaker .
Moqteniti din generaliein generafie,ea afost apoi etatizatdgireamenajatd,iar cdtevadeceniia
funcfionatin ea,,RestaurantulCentral".
In prezent edificiul a revenit mogtenitorilor Doctorului Buduqan, cel care a fost ultimul
proprietartabular antebelic.
 Y*eXp&rrslwn Zidaru
One of the old buildings of the town, with special architecturaland historiographicalvalue is
"The house loan Zidaru" ,situatedin the Old Centre of the town (opposite the Court of Law;, at the
cornerofthe streetleadingto Pielisor (piata Mica).
It was built by the local craftsmenfor the Prime Judgeof Bistrita, AndreasBeuchel, and it was
finished around 1520.It is large,with numerousrooms having vaulted ceiiings in Gothic pointed arches
and stoneportals with floral and geometricalornaments;it has accesscorridors at the storey level and
large lodging spaces,being an exceptional architectural achievementof the time. The architectural
value of this building is completedby a particular historiography.Shortly after the fall of the Kingdom
of Hungary in 1526under the Turkish attacks,the fight for the rule ovei Transylvaniabeganbeiveen
loanZapolya and Ferdinandof Habsburg.Although they had been trained witil their arm-ieson front
neither of them could imposehis supremicy over tf," p.orrin.. without externalsupport.This way both
realizedthe strategicand military role that the king of Moldova, Petru Rares,might have in conquering
this province. In theseattemptsPetru Raresfirst supportedFerdinandbut afterihat he took sideswith
IoanZapolva who in exchangefor this alliance offered as a reward to the Moldavian King, Cetateade
rul Balta, CetateaCiceului and its 60 villages Unguragulwith 34 villages, Bistrita and Rodna,both with
their23villages.
Under these circumstances,when their fight was uncertain, the Prime-Judge of Bistrita,
Andreas Beuchel would have hesitatedto join before long the group who was to win. This made the
people in Bistrita considerhim a traitor. His follower in the off,rceof Frime-Judgeof Bistrita sentenced
him to be beheadedwhich actually happenedin the Central Squareof the town-in July l632when the
tgwn hggman got his one ducatpay for the execution.Then they also decidedthat his bas-relief effigy
shouldbe displayedon the easternwall ofthe SaxonChurch,whereit canstill be seen.
The town held back his belongings,amongwhich the above mentionedhouse,which would be
later sold to Ioan Zidaru(the stone- cutter), a mastermasonwho had come from Moldova. He, in his
turn was followed by Petru Rares and his descendentsfor not honouring his debts and so he fled to
Sibiu Consequently,the building was sold againto citizenPaul Budakerfor 200 ducats.
It had beeninherited from one generationto anotherthen it becamestateproperty and restored.
The "Central Restaurant"hasbeenherefor sometensofyears.
_ In the present,the househas becomethe property of the heirs of doctor Budugan,who was the
lastpre-wartabularowner ofthe building.
 Tbrwnx{
Sry',srf$pr
Cei ce strdbat astdziparcul oraguluipot vedea,spremiazdnoapte,fragmentedin vechiul zidde
apdrarea Bistrilei de altddatd,agacum se bucur[ de existenfa acestoraqi cei din strdzile Ecaterina
Teodoroiu, Dogarilor, sau Bistricioarei. Zidul avea rolul de a proteja oragul de desele invazir ale
popoarelormigratoare, dara jucatun rol important gi in asigurareaindependenleioragului,periclitat de
tmpele austriecesaumaghiare,ce l-au asediatqi elein numeroaserdnduri.

Lttpta de la Bistrila, confruntarea dintre

armatele austriece qi maghiare pentru
ocuparea oraqului (1 8 12)

Kamft um Bistritz, Konfrontation 6sterr. und

ungar. Truppen zur Besetzung der Stadt(I8 I 2)

Bistrila battle, theJight betwen the Austrian

and Hungarian armies to conquer the
town(l812) l.t

Construirea zidului a inceput imediat dupd permisiuneaobfinutd de la Matei Corvin, la 1463,

de a ddrdmavecheacetatea Bistrilei depe Burich.
Piatra din cetate,la cares-a addugat gi ceaprovenitb din cariereleIadului qi ale Cepariului, a
constituit materialul din care s-au ridicat zidurile iniliale. Prima centurd de apdrarea oraqului avea
forma de patrulater,cu laturile de 1000pe 800 meki, incluzdnd 13 turnuri de apdrareqi un bastion, a
ciror indlfare a fost incheiatd la anul 1485. Dupd alfi 50 de ani incepe construclia celei de- a doua
centuri, impusdnu numai de extindereaperimetrului construibil, c6t qi de necesitateade a proteja noile
edificii, gidea reparaqiconsolidaunele por,tiunialevechiuluizid,delerroratintretimp.
Zidulridicat acum aveao indllime de 10 metri qi o grosime de 2 metri, fiind inconjurat de un
gan!de apdrarecu o addncimede 3 metri, umplut cu ap[ printr-un canalderivat din rAulBistrila.
Din loc in loc, in pozifii strategice,s-au amplasatcele 18 turnuri si bastioane de apdratea
oragului.Acesteaerau in grija breslelor ce le-au qi edificat, cu sarcinade a le dota cu tot ceeace era
necesar pentru a deveni redute inespugnabile.Forma gi dimensiunile lor variau in funclie de puterea
economicda breslelor cdrorale apar,tineau. Cum breslelesediferenli au atdtca numdr cAtgi ca bog[Jie,
sepoatededucegi varietateaconstructivi a acestora.Tot acumseconstruiescaiprincipalele cbi de acces
in orag, desigur fortificate gi ele, cum au fost: Poarta Lemnelor( Holzgassertor),Poarta Ungaricd
( Ungargassertor),PoartaSpitalului (Hospitaltor) gi PoartaRodnei.
Din pdcate,,iR urma dispoziliilor imperiale sosite din Viena la 1863, incepe ddrdmarea
fortificafiilor, a porlilor gibastioanelor.
Singurul care s-a pdstrat pdnd astdzi, in afara fragmentelor amintite, este TURNUL
DOGARILOR, unul.din cele mai puJin impresionante,ca arhitecturd qi mai pufin impundtor, ca qi
breasla pufin numeroas[a celor ce l-au edificat gi i-au dat numele.El s-apdstratin condilii relativ bune
 qi poate fivizitat gi admirat. Are trei nivele , din care cele superioareau spalii qi incdperi cu ferestre
crenelate.Laprimul etajexistdposibilitateadeacces,pe zidul de apdrare,lametereze.ScSrileinterioare
abrupte gi inguste asigurauun accesrapid luptdtorilor de la un nivel la altul, ca qi o aprovizionare
relativ lesnicioasd.
Turnul are o indlfime de 25 de metri.
Partea inferioard, necompartimentatd, a fost
folositd ca magazie, avdnd un portal masiv
inspre orag. De aici se asigura, printr-un tunel
subteran,legitura cu Abalia Benedictinilor din
apropiere, tunel ce continua spre biserica
evanghelicd,,ca apoi sd ajungi pe dealul fostei
cetdfi de pe Burich, oferind astfel o posibilitate
de evacuare a burgului in cazul unui asediu
prelungit sau a unui pericol iminent, CAt este
adevdrin acesteultime afirmafii gi c6t legend[,
este greu de qtiut, urm6nd ca cercetdri
amdnunfitesi sistematicesd elucideze aceste
amdnunte,in caz cd vor prezentainterespentru
cineva.
Certeste,ins6,cdTurnul Dogarilora fost
folosit ca spitalpentru bolnavii cronici denervi,
careeraulegali,aici, in cdmdgide fo4d, dar qi ca
loc de ferecarein lanluri a prostituatelornotorii,
inainte de a fi lintuite la stAlpul infamiei, din
Piafa Central5, unde gAdele oraqului le aplica
loviturile cu gteampul,inainte de a fi alungatecu
381 mdturiledefemeilevenerabi1ealeoragu1ui,in.....-.,,,,.,"-...-.*....f:;.i
prinpoarra
afaraCetfiii, Spitalului. '*
7;:;#i:""ffr2";:ii,t#;i,:"ff."!;;,'n"
Turnul a fost supus unor amenajdri succesive,nu intotdeauna inspirate. Dacd amenajarea
Turnului Dogarilor din 1926,sub conducereaarhitectului de atunci al oragului,Oskar Kelp, a fost una
binevenitS,spaliul fiind oferit ca sediutinerilor cercetaqibistrileni, timp de opt ani, pdndladeshinfarea
miqcdrii cercetdgegtiprin decretul regelui Carol al Il-lea, dup6 aceastd,datdel devine locuinfi pentru
mai multe generalii denefericili ai soartei.
ReparareaTurnului Dogarilor din anul 1968 a fost mai puJin inspirat6,.Ce e drept, a dus la o
salubrizareaa lui qi a scosin eviden!6gi elementede construcfiedin epoci diferite, dAndimagineaunui
mozaic arhitectonic. Din pdcate, s-au fbcut addugiri ulterioare de-a dreptul fanteziste, brutale
intervenfiiasupraunorelementede detaliu,cAtgi asupraconstrucfieiiniliale.
Cu toate acestea,, TURNUL DOGARILOR" rdmine unul dintre cele mai interesanteobiective
turisticemedievaleale ora$ului.
 The Caopers'Tower
Those who wander northwardsthrough the town Park, as well as those who live in Ecaterina
Teodoroiu, Dogarilor (Coopers'),or Bistricioarei streetsmay see fragments of Bistri{a's old defense
wall. The wall was meantto protect the town againstthe frequentinvasionsof migratory peoplesand it
also played an importantpart in ensuringthe town's independence,threatenedby the Hungarian and
Austriantroopswho hadalsobesiegedit.
The constructionof the wall startedimmediately after permission had been grantedby Matei
Corvin in 1463to pull down the old fortressofBistrita from Burich.
The stonein the fortress,togetherwith the stonefrom Iad (Hell) and Ceparistonemines,was the
stuff from which the initial walls were built. The first defenseenclosureof the town was rectangularin
shapewith sidesof 1,000and 800 meters,including 13 defensetowers and a bastionwhoseconstruction
was completedin 1485.50 yearslater,the constructionof the secondenclosurestarted,being imposed
both by the expansionof the building areaandthenecessityto protect the new buildings and repair and
reinforcepartsofthe old wall impairedin time.
The newly-built wall was 10 metershigh and 2 metersthick, being surroundedby a3 meters
deepmoat, filled with water through a canalderivedfrom the river ofBistrita.
Here and there, in strategiclocations, there were placed 18 towers and bastionsfor the town lo,
defense.They were looked after by the guilds who had also constructedthem. They had to equip them
with everything necessaryto make them impugnable.Their form and dimensionsvaried dependingon
the economicalpower of the guilds.As they were different in number andwealth therewas construction
variation betweenthem, too. The main accessroadsto the town were also built in this period, such as:
the Wood Gate (Holzgassertor),the Hungarian Gate (Ungargassertor),the Hospital Gate (Hospitaltor)
andtheRodnaGate.
Unfortunately, as a consequenceof the imperial orders from Vienna in 1863, they started
demolishingthe fortifications, the gates,andthe bastions.
The only one which has been preservedup to now is the Coopers' Tower, one of the least
architecturally impressive and imposing of all, similar to the guild which constructedand gave it its
name.
It hasbeen relatively well preservedand it can be visited and admired. It has three levels : the
upper onesare spaciousand have crenel-windowedrooms. On the first floor there is accesspossibility
on the defensewall to the crenels.The interior stairs, steepand nanow, ensuredquick accessto the
hghtersfrom one level to anotherand a relatively easysupplying.
The tower is 25 metershigh. The inferior part with no compartmentswas usedas a warehouse,
as it had a massiveportal to the town. The connectionfrom here to the BenedictineAbbey nearbywas
donethrough anundergroundtunnel which alsoled to the EvangelicalChurch andthenup the hill of the
farmer Burich fortress,thus offering the possibility of evacuatingthe burgh in caseof siegeor danger.
We may never guessthe truth or myth of thesematters,but we hope further systematicaland detailed
researchmight clearup thesecircumstances,ifnecessary.
It is certain'that the Coopers' Tower had been used before as a hospital for the chronically
nervous diseasedand as a prison for notorious prostituteswho had been locked herebefore they were
held up to infamy in the Central Square,where the local hangmanwhipped them and then they were
thrown awaythecitywalls throughtheHospitalGatebythevenerablewomenintown.
The tower hasbeen successivelybut not always successfullyrestored.The restorationdone in
 l926by thethen town architectOskarKelp was excellent,asthe tower was oflered to the young scouts
of Bistrita for a period of eight years until the ScoutsMovement was abolishedthrough Cirol2nd,
decree.Afterthatthetowerbecamea lodgeformiserablepeopleformanygenerationsto come.
The restoration of the tower in 1968 was not so good. It made the tower healthier and.
emphasizedconstructionelementsfrom differentperiods,offering the imageofan architecturalmosaic.
Unforyunatelytherehave been otherbrutal adjustmentsand changesof somedetails,and of the initial
building,too.
However "The Coopers'Tower" still remainsone ofthe most interestingmediaevalsightsofthe
town.

421
 Catedral&Evanghelicd
CatedralaEvanghelicd din Piafa Central[ a rbmas gi ast[zi, dup[ mai multe secole, cel mai
impundtoredificiu al oraqului.Construcfiaacesteiaa inceput?nsecolulaI XIV-lea, continudndu-sede-a
lungul anilor cu lucrdri de addugire,?ndl!6rigi consoliddri succesive,incheiatela1563 de c[tre meqterii
din Lrvov ai arhitectului PetrusItalus de Lugano.
Biserica a fost ridicatd peste o mai veche
Bazilicd romanS. in mare parte aceastaa fost
inglobata in actuala construclie, ceea ce explicd
prezentaunor elementearhitectoniceqi decorative
mai vechi, cum ar fi gi cele datate la inceputul
secoluluiaI XIV-lea.
Catedralaeste de tip ha15,cu tribune peste
navelelaterale,susfinutedepilaqtrii octogonali.
Portalul principal, ca gi cele laterale, au
impresionanteregistre de colonete angajate,de o
ridicata valoare artisticd gi sculpturald"Zidurrle cu
frize au arcuri trilobate, specificegoticului gernan,
lot
au 9i elemente arhitectonice ce apa\in Renagterii
Europeimeridionale.
Ferestrele inalte, cuprinse in contururi
semicirculare, mai au incd vitralii din epoci
diferite.incdperile laterale au un plan neregulat cu
Saptetraveede dimensiunivariabile.
Acestea au apdrut odatd cu construirea
stranelor,in 1508,decdtremeqterulAntonius.
Pe latura de mrazdzi a zidulrLi exterior se
poate observa cea mai veche sculpturd goticd din
datatdla 1320;separecd eaestelespedeade pe
1ard.,
morm6ntulunui cavalerdecedatqi inmormdntat aici,
in urma participdrii sale la una din numeroasele
cruciade ale cavalerilor teutoni, care atJ trecut 9i
pesteplaiurile noastre.Tot aici, pe pereteledinspre Portalul dinspre est al catedralei
- TheCathedraleasternportal
miazdzi a CatedraleiSfdtul Nicolae se Das Ostportal
poatevedealdngdbasoreliefulcu efigia Prim-judelui Beuchel qi ceasulsolar.
Turnul catedraleimdsoard76,5 mindlfime. El s-a ridicat separatin mai multe etape,cu lungi
perioadede intrerupere.La 1487 eraterminatetajul al Il-lea, la 1513,al III-lea, la1519, al IV-lea,
des5vArqindu-seabia in a doua jumdtate a secolului al XV[I-lea. in firidele etajului al treilea apar
sculpturi din secolul al XV-lea, unele deteriorate de vremuri, altele prdbugite,datoriti nepdsdrii 9i
neglijenlei administratorilorurbei. Turnul principal arepatru turnulele spremuchii, ce simbolizau forla
giprosperitatea urbei.
in incintacatedraleisepot admiravalorosulmobilier lucratin 1519de JohannesBegler,cele23
de steaguriale breslelor bistrifene, cdt qi orga cu o vechime de peste500 de ani. Orga esteo bijuterie
avAndun registru amplu, in starede funcfionare,agacum ne putem convinge cu tolii la concertelece se
 ^*?x#:r#"#,!;nl:'"
ool
susfinfrecventaici.
Numai clopoful cel mare al bisericii, al c6rui dangdtse auzeacdndvadin Herina, nu mai este. El
a fo9!ton1t ln primul rdzboi mondial, din interesemilitare, fiind inlocuit cu un altul, ceva mai mic, in
anul 1932.In rest,totul esteaici de o originalitateindiscutablld,de o sobrietateausterdqi de o vdrstd
secular5,ceea ce ar trebui sd ne indemne sd cercetdm mai in am[nunt gi sd vizitdm iatedrala toti
bistrifeniiqinunumai
In acest templu, popula{ia germand,majoritard in burgul medieval, ?gitrdia o parte a viefii
spirituale,in wemuri depacegiprosperitate,cagiin wemuri de restrigte,ce,din picate, pentru eaau fost
numeroase qi indelungate. Aq aminti cd[iva slujitori ai bisericii, printre cire pasio.ii: Molitoris,
Menning, sauFranchy,care au servit cu credin!6in ultimele decenii,inaintea exodului spreoccident a
populaiiei gennane. Ei au transformat biserica intr-un centru de culturi important, cu o generoasd
deschiderespretoleranfasocialdqi etnicd.
Astdzi, catedralaestesupusdunor restaurdriexterioare.Sperca la insistenlelenotabilit6filor, cu
eforturile Parohiei Evanghelice gi ale saqilor de pretutindeni, antreprenorulpiincipal sd-i p6streze
nealteratevalorile gi sd-iredeacdt mai grabnic strdlucireade altddatd.Estebine gli.rt.A u".rt edificiu nu
estenumai un loc in cares-afburit istorie, ci qiunpatrimoniu cultural nafional deexcepfie.
Esteun bun al nostru, al tuturor bistrifenilor, ce secerepdstratcu sfinfeniepentru noi gi urmagii
nogtri. Dar, inainte de toate,el a fostun locaqde cult, ce concentraviala ipirituald aunei'populalii
gefinanenumeroasecindva. Preofii, slujitorii lui, erau respectafi,iubili gi venerali deopotrivd de tofi
bistrifenii, indiferent dena{ie.
Serviciul religios se desfbquraaici sobru, dupd un ritual binecunoscut:incepeaintotdeaunala
orele 10, cala T1 fix el sd se incheie.In acestinterval, credincioqii participau .f..tiu cu cdrlile
religioasein mdini, la sivArqirea gi suslinereaslujbei in acompaniamentulvestitei orgi.
Participarea la manifestirile bisericeqti era consideratd de toatd lumea ca evenimentul
sdptimdnal cel mai important qi, ca atare,gi modul in care se prezentaufamiliile aici, nu era unui
oarecare,ci unul de fastvestimentartraditional.
 Primdvara anului 1928
Friihling 1928
Thespringof 1928

East view.to .tlte.,9,,.q,;1.*,f!!,g!*.,!2,!,9,,,,,,,,

lou

D.!

Iarna anului l94l Vara anului 1952

Winter1941 Sommer1952
Thewinterof 1941 Thesummerof 1952
 Catedrala dinspre nord, 1906
die KathedralegegenNorden1906
Notthview to the Cathedral,1906

oul

Catedrala Si Gimnaziul defete, 1926 - KathedraleundMcidchen-Gymnasium

1926
The Cathedral and the Girls Gvmnasium. 1926
 TFtc&v*xgelicrrt Cat&edre.t
The Evangelical Cathedralin the Central Squarehasbeenso far, after many centuries,the most
impressivebuilding of the town. Its constructionbegan in the 14th century and it continued along the
yearswith successiveconsolidations,insertions,raising and completedin 1563by the Lwow workers
ofthe architectPetrusItalus de Lugano.
The church was raised over an older Roman Basilica. Most of it was enclosedin the actual
construction,which explains the presenceof ancient architectural and decorative elementssuch as
thosedating from the beginning ofthe 14thcentury.
The cathedralis hall-like with rostrumsover the sidenaves,held by octagonalpilasters.
The main portal, as well as the side ones,has impressiveregistersof engagedcolonnadesof a
highly artistical and sculptural value. The friezed walls have three-cuspedarches specific to the
German Gothic, but they also have architectural elements belonging to Southern European
Renaissance.
The high windows, framedin semicircularlines still have stained-glasses from different periods.
The siderooms havean irregular designwith sevenbaysofvariable dimensions.
They appearedalongwith the constructionofthe pews in 1508by craftsmanAntonius.
uol On the south side of the exterior wall one could seethe oldest Gothic sculpturein the country,
dated 1320;itseemsto be the tombstoneof a deceasedknight who died andwas buried hereafter he had
taken part in one of the numerouscrusadesof the Teutonic Knights which passedthrough our lands.
Still here,on the Southernwall of SaintNicholas Cathedral,one cannotice the solar clock nearthe bas-
reliefwith the effigy ofthe Prime-JudgeBeuchel.
The tower of the cathedral is 76,5 m tall. It was raised separatelyin many stageswith long
periodsofintemrptions.The secondfloorwas finishedinl4ST,the thirdin 1513,thefourth in l5l9,and
it was fully completedonly in the secondhalf of the 18th century.In the niches on the third floor there
are sculpturesfrom the 15h century, some of them wom out by the passageof time, others fallen in
becauseof the town managers'carelessnessand negligence.The main tower has other four smaller
towerstowardsthe edgessymbolizing the town power andprosperity.
Inside the cathedralone can admire the valuable furniture wrought in 1519by JohanesBegler,
the23 bannersofBistrifa guilds andthe 500 yearsold organ.
The new organ is a piece ofjewellery working with an ample register as we can all hear at the
concertswhich arefrequentlyheld here.
But the big churchbell, whosesoundwas onceheardup to Herina, is no longer there.It had been
melted during the First World War, out of military considerations,and it was replaced by another
smallerone inl932. Everything elsehereis unquestionablygenuine,ofan austereso6rietyand asold as
centuries,which shouldurgeus to searchin detail andvisit the cathedral,nativesandtouriits aswell.
Inside this temple, the Germanpopulation, the most numerousin the mediaevalburgh, usedto
live part of their spiritual life both in times ofpeace andprosperity and of toil which, unfortunately for
them, were long and'plenty.I'd like to mention some seryantsof the church among which the paslors:
Molitoris, Menning or Franchy who had faithfully servedduring the last decadesbefore the German
population startedto go west. They turned the church into an important cultural centre,with generous
ethnicaland socialtolerance.
Nowadays, the cathedral has been restored on the outside. I truly hope, considering the
insistenceof local authorities of the Evangelical parish and of the Saxonseverywhere,that the main
contractorwill preserveits valuablesuntouchedandrenderits long lost glamour.It is good to know that
flrisbuilding is not only ahistoricalplacebut alsoan exceptionallynationalcultural inheritance.
It is the possessionof all Bistrita inhabitantswhich hasto be piously preservedfor ourselvesand
for our descendants.But above all it was a religious place which used to focus the spiritual life of the
German population, vory numerous by the time. The priests, those who served here, used to be
reqrected,loved andworshippedby all Bistrita people,no mattertheir nationaliry
The religious service was very sobre, following a well-known ritual: it always started at l0
o'clock andit always endedat I I o'clock sharp.In this interval, the believerswere actively participating,
religious books in hands,in the performing of the service.The participation to church manifestations
was consideredthe most important weekly event and therefore the families' way of dressing,when
s6ming here,was not cofilmon, but very pompouslytraditional.

151
 Eer&eware
tn NugaCewtra{&
C0ndalaiul celorceveneaula bisericaevanghelicdseincropea,noi, copiii, numaiochi giurechi,
impresionalipestemdsurS,urmiream cu mare atenfie,cel mai fascinantspectacol'accesibil
noud, celai
defilirii cortegiului de enoriagisagi.Poate gi de aceea costumaliagi particularit[file vestimentare
mi-
au rdmasgi astdziatdtdeproaspetein memorie.
Saqii veneau la biserici in frumoaselelor
costume populare tradifionale, la care observam cu
ugurinli diferenfelelegatede calitateamaterialelor,a
liniei croiului, intuind astfel cu ugurin{i zona de
obArgiea acestora,deoarecefiecaresatsdsescigi avea
particularitdfile lui in privinla pieselor componentegi
in varietatea coloristicd,, mai ales la vestimentalia
feminind. Elemente specifice trddau originea lor qi
generauo mare diversitatea costumelorpe care noi
leadmiram.
Bdrbalii purtau pantaloni cambra[i gi scurte
url negre, cdmdgi albe gi cizme. Numai chimirele gi
cravatele, cusute in motive florale pastelate,
contrastau cu sobrietatea imbrdcdmintei. pe cap
purtau o pdldrie neagrd, cu boruri mari. Numai in
anotimpul friguros imbricau cojoacealbe cu motive
florale intente indrdzne[e.Femeile,in schimb,etalau
o costumaliedin care serevdrsadin belqugo farfiezie
coloristicd greu de imaginat,dar de un real bun gust.
Mi se pdreaatunci cd trupurile erau doar un suport al
hainelor,adevdratemanechinein migcare.
Pe cap purtau o mitrd din catifea neagri
numitd "Borten", ce seprindeacu douapanglici negre
gi inguste la ceafr".Aceastaera impodobitd cu paiete
gi mdrgelein partea dinfa!d, iar in spateseinch-eiacu
doud pOni la gase ornamente sferice din pietre
semipre{ioase,sausticld verdeqirogie.inspre spatese
revdrsaupatrupanglicilungi, albastresaugalbene,cu
motive florale policrome. in multe din acesteamotivul predominanteraspicul de gr6uin fir
aurit.
trei sdptdmdniinainte de cununie,ca qi la logodnd, fetele p.trturr.oroiil" colorate sau albe,
cubentife.
Nevesteleprimeaula nuntd din parteasoacreio scufi{i numiti "Haubchen",din catifeaneagrd",
brodatdcu motive florale, dereguldin nuanlede roqugi roz. C'6ndele aveauculoareaalbastrd,
acestaera
un semnde doliu, fiind, in general,culoareade predilecfie a femeilor vdrstnice.Florile prefeiate
erauin
cea-maimare parte ttandafirii,ldcrimioarele qi nu-mi-uita. Scufilele erau apoi decoiate paiete
cu qi
perle.Ele seprindeau cu doudpanglici r ozla ceafr,.Parulil purtau impletit in
ioud cozi,formate fiecare
din opt pdndla unsprezeceguvile. Cozile seprindeaur.tr pd.up. De asemenea,purtau qiraguri
lungi de
mirgele ce searanjauin doudpdn6la gaserdnduri strdnseinjurul gdtului, iar unii rugmailung
erald"sat
 pe piept.Mirgelele eraudin sticldalbd,sidef sauargint,
Pestebluzaalbdseimbrdcaun laibdr("Rockleiber")din postavsaucatifearogie(uneori
alb sau
negru-vara) frtd m6neci, cusut de fustd de obicei, dar se foloseiu gi laibdre
festonatepesterochie, ce
erauornatein trandafiri pe piept qi spate.Ele seincheiaucu o pafta argintie,incrustatd
cu ornamentedin
sticla rogie ;i verde.Pestefustelelungi de culoareinchisS,se purtau gorluri
albe plisate,cu cusdturi
geometricegi florale in negru.
Poate ar fi necesar si adaug la aceastd,prezentarea costumului sdsesc,
faptul ci sagii se
distingeauca fiind oameniharnici, onegti,capabili de o mare generozitate, pentru carealtruismul nu era
o nofiune abstractd,ci un fel de a fi. Cu tolii erau,pur qi simpli, niqtebistrileni,
carein zilele de lucru nu
sedeosebeau cu nimic de ceilalli concitadinidec6tpoate,prin tenacitate.

541

SaStein straie de sdrbdloqre

Stichsinnenin F eiertagskleidung
Saxonwomenwearing Sundayclothes
 - verschtedene..Ftay::.::*:'::
piir,"j'r'iitinrn'costtrntay.iaferneilor :,:-;::XM#,;Jrir-**:;

iuu

., :;*x**,&!l,
 Costumelepopulare tradilionale ale
femeilor de nalionalitate germand din Bistrila
TraditionelleVolkstrachtender deutschenFrauen in Bistritz
Germanwomenbtraditionalfolk costumes

uul
 Festival in Central Squure
When the processionsof people coming from the Evangelical Church started,we, children,
deeply impressed,used to follow attentively the most fascinating show we could afford seeing,that is
the paradeof Saxonparishioners.Maybe that is why their costumesand their clothes peculiarities of
theirdressarestill sofreshinmymind.
They used to come to church in their beautiful, traditional folk costumes,to which we could
easily distinguishthe differenceregardingthe quality ofthe material, of the design,guessingfrom these
their source because every Saxon village had its own peculiarities in the colour variety and the
componentparts, especiallyin the women's costumes.The specific elementsrevealedtheir origin and
generateda wide variety of folk costumeswhich we usedto admire.
Men were wearing tight trousers and black jackets, white shirts and boots. Only their money
belts and ties, adornedwith coloured, flowered patterns, were in contrast with the sobriety of their
clothes.They were wearing large brimmed black hats on their heads.In the cold seasonsthey used to
wear white sheepskincoats decoratedwith boldly coloured flowery patterns. Women showed off
clotheswhich proved an extraordinarycolour fantasy,yet they were of taste.I was thinking their bodies
u8l seemedto bejust hangersfor their clothes,real moving dummies.They usedto wear a black velvet mitre
called "Borten" on their heads.They were adornedwith spanglesand beadson the front part and at the
back it was buttonedwith 2 to 6 sphericalornamentsmadeup of semi-preciousstonesor red and green
glass.Four long ribbons,blue or yellow, with colourful flowery decorationswere left loosetowardsthe
back.
The favouritepatternwasthe corn earsown in goldenthread.
Young ladies were wearing coloured or white ribbons with bands, three weeks before the
wedding or at their engagement.
On their wedding day, daughters-in-lawused to get as a presentfrom their mothers-in-law a
black velvet cap,embroideredwith pink andred flowered patterns,called "Haubchen".When they were
blue, they meantmourning, old women'scolour.
The favourite flowers were mostly the rose, the lily-of-the-va11eyand the forget-me-not.The
capswere then decoratedwith spanglesandpearls.They were tied back with two pink ribbons.They had
their hair plaited in two pigtails, eachmadeup of 8 to 11 strands,and then tied togetherup their heac.
They were alsowearing long beadnecklaceswhich they arrangedin two up to six successiverows round
the neck and a longer necklacewas left down the breast.The beadswere madeup of white glass,nacreor
silver.
They used to wear a waistcoat ("Rockleiber") made of red cloth or velvet (sometimeswhite or
black in summer), over the white blouse, usually sewn to the skirt, but they also used festooned
waistcoatsover the dress,decoratedwith roseson chest and back. They were buttoned with a silvery
buckle, engravedwith red and green glass ornaments.They were wearing, over the skirts, long dark-
colored plaited apronswith black geometricaland flowery seams.
I may need to add to this short presentation of the Saxon costume the fact that they were
especiallyhard-working people,honest,very generous,for whom altruism was not an abstractconcept
but their lifestyle. They were all, not in the leastdifferent from the other people,if one doesn'ttake into
accounttheirtenaciW.
 Complexul Swg,&lete
Putinesuntlocurile din oragcaresdfie atdtde incdrcatede istorie ca Sugdletele.
Ca ansamblucivic din vechea cetate,complexul cuprinde,pe latura de nord a Piefei Centrale,
tilsprezece clddiri, sub care se inqird doudzecide bol1i, in ogive gotice, suslinutegi strdjuite de
:,:,rizeci giunu depilaqtriidreptunghiulari.
Complexul a fost construit la sfdrgitul secolului aI XIV-lea qi inceputul secolului al XV-lea,
:e,consolidat in marepartedupi I45l , cdndunincendiudevastatora distruso partedin construcfiilede
.:::i:r ale oragului,printre caregiunele din PiafaC entrald.
Re,eeleLudovic I de Anjou (1342-1382),incurajdndindustriaqi comerlul saqilorbistrifeni,a
,; i'r,Jaracestora,lal352,dreptul de a line "t6rgulcel mare", de Sf. Bartolomeu,cu o durat6de 15zile.
T,:,tarunci.oraqulprimegtegi dreptul de antrepozit.
Ca urmare, localnicii au edificat ?nscurtdvreme Complexul Sugdletegi cu scopurimercuriale
s:ce desen'ire,construind spalii extinsededepozitaregi addpostpentrunegustori qi convoaielelor.
Subporliunea acoperitda colonadelor,comercianlii iqi puteau etalamarfapetimp nefavorabil,
:: .,-remece Piala Centrald (Marktplatz) ofereaun spafiu mai mult decit suficient cdnd timpul era
llllTlr\S. I
Burgul primeqteqi titlul de ,,oraqliber regesc",in stemasaobservAndu-se un stru! cu potcoava I 59
;3 aur in cioc, ce simboliza prosperitatea comerfului, crinii Casei
;c,mnitoaredeAnjou,ca qi celepatrudungi din stemaUngariei.
In anul 1453regeleLadislau al V-lea il inal!6 pe inving[torul turcilor,
:igenrul Ioan de Hunedoara(Hunyadi),la rangul de grof regal al Bistrifei,
';,-..rdandu-igi veniturile oragului. Se pare cd aceastdnumire a finut cont qi
Je taprul cd acesta avea deja aici un ,,castel cetate" pe Dealul
Burberg(Burich),din imediatavecindtatea oraqului.
Prin pozifia sain teritoriu, Bistrila seafla la intersecliaunor drumuri
r '-lmercialede mare importan!6,ce legauEuropade Vestcu ceaRdsdriteand,
Pu-,ltrniagi Rusia cu Peninsula Balcanicd. Oraqul era in drumul de tranzit orasuluiBistrila
Stema
t;,:::::;':3iyrT:;:
rblrgatoriu pentru cei ce-gi doreau o cale lesnicioasd qi directd spre gi
;lnspre acesteregiuni.Aqa seexplicdnumirul marede convoaiecomercialecetreceauinacelewemuri
:nn Bistrila.
Dezvoltareaeconomic[ a oragului a fost sprijinitd qi de cdtre Matei Corvin, devenit intre timp
:egeal Ungariei.in anul 1465elacorddbistrilenilordreptulde a ddrdmacetateasadepe Burich,pe care
c,rno;tenise,sprijinind astfel populafia in ridicareaprimului zid de apdrareal oragului.Dupd allrzece
ani. in l175,Matei Corvin atribuieBistrilei Districtul Rodna,cu cele20 de localitdficomponente,std-
pinire ceva durapeste300 de ani,p0ndlamilitarizarearcgiuhiide cdtreMariaThereza,inanullT66.
Bistrila devine, astfel, in scurtdvreme, un centru comercial qi economic de primi mdrime al
Transilvaniei.
De multe ori comercianfii zdboveauaici, fiind scutifi de taxe gi impozite, dar qi obligali, prin,
.-rrdinulexpresal regelui, sd-gioferemarfa sprevdnzareqibistrilenilor, cdndtranzitauburgul.
Aproape zllntc, care cu coviltire umpleau curlile lungi ale caselor din^Sugdlete.Aici erau
amenajate,pe ldngd depozitespafioase,qi grajdurile pentru animalelede povard.In inc6perile dinspre
pia1d.drumelii se puteau ospdtape cinste, cu rafinatele preparateculinare ale bistriJenilor.Vinurile
aurohtonede Lechinfa,Teaca,Neuburgerul gi Steiningerul erau renumite gi se bucurau qi atunci de o
 binemeritatdapreciere.Viile roditoaredin preajmaoraquluieraumai mult decdtindestuldtoarepentru a
asiguradin belqugvinul pentru cei ce-qipotoleaucu greu setea, saudoreaus5-qi,,pertracteze"afacerile
launpahar.
Nu arareori in curlile qi grddinile spafioasedin incintd se orAnduiau,la cerereamusafirilor,
mese,unde sepetreceain voie, ferit de privirile curiogilor.In vreme ce al1ii,dimpotrivi, se agezaula
meseleorAnduitespre strad[, printre florile de piatrd ce impestrilau in acelevremuri pestetot pavajul
mdrunt al strdzilor,cu un covor policrom, suavparfumat.
Toate cl[dirile ansamblului aveau crame
spaJioase. . .qi, acolo unde era bdutura,se instala de
obiceiqibunadispozilie.
Dacd clavirul nu-l gdseaipeste tot, instru-
mentelecu coardeqi cele de suflat eraupretutindeni gi
se intreceau seardde seardin a desluqi mazurcile qi
lendlerelecelemai lamodd.
Tdrziu, in noapte, oaspefii se retrdgeau spre
camerele de la etaj, amenqate in dormitoare
confortabile.Doar ceasuldin Turnul sagilormai linea
seamatimpului, bdt0nd ore exacte,pentru cei ce ar fi
fost interesalisaudispuqis5le mai aud6.Numai garda
municipal[, ce patrula noaptea prin t6rg, le mai
urmdrea, deoarece qi ei anunfau ora cu glasurile
rigugite, odati cu asigurareadatdordqenilorc6 este
liniqtedeplindgitotu-i in ordinein cetate.
Dis-de-dimineatd, zona fremdta datoritd
tdrgovefilor.Se rdnduiaumeseleqi tonetelecu marfi.
Uneori marfa eraexpusdinc[rule sauchiarpejos, sub
bolfile stradale.
uol Dintre mdrfurile ce se ofereau aici spre
vdnzarebistrileniloq de o mare diversitate,eraucele ale meqterilor autohtoni,dar se giseau qi obiecte
din aur gi argint, ornamenteartistice , vestimentalii bisericegti qi chiar anne, ce-gi aveau obArgiain
Europa occidentaldsaumeridionald.Mdrfurile erauexpusezllnic sub arcadeca qi in piala mare de vis-
d-vis.
Dinspre rdsdrit,din Moldova,Ucraina, Polonia si Rusia, comercianliiaduceaupiei, bldnuri,
animalepentrusacrificat,peqte,mierede albine,pietresemiprelioase qip0nzeturi.
Dezvoltarearaprdd"a breslelorin Bistrifa a flcut ca in scurtdvreme produselemeseriaqilor
bistrileni s[ aibd o mare cdutareqi peste grani16.Nu rareori convoaielebreslaqilorqi mai ales ale
negustorilorbistrifeniau fost semnalateqiinAsia Central[ sauOrientulApropiat.
De o deosebitdprefuires-aubucuratmeseriagiibistrifeniin Moldova.Incbdin secolulal XV-lea,
bistrilenii frecventauregulat tdrgurile moldoveneqti.Ei duceauin Moldova unelte agricole, arrne,
clopote,uneltecasniceetc.
Iat[ doarc6tevaexempledin comenziledomnitorilormoldoveni,culesedin hrisoavelevremii:
Domnitorul Eremia Movil5 a cumpdratdin Bistrila 200 quintale de vasede aramd,linguri, coase,iarbd
de puqcd,sape,seceri,topoare,frAnghii qi plasede pescuit.PetruRareqa cumpdratndvoadede prins
peqte,podoabede aur qi argint, sdnii qi care.Alexandru Ldpuqneanuqi-aprocurat de aici o suti de coli
depergament.
Tot bistrilenii au furnizat voievozilor moldoveni postar,urifine de Flandra gi Colonia, stofe de
mbtasecu fire aurite, ca gi ornamenteartisticevenejiene,stofepentru vegmintelebisericeqti,precum qi
colonialeca:piperul,ghimberul,sauchiaralifri gimedicamente.
Comerjul s-afEcutpe bani pegin,dar qi in naturd,pe boi ingriqali, cai, porci,piei, bldnuri,ldnd,
pegtesaupostavldrdnescetc.
Mulli meseriaqiau fost solicitali, de-alungul timpului, in Moldova.Ceimai cunosculiau fost
meqteriizidari qipietrari,care auconstruitmulte din bisericileqi cetdfilefortificatealeMoldovei.
In aceavreme vestili au fost qi ,,doctorii" bistrileni, careav ingnjit multe fefe domneqtide-a
lungul secolelor,dovaddfiind numeroaseledocumenteexistentecu relatdripe aceastdtem6.
 in perioadele de restrigte, bistrilenii au ajutat moldovenii in repetate rdnduri cu hrand gi
sezduire.O vreme,insSgiBistri\aaapa\inut domnitorului moldoveanPetruRareg.
Complexul Sugdlete este o reahzare arhitectonicd remarcabild, cu un rol funclional bine
determinat,ce a oferit siguranfa,atdtdenecesari,convoaielorcomercianfilorin aceaepoci medievald.
Elementelespecificearhitectoniceale fiecdreiclddiri seintegrauperfectin ansamblu,iespect6ndstilul
eoticului qi al renagteriitransilvinene.
Interven{iile ulterioare asupra construcliilor au frcut sd apard sporadic gi elemente ale
arhitecturii renascentistesaualebarocului tdrziu.
Cele treisprezececlddiri au fost ingeminate din considerentestrategice.Grosimeade pAndla
un metru qi jumdtatea zidurilor caselorqi masivitateaporlilor carosabilebine zdvordte,dovedesccu
prisosin!6gi astizi acestlucru. Doar diversitateabasoreliefurilor,a ancadramentelor, a cheilor de bolt6,
a blazoanelorgi a faladelor,ofereau caselorcealcdtuiaucomplexulo varietatece semai pistreazdincd.
Din pdcate astdzi,elementede o mare valoare arhitectonicdqi artisticd, martore ale istoriei
noastre,suntacoperite,inparte,detencuialaindiferenfeigi a iresponsabilitdfii.
Acoperiqurile caselorau fost reficute gi ele in repetaterdnduri, mai alesin ultimul secol,fiind
inldrurate elemente decorative importante, reduc0ndu-le mult din indlfime qi din ingeniozitatea
constructivd.Astfel, cogurilede fum ca gi lucarneleetajateale acoperigurilorde altddatl au disparutin
ceamai mareparte.
Pierzdnd din amplitudinea acoperiqurilor, Sugdletele a pierdut gi din somptuozitatea de
odinioard.Uniformizarea copertinelora siricit complexul de farmecul sdumedieval.
in prima casd,dinspre rdsirit, gi-a avut sediul prima farmacie din orag, numitd ,,La vulturul
ne-eru",atestatddocumentarin anul 1516. In urmdtoareaclddire a funcfionatmulte decenii Librd-
niaBinder.Urmau caseleH. Tomae,Himberg & Co., J. Lutsch qi Sklamer,girul incheindu-secu Casa
ParohialdEvanghelicd,acegtiafiind proprietariitabulari la inceput de secolXX, aqacum reiesedin
esrraseledecartefunciard,aleacestorimobile.
Multe din clddiri au suferit modificdri repetate,pierzAnddin originalitate, unele din porfile de
accesin curlile spalioaseau fost irg'umit5fite, ferestrele qi chiar incdperile recompartimenlate,f5ri
ceamai elementariresponsabilitatecivicS, subochii indulgenli, dacdnu nepdsdtori,ai notabilitdlilor. lu,
Doar ultimele trei clddiri din partea de vest a ansamblului, p[streazd elementeconstructive
ori ginale,asupracdroravoi insistapufin.
Nu suntmulte datelecarene dau amdnunteasupraproprietarilor acestorade-alungul secolelor.
$tim doarcd Ursula,soliaconsilieruluiPaulForster,lasdin anul 1505,o casddin Compleiul Sug[lete,
parohiei oraqului( probabil ceade lanr.23), casdce ulterior a fost vAndutdqi apoi currydratl aha, drn
vecindtateaCaseiparohiale,(ceade la m"I4) restauratigi ea ?n I5I2 cu banii provenifi din vdnzarea
celei dintdi.Aceastaa primit numelede Kapitelhaus,deoarecea fost donatdin anul 1432printestament
de cdtre PetrusKreschmeier,Ordinului catolic Fraternitasbeatevirginis, cu destinafiade gdzd:uirea
adunarilorcapitulului ecumenic.Degradatd,detimp, eaa fost ren ovatddeUrsula qi recedatdOrdinului.
I'lembrii acestuiordin eraupreolii catolici ai oragului,ca qi cei din satele apa\indtoare.Dupd reforma
luterand,eaa ad[postit adundrilepreofilor reformafi ce alcdtuiaucapitul evanghelic.
Casaparohialdevanghelic[(de la nr.13)esteceamai noud clddirea complexuluiqi pdstreazd
incd multe elementeoriginale. Unele dintre acesteasunt vizibile din PiafS CentraId,,cumar fi portalul
din piatrd in arc frAnt, cu un capiteliu heraldic astral,pe care sepot vedeasimbolurile: soarele,luna gi
luceafErul.Pe acestaesteinscripjionatqi anul 1480.
Cladirea are forma literei U. Din curtea interioard
se deschidganguri de accesla etaj, cu bol1i gi arcuri
rntermediare. De o valoare artisticd aparte sunt
ancadramenteleuqilor qi ferestrelor,mdiestrit d5ltuite
in piatrd, ca qi bollile cu pandantivi ale inciperilor de
la etaj.
CasaPetermann(situatdla nr.15) a pdstrat,in
cea mai mare parte, forma inifial5. Dintre elementele
arhitectonicede aici, aq aminti ancadramentulugilor
de la etaj,ce sunt consideratecauneledintrecelemai
r 909
 prelioaserealizdriin stilul gotic din Transilvania.Ancadramentularein parteade susdoubherburi care
infEfigeazdstemaoraquluiqi blazonulproprietaruluiPetermann.Pe capiteliuestegravatqi anul 1480,
probabil anul edificdrii. Dar estetot atdtdeverosimil ca aceastdcifrd s6 reprezinteanul reconstrucliei
acesteia.Una din uqilece separddoudincdperide la etaj estesculptatdin lemn depaltin, cu ornamente
florale deosebitde valoroase,meqtequgrtreahzale gi bine pdstrate.CasaPetermannare sub colonade
qi
cheideboltd cu sculpturiflorale astralestilizate .
Cl[dirile situate spre est de cele amintite mai sus, sunt mici qi intervenliile masive ale
restauratorilorle-audiminuat mult autenticitatea.La uneledintre ele s-aintervenit asuprafaladelorprin
amenajareaunor vitrine dreptunghiulareanonime in locul portalurilor gotice sau prin montarea pe
perefia levilor de apd,canalqi gaze,preurmgi a branqamentelor electriceqi telefonicepesteelemente
arhitecturalevaloroase.Din exteriorul ansamblului, turistul poate observacomponenteledecorative
ale portalurilor din piatrd, capiteliul heraldic,
statuetaSfdntului Nicolaie dintre ferestrele Casei
Parohiale,portalurile gi porlile carosabile,ca gi
particularitSlile constructive ale caselor compo-
nente.
Interiorul ansamblului este spaliu locuibil,
oferind posibilitdli limitate de vizitare. Doar
parterul stradal, inchiriat comercianfilor, ca qi
colonadeleexterioaremai pot oferi astdzi imagini,
cdt de cdt, apropiate de ceea ce reprezenta
ambientulmedieval al acestorlocuri, c6ndva.
Astdzi, o valorificare a intregului ansamblu,
cu pretenfii de restaurare,este, pe cAt de greu de
reahzat din motive lesne de infeles in aceastd
perioaddde austeritate,pe atdtdenecesard.
url Ansamblul are pentru oraqul Bistrifa, pe
lAngdo valoare arhitectonicd,gi una simbolicd qi
patrimonialS, ce se cere etalatd gi inclusd in
circuitul nafional qi internalional de valori.
Valorificarea turistic[ a ansambluluiestenu numai
posibild, ci gi imperativS, ca o chestiune de
clllizatie.

SerbareaScolard din anul 1913, infala Sugdletelor

Schulfeiervor demKornmarktI 9I 3
1913schoolfestival,infront ofthe SugiileteComplex
 Complexul fotografiat dinspre est' 1922
Der komplexgegenOsten1922
Eastviei to tie SugdleteComplex,1922

;fi
:""#:, lut

Latura de est a Sugdletelot 192

Die Ostseitedes Kornmarktes 192
192
The eastside ofthe Sugdlete Complex'
 $jsl:iis** {3s*xtcr*xs
lirr:::l*:kl * l3xx*l*r

uol

Ospdtard,1878
Kellnerin 1878
Waitress,1878
 The Sugd,leteCornPlex

There are few places in town as full of history as the SugaleteComplex',

Central Square,
As civic ,o*pi.* of the old fortress, it compriseson the northern side of the
protectedby twenty-one
rhirteenbuildings ,pd., which there are twenty gothic arches,supportedand
rectangularpilasters.
centuries,greatly
The complex was built at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the L5th
buildings of the town,
consolidatedafter 1457, when a devastatingfire destroyedpart of the wood
arnongu'hichsomefromthe CentralSquare.
and commerce,
King Louis 1st ofAnjou(1342--1382) encouragedtheBistrila Saxons'lndystry
On the same
and granteithem, in l352,itt. iigltt to have "a l5-day big fair" on St. Bartholomew'
o;caiion thetown was grantedthe right of repository'
having mercurial and
Consequently,ihe inhabitants soon^constructedthe SugdleteComplex
.err icepurpor.r, *iie lodgingspacesandshelterformerchantsandtheircompanions'
goodsin bad weather,
Under the covered"p# of tn. colonnades,merchantscould display their
the weather was good'
v,hile the central Square(Marketplatz) offered enoughspacewhen
ifreeKingly town'l and in its coat-of-annswe seean ostrich with the
The burgh got thetitle of I| ut
-
of Anjou andthe
gtrldenhorseshJeii itsueat symbolizing th. .o*-.rce prosperity,lilies ofthe House
tour stripesfrom Hungary'scoat-of-arms.
Ioan of Hunedoara
In 1453, rcn! faaislau 5th appointed the winner _of the Turks, regent
, Hunvadi) royal Hunfiarian Count of filitrita and gavehim the town gains.This.appointment:9tqt.to
fortress" on Burberg (Burich)
har e taken into considerationthe fact that he alreidy had here a "castle
Hill nearthetown.
some very importalt
Owing to its position in the territory Bistrifa_wasat the crossroadsof
to the Balkan Peninsula'The
commercialways u#ing Westernto EasternEurope,Polandand Russia
way to and from these
itr\rn \\,?Sin the .o*prrirory transit road of those looking for a direct, easier
regions.Thatis why so-anycommercial convoysusedtopassthroughBistrilaatthetime'
Corvin, who had
The economical development of the town was blto t.tpported by lVlatei
to pull d9Y" his castleon Burich
r.-,-*ome King of Hungary.In A6shegranted Bistrita peoplethe right
first defensewall ofthe town'
Hill. *-hich he had ini'erited, thus supportingthe popuiation in raising the
partsto Bistrila, a
Ten1-earslater,in 1475,Mater corvin.loltr.f, ttt. Roatradistrict and its 20 component
-1'ear-lastingrule, until the region was armedby Maria Theresa in l7 6 6'
3116
Bistrilaioonbecame a greatcommercialand economiccentreof Transylvania'
they were compelled
Merchantsusedto rest here, as they didn't have to pay duties or taxesbut
passing through the burgh'
b1.the King,s orO., io airplay their goodsfor Bistrila inhabitantswhen
SugdleteComplex'
Almost aait' Uig, tiited c#iages filled the long yards of the housesin the
Inside the rooms facing the
Here there were, blsid!'spacious waiehouses,stablesior the animals.
Bistrila people.The native
mrarkettravellers could feast on the delicious and refined food madeby the
qines of Lechinla,Teaca,Neuburger and Steiningef were famous and highly appreciatedthen' The
who hardly quenchedtheir
tirrilevineyardsaround the town were suffrcient to give the wine for those
thirst or wantedto wet their bargains.
were laid where
Sometimes,in the largEbackyardsand gardens,at the guests'request,tables
rhel.had their feasis, wnite othersl on the contrary used to sit at the tables to the street,
""Ji.toiu"a. with a colourful, finely
arnongthe stone flowers which were covering ihe small paving of ttre streets
 perfumedcarpet.
All the buildings in the complex had wide wine cellars and ... where there was somethine to
drink, high spirits appeared,too.
One could not find harpsichordseverywhere,but there were string and wind instrumentsall
over theplace,trying to makeout the most up-to-datemazurkasand o.lendleis',.
Late at night, guests used to go to their upstairs rooms, which were, in fact, comfortable
bedrooms.Only the clock in the Saxons'Tower was ticking for thosewilling to hearit, usit *us the case
of the town guard who were patrolling through the town ai night, asthey uJedto cry out the exacttime
with their hoarsevoicesand let the townspeopleknow that everythingaroundwas calm.
Eatly in the morning, townspeoplewere fussing about:goodswere being arrangedon the tables
and counters.Sometimesthe goodswere displayed in carriagei or even down on the[avement under
the streetarches.
Among the variousgoodsofferedto Bistrifa inhabitantswere thosebelongingto native workers,
but also gold and silver objectsand artistic ornaments,church clothesand even*euporr originating in
Westernor SouthernEurope. The goodswere displayed daily under the archesandin the laige mar]<et
oppositeaswell.
Merchantsusedto bring skins, furs, animals,fish, honey, semi-preciousstonesand linen from
Moldova, Ukraine, PolandandRussia.
The rapid developmentof the guilds in Bistrila made the products of the native tradesmenbe
appreciatedevenin foreign countries.The guilds convoys,especiallythosebelongingto Bistrila people,
were seenin CentralAsia and in the Middle East.They were also highly praisedin Moldova. itrbtnitte
very 15th century Bistrifa townspeople regularly went to Moldavian markets where thev took
agriculturaltools,weapons,bells,householdtoolsetc.
Here are someexamplesof the ordersplacedby Moldova leaders,spottedin the chartersof the
time:
King Eremia lVlovil5 bought from Bistrila 200 quintals of copper dishes, spoons, scythes,
gunpowder, hoes, sickles, axes, ropes and fishing nets. Petru Rares bought fishing tiawls, golcl and
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silver jewels, sledgesand carriages.Alexandru Lapusneanubought one hundred sh-eetsof paichment
paper.
Bistrifa townspeoplewere thosewho suppliedMoldavian Kings with fine cloth from Flanders
and the colonies, golden threaded silk, Venetian artistic omaments, fabrics for church clothes and
pepper,ginger,evenointmentsandmedicines.
The tradewas donein exchangefor cash,or barter,for bulls, horses,pigs, skins, furs, wool, fish
orpeasants'clothetc.
Many traderswere askedto go to Moldova along the years.The best-known were the masons
and the stoneworkerg who built many of the churchesand fortressesin Moldova. Bistrila's "doctors"
were alsofamousfor having looked after many kings alongthe centuries,aswe find in the documentsof
thetime.
In difficult times, the people of Bistrifa helped those in Moldova frequently,by offering
them food and lodging facilities. Bistrifa even belongedto the Moldova King, petru Rareq,foia
while.
The SugdleteComplex is a remarkably architectural achievementhaving a well-determined
functional role, offering the so necessarysecurity to the merchants'convoysin thosemediaevaltimes.
The specific architectural elements of each building were perfectly integrated in the assembly,
respectingthe style of the Gothic andof rransylvania Renaissance.
Further restorationsof theseconstructionsallowed elementsof Renaissancearchitectureand
lateBaroqueto appear.
The thirteen buildings were connectedfor strategicreasons,as the one and a half metre thick
walls andthe massiyefront gates,
-of alwaystightly locked area proof in this respect.
Only the diversity bas-reli-efs,of incashment, of Keystones, coats of arms and facades
offeredtothehousesbelongingtothe complexa stillpreservedvariety.
Unfortunatelytoday,elementsof agreatarchitecturaland artistic value,witnessesofourhistory
arecoveredby indiffirence and irresponsib-ility.The roofs ofthe houseshadbeenrepeatedlyrebuilt, too,
especiallyduringthe lastcentury by leaving asideimportantdecorativeelements,reducing
their height and constructiveingeniosity.Thus,the chimneysand storey-rangedskylights of the former
roofs have mostly disappeared.By losing the amplitude of the roofs, the Sugilete also lost its
sumptuousness. The standardizingof the rooflets deprivedthe complex from its mediaevalbeauty.The
frst houseon the East side was the first chemist'sshop in town, named "At the Black Eagle's",whose
documentaryattestationwas in 1516.The next building hadbeenBinder Bookshopfor many decades.
Then followed the housesH.Tomae,Himberg & Co, J.Lutschand Sklamer and finally the Evangelical
Vicarage, thesebeing the tabular owners at the beginning of the 20th century as it is shown in the
groundbook ofthe houses.
Many of the buildings have undergonerepeatedmodifications losing their originality; someof
the accessgatesin the wide yards have been diminished, the windows and even the rooms have been
repartitionedwithout any civic responsibility under the kind, if not carelesseyesof the officials. Only
the last three buildings in the west side of the assembly have still preservedoriginal construction
elementswhich I am going to speakabout.
There is little information as to their owners along the centuries.We only know that Ursula,
councilor Paul Forster'swife, bequeathedinheritancea housefrom the Sugilete Complex to the town
parish in 1505 (probably the house atnr.23), which was later sold and anotherone was bought in the
Vicarageneighborhood(the houseatnr.I4),which was alsorestoredinI5I2 with the money got from
selling the first one. It got the name of Kapitelhaus, as it had been donated in 1432 through Petrus
Kreschmeier'swill to Fraternitasbeatevirginis Catholic Order to host the assembliesof the ecumenical
capitulars.Degradedin time, it hadbeenrestoredby Ursula and given back to the order.The membersof
this order were the Catholic priests of the town and of its villages. After the Lutheran Reform it hosted
the assembliesof the Reformedpriestswho belongedto the Evangelicalcapitulars.
The Evangelical vicarage (at nr. 13) is the most recent house of the Complex which has
preservedmany original elements.Someofthem canbe seenfrom the Central Square,suchasthe stone
broken archportal, with astralheraldic cap,on which one can seethe s;rmbols:the sun,the moon andthe
morning star as well as the year 1480.The building is U-shaped.From the back yard begin access
passagesto the first floorwithvaults andintermediaryarches' | -"
The framework of the doors and windows, masterly carved into stone,has a particular artistic |' '
value, aswell asthe pendent vaults ofthe top floors rooms.
The PetermannHouse (situatedat nr. 15) has preservedalmost allits initial form. Among the
architecturalelementshereI might count the framework ofthe top floors doors,which areconsideredto
be someof the most preciousachievementsof the Gothic style in Transylvania.At the upper side of the
framework there are the town's coat of arms and the one belonging to its owner, Petermann.On the cap
the year 1480 is engraved,which might have been the year of its building up. But this year may also
representthe time of its reconstruction.One of the doorsbetweentwo rooms on the first floor is carved
in sycamoremaplewood,withhighlyvaluable flowerydecorations,whichhavebeenmasterfullymade
and well preserved.The House of Petermannhas, under the colonnades,keystones adorned with
stylizedastraland flowery sculptures.
The buildings lying to the eastof thosementioned aboveare small and the massiveactivity of
those who have restored them has diminished their authenticity. Some of them now have common
rectangularshow casesin their fagades,insteadof the Gothic portals, or they havewater, gasor sewage
pipes mounted on the walls or even electricity and telephone branch circuits over the valuable
architectural elements. From the outside of the complex tourists could notice the decorative
componentsof the stoneportals, the heraldic cap,the stafueof SaintNicholas betweenthe windows of
the vicarage,the portals andthe carriagegatesaswell asthe constructionpeculiaritiesofthe component
houses.
Inside the complex thereis a dwelling place,offering little possibility for thosewho want to visit
it. Only the streetground floor, rentedby shop-owners,and the exterior colonnadescould offer slight
glimpsesofwhat the pediaeval environmentoncerepresented.
Today,a revaluation of the whole complex, meaningrestoration,is not only extremely difficult
to be carried out under theseseverecircumstances,but it is absolutelynecessary.This complex has,for
the town ofBistrifa, both architecturaland symbolical value, itbelongs to the cultural inheritanceand it
hasto be displayedandincluded in the national andinternationalpatrimony.
The usefor tourism ofthis complex is possibleandimperative,a matter of civilization.