The decision to fortify Sanpetru’s church was built after the village had been destroyed by marauding Turks in 1432. Walls eight metres high were built, with places to live and keep animals during a siege added later. The last of the five defensive towers was built by 1610, but all in vain: the Turks all but destroyed the village again, in 1658, burning much of Sanpetru to the ground, its inhabitants with it. Many of the victims of that slaughter are buried in the courtyard of the church. Much of the modern church is the result of rebuilding work carried out in the late 18th century. Inside the old chapel however there are Gothic frescoes from the 15th century while the magnificent organ was installed in 1820. While in the village, you should also have a look at the Romanian orthodox church, which boasts fabulous frescoes from the late 18th century.
