The Marriage Prison

The fortified church in Biertan, Transylvania

Romania offers a lot of wonders, one of them the many fortified churches that you can visit in Transylvania. I visited the fortified church in Biertan - formerly Birthälm - a former German village now converted into a Romanian one, as practically all Germans who lived there for centuries left.

Biertan village, a formerly German village

What remains are the buildings which give you a flavor how the Germans lived there. And what makes Biertan special is the fortified church which reigns over the village, set on top of a hill.

Inside the church. The text depicts the Germans who died in their military service of the First World War

So I went to visit this church, which keeps lots of German traces, including the writings. To my surprise, walking through the compound, all of a sudden I faced a marriage prison.

Church towers

It was a real prison for couples who had been arguing for a while and did not get along with each other.

This is the Marriage Prison

This way out however was implemented by the local priest. The priest locked the couple into a small room, with only one bed, one chair, one table, one plate and one spoon.  There the couple was forced to share everything that was available in only one unit. The couple had to spend inside so long until they pledged to get along with each other again. Upon their pledge they were released.

I was deeply impressed. And now I ask myself what would be the impact on the divorce rate if today a mandatory stay in such a marriage prison would be implemented. Lucky me who now live in modern times…