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Whole Village Project-
Malancrav
MET Guided Tours to the villages see: About the Area
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Malancrav village is of particular interest. It has:
- the highest proportion of remained Saxons in any village in Transylvania. 17o out of an original population (before the general exodus) of 900. There is a high proportion of Saxon children in the village.
- a resident Evangelical priest, Father Joachim Lorenz, a young and dynamic East German, who moved to Malancrav 9 years ago with his wife, Cristiana, and 8 year-old son David.
- very well preserved houses owing to its isolation down 13 km of untarmaced road
- 15th century frescoes in the church
- the oldest entire altarpiece still in original location, date c 1520, in Transylvania.
- a Hungarian princely Manor House, which the former owners, the Evangelical community, sold the trust in 2000 because it was unable to save the building, which was in danger. The Manor House is adjoined by an ancient orchard, which had been taken by the Communist state farm but which the trust has now bought.
- On the 6th August 2005, the village of Malancrav held a week-long celebration to mark its 700 years’ documentary history. The MET supported the celebrations, which took place mainly on the grassy area in front of the Manor House. The president of the Sibiu county council, and an MP from Bucharest came to the opening, which gathered about 200 people from the village, as well as visitors.
At the same time, a small Museum of traditional Saxon interiors opened in a house inside the Saxon Church fortifications (supported by the MET).
Manor House
Archaeological research has been carried out in the grounds by the MET, as well as s structural research on the house. Historical documents have revealed records of great interest in Budapest.
The design stage for repairing and rebuilding the Manor House was completed in 2003 with the architect Jan Huelseman. Work started soon afterwards under the supervision of masterbuilder Ernst Linzing from Malancrav.
The building is now complete and was opened on 1st October 2007. Please telephone 44207 603 1113 for booking.
Orchard
Many traditional varieties of apple, pear, plum, and walnut trees are to be found in this 200 acre orchard. Some of the apples are ancient German and local varieties, including Renet de Leizberg, Renet de Bauman, Frumos de Boscop, Parman Auriu and Gustav Durabil. The pears are often planted with quince rootstock for durability. There are various plum varieties including Anna Spaeck.
The orchard was leased to the MET in 2001, and purchased in 2002. Fruit and juice was produced and sold in 2001. The British Embassy donated new juicing equipment, which was installed by the specialist Keith Goverd in the autumn of 2002. The apple shed and machinery are now fully operable. The organic apple juice is in sale throughoutRomania.
In Nov 2005 Romania's Minister of Agriculture, Gheorghe Flutur, attended the Indagra Fair of Agriculture & Food Products where he sampled MET's apple juice from our Malancrav orchards.
Gheorghe Flutur
M.E.T. Houses
Three houses in Malancrav are available for ecotourists from April until October. Please telephone 0044 207 603 1113.
Casa Predicatorului, owned by the Church, has had its roof repaired, and its facade and interior restored. This is now used as a youth hostel guest house by the church and the MET will also include it in its list of guesthouses.
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Village map
The preacher's house (l) and the MET's 'green house' (r)
Manor house before building started.
Work in progress. June 2005
The Prince of Wales discussing grafting with our
orchard workers in 2002.
 Malancrav orchard building where the apple juice is made
MET guesthouse in Malancrav
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Church Projects in Malancrav |
The Church of the Virgin Mary
The Church of the Virgin Mary was built as a court church by counts of the Apafi family in several phases between the first part of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. To learn more about the Apafi family
please click here
Hungarian Catholic Church
Emma Dongolo, the caretaker of the Catholic Church, inspired us to raise funds for its repair. We are in close contact with the Architectural Office of the Diocese in Alba Iulia and with the Catholic priest in Sighisoara. In 2004 we put on a new roof , in 2007 major interior and exterior restoration work was completed.
The priest's house, beside the church has been restored by the Trust in 2007/8.
Lutheran Church Frescoes
Through the Horizon Foundation, the MET commissioned a survey from Iona Munteanu, a Brasov-based conservator, on the beautiful 15th century frescoes at the Lutheran Church in Malancrav. As a result of the survey report the Norwegian Government has agreed to help in their restoration.
There is a considerable damp problem inside the church. Over the summer of 2004, the MET, with advice from several bodies, has installed new guttering and drainage around the outside of the church. The damp inside is being monitored over the winter and early spring.
 Malancrav Lutheran Church, details from frescoes
 ; Malancrav Lutheran Church, detail from ceiling
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The Hungarian Catholic church
in Malancrav
A panel from the altarpiece in
Malancrav Lutheran Church
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Trust work in the village 2007 - 2008
Repair, restoration or paint ing of houses no 77, 85, 99, 102, 108, 139, 146, 246, 260, 265, 270, 271, 310, 327, 329 and 423 took place. A new barn and carpentry workshop, a collapsed barn and complete roof repair were all completed. A new barn was built for the Apafi manor and the garden finshed. New entrance steps were completed for the former Orthodox school as well as new stone pavements in the village. A brick and tile kiln was built on the outskirts of the village.
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