Engenthal

Engenthal – one of the oldest settlements in Sibiu County, today a ghost village.

Engenthal (Romanian: Mighindoala, Hungarian: Ingodály) was first mentioned in 1381. The village lies in a hollow in Sibiu County. Following a landslide in the 1970s, most of the inhabitants were forced to leave the settlement. Today the village has two residents — a farmer and her son. In the summer, Ukrainian artists sometimes come and bring the place to life.

When the weather is bad, Engenthal can only be reached on foot. From Bell (Romanian: Buia) one walks for almost an hour through one of the most beautiful landscapes in Transylvania. In the middle of the forest stands the Evangelical church from the 14th century. Everything else has vanished without a trace. Not even the foundations of the old houses are visible. Trees grow out of the few remaining ruins.

The village has a special charm for artists. Alex Iacob decided to make a documentary about this village, to live there for a time, and in the process to paint the walls of the church with scenes from the history of the Transylvanian Saxons.

Author: Zîmța Andreea
Date: 23.09.2017

For photos from Engenthal, please click: Photos from Engenthal