Today we hope to attend the Unitarian Universalist Church in Dârjiu , a village home to this 13th century fortified church. The church is registered among the historic monuments of Harghita county as one of the most significant monuments of Udvarhelyszék. It is the oldest fortified church in the area. Originally begun in the Romanic style, it was transformed into Gothic style. The fortifications (with five bastions and towers) were built during the 16th century.

As a church fortress it has preserved some very unique architectural forms still in a good condition. The inner frescos illustrating the legend of king St. László were painted in 1419. The style of these frescos suggest the transition from Gothic to Romanticism. The old chapel built in Roman style (13-14th century) was enlarged and rebuilt in late Gothic style in the second half of the 15th century when it actually acquired its present form.

We were able to see that villagers still keep their grains in the fortress even today. They apparently do the same with their ham, bacon, lard and smoked pork products but for some reason they can take grains home every morning but the pork products only once a week.

The skies cleared and the sun broke over John Paul’s beatification mass which amassed in the park across from our hotel as we walked out.

We walked through a park and started mid-city with the tacky over-the-top Palace of Culture and Science which apparently resembles a Socialist/Realist tower block. A gift from the nations of the former USSR, it was once the tallest building in Europe. To this day it provokes extreme reaction from admiration to demand for demolition.

Our next stop was the National Museum which had mounted a very comprehensive retrospective of a Warsaw favorite son Alexander Gierymski.
Apparently the museum has a vast collection of Gierymski’s work including his sketches and small drawings done in preparation for his major works. The show was very interesting, well supported by visitors along with us and although he was not well received in the art world in the latter half of the 19th century he is appreciated for his colorist work and his working class subjects.

The National Museum

Onward to the Lazienki Palace which is a park formerly owned privately as a royal summer residence but is now a museum in a vast 18th century formal park. Lazienki Park has the feel of the world’s most elaborate parks, Central Park included and it like the others was redesigned in about the same period. We join hundreds of families enjoying the beautiful Spring day and gorgeous setting.

About Lazienki Park

We are packing up to leave after breakfast. Apparently we are taking the beautiful weather with us because people below us on the street are shrouded in rain gear and heavy jackets.