Photographer Ionuț Macri Exhibits Aerial Views of 180 Fortified Churches at King Charles III’s Viscri House

The series of aerial photographs by Ionuț Macri, titled “FLYOVER. 180 SAXON FORTIFIED CHURCHES IN TRANSYLVANIA”, will be on display at The King’s House in Viscri, Brașov County, until the end of October.

This project began during a research trip that Macri took with illustrator and author Radu Oltean for his book “Fortresses, Castles, and Other Fortifications in Romania”. ”It was then that I realized the potential of this type of photography. When you’re standing next to a fortified church, at its base, you don’t see much and you can only guess what it’s like, but as the drone gets higher, the picture starts to bloom and allows you to see it for real. As a photographer, I simply enjoy what I see, but specialists can immediately grasp many aspects—strategic location, construction phases, materials, and periods.”, says Ionuț Macri.

Among the 180 photographs on display, visitors will recognize emblematic fortified churches such as those from Biertan, Viscri and Hărman, but they will also have the chance to discover lesser-known and nearly forgotten monuments, like those from Măgheruș, Ormeniș or Seliștat.

Macri’s project continues with the ambition to capture all the fortified churches in Saxon and Szekler villages in Transylvania. These aerial photographs offer a unique perspective on a rich and diverse heritage, reflecting the cultural legacy of this region. “What does ‘all’ mean? The answers vary, and I am still researching to find the closest one to the truth. I only know that the Saxons founded or colonized over 500 villages in Transylvania, of which more than 200 were fortified, while the Szekler villages have around 30 such monuments,” Macri explains.

Many of the fortified churches in Transylvania are now in ruins due to neglect, as the communities that used to maintain them have vanished, while others are at risk of collapsing if not restored soon. However, some churches have already been restored, and a few are currently undergoing renovations. Although, after 1990, it seemed that these monuments would be completely lost, they have endured.  With further support and involvement, they can become vibrant testimonies of history for future generations.

As part of this photographic endeavour, visitors to King Charles III’s house in Viscri can also learn about The Ambulance for Monuments initiative, launched in 2016 to save many endangered heritage buildings in Romania. Through a network of local organizations, emergency interventions are carried out by volunteers—experts, students, and craftsmen—with the support of the communities and local authorities. Each regional team uses a fully equipped mobile kit, ready for rapid intervention. The project has been consistently supported by The King’s Foundation (formerly The Prince’s Foundation), an organization founded and chaired by His Majesty King Charles III.

Since opening to the public in the summer of 2022, The King’s House has received over 72.000 Romanian and foreign visitors. Most of the profit generated is being reinvested into the local community, helping support it and protect its heritage.

About The King’s House, Viscri:

As tourists visiting Viscri have always been very eager to learn as much as possible about the connection that His Majesty, King Charles III has with the village, The King’s Foundation decided in 2021 to transform the house in Viscri into an open house that speaks about the king’s passion for traditional architecture, sustainable agriculture, the protection of biodiversity and the Romanian valuable cultural heritage.

The King’s House in Viscri is open for visitors every year, from April to October.

Address of The King’s House: Viscri 163, Brașov county, Romania.

About Ionuț Macri:

Based in Bucharest, Romania, Ionut Macri is one of the most in-demand advertising photographers, specialized in high-end commercial images for dozens of big brands, with works published all around the world – and passionate about light in all its forms.

As the third generation of enthusiast photographers in his family, he started his career shooting nature and cityscapes during his undergratuate studies. A few years later, in 1997, he opened his first studio, doing advertising photography ever since.

Currently, he runs one of the most important companies in the industry, being considered by the prestigious Lurzer’s Archive among the Best 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide in 2010-2011, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, and among the Best 200 Digital Artists Worldwide in 2013-2014, 2017-2018, 2020-2021, 2022-23, and 2024-2025.

After more than 25 years in the profession, producing visuals for the biggest brands in Romania, as well as for European and international campaigns, his passion for photography has remained unchanged.