Dear Ladies and Lords,
2025 was an intense, moving, and formative year for Churchfortress e.V. – a good moment to pause and look back. Numerous activities and projects on site once again showed us how strongly our work is shaped by encounters, shared experiences, and a deep connection to the unique landscape of the 100 hills.
Spring: Europe visits Movile – ELASA visit
Early in the year, we were delighted to welcome a very special group of guests: students from the European Landscape Architecture Students’ Association (ELASA) from across Europe visited Movile in early April. For many of us, this was a very personal moment, as a large number of Churchfortress e.V. members first met each other through ELASA around 15 years ago.
ELASA embodies core values of our association: international understanding, shared learning, and commitment to the protection of valuable landscapes and open spaces. Even though April showed its colder side, it was a rewarding experience for all students to get to know the village, the surrounding cultural landscape, and our work.
May: Transylvanian Brunch
In May, the focus shifted to food and togetherness: after eight years, a Transylvanian Brunch once again took place in Hundertbücheln. Thanks to short-notice support from Jonas and Rainer, the event was able to go ahead despite illness-related cancellations. The food came from Movile itself as well as from surrounding villages, for example from Stejarisu.
In the parish garden, people ate and celebrated together, visited the fortified church, and welcomed many guests from the region and far beyond. It was a wonderful day that showed how vibrant exchange, regional cuisine, and shared celebration can be.
June: Teacher’s House construction site and small anniversary
In June, hands-on work continued: the second room of the Teacher’s House was plastered. With a strengthened team, we were able to successfully continue the work started the previous year.
Immediately afterwards, nearly 20 members and friends of Churchfortress e.V. gathered in Movile for a larger meeting. Together with many supporters from the village and the region, we celebrated in an informal and warm atmosphere, looking back on the past years. The result of this gathering was renewed motivation, new goals, and a great deal of energy for the years ahead.
Especially memorable were the shared excursions into the unique Büchel landscape, including a beautiful picnic. They once again made very clear both the value of this landscape and the acute threat it faces due to the ongoing intensification of agriculture.
From July onwards: Launch of the project “Protect the 100 Hills”
With these fresh impressions in mind, it became clear to us: we need to act – now. Among the triggers were the filming activities of an ARD documentary filmmaker, who documented extensive grassland conversion in the eastern part of the Büchel. In previous years, we had already documented severe interventions such as slope excavation and increasingly intensive pesticide use.
As a result, we launched the project “Protect the 100 Hills”. A first important step was the parcel-level mapping of land use, which was completed by the end of September and is intended to be repeated in the coming years in order to clearly document actual changes. In parallel, we began generating knowledge about the concrete conservation value of the landscape. For 2026, we have commissioned a scientific survey of protected plant species and butterflies.
To support financing and knowledge sharing, we launched the project website http://www.protect100hills.org, where you can find a wide range of impressions, background information, and further details. The first milestone has been reached with around 7,500 euros in donations – for the next steps, we continue to rely on your financial support.
From September onwards: The Movilebox 2025
Once again this year, the Movilebox was an essential part of our activities. Delicious regional specialties, natural products, and vivid stories from Movile come together in a unique collection. The products are sourced from village residents, purchased at fair prices, and contribute to strengthening small-scale farming structures and local production. We handle export, shipping, and marketing on a voluntary basis.
The success speaks for itself: 235 of the 250 boxes were sold within less than a month. Anyone who would still like to secure one should act quickly:
https://movilebox.churchfortress.org
Autumn: Preparing for 2026
In autumn, our focus already turned towards the year ahead. A number of projects are planned for 2026, which we are preparing both on site in Movile and from afar.
- Continuation of the Teacher’s House construction work: new room doors, repairs to ceilings and floors, and final plastering work. The two front rooms are scheduled to be completed in 2026. The necessary construction timber has already been ordered and is now drying in preparation for use.
- Scientific mapping of flora and fauna in the 100 hills by two female experts, carried out between April and August over approximately 30 survey days, as part of the project “Protect the 100 Büchel”, with our support.
- Further international encounters in Hundertbücheln, including a planned visit by students from RWTH Aachen.
- The official celebration of our 10-year anniversary, which is currently still in the planning phase.
- And last but not least: if all goes well, we hope to offer another Movilebox again in 2026.
Thank you for your interest, your support, and your continued connection to Movile and our work.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Your Churchfortress e.V. team
