摘要：The rediscovery of the village and the desire to know how the life and energy of rural areas pulsate generate increasingly sophisticated study directions that allow us to better understand them. This study aims to identify the personality traits of two Transylvanian rural areas, Biertan and Saschiz villages. They are dominated by the typical lifestyle of the descendants of Saxon settlers (the Transylvanian Saxons), a lifestyle that has its origins in the medieval era. Only two villages were chosen for this study (whilst 5 others are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites) based on their similar features. The study sets out to overcome the condition of promoter of historical and touristic sights such as the fortified churches that clearly dominate the settlements and even a part of their surroundings. However, they are merely a pretext for deeper research into the profound force of expression of the surrounding landscapes, and most importantly of the landscapes that belong to the entire rural area. This way, we explore the essence of the phenomena that shape the local landscapes, allow them to reveal themselves and leave an impression on any viewer, specialist or layman. The dominating side of the landscape, either the natural or the anthropical one and their associated phenomenology, gives its iconic, emblematic character. The researched landscapes, their features, organisation and functioning reflect a central, elongated composition – imposed by the relief – to which all other land-related and urbanistic components adhere. The mosaic of landscapes, whose components are called here indicators, is analysed in detail by using a structural and a functional approach, as well as by examining the visual elements of the image and other special aspects. The final result is something that anyone can understand and remember as being iconic, symbolic, as representing the personality of the place
