Pity the Feuding Couples Left Sleepless in Transylvania

In the grounds of Biertan church in Transylvania there is a “matrimonial prison”: a low, plain building in which the local priest would lock up feuding couples until they resolved their differences. For two weeks, they had to share one chair, spoon, plate, glass and the narrowest, hardest bed two people ever slept in.

A male and female dummy in traditional garb are posed in the bare room staring bleakly into space, like contestants in a 16th century reality TV show. What issues did they thrash out? Did the priest pop by to check they hadn’t killed each other? Was loving co-operation instilled by taking turns to spoon their soup?

The church claims that in 300 years, only one couple went on to get divorced. Did such extreme marital counselling work? Or would you say anything to escape that room — and particularly that bed.

Article by Janice Turner in The Times

Other forms of resolving relationship conflict do exist!