“Romania 🇷🇴 ~Fagaras Fortress”
This Fortress really stirred up my emotions, the first time I visited it. The weather was foggy, and the moat was frozen. Lives, once lived behind these walls had a vibe of sadness. I felt this before I knew the history. I Just get a gut feeling about things, sometimes. But, the next day, as we were leaving Fagaras, the sun had come out, the fog was gone and the Fortress looked so pretty, and less haunting. We took a loop around the moat to see it again from the outside, before we took off. We were at the end of trip in February of 2013, and the weather was starting to above freezing temps.
I had told my husband about this Fortress, and about how it had made me feel, but we had summer weather and sunshine on this trip, so I thought it would be interesting for him to see. What a bummer to learn; just like Rasnov Fortress, this Fortress, also, was being renovated. The only part accessible to guests was the upper floor where the museum was. At least it was free admission.
The re-construction is a very good thing for all ancient structures, to ensure they stay intact for many years to come, but its a bit of a miss for sure, and two Fortresses in a row! Good thing I have photos from my first visit, which I will show here. For a point and shoot camera, they are not too bad, though I think I have increased my photography skills with my Nikon D7000 DSL; ten fold.
Enjoy Fagaras Fortress
The story of this architectural gem began in 1310, when the first stone for the new stronghold was placed in a strategic location on the southern Transylvanian border. Fagaras Fortress was built in order to prevent the invaders like the Turks and Tatars from entering Transylvania.
Another important moment was in the 16th century, when the fort was transformed into a Fortress city, and among other changes, the defense walls were doubled in thickness. During the reign of Mihai Viteazu (Michael the Brave), the stronghold became the capital of the Transylvanian regions.
Built in 1310 on the site of a former 12th century wooden fortress (burned by the Tartars in 1241), Fagaras was enlarged between the 15th and 17th centuries and was considered to be one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania.
The Fortress was surrounded by a deep moat which, in times of war or social unrest, could easily be filled with water from a nearby mountain stream. A bridge over the moat provided the only access point. The Fortress boasts three floors and five towers.
Throughout the years, Fagaras Fortress functioned mainly as a residence for various princes and their families. Transylvanian Prince Gabriel Bethlen; 1613-1629, strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance, brought architects and glassmakers from Italy to rebuild the
Fortress, bestowing elegance and beauty to the construction.
During the rule of Georg Rákóczi; 1630-1649, the Forts fortifications were doubled and the moat was enlarged. Ráckózi had the bastions bridged and covered, the moat paved with stones, the bridge and the casemates repaired and a guardhouse built.
Records show that the interior must have been luxurious in the 17th century; unfortunately, little of its former grandeur has been preserved. The castle was deprived of its decorations and fancy furniture when it was turned into a military garrison in the 18th century.
Later on, in the Communist era, the fortification was also used as a political prison until 1960. The story of this amazing place had another turn, and after a diverse restoration process, it became what it is today: the Valer Literat Museum of the Land of Fagaras. The Fort also hosts the municipal library.
Yes, by the way, those are booties on Daryls feet. We were required to wear them to protect the carpets
Now, I will post a few photos from 2013, of the inside of the Fortress walls, which we were not allowed to access on this current visit, as well as wintertime scenes around the Fort from back then
Back to current day photos.
I was very surprised to see a huge, new Church had been constructed next to the Fortress. This church was not there, when I was here, before. It is a new enough build, the inside is still getting done. It was pretty to look at.
Other than the Fortress, there is not a lot to see in this town. That being said, the Fortress is worth a trip to Fagaras to see. This fantastic Fargaress Fortress was named “one of the largest and best preserved feudal fortresses in Eastern Europe” by Huffington Post.
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More
Thank you for sharing these, never thought of Romania as a place to visit
Nor had I! Thx Judy. I am grateful to my friend who wanted to go, because Romania was NOT on my radar at all, that many years ago. I had not seem much of Europe at all, so I had told her, if Im going to spend money to go to Europe, maybe I would want to go to Western Europe. BUT, she found a killer deal with round-trip airfare from Houston, Texas for $239. Back then, Romania was cheaper than it is now, and Im so glad I was persuaded to go! Now that I have been to all of the Balkan States. I can say that Montenegro and Romania are my favorites!