The Fagaras Fortress is the place from which, according to legend, Negru Voda left to found Wallachia, the Romanian country south of the Southern Carpathians. The fortress and the land known as the Fagaras Country were, for a long time, a space of continuity of the Romanian administration according to the old custom of the land and a point of support in Transylvania of the Wallachian voivodes.
Located in Brasov County, Fagaras City, Fagaras Fortress is the pride of the locals. It was initially built of wood and earth around 1310, by Ladislaus Khan, voivode of Transylvania at that time, member of the Hungarian noble family, Kan. It was then gradually transformed by the voivodes Ladislau Apor (demolished and rebuilt the fortress, using stone and assigning it a defensive role), Radu I (1374-1384), Dan I (1384-1386), Mircea cel Batran (1386-1418), Mihail (1418-1420), Dan II (1420-1431), Vladislav II (1446-1456), Vlad Tepes (1456-1462) and Stefan Mailat (1528-1541; son of a Romanian boyar from Tara Fagarasului).
After Stefan Mailat, who ended up in his own prison, the fortress was sold successively, for money, first to Ioan-Sigismund, and then to Gaspar Bichis. He was defeated in a battle by the one who would become King of Poland, Stefan Bathori, so the fortress remained definitively in the property of the Transylvanian princes. Following other battles, the Fagaras Fortress is offered by Michael the Brave to his wife, Mrs. Stanca, whose bust still greets us today at the entrance to the fortress. Prince Gavril Bethlen has the merit of having transformed the fortress into what we can still see today, except for the ditch around the fortress (connected by a secret canal to the Olt River), which was enlarged to its current dimensions by Gheorghe Rakoczy I (1530-1548).
Throughout the seventeenth century, the fortress was, with some small interruptions, the residence of the princes of Transylvania, the Diet Hall, located on the first floor, hosting four of the meetings held here. The documents of the time record that a delegation of the Wallachian ruler Serban Cantacuzino also participated in one of them.
The fortified feudal complex of Fagaras, whose construction began at the end of the fourteenth century, and continues, through successive additions, until the middle of the seventeenth century, was preceded by a wooden fortification, surrounded by a ditch and earth wall, archaeologically attested for the twelfth century. This fortification, however, was destroyed in the middle of the thirteenth century, following a strong fire, in the Tatar invasion of 1241.
In the 15th century, the stone and brick fortress of Fagaras, which was a military defense fortress, had a quadrilateral enclosure, with four bastions at the corners, and a barbican-type outpost tower on the east side.
In the seventeenth century, the adaptations and additions of constructions to which the Fagaras Fortress is subjected will culminate in its transformation into a sumptuous princely residence, this being the peak period of the history of this majestic monument. In August 1541, the siege of 50,000 soldiers could not be conquered.
The destination that the 85 rooms of the castle received could be deduced from the inventories of the Fagaras Fortress, in particular, from those of the years 1632, 1637, 1656 and 1676.
As a result of these works carried out in the seventeenth century, the Fagaras Fortress, the residence of the princes of Transylvania and the political-administrative center of the great domain of Fagaras, became an imposing medieval ensemble.
In the seventeenth century, important works at the Fagaras Fortress were undertaken by Gabriel Bethlen and Gheorghe Rackozi I, who completed the architectural evolution of the fortress. Influenced by the Italian Renaissance, they built, modernized and decorated the rooms, this being the peak period of the fortress.
Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629) made openings in arches on massive masonry piers. At the same time, at the corners of the fortress are built the four casemate bastions in Italian style (three "with ears" and one in the shape of a "wedge").
During the time of Gheorghe Rackozi I (1631 – 1648), the exterior walls on the north and south sides were doubled from the inside and the spaces created were filled with earth, achieving a resistance of 8 m thick. At the same time, he built the guardhouse building on the northern half of the eastern side, and the defense ditch around the fortress was widened, deepened and filled with water from the Olt, thus becoming a real lake.
Unfortunately, starting with the eighteenth century, under Austrian rule, it became a shelter for garrisons, making strictly military adaptations and losing its elegance. Between 1948 and 1960 the Fagaras Fortress was transformed into a prison for political prisoners, the communist regime thus inscribing Fagaras in the ranks of the Romanian gulag prisons. What is seen today amazes by simplicity, presence and harmony. But so do the elgenes, the mysteries, the secrets of the fortress, woven in the warp of centuries of resistance.
The secrets of the Fagaras Fortress
Iron Maiden
Appearing a long time ago, the legend of the Iron Virgin from the Fagaras Fortress still circulates today. It is said that the one condemned to death was sent to the virgin to kiss the icon of the Mother of God, attached to her steel breast. Instead of forgiveness, she found in her arms the cruelest death. The body was pierced by daggers and then an invisible hatch was opened and the condemned man fell lifeless into a mechanism of swords, with a very sharp edge, which tore the body.
At a depth of about 8 m there was a water channel that carried the debris into the waters of the Olt River, thus washing away any trace of crime.
The secret exit from the fortress
On the southern side of the fortress, halfway along the outer wall, there are the ruins of a room, a room, at the level of the lake that surrounds the fortress. A passage through the wall, now covered, connected to the lake. Initially, this passage was camouflaged with reeds and other aquatic plants In the room, the princes of Transylvania, kept two boats with which they could take refuge in the city or with which they could send messengers during sieges.
The Secret Tunnel
There is a legend according to which the Fagaras Fortress was connected to the Galati Hill, through a tunnel that passes under the Olt River. It started from the fountain in the courtyard of the fortress and probably reached the Faget Monastery. Another version of the legend says that, in fact, the tunnel was directed south, towards the old center of Fagaras Fair.
Dungeons
In the fortress you can still see the traces of medieval dungeons, probably located around the torture room, which made them even more frightening. This area of the fortress was also the place of detention of many anti-communist resistance fighters from the Fagaras Mountains and other political prisoners between 1948 and 1960.
What can you discover at the Făgăraș Country Museum?
The museum is structured on several sections, each of them being arranged in the original rooms of the medieval fortress. From the cold and austere dungeons, to the refined noble salons, the museum takes you through centuries of Transylvanian history.
One of the most valuable parts of the museum's collection is the archaeology section. Here are exhibited artifacts from the Bronze Age, the Dacian and Roman periods, but also medieval objects discovered in the Făgăraș area. These pieces are testimonies of a continuous inhabitation and an active civilization in this part of Romania.
In addition to this, the museum also hosts an extensive ethnographic exhibition, which reflects the traditional life in the villages of the Făgăraș Country. Folk costumes, fabrics, agricultural tools, household objects – all reconstruct the atmosphere of an archaic world, where the customs and values of the community were transmitted from generation to generation.
The art gallery, another attraction of the museum, contains paintings and sculptures signed by Romanian artists, but also icons on wood and glass specific to the Făgăraș area. Visitors can admire works that combine religious aesthetics with traditional Romanian symbolism.
Also, the noble halls reconstructed with original furniture from the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Transylvanian aristocracy. Each room retains the period atmosphere, with authentic pieces – from carved furniture to oriental carpets and fine decorative pieces.
For those who want to understand more deeply the identity of the Făgăraș Country, this museum is an essential starting point. Here you can find out how the area has evolved over time, how people lived, what they created, how they defended themselves and what they left to the next generations.
Travel Tips.
Make sure to plan your visit around the fortress's opening hours, as they vary throughout the week. The best time to visit is during the late spring or early autumn when the weather is pleasant and conducive to exploring the grounds. Don't forget to check for any special events or guided tours that may enhance your experience. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and picturesque surroundings, Făgărașului Fortress is a must-visit destination for any traveler exploring Romania.
Getting There
Train
From Sighisoara, head to the Sighisoara Train Station (Gara Sighisoara). You can walk there from the city center, which takes about 10-15 minutes. Once at the station, purchase a ticket for a train heading to Făgăraș. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Trains are usually available throughout the day, but check the schedule in advance for the latest times. Once you arrive at Făgăraș Train Station, exit the station and head east on Strada 1 Decembrie 1918. Continue straight until you reach Strada Mihai Viteazul, then turn left. The Făgărașului Fortress will be on your right after a short walk.
Bus
To travel by bus, first make your way to the Sighisoara Bus Station (Autogara Sighisoara) located near the train station. From the city center, it's about a 10-minute walk. At the bus station, look for a bus bound for Făgăraș. The bus ride will take around 1 hour. Once you arrive in Făgăraș, walk towards the city center. As you exit the bus station, head east on Strada 1 Decembrie 1918 and then turn left onto Strada Mihai Viteazul. The Cetatea Făgărașului is located at Strada Mihai Viteazul 1, just a short walk from the bus stop.
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