Făgăraș Fortress
History
Făgăraș Fortress - Fogarasi vár
The first reliable written record of Făgăraș Fortress dates back to 1456. However, some historians believe that a wooden fort already stood on this site earlier: it may have been built before the Mongol invasion by Pós, the treasurer of King Béla IV of Hungary, or around 1310 by László Apor, the voivode of Transylvania. Thanks to its strategic location along the Olt River, the fort held significant military and economic importance from early on.
Until 1464, the fortress was occasionally held as a fief by the rulers of Wallachia. Later, it came under the control of John Corvinus (son of King Matthias Corvinus) and Pál Tomori, a military leader renowned for his efforts in halting Ottoman incursions into Transylvania.
After the Battle of Mohács (1526) and the subsequent double election of kings, István Majláth became lord of Făgăraș. He consolidated his political power by transforming the fortress into a fortified Renaissance-style castle, complete with an inner courtyard and gate tower.
From the 1600s onward, the fortress changed hands multiple times, alternating between the princes and princesses of Transylvania, the royal court, and—briefly—the Ottomans. During this period, it was reconstructed to meet the standards of a princely residence. A chapel was built in the center of the northern wall, and the princely apartments were established on the first floor of the southern wing, near the great hall.
Under the rule of Prince Mihály Apafi, Făgăraș became a significant political center, hosting eleven sessions of the Transylvanian Diet, including the one that ratified the Diploma Leopoldinum, which established Habsburg authority in the region.Style
The fortress has an irregular layout, its most distinctive element being the wide and deep moat, filled by diverting water from the Olt River. Behind the double defensive walls—reinforced with ear-shaped bastions—stands a three-story, trapezoidal castle with corner bastions.
Much of the castle’s current form reflects the influence of Italian architects invited by Prince Gabriel Bethlen. During his rule, three of the bastions were constructed, and a small outer fortress (huszárvár) was also built to defend the ferry crossing over the Olt.Famous residents
For many years, legends surrounded Făgăraș Fortress, particularly its later use by the Austrian authorities as a military barracks and prison. A particularly grim legend—likely fueled by Protestant imagination—claimed the presence of an “Iron Maiden,” a medieval torture device shaped like a coffin and lined with blades, adorned with an image of the Virgin Mary. Although this story lacks historical evidence, it's a fact that during the 1950s, the fortress was used by the communist regime to imprison and torture around 5,000 political detainees, of whom 161 reportedly died within its walls.Present day
In recent years, extensive restoration work has been carried out. The outer defenses and one of the bastions have been reinforced. A drawbridge was restored to working order, and two 17th-century wooden bridges were also reconstructed.
Today, one of the bastions houses a collection of historical weapon replicas, while the rest of the inner castle is home to folk art workshops, a library, and a hostel for visitors—blending cultural preservation with tourism.
