Medieval Fortress of Marsovásárhely (Târgu Mureș)
History
One of the largest castles in Transylvania and the Székely Land covers an area of more than four hectares. Its construction began in 1492 when István Báthory, Voivode of Transylvania (father of the prince and Polish king of the same name), had the Franciscan monastery and church surrounded by fortress walls. This early fortification was destroyed during the Fifteen Years’ War and was only rebuilt at the beginning of Gábor Bethlen’s reign (1613–1629).
The new fortress, in addition to the Gate Bastion and a Small Bastion, featured six more bastions, which were each maintained by different craft guilds: tailors, butchers, coopers, furriers, locksmiths, and tanners. The construction of the fortress walls continued until the mid-17th century.
After the defeat of the Rákóczi War of Independence, the residential buildings within the castle were gradually demolished and replaced with barracks and warehouses. In the 1960s, these later additions were removed, and the original structure of the walls and bastions was restored.Style
Until 1910, the castle was surrounded by a protective moat, which was removed for urban planning purposes. During restoration works in the 1960s, an impressive neo-Gothic gate was also demolished. Its existence is now only known from early 20th-century photographs.
The castle has an irregular polygonal ground plan and represents a typical medieval military fortification. However, its three-story bastions, added in the first half of the 17th century, also show Baroque stylistic features. Each bastion was fitted with gunports for cannons on the lower levels and loopholes for firearms on the upper levels. The walls, more than one meter thick, indicate a highly developed defensive system.
Renovation
During the most recent major renovation, which began in 2012, the castle walls and courtyard buildings were re-roofed, walkways were restored, and the courtyard was landscaped. A new structure was also built—a so-called geodesic dome, designed based on the geometry of János Bolyai—which now functions as a tourist information center.
Present day
Today, the castle serves multiple purposes: it functions primarily as a tourist attraction while also operating as a cultural and educational center. The renovated site is open to visitors and regularly hosts guided tours, exhibitions, and various open-air events. The geodesic dome within the castle grounds operates as a tourist information center.
The castle is a frequent venue for concerts, theatrical performances, historical reenactments, fairs, and festivals, making it an important hub for local cultural life. It also functions as a museum, offering permanent and temporary exhibitions about the history of the castle, traditional crafts, and architectural heritage. Educational programs are organized for school groups, providing interactive learning experiences through museum pedagogy.
