Râșnov Fortress
History
Perched atop a 150-meter-high hill, Râșnov Fortress provided protection to the local population with varying success. It was equipped with a watchtower and a small permanent garrison. Over time, under the safety of its sturdy walls, the inhabitants began building a small village within the fortress, eventually developing into a town. In 1427, King Sigismund of Luxembourg granted Râșnov the right to hold markets.
The fortress was occupied by the Ottomans in 1513 and later by Prince Gabriel Báthory in 1612. Interestingly, between 1637 and 1644, a glassworks ("üvegcsűr") also operated within its walls.
In 1658, the fortress successfully resisted an attack by Crimean Tatars and the Wallachian Voivode. In 1660, the forces of Chancellor Mihály Mikes also failed to capture it. However, the town itself was looted in 1688 by the troops of Margrave Louis of Baden. In 1708, General Rabutin of the imperial army set it on fire, and it burned again in 1718. The following year, in 1719, a devastating plague swept through the area.
In 1802, a powerful earthquake caused the collapse of both the chapel and the old tower. As its military importance gradually diminished, the fortress was left to deteriorate for many decades.
Style
Stretching from east to west with an irregular layout, Râșnov Fortress is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Transylvania. The foundations of its old tower were likely laid by the Teutonic Knights. The nickname "peasant fortress" refers to the Saxon settlers who built and defended it. They even surrounded a pasture-like area, known as a “baromudvar” (literally “cattle yard”), with fortified walls and a gate tower.Famous residents
Visitors can reach the western side of the fortress via a funicular. Inside the fortress walls, around thirty small reconstructed buildings recreate the atmosphere of medieval daily life. With narrow alleys and stairways, a charming, old-style village has been brought to life. From the walls and bastions, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the town below and the surrounding Carpathian Mountains.Present day
In 1612, the defenders were forced to surrender due to a lack of drinking water. After Prince Gabriel Báthory returned the fortress to the Saxons a year later, a 146-meter-deep well was dug in the center of the courtyard. According to legend, it took 28 years to complete and was excavated by Turkish prisoners of war. Today, the well remains one of the fortress's main attractions.
