Râșnov Fortress

Above the city of Râșnov, in Brașov county, the citadel occupies the top of a hill from where you can see Țara Bârsei. The fortification served as a shelter for the local community, and the oldest preserved constructions date back to the fourteenth century. The walls and towers defended two enclosures: the outer courtyard, also used for animals, and the inner area, where there were dwellings and community buildings.

Behind the walls there was a school, chapels and a well, signs that the refuge had to allow the inhabitants to stay during sieges. The landscape and the route of the walls can be followed from the area open to visitors. The official website announces that the fortress is under rehabilitation and that the garden can be visited with a ticket purchased at the entrance. Access to the inside of the citadel remains subject to works.

Râșnov Citadel seen from a distance. Archive photo (2014): Neighbor's goat / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro. Cropped and resized. Adapted photo retains same license.