Castles and Fortresses in Romania

Here is a description of some of the popular castles and fortresses that many tourists visit in Romania. Included is its location, a short history, hours of operations and cost.

Romania’s many castles and fortresses throughout the country not only give tourists a picturesque view but a deep sense of history, with some castles dating back to 13th century. Although some travelers might be familiar with one famous castle in particular from Bram Stocker’s Dracula, the truth is that there are many more castles in the region and elsewhere, all unique in their own right. While older castles built several hundred years ago were mostly for protection, newer castles built since the 19th century boast lavish décor on a grand scale. Wherever one chooses to travel, each region in Romania can give tourists a taste of olden times just by looking at the towering castles embedded in Romania’s rolling hills.

Romania’s most famous castle, without a doubt is the Bran Castle, located in Transylvania. Built on top of a 200-foot rock, it is not only famous for inspiring the myth behind Dracula, but because of its unique towers, snow-white stonewalls, and aesthetic appeal. Dating back to 1212, the area around the castle served as a Teutonic knights fortress while the castle came later in the 14th century. However the castle is now most famous as the supposed setting in one of the most beloved fiction stories of all time. Even though Bram Stocker never visited the castle in person, his research and vivid thoughts inspired him to set his story in a place much like Bran Castle, and the association stuck. Bran served as a royal residence much later in its history, from 1920 to 1957, housing Queen Marie of Romania. Now a museum dedicated to Marie’s art and furniture collections and ancient weapons and armor, the 60 roomed castle complete with underground passages can be visited year round. Near the village of Bran, this picturesque castle has long been a calling for tourists and continues to attract them today.

The Corvinesti Castle in Hunedora can also be found in central Romania. The Anjou family built the largest Gothic-style castle in Romania where it served as a fortress in the 14th century. Later, Transylvania’s ruler Iancu de Hundedoara remodeled the building into the most astonishing historical castle in Romania. With scenic features such as a knight’s hall, drawbridge, courtyards and a chapel, The Corvinesti castle represents a picturesque castle in most American’s minds.

Along with castles, buildings that served primarily as fortresses also dot the countryside. The Fargas fortress was once considered the strongest in all of Transylvania. Composed of three floors and five towers, it also had a protective moat, that in times of need was filled by a nearby stream. After serving as a prison during communist rule, it is now a museum for traditional folk crafts, including an intensive collection of paintings on glass. Standing as sturdy as ever, the fortress reminds tourists of Romania’s conflicts throughout history and the country’s dedication to stand united as one and is a great visit for history and war buffs alike.

Peles Castle in the mountain town of Sinaia, the castle is extremely unique in its new-Renaissance atchitecture and stands out not only in the country of Romania, but in all of Europe as a stunning castle. Made up of 160 rooms housing only the finest Euoprean art, the collection includes exquisite chandeliers and stained glass. The collection also includes extravagant gifts from other countries such as Turkish silk embroideries and Indian teak furniture. Serving as a summer residence in 1883, it reminds of Romanians of the luxury the country once boasted and their close connections with other countries.

The Rasnov fortress is another central Romania attraction on a rocky hilltop and differs from other Saxon fortresses in architecture and its intended purpose. Made up of 30 houses, a school, it looks more like a village than a fortress as it was intended to be used for long periods of time. Torn apart by war, the fortress only had to surrender once when in 1612 when its water supplies were discovered and cut off. Destroyed by fire and other natural disasters, the fortress has been restored to its former state as a museum with many eye opening remains including a skeleton buried under a glass floor and maze-like secret passages.

Although Romania is home to many different castles in fortress all with various histories, purposes and attractions, they give a true sense of Romanian history. Tourists will find themselves transported to the past in castles built before America was discovered, a unique opportunity for any traveler.

BRAN CASTLE
Location: Transylvania – Central Romania
Nearby large town: Brasov (16 miles northeast)
Nearest train station: Brasov
Address: Str. Traian Mosoiu 489, Bran
Telephone: (268) 238.333
Email: info@brancastlemuseum.ro
Web: http://brancastlemuseum.ro
Open: (May – September)Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m.; Mon. 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
(October – April) Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Mon.
Admission charge

CORVINESTI CASTLE
Location: Hunedoara – Central Romania
Nearest train station: Hunedoara
Address: Str. Castelului 1,
Hunedoara
Telephone: (254) 711.423
Email:
contact@castelulcorvinilor.ro
Web: www.castelulcorvinilor.ro
Open: (May – August)
Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(March – April)
Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(September – February) Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Admission charge

FAGARAS FORTRESS
Location: Transylvania – Central Romania
Nearby large towns: Sibiu (44 miles west) and Brasov (45 miles east)
Nearest train station: Fagaras
Open: Tue. – Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.;
Sat. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.;
Closed Mon.
Admission charge

PELES CASTLE
Location: Sinaia – Southern Romania
Nearby large towns: Brasov (40 miles north) and Bucuresti (80 miles south)
Nearest train station: Sinaia
Address: Str. Pelesului 2
Telephone: (244) 310.918
Email: museum@peles.ro
Open: (June – September) Wed. 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thu. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
(October – May) Wed. – Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Note: Peles Castle is closed during the entire month of November
Admission charge

RASNOV FORTRESS
Location: Transylvania – Central Romania
Nearby large towns: Brasov (9 miles northeast)
Nearest train station: Brasov
Admission charge