Targu Mures, the main city of Mures County, lies on the banks of the Mures river. The city was first mentioned in a document dating from 1300, being an important borough in the 15th century when the first fortifications were built. The most iomportant tourist attraction is its citadel, situated on a hillock. The citadel, founded on the ruins of an old stronghold, dates from the 13th – 14th centuries.
Odorheiu Secuiesc (Harghita County) is a small town settled on an ancient Roman military camp. It developed during the Hungarian reign between the 11th and 13th centuries. Its medieval citadel built between 1492 – 1516 by Ioan Sigismund, is almost intact today and houses an agricultural college
Arad, the main gateway towards Hungary, lies on the banks of the Mures river. Arad’s large, star – shaped citadel houses today a military base. The citadel was erected on the site of an old fortress built by the Turks in 1551, under the orders oh the Habsburg Queen Marie Theresa between 1763 – 1783. It was built in Vauban style, the design (six – pointed star), being realized by the Austrian architect Filip Ferdinand Harsch.
Sighisoara, a perfectly preserved medieval town, is the most picturesque Saxon legacy. Being known also as Schaessburg in German and Segesvar in Hungarian, this unique city is the home of Romanian, Hungarian and Saxon nations.The city of Sighisoara was first mentioned in 1280 as CASTRUM SEX and initially, the citadel, laying up on a hillock, was used as a shelter by the community living at the bottom of the hill. The settlement developed in time, turning into a citadel almost impossible to be conquered.
Brasov lies in the south – eastern part of Transylvania, within the arch of the Carpathian Mountains, at the point where the Western Carpathians meet the Southern ones and, where Transylvania, Moldova and Muntenia provinces meet. It’s situated in the Brasov Depression (550 – 600 meters altitude) at the bottom of the Tampa Massif. Being initially called Kronstadt, Bravos was founded by the German colonists in 1234, later to become a major trading centre due to its strategic location. In 1395, at Sigismund of Luxembourg disposal the construction of the fortress of Brasov began, becoming one of the strongest in Transylvania at the time.
Oradea, the seat of Bihor County and the centre of Crisana region, is situated on the banks of Crisul Repede river. The present citadel was built in the 16 – 17th centuries, on the ruins of another citadel dating from the 13th century. During the reign of Hungarian Kingdom, the citadel fell under the rule of Hungarian ruler Matthias Corvinus, between 1458 – 1490. Today, the citadel has been converted into government offices.
It is considered the finest fortress of Moldavia. The citadel, situated above the town, on Culmea Plesului Hill, was built between 1375 – 1391 by Petru I Musat; it was also fortified by Stephan the Great between 1475 and 1476, then re-edified by Vasile Lupu between 1645 – 1646 and, again restored in 1960. It was attacked, in turn, by the Hungarians in 1395, by the Turks in 1476 and conquered by the Polish in 1691. In the 18th century the citadel fell into ruin. But, despite the tumultuous history, the citadel stood the test of time displaying today remnants from its past. There can still be seen the 3 – 4m thick walls, the semicircular bastions, the deep trenches and the 8m – height stone bridge that leads the visitors to the citadel.
Cetatea de Scaun (the City of Residence), situated in Suceava, dates from 1388. The original fortress was built by Petru I Musat, Alexandru cel Bun and, in the 14th – 15th centuries by Stefan cel Mare (Stephan the Great). First, the citadel had eight square towers and was surrounded by defensive trenches. During the reign of Stephan the Great the citadel was constantly fortified, 4m – thick and 33m – tall walls being erected around the citadel, making thus impossible to shoot arrows over it.
In 1459 Vlad Tepes captured tens of Turks to revenge the killing of his father and brother, three years previously. The Turks built the Poienari Citadel for the bloodthirsty prince. The fortress is considered to be Romania’s real Dracula’s castle. Six km. south of Poienari citadel is Arefu, a small village inhabited by the descendants of those who served Vlad Tepes.
16 km north of Alba Iulia is Aiud, a small town that lies on the banks of the Mures river. Aiud has one of the Transylvania’s oldest urban fortresses, dating from the 14th century. It’s a polygonal citadel, protected by eight defensive towers.
The south – western side of Transylvania is dominated by the imposing historic town of Alba Iulia, near the Mures river, between Deva and Cluj – Napoca. Alba Iulia was named by the Dacians Apulum, being the capital of the Upper Dacia; later, during Roman times, it also became the largest Dacian centre of the Roman empire. Apulum was known as Cetatea Alba (the White Citadel) in the 9th and 10th centuries. The most famous tourist attraction in Alba Iulia is Alba Carolina Citadel with its seven bastions and six gates. Initially, it was constructed in the 13th century in Vauban style, and rebuilt between 1714 – 1734, in Baroque style, according to the design of the Italian architect Giovanni Morandi Visconti. The citadel was richly carved with baroque sculptures and reliefs.
Deva, a small town situated in the Hunedoara Depression, is known for its citadel which lies on a volcanic hill. The citadel blown to smithereens in 1849 when the gun powder deposits exploded. But, its remains are still visited by a large number of visitors. The citadel was built in the 14th century, its foundation starting in 1385 under the Habsburg Ardeal kings. The legend says that the mason’s wife was buried alive in the fortress walls, according to the belief that a loved person must be buried alive within the edifice to ensure the safe-keeping of the work.
The area south of Hunedoara is a paradise for the archeologists, as this is the home of some of the most impressive roman citadels. And, first of them is Sarmizegetusa Regia, the Dacian capital. Sarmizagetusa Regia wasn’t conquered by the Romans until 106 AD when, the army led by Trajan forced the Dacians to retreat north. The Dacian city was divided in three parts: two civilian areas and a sacred area in the middle. Nowadays, the visitors are allowed to visit these ruins that stands for what Sarmizegetusa was. In the north – west, Sarmizegetusa was defended by the fortress of Costesti which was conquered by the Romans in 102 AD. This fortress was about 45 m by 45 m square and was defended by surrounding walls.
Medias – although not so impressive, it is also a place marked by the features of the Saxon community, who colonized the area in the 14th century. It is a small city, situated in the Tarnavelor Plateau (on the banks of the river Tarnava Mare), inhabited by 62,739 inhabitants. The citadel here dates from the 15th century. Some of the defensive towers preserved in time: the Churches’ Tower, Bells’ tower, Tailors’ Tower, Marie’s Tower.
Sebes, another small Saxon town, situated on the banks of the river Sebes, is also appreciated for the remains of the citadel (14 – 15th century) burned by the Turks, just a few towers standing as an emblem of what the citadel was: Tailor’s Tower, Student’s Tower, Shoemaker’s Tower, etc.
Sibiu is one of the most remarkable Transylvanian Saxon cities, known in German as Hermannstadt. It is a small city populated by 168,263 inhabitants, situated in the Sibiu Depression, on the banks of Cibin river. The Saxons built here a fortified citadel. During the peak of the Saxon influence, there were about 19 guilds, each of them representing a certain craft; In the centre of the citadel, there is the Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului), built in 1588 as a defensive tower. Its clock used to announce the beginning and end of the guards’ night watch. The citadel was protected by 39 defensive towers and 4 bastions, some of them still visible: Councilors’ Tower, Tanners’ Tower, Staircase Tower, Linen-makers’ Tower, the Potters’ Tower, the Barbars’ Tower; the Gros (1540), Haller (1556) and Soldisch (1627) bastions.
Citadels of Romania 
