Oradea Fortress, Bihor

1. Citadel ditch

The development of the fortress moat began with the erection of the bastions and continued in the first half of the 17th century. The water supply of the moat was done by introducing water at the top Crăișoru Bastion thermal water from the Peța stream (the one that feeds Baile Felix and Baile 1 Mai) and a narrow branch of the Repede Creek. The outfall channel was installed in front of Golden Bastion. In the 18th century, the Austrian administration of the city covered these canals and replaced them with a brick-lined sewer system.

2. Restoring the fortress

Oradea Fortress has been in the midst of reconstruction according to the plans developed by historians and architects. In the fall of 2015, the Citadel was opened to the public for sightseeing after a long period of restoration.

The fortress is a symbol of the city, which stands as a witness to the passage of time, preserving some of the charm of the old times. Today the fortress is cultural events center Oradea. Medieval musical concerts, events with a medieval flair, exhibitions of weapons and armor, along with guided sightseeing tours, are designed to introduce you to the atmosphere of other centuries.

At the time of the September 2023 visit, the Dino Parc was located here.

3. Fortress celebrations

The fortress festival brings back to Oradea the spirit of bygone times. I have seen such events in other Transylvanian fortresses and the meetings with medieval warriors, kings and queens and princesses and knights are very attractive.

Workshops and activities are organized, including ancient painting. There are fascinating demonstrative battles, craftsmen's workshops, exhibitions of weapons and armor, theaters, flame shows and concerts. Some activities are also open to the general public who are curious to try something new and unusual, or old and old.

The picture is completed with medieval music, theater and juggling shows and traditional food. Don't miss the kurtocs kalacs, the Szekler colacul.

4. Wooden Bridge and West Gate

We enter Wooden bridge. We are at West Gate. We read here that over the centuries the fortress was besieged by Tatars, Transylvanian rebels, the armies of the Principality of Transylvania, Turks and Austrians.

The entrance is a vaulted one built into the stone wall of the fortress and flanked by several flags of Romania, the EU and the coat of arms of the fortress. To the right of this entrance there is a bas-relief with a stone inscription dated 1627. It marks the completion of the last bastion of the fortress. Above the plaque was placed the ellipsoidal coat of arms of Prince Gabriel Bethlen. Detailed descriptions from 19th century documents have made it possible to reconstruct the heraldic composition, with the insignia of the Hungarian Reagint, the Principality of Transylvania, the eagle from the coat of arms of one of the Silesian duchies, and the coat of arms of the Bethlen de Iktar family in the middle of the shield. The translation would be:

Gabriel of Pannonia, descendant of Hercules, built for love of country these walls of gigantic strength, which would turn even the fate of the great mythological wars, Troy, Tarpeian Stnaca, Babylon. The stars resound with his merits, and his divine name will be inscribed in the stars.

5. Citadel Church

We head left. We notice in one of the 5 corners of the fortress a amphitheater old, in very good condition.

In Cetate there are also places where it is worth stopping to relax.

I start down the fortress street from the left as I entered. In the center of the fortress is a solid, old building. The alley goes around following the inner contour of the fortress wall and takes me to the opposite side. Here is Church of the Citadel if a hotel.

6. East Gate

We are at East Gate. It lies between Golden Bastion and Red Bastion. The tearing away of the courtyard from the east side and the construction of this gate was done only in 1772. The vaulted gangway of the gate is connected to the northern and the southern building where the guardhouse was. In front of the gate, probably accessible over a drawbridge, there was a so-called "wolf's mouth" or trap.

7. The citadel outside

They exit the fortress through East Gate and outside I discover a park. It's a dendrological park with green spaces and pathways and a few water lily ponds.

Park alleys surround the fortress on the north side. From place to place are organized information points, each bastion is accompanied by its story and description. I pass by the Ciunt Bastion, the Golden Bastion and make half a round to reach the West Gate again. I do another lap of the inside of the fortress. The citadel is not big, don't imagine that I have covered many kilometers. I simply liked to give it several laps, inside and out, to discover its nooks and crannies. I discovered that one area is still under restoration. After these strolls all around, I found a great place to relax, which I'll tell you about over a flavored tea.

8. Statue of King Ladislaus the Holy

In 2023, an imposing equestrian statue of King Ladislau was erected in the courtyard of the Oradea Fortress.

Ladislaus I, also called the Holy, was born in Poland in 1048, the son of King Bela I of Hungary and the Polish princess Richeza. Ladislaus was King of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1077 to 1095. King Ladislav founded the Zagreb diocese, the Oradea diocese and other religious institutions. Militarily, King Ladislaus occupied the territories of Slavonia and Croatia. Ladislaus was murdered in 1095 and buried in the Fortress of Oradea, according to his wishes. After his death, the cult of St. Ladislaus was formed around which legends, songs and myths emerged. His tomb became a place of pilgrimage and is located in the cathedral.

9. Oradea City Museum

In the Oradea Citadel, in the A and B buildings of the palace, there is a very interesting museum, the Oradea City Museum, which presents various information about the 3 fortresses built here over the years, about cults, art, crafts, models of the city and much, much more.