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Făgăraș Castle, Brasov

Făgăraș Fortress and the "Valer Literat" Museum of Făgărașului Country

Where is it, when to visit, how much does it cost?

Făgăraș Fortress is located in the town of Făgăraș, county of Brasov, at the address 1 Mihai Viteazul Street, postal code 505200. It is located close to the national highway DN1, 70 km from Brasov and 80 km from Sibiu. In the town of Făgăraș, there is a sign to the fortress, which can be seen on the right side of the road coming from Brașov. You can't miss it! From October to March, the fortress and the museum can be visited from Tuesday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. During the other months of the year, they can be visited from Tuesday to Friday from 8-18, Saturday and Sunday from 10-18. Last admission is no later than 1 hour before closing time. Admission costs 30 lei. For a full visit allow 1 - 2 hours.

About Făgăraș and Făgăraș Fortress

  • 1291 - first attestation in a document issued by King Andrew III of Hungary
  • 14th century - the settlement appears in documents as Villa Fogaras, then that oppidumI mean fair
  • 14th-17th centuries - the fortress is built in Transylvanian Renaissance architectural style
  • 1455 - the first documentary attestation of the stone citadel by mentioning castellan
  • 1456 - Iancu de Hunedoara mentions our fortress Făgăraș
  • 16th century - the voivode Stephen Mailat called himself dominus terrae Fogaras and Vaivoda Transilvaniae et siculorum Comes
  • 1574 - the moat around the fortress is mentioned
  • 1600 - Michael the Brave considered it fortress of scaon
  • 16th - 17th centuries - the fortress is the residence of the princes of Transylvania
  • 1863 - Făgăraș is declared a city
  • 20th century - the fortress is a Romanian military garrison, refugee camp and prison for political prisoners

1. Făgăraș Fortress

The original stone fortress had an irregular quadrangular shape with 4 towers and an outpost, being a defensive fortification. It was later transformed into a castle with an outer fortification after the works of Stefan Mailat. Appe the voivode's houses and the captain's dining room. The moat around the fortress is built. The final shape of the fortress is due to Gabriel Bethlen. Access into Făgăraș Fortress is made on 2 wooden bridges that cross the water-filled defense ditch and lead through 2 gates into the fortress courtyard. The fortress courtyard, called fortress squareis paved with stone.

bridge over the defense ditch

Făgăraș Fortress

Făgăraș Castle in the evening

Dungeon Tower

Red Tower

2. Dungeon Tower

Dungeon Tower is part of the jailer's house and is immediately to the right of the entrance. Here you will find 3 dungeons, arranged differently according to the gravity of the offenses for which the deprivation of liberty was decided.

Dungeon Tower

in the Dungeon Tower

The Temnicer's House

Dungeon Tower

dungeon

Deprivation of liberty accessories

3. Throne Hall

Throne Hall is on the 2nd floor Up to it you go through Hall of the Diet or Country Hall. The meetings of the Transylvanian Diet were held here. When it became overcrowded, the meetings were moved to the Grand Palace or Throne Hall. Access is through a walnut door.

Throne Hall

furniture

Grand Palace

chairs in the Throne Room

Trunk

4. "Valer Literat" Museum of Făgărașului Country

The museum was established in 1923. The original patrimony is due to the priest-professor Valer Literat. The museum was also called Făgăraș Town Museum and Făgăraș Fortress Museum. "Valer Literat" Museum of Făgărașului Country is today a rich museum spread over 2 floors of the rooms of the Citadel of Făgărașului and includes the archaeology room, the medieval room, the guilds room, the modern room and the room of the peasant interior and harbor. The rooms are also named after period destinations.

museum in the citadel

Valer Literat

Făgărașului Country Museum

5. Archaeology room

The visit starts in His Lordship's House and the House of Captains. On display are archaeological finds from the 4000-year-old Bronze Age, Dacian, Roman and post-Roman times. In particular, we'll see pottery, but also a Roman parade mask from the 2nd-3rd centuries.

Legacy

Bronze Age pottery

glass icons

6. Medieval Hall

We are actually in Dining. Here are the coat of arms of Anna Nadasdy, wife of the voivode Stephen Mailat and vestiges of the wooden and earth fortification, which originally existed on this site, ornaments, swords and the altar of the evangelical church of Cincșor.

weapon

7. Guild Hall

Evidence of the existence of craft guilds was not lacking either. They were administered by a council of craftsmen. Guilds ensured production and trade.

the shoemakers' guild

8. Modern hall

The hall is organized in His Lordship the Captain's bacon house and in Hemp house. The hall marks the history of the 19th and 20th centuries until the Great Union of 1918.

staple pistol

Prince Bethlen's coat of arms

9. Harbor hall and peasant interior

In House of Parish Priests is organized this exhibition of folk costumes from the Făgăraș area.

exhibit

popular port

Conclusion

Făgăraș Fortress and the "Valer Literat" Museum of Făgărașului Country is worth a careful and planned visit, not only for the variety on display in the fortress museum, but also for a stroll through the fortress courtyard and along the walls.

Visit also city of Brasov and town of Codlea.

All the best!

Steps:

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