Oradea Fortress

1. The moat of the fortress

The arrangement of the moat of the fortress appeared with the erection of the bastions and continued in the first half of the 17th century. The moat was supplied with water by introducing thermal water from the Peța stream (the one that feeds Baile felix and Baile 1 Mai) and a narrow arm of the Crisului Repede near the top of the Bray Bastion. The discharge channel was arranged in front of the Golden Bastion. In the 18th century, the Austrian administration of the fortress covered these canals and replaced them with a sewage system, lined with bricks.

2. Restoration of the fortress

The Oradea Fortress was in full reconstruction according to the plans developed by historians and architects. In the fall of 2015, the fortress 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 something of the charm of the past. Today the citadel is the center of cultural events in Oradea. Medieval musical concerts, events with a medieval theme, exhibitions of weapons and armor, together with guided tours to visit the tourist attractions, are designed to introduce you to the atmosphere of other centuries.

3. The feasts of the fortress

The fortress festival brings back to Oradea the spirit of the past. I have seen similar manifestations in other Transylvanian fortresses and the meetings with medieval warriors, with kings and queens and princesses and knights are really very attractive. Workshops and activities are organized, including old painting. Demonstration fights, workshops of craftsmen, exhibitions of weapons and armor, theaters, flame shows and concerts are fascinating. In certain activities, the curious public can also participate directly to try something unique and new, sorry, something old. The tableau is completed with medieval music, theater shows and jugglers and traditional foods. Don't miss the kurtocs kalacs, the Szekler colac.

4. The wooden bridge and the West Gate

We enter the wooden bridge. We are at the 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 vault built into the stone wall of the fortress and flanked by several flags of Romania, the EU and the fortress' coat of arms. To the right of this entrance is a bas-relief with a stone inscription from 1627. It marks the completion of the construction of the last bastion of the fortress.

Above the plate was placed the ellipsoidal coat of arms of Prince Gabriel Bethlen. Detailed descriptions from documents from the 19th century made it possible to reconstruct the heraldic composition, in the scarlet shield appearing the insignia of the Hungarian Regent, of the Principality of Transylvania, the eagle from the coat of arms of one of the Silesian duchies, and in the middle the coat of arms of the Bethlen de Iktar family. The translation of the text would be:

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

5. The Fortress Church

We are heading to the left. We notice in one of the 5 corners of the eceta an old amphitheaterIn the fortress there are also places where it is worth stopping to relax. I start on the street of the fortress from the left side as I entered. In the center of the fortress complex is a solid, old building. the street goes around following the inner contour of the fortress wall and takes me out on the opposite side. Here is the Fortress Church and a hotel.

6. The East Gate

We are at the East Gate. This is between the Golden Bastion and the Red Bastion. The penetration of the curtain from the eastern side and the construction of this gate was only done in 1772. The vaulted gangway of the gate is connected to the northern building body and respectively the southern one where the guarding body is. In front of the gate, probably accessible over a drawbridge, there was a so-called "wolf's mouth" or trap.

7. The fortress from the outside

I leave the citadel through the East Gate and outside it I discover a park. It is a dendrological park with green spaces and paths and several ponds with water lilies. The avenues of the park surround the fortress on the northern side. Information presentation points are organized from place to place, each bastion being 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 make one more turn inside the fortress. The fortress is not big, don't imagine that we traveled many kilometers. I simply liked to give him several rotocolas, on the outside, on the inside, to discover his angles. I discovered that an area is still in the process of restoration. After these walks around, I found a special relaxation place that I will tell you about over an aromatic tea.