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- Targoviste – A Capital’s CharmDrobeta Turnu Severin – A Bridge Across The AgesSearching For Tranquility Around BucharestCalimanesti, Olanesti, Govora – Oltenia’s Health SpringsAlba Iulia and Codex AureusIasi – A City Imbued With History and CultureThe Deva Fortress – Active Witness to Transylvania’s HistoryRupea Stronghold, The Core of Brasov CountyScarisoara Cave, Glacier Chill in Summer TimeMuierilor Cave, Symbol of Fertility and HolinessOrsova – Heavy Industry Meets the Roman EmpireThe Heaven of Cherry Orchards, in CetateleCurtisoara Museum – a Cradle of SpiritualityBaile Felix – a Balneary Resort for All AgesIzei Valley – Maramures Finest Traditions and LocationsHarman – A Small Part of Brasov’s CultureMuseums and places to visit in OradeaVidraru Dam and Lake, a Wonder of Nature, Confined by ManAncient Cities in the Constanta AreaSfantul Ioan Domnesc Monument-Church – The Shadow of Stefan cel MarePutna Monastery – The Spiritual Center of MoldaviaOcnele Mari: Salt Mines, Spa and Rich HistoryBaile Govora – One of The Oldest Romanian SpasCraiova – The Heart of OlteniaRules for Visiting the Protected Nature AreasArad – One Millenia on the Banks of MuresTargu Jiu and the Endless ColumnBucura Lake – The Largest Glacier Lake in RomaniaTraveling to Sfantu GheorgheLipscani – “The Old Leipzig” of BucharestCule – Strange Strongholds of a Riotous PastVatra DorneiCluj NapocaDobrudja and the Danube DeltaBucharest – an european capitalBrasov – Part of the “Heart” of RomaniaTimisoara, Little ViennaRosia MontanaPeriam “Rock la Mures” FestSinaiaVama VecheSighisoara, medieval heavenHunedoaraSighisoaraSibiu – modernity with a German touchA visit in Piatra-NeamtVama Veche versus MamaiaThe mountain tourism in RomaniaA trip to Muntii ApuseniAn incursion in legends – BranTrips and winter sports on Valea PrahoveiTransilvania – The medieval land of StrongholdsBucovina and Northern MoldaviaMaramures – A Land From TalesTan and Fun at the Black SeaA wild land – The Danube Delta
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Rupea Stronghold, The Core of Brasov County
The lower fortress was built in the 18th century and it was the fourth main section of the stronghold, shaped like a rectangle and surrounded by 5 metre tall walls with special niches used to fire weapons towards assailants, plus defence towers in the corners and a massive gate tower. Overall, Rupea has 10 defence towers and the main "rooms" are connected via wooden doors with protection systems.
These walls served as a protection for nearby villages and their people, who took shelter inside the stronghold whenever the Turks and Tatars invaded the area. The Rupea stronghold was first mentioned officially in a document from 1324, when it was used as a refuge by the "sasi" (Transylvanian Saxons) rebelling against Carol Robert, the king of Hungary.
Aside from the three sections mentioned above, the future generations added three more defence towers and inner courtyards to the fortress, all of them used to shelter people. In the first courtyard, you'll find a fountain that's 59 metres deep. In 1643, this place was abandoned, as a huge fire turned it into a pile of ruins. Few years later the sasi surrendered the fortress to the Habsburgs without putting up a fight and the monument of rock took one more blow in 1790, when a huge storm destroyed its roof, leaving it deserted ever since.
The fortress is built out of basalt stone, extracted from the hill nearby, burnt brick and calcareous stone from the village Cata, the result being a huge structure, shaped like a snail's shell (at least so it was in the very beginning, when the sasi built it). You'll enter the stronghold through massive wooden gates and via a mobile bridge, after quite a bumpy road uphill, but it's worth to witness a piece of the flaming history of Transylvania, troubled by wars, invaders and struggle.
As you enter the main gate, you'll find an impressive courtyard filled with trees and your attention will be drawn by a nut tree with a wooden plank serving as a bench near it. In the courtyard, you'll see the well we've mentioned before, a former military storage room and the living quarters of the stronghold's keeper, right now a ruin that could crumble at any time.
Author: Alex Stanescu
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