Top 10 castles / fortresses in Romania: 5. Rural Citadel of Rasnov

rural citadel of rasnov romania

The 5th place in the top 10 castles / fortresses in Romania is occupied by Rural Citadel of Rasnov, Rasnov.

Rasnov Fortress – one of the best preserved peasant fortress of Transylvania was built by the people Rasnov (apparently with the help of the Cristian and Vulcan) to defend against increasingly frequent attacks by hordes of Turks and Tartars of 13-14 centuries. The fortress was built by peasants in the area has a style of architecture dedicated to building the most important criterion was that the city be as difficult to conquer. Thus was built of stone and brick on a rocky hill near the city. The walls have an irregular route, have heights of up to 5 meters and 1.5 meters wide in places. Fortress towers and walls were covered with tiles to prevent any fires caused by the besiegers.

Fortress has two courtyards, an outdoor location where a square tower called Tower of the Old and where they were sheltered animals, and an interior.

Artisans work has been to no avail, when the Tartars invasion Burzenland century only 13 remained impregnable fortress which were those in Brasov from Rasnov. Because the city has a water source inside – a well 143 meters deep, the refugees here could handle some long sieges attackers eventually abandoning the siege. So Citadel has gained Rasnov a reputation as the impregnable fortress.

In connection with the fountain inside there is a legend (similar to what the Castle Huniades). As legend goes that during a siege râşnovenii put two Turkish prisoners to dig a well within the city and assured that once you have done well will be let go. Prisoners dug well for 17 years during which time they wrote verses of the Koran on its walls (visible today). Their fate is not clear, some say it would have been let go and others that were executed after completion of the well.

Fortress Rasnov lasted many years even after the last siege of 1690, in 1718 was partially destroyed by fire in 1802 and was damaged by an earthquake. During the Revolution of 1821 and 1848 that many revolutionaries took refuge in the city.

Currently Rasnov City is restored and can be visited there a restaurant and a wide range of tourist services is a positive example in terms of restoration and maintenance of fortresses in Transylvania. As a unique aspect to tourists can admire the vast Depression of Brasov and Burzenland through binoculars with chips installed in the city.

For accomodation in Rasnov, click HERE.