Hunedoara

Agrandir le plan

Shortened history of the castle:

Hunedoara Castle is an old 14th century Gothic castle located in Western Romania. The castle was built on ancient Roman fortifications, and is strategically located on a rocky mountain just near the Zlasti River.The entrance to the castle is over a suspended bridge that crosses the Zlasti River.

The history of Hunedoara Castle starts in 1320 when it was built by the Anjou family. Then in 1409, the castle was given to a Voicu nobleman and his family, the Corvins. Matei Corvin, became King of Transylvania and Hungary in 1458 and his brother, Iancu Corvin de Hunedoara, fought against the invading Ottoman Empire and Vlad Dracula as his ally.

However, the Turks, with their outstanding armies, attacked fiercefully Walachia and Vlad was forced to flee to the Transylvanian Alps. From there he asked King Matei Corvin for help to fight the invading Turks. But instead the King imprisoned him in Hunedoara Castle in 1462.

It took 7 years for the court to believe that Vlad was indeed an honest ally and he was finaly released in 1469, and the huge Transylvanian army was given to him. Vlad defeated the Turks in 3 months.

The legend of Vlad Dracula lives on in Hunedoara as during his imprisonment there, he was known to behead mice and impale them. In addition, he loved and protected the bats that lived in the castle. He would even talk to them. The guards were always horrified when he asked for fresh blood during dinner time.

Opening times and aditionnal information: