Fagaras Fortress, Transilvania

Fagaras Fortress - details and images

Feudal fortress of Fagaras complex, whose construction began in the late fourteenth century and continued by successive additions, until the mid-seventeenth century, was preceded by a wooden fort, surrounded by a ditch and ground wave, attested archaeological thirteenth century. This fort, evidence of the existence of a local political-military organization in Fagaras early rulers, was destroyed in the mid-thirteenth century, following a serious fire, as confirmed by the unearthed remains of archaeological excavations that have accompanied the works restoration.

The fifteenth century castle of stone and brick from Fagaras city certified as military defense, with four towers at the corners and a bastion tower on the east side outpost.

In the first half of the sixteenth century, between 1528-1541, Stefan Mailat, the feudal lord of the Fagaras range, then ruler of Transylvania, the city turn military defeat into a feudal castle fortified unassailable, simultaneously builds a new premises and turn east tower outside the city gate tower. right gate, gate arms of noble-eastern wall carved in stone - Stefan's mail and his wife.

Residence of the princes of Transylvania, feudal fortress of Fagaras complex and defined its current shape and proportions in the late sixteenth century and first half of the seventeenth century. Important works are undertaken in time of princes Balthazar Bathory (1589-1594), Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629) and George Rackoczi I (1631-1643).

Thus, Gabriel Bethlen brought Italian architects who built printing Renaissance aesthetics - floral and shields, stucco, open loggias springs simultaneously from the four corners of the fortress built bastions - Italian style fortress.

During George Rackoczi I were accompanied by interior, side of exterior walls on the north and south, and in the spaces created by land filling was applied, achieving a strength of 8 m thick. Body guard building is now under construction on the east side and the moats around the castle is widened, deepened and filled with water from River Olt, thus becoming a real lake.

Following these works, Fagaras Fortress - the center of the great politico-administrative area of Fagaras - has become an imposing medieval ensemble. Adaptations and additions to the building which is subject to the city will culminate in the seventeenth century, transforming it into a pompous princely residence, which is the zenith of the history of this majestic monument.

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