Have you ever dreamed of visiting a fairytale place, full of history, legend and beauty? If so, then you can't help but put Corvinilor Castle on your travel list, perhaps the most spectacular and well-preserved castle in Romania.
Corvinilor Castle or Huniazis Castle as it is also known, is the medieval fortress of Hunedoara, located in the heart of Transylvania, built in the 15th century by Iancu de Hunedoara, one of the great leaders in Romanian history, who fought against the Turkish invasions.
The building is a marvel of architecture that combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements in a rare harmony, a place full of mystery, with towers, bastions, bridges, fountains, chapels, halls and chambers of honor that will take your breath away.
In this article I want to present you what you can see and do if you get to Corvinilor Castle, one of the most impressive castles in Romania:
Admire the castle's impressive architecture
The first thing you can do at the Corvinilor Castle is to admire its impressive architecture, which is a unique combination of styles and eras. The castle was built on the site of an old fortification from the 14th century, which belonged to Charles Robert of Anjou. In the 15th century, Iancu de Hunedoara transformed the castle into a real fortress, with defensive walls, towers and bastions, and in the 16th century, Matei Corvin (his son) added Renaissance elements, such as the gallery and the keep. Later, Baroque elements were added in the 17th century, such as the palace and the chapel, and in the 19th century, following a fire, the castle was restored in the Neo-Gothic style.
Thus, the Corvinilor Castle is a real work of art, which offers you a lesson in history and aesthetics. You can see the details carved in stone, stucco, stained glass and murals that adorn the walls and ceiling of the castle. You can admire the contrast between the black color of the stone and the red color of the roof. You can feel the medieval and noble atmosphere of the castle, which will transport you to another era.
You can visit some of the many chambers of the castle
Another thing you can do at the Corvinilor Castle is to visit some of the more than 50 rooms of the castle, each of which has its own history and story. Among the most important would be the following:
Matei Corvin's room is the room where Matei Corvin, the son of Iancu de Hunedoara, lived. It is rectangular in shape with a high ceiling and a large window on the south side. The room is furnished with a large bed, a table, a chair, a chest, a chandelier and decorated with tapestries, carpets, icons and a painting related to the legend of the raven that can also be found on the family coat of arms.
The Hall of the Knights is the largest and most imposing hall of the castle, where balls, receptions and banquets were held. The hall has a vaulted ceiling and a large window on the south side, decorated with the coats of arms of the Corvin family.
The Hall of Arms is the place where the weapons and armor used by those who had to defend the castle were kept. The hall is elongated, with a low ceiling and a small window, and is filled with weapons of various types and periods, from swords, spears, and bows to pistols or rifles, as well as an impressive collection of armour.
The Diet Hall, where the meetings of the Transylvanian nobles, called diets, were held, has a square shape with a high ceiling and a small window on the northern side, and on its walls there are paintings of various historical figures such as ruler Matei Basarab or King Sigismund of Luxembourg.
The Torture Hall, as its name suggests, was the place where prisoners and traitors were tortured. The hall has a circular shape, a high ceiling and a small window on the west side. In this room there are many instruments of torture, such as the wheel, the saw, the ram, the pliers, the screw, but also a hole in the floor, which leads to a cellar where the bodies of those who did not survive the torture were thrown.
These are just some of the chambers of the castle, but there are others that are worth visiting, the most interesting of which would be the Treasury Hall, the Hall of Honor, the Music Hall, the Hall of Justice or the Council Hall. Each room has its own story and atmosphere, which will reveal to you the life and customs of those who lived or passed through the castle.
You have the opportunity to explore the towers and bastions of the castle
You can explore the castle's towers and bastions, which have served as defense and observation points for centuries. The castle has 12 towers and 4 bastions, the most important of which are:
Neboisa Tower, the oldest and highest tower of the castle, built in the 15th century by Iancu de Hunedoara. Its name means "fear not" and suggests the courage and strength of those who defended the castle. The tower has a cylindrical shape, with a height of about 40 meters and a diameter of around 9 meters. The tower has 5 levels, which housed living quarters, weapons stores and water reserves. The tower also has a terrace, from where you can admire the panorama of the city and its surroundings.
The Capistrano Tower is a tower built in the 15th century in honor of Ioan de Capistrano, a Franciscan monk who participated in the Battle of Belgrade alongside Iancu de Hunedoara. The tower has a square shape, with a height of about 30 meters and a width of about 10 meters. The tower has 4 levels, on which there were living rooms, weapon stores and a terrace overlooking the inner courtyard of the castle.
The Tower of Maces is a tower also built in the 15th century to strengthen the defense of the castle. Its name comes from the maces consisting of a spiked iron ball, tied to a chain or string, it is cylindrical in shape, about 20 meters high and about 6 meters in diameter, with 3 levels, which housed living rooms, storehouses of armaments, gunpowder and water, and from the terrace you can see the drawbridge of the castle.
The White Tower is a tower built in the 17th century by Gabriel Bethlen, to house the palace. Its name comes from the white color of the walls, which contrasted with the dark color of the other towers. The square-shaped tower, with a height of around 25 meters and a width of about 12 meters.
The Artillery Tower, also built in the 17th century by Gabriel Bethlen, to house the castle's cannons and arquebuses. Its name comes from artillery, the branch of the military that deals with firearms. The tower is about 15 meters high and about 8 meters wide, 2 levels with weapon and gunpowder stores.
These would be some of the most important towers of the castle, but there are others that are worth visiting, such as the Tower of the Monastery, the Tower of the Logos, the Tower of the Falcons, the Tower of the Diet, the Bethlen Bastion or the Matia Bastion. Each tower or bastion has its own story and function, which will reveal to you the defense strategies and secrets of the castle.
You can learn more about the history and legends of the castle
You can learn more about the history and legends of the castle, related to prominent personalities of Romanian or European history, as it witnessed important historical events, such as the battles against the Ottomans, the Protestant Reformation or the Austro-Turkish war. The castle was also the place where important historical figures lived or stayed, such as Iancu de Hunedoara, Matei Corvin, Vlad Țepeș, Ioan de Capistrano, Sigismund of Luxemburg and many others, and it was also the source of some fascinating legends and myths, such as it would be the legend of the raven that can also be found on the coat of arms of the Corvins, the legend of the fountain or the legend with the bour's head. To learn more about the history and legends of the castle, you can take a guided tour of it which will give you more interesting and detailed information.
You can relax in the inner courtyard of the castle
You could choose to take a walk through the inner courtyard of the castle, from where you can admire the well dug by the Turkish prisoners, the chapel built by Iancu de Hunedoara, the drawbridge and the flower garden. The inner courtyard is a green and pleasant space, where you can find a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere.
The chapel in the inner courtyard is a religious building, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, which was built in the 15th century by Iancu de Hunedoara. The chapel is rectangular in shape with a vaulted ceiling and a large window on the south side. The chapel is decorated with wall paintings, which represent biblical scenes, and in the altar there is an icon of the Holy Trinity, made in Byzantine style.
The fountain is one of the most famous attractions of the castle, thanks to its legend. Thus, the legend says that the well was dug by three Turkish prisoners, who were promised freedom if they found water. Only after 15 years of hard work, the prisoners finally found water, but the owners of the castle did not keep their promise and threw the Turks into the well. On the wall of the well you can read an inscription in Turkish, which says something like this: "You who have water, you have life." The well is about 30 meters deep and about 1.5 meters in diameter.
The drawbridge is made of wood, supported by four stone pillars, raised and lowered using a mechanism of ropes and pulleys, and was built in the 15th century to provide access to the castle and protect it from possible attackers.
If you want, you can participate in various events and activities organized at the castle
You can participate in various events and activities organized at the castle, which will give you a unique and fun experience. The castle is a lively and dynamic place that hosts all kinds of events and activities, such as: music, theater, film or art festivals that will delight your senses and show you local and international talents, concerts painting exhibitions, sculpture , photography and crafts that will reveal to you the works of established or emerging artists, workshops of popular craftsmen who will show you the secrets of their trades, theater, dance, circus and magic shows and much more. You can find out more information on the castle's official website or Facebook page.
What else can you do to complete your visit to the Corvinilor Castle?
One last thing you could do when you go to the Corvinilor Castle is to enjoy the nature around the castle by hiking, cycling or picnic in the fresh air, choose from a wide range of souvenirs and local products that will remind you of your visit to the castle or enjoy a traditional meal at the nearby restaurant.
That's how you could end your visit to Corvinilor Castle, but there are many other things waiting for you to discover.
These were the most important things you can see or do at Corvinilor Castle, one of the most impressive castles in Romania. I hope you found them interesting and convinced you that it is worth visiting. Corvinilor Castle is unique and wonderful, it will give you an unforgettable experience and it is definitely a place you will never regret visiting.
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