Once upon a time in the 13th century, the Teutonic Knights built a wooden fortress in this area. The Teutonic Knights stood in Transylvania for only 14 years, and then the knights left for Prussia, from where they began to plan their military campaigns. Meanwhile, a settlement grew in Rasnov. And soon a powerful fortress appeared.
The reason for the construction of the fortress were the invasions of the Tatars, which struck Transylvania in the 13th century. The village was looted, the locals huddled in the woods… It was then that the decision was made to build it. Historians claim that the Rasnov fortress was built jointly by the peasants of Rysnov and the neighboring villages of Vulcan, Zernesti, and Cristian. It rises on the top of the mountain and is visible from afar. On three sides there is a precipice. The only road to the fortress is on the south side. But on the south side were exposed three rows of defensive thick and high walls, as well as deep ditches filled with small, sharp stakes. The medieval area of the Rasnov fortress was approximately 3,500 square meters, and there were nine towers. The Turkish army had tried to storm the Rasnov fortress several times. But the fortress heroically held out.
To get to it on foot is difficult – you have to go uphill. But you can for 5 lei (about 1 euro) buy a ticket for a special transport that runs up and down).
The place where you can enter Rasnov Fortress today used to be for cattle and weapons storage.
In the courtyard there were houses, pits with food, food and water supplies.
No one lived there all the time. But as soon as there was danger, the inhabitants of the village, who had settled at the foot of the mountain, climbed up the path to the fortress and could sit there to defend themselves. In the 17th century there was even a school built here!
The coat of arms of the town of Rasnov and the fortress is a rose flower.
In the courtyard of the fortress is the deepest well in all of Transylvania. It is 146 meters deep. There is a legend about how it came to be. Allegedly, it was dug by two Turkish prisoners of war who had been promised that they would be released when the work was finished. The prisoners dug the well for seventeen long years, but in the end they were killed anyway…
If you climb to the highest point of Rasnov Fortress, you can get to the observation deck.
