Rupea – Sentinela de Bazalt
Strategically positioned at the crossroads of the routes connecting Brașov to Sighișoara and Făgăraș to the Szeklerland, the Rupea Fortress rises majestically atop a basalt rock, with no other prior fortification on the site.
The fortress entered history under the name CASTRUM KUHOLM, first mentioned in 1324 during a battle fought nearby between the troops of the Voivode of Transylvania and a group of rebelling Saxon counts (greavi), led by Henning of Petrești. Originally a Dacian citadel known as Ramidava, it was later conquered by the Romans, who established a camp named RUPES (meaning “rock” in Latin), after the formation upon which it stands. The Rupea camp was linked to other Roman castra in the surrounding areas—such as those at Hoghiz, the Târnava Valley, the Olt Valley, and the Râșnov Fortress—serving to control and defend the trade routes and commercial activities of the region.
The pre-feudal (10th–13th centuries) and medieval settlements developed upon the hearth of the ancient Dacian site of Ramidava. By the 15th century, chroniclers mentioned the settlement as an important commercial and craft center, boasting 12 guilds. The Saxon presence is attested by the famous “Bacon Tower” (Turnul Slăninii), located to the right of the entrance gate. This type of tower is a hallmark of Saxon fortifications, recalling a community custom of storing bacon and sausages in a protected space to dry and to serve as food supplies during a siege. Furthermore, the fortress served as a refuge for the Saxons during their uprising against King Charles Robert of Anjou of Hungary.
Amidst the internal political calm of the second half of the 14th century, the fortress gradually lost its military significance. Following the first Ottoman incursions, Sigismund of Luxembourg decided to cede the fortress—then in a state of ruin—to the local community. From 1427 until the end of its active history, it remained under Saxon administration, during which time most of the architectural elements visible today were constructed.
Evolution of the Construction:
The Upper Fortress: Established in the earliest phase, predating the German colonization.
The Middle Fortress: Built in the 15th century and expanded at the beginning of the 17th century.
The Lower Fortress: Constructed in the 17th century.
Amidst the internal political calm of the second half of the 14th century, the fortress gradually lost its military significance. Following the first Ottoman incursions, Sigismund of Luxembourg decided to cede the fortress—then in a state of ruin—to the local community. From 1427 until the end of its active history, it remained under Saxon administration, during which time most of the architectural elements visible today were constructed.
Evolution of the Construction:
The Upper Fortress: Established in the earliest phase, predating the German colonization.
The Middle Fortress: Built in the 15th century and expanded at the beginning of the 17th century.
The Lower Fortress: Constructed in the 17th century.
The fortress possesses two distinct architectural features: its snail-shaped fortified walls and the presence of a pentagonal tower, unique in Europe. The upper enclosure covers over 1,500 square meters, with its walls blending seamlessly into the natural rock. Inside, traces of rooms used as dwellings during sieges remain, the most well-known being the Judge’s Room and the Priest’s Room.
Over time, the fortress has undergone various periods of reconstruction, such as the restoration in 1954. However, a scientific and comprehensive restoration approach began in 2009 under the care of the current local administration.
