Magnificent and conquering, the castle is one of the most important monuments of gothic architecture from Romania, considered one of the most beautiful 10 castles in the world! The Corvin Castle is part of the top 5 fairytale castles from Europe! Furthermore, this castle represents the biggest medieval construction, with a double functionality, civil and military, located on the Romanian territory. Matia Corvin, the Hungarian king (n.1443 – d.1490) and Romanian prince, with the real name of Matei Corvin, lived and grew up in the Hunyadi Castle. Alongside him, grew up another important historical character, a good friend of his, Ioan de Hunedoara. During that time, the castle was actually a fortress, subsequently transformed into today’s impressive castle. It is known that Matei Corvin arrested Vlad Țepeș (also known as Dracula), keeping him imprisoned in this castle. The construction of the castle started in XIII century, with simple walls from stone, built into an elliptical shape and with a main tower used by the castellan as a home. The Corvin castle amazes through its splendor, grandeur and complexity. With an exceptional beauty and history, the Hunyadi Castle will undeniably captivate you.

The construction of the furnace started in 1806. Being unique in Europe, the Germans, fascinated by this heritage from the Habsburg Empire period, immediately after the big revolution, arrived with the intention to dismantle the furnace and carry it to Germany, but the roman authorities opposed this intention. The construction was finished in 1810 and there was placed in front of the building a memorial plaque with the inscription ‘Augustos Imperante Francisco I.extructum 1810’, the Habsburg Empire, we exploit the iron ore from this area. The furnace sustained numerous modernizations for that period, acquiring the highest quality of steel. These days, the factory from Gavojdia is partially destroyed, but the furnace is still almost intact! This unique construction is an important touristic attraction, for which in 2019 the European Union intends to invest 10 million euros for its restoration and conservation, and its already part of the UNESCO patrimony. Likewise, another motive of pride, this furnace was used in the production of a cast iron component that contributed at the raising of the Eiffel Tower, from Paris!

The fortress, included in the UNESCO patrimony, was the capital of Dacia, family of geto-dacs, part of the Tracian people of the North, that history has recorded as never being entirely conquered by the Roman Empire. Subsequently, after the roman conquest by Traian (101 – 107, A.D.), the fortress was named Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica. Sarmizegetusa Regia was the most important military, religios and political center of the Dacian state. Although it is known that Traian conquered only one third of Dacia’s territory, the rest being inhabited by the so-called free Dacians, for Dacians the loss of the Sarmizegetusa Regia fortress was considered a great humiliation and a great loss, for which they continued to fight with the Roman Empire another 100 years, implementing ambushes and using the geographical relief to their advantage. However, eventually, the merging of the two nations occured, becoming part of the Romanian nation’s etnogenesis. The fortress’ ruins are impressive, the history is also impressive, explaining the formation of the Roman State, and becoming a reason of pride for the contemporary population. Decebal, the last Dacian king, realizing the inevitable loss of the fortress, decided to kill himself, in order to avoid the possible humiliation by the Emperor Traian. However, Traian, ordered the body of Decebal to be carried to Rome, as a war trophy. In front of a large crowd, Decebal’s body was split into multiple parts and thrown as food to the animals. The so-called defeat of Dacia was celebrated 146 days, during which time there were organized different ceremonies, died over 200 gladiators in demonstrative fights, there were sacrificed in the arena another 300 wild animals, and the people could drink and eat unrestricted, for free.

Similar trips: 3 Castle Tour • Bran & Real Dracula’s Castle