Brașov Fortress, locally known as the Fortress on the Watchtower (Cetățuia de pe Strajă), is a citadel on a hill outside of the historic old town of Brașov. It is also referred to as the Fortress on the Hill (Cetățuia de pe Strajă) and overlooks both the old and the new parts of the city.
In the 15th century, the fortress only consisted of a three-story, horseshoe-shaped watchtower with a wooden bastion with four towers. The structure was completed in 1524, but the wooden fortifications were destroyed in a battle against Ferdinand I of Habsburg in 1529. Between 1552 and 1553 the horseshoe-shaped tower was extended with three small artillery towers and in 1611 the fortification was surrounded by a moat with water.
After a fire destroyed the wooden parts in 1618, the fortress was rebuilt in 1625, and a large well was dug inside the courtyard for an ample supply of water in case of a siege. In 1630-1631 the outer walls of the citadel were built, giving the fortress a quadrangular shape with bastions on the corners and a single entrance through a drawbridge.
In 1773, a renovation of the fortress took place under Emperor Joseph II. The hexagonal tower attached to the horseshoe-shaped tower was built as well as the two-level construction on the eastern side.
When the citadel lost its importance as a defence fortress, it was used as a warehouse, as barracks, and as a prison for some time. Later it played a role as a defence fortress again during the revolution of 1848 and during the Battle of Brașov in 1916. After the First World War it became a prison again and in 1932 it was donated to King Carol II.
During the communist time, Brașov Fortress served again as a prison and warehouse, before a renovation took place in 1981 to turn the fortress into a restaurant. Unfortunately, the building was later closed and started to deteriorate, but after years of legal battles, a judge decided on 8 November 2022 that the castle is to be returned from private hands into the public domain.
Although it is closed, you can walk up the hill and stroll around the outer walls of Brașov Fortress. From the hill you also have some views over the city.
