Alba Iulia Fortress

In recent years we have passed at least 4-5 times through Alba Iulia, but we never stopped visiting the city or the city. To visit this fortress it takes at least half a day.
In a weekend after an adventure on TRANSALPINA we have been waiting for a few hours and at ALBA IULIA CITY (CAROLINA), we say at first that it is a fabulous fortress.

If you have the thought of visiting, spare yourself enough time to visit this fortress.

     It is advisable to pass through the Three Fortifications Route, you will not regret, you have the opportunity to make an insight into the history of the area. The Roman Castrum, the Medieval Fortress and the Carolina Fortress are not to be missed.

It is a lively city, tourists come to visit and rediscover the traces of history, the locals come to walk among the medieval walls.

       The route of the heroes of the Romanian people: Horia, Cloşca and Crişan starts from Gate number 3 crossing the wooden bridge high above the ditch around the defense walls.

You can not get past the great newly renovated gates, without noticing their decorations.

       The first gate allows access from the lower city. It is a carved stone building in the form of a triumphal arch and has 3 access ways.

The most imposing of all is Gate # 3; it lies between the bastions of Saint Eugene and Saint Capistrano, this being the entrance to the city.

        It is richly ornamented, representing the most important architectural object in the city. Four pillars and eight pilasters support the large springs of the gate, on top of which is the statue of Charles VI, Emperor of the Austrian Empire at the time the fortress was built. Above the gate is the statue of Emperor Charles VI, and in the basement there is the cell in which Horea was imprisoned. In his honor, the detention room is mentioned in history under the name of "Horea's Cell". The face of the gate that gives inward is made in the Baroque style and depicts scenes from battles or guns: cannons, dumbbells, spears and on the upper part are symbolized the four winds: Abundance through horn of abundance, Wisdom through lantern, Balancing and Force through sword and shield.

The restoration of the monument lasted a little longer between 1998 and 2000 and referred to the construction, insulation, restoration and preservation of the main components.

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The first medieval fortress (IX-X century) was built by the Gyula voivode. The Alba Carolina fortress today built on the site of the first fortress between 1715-1733 according to the plans of Giovanni Morando Visconti - is the largest and the last fortification of its kind in Transylvania. Built in the Vauban style as a heptagonal fort with 7 bastions and very thick walls. He has several gates with bas-reliefs made by Johann Konig representing figures and scenes from mythology.

     Vauban style: Star shape has emerged from the development of firearms (guns), and has the role of being able to flank attackers, whether they manage to tear a wall, two or three. If you look carefully at the city, you want to attack it from anywhere, you will have two other sides to prevent you from ever going.

Alba Iulia Fortress has witnessed several events such as:

Political union of Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia under the leadership of Michael the Brave, on 1 November 1599.

The Union of Crişana, Maramureş and Banat with Transylvania, on 1 December 1918 by the Alba Iulia Declaration.

In 1922, on October 15, in front of the Cathedral of Reunification, King Ferdinand I and Queen Mary were crowned, and thus, the unification of all Romanian historical provinces under the scepter of a single monarch was symbolically accomplished.

You have to visit the fortress, it is possible that we did not point out all the goals in explanations and photographs. It's hard to describe the feelings you live there. I hope you like it Thank you!