Here we are in another castle. We are in Romania near Deva. We will visit the most important castle in Romania, the one with the most history. Here the lives of various kings and lords of Transylvania crossed, first of all Vlad Tepes, the impaler, or better known as Dracula and Mattia Corvino, King of Hungary and Bohemia.
A first castle was built in this place in the fourteenth century by the Vlaicu, who built their fortified residence there. The castle, passed to the Hunyadi family, as a gift from the Emperor Sigismund, was massively renovated and enlarged between 1446 and 1453. The structure is clearly Gothic, but also has many Renaissance architectural elements due to the successor, his son Mattia Corvino, who he wanted to transform it into a Renaissance princely residence. In fact Mattia had also lived in Italy, and more precisely in Lucca and from there he wanted to import the beauty and novelty of the Italian Renaissance.
Photo 2: The yard of the castle
Hunyad Castle has a massive defensive structure, a drawbridge and an internal courtyard. Giovanni Hunyadi added towers, halls and guest rooms. The gallery and the keep (called “Ne boisa” = Don’t be afraid), unchanged since the time of Giovanni, and the Tower of Capestrano are today the prominent elements of the complex. Also noteworthy are the Hall of the Knights, the Torre Clava, the White Bastion, and the Hall of the Diet with the walls adorned with portraits.
Photo 3: Hall of the Knights
In the courtyard, next to the chapel built during the reign of Vlad III of Wallachia, there is a well 30 meters deep. Legend has it that it was excavated by twelve Turkish prisoners who were promised freedom if they found water. After fifteen years of excavation, the unfortunate found a source, but were not rewarded by their captors. It seems that the prisoners have left these words engraved: You have water but you do not have a soul. Hasan, who lived a slave to the Giaours, wrote this in the fortress near the church.
Photo 4: The well dug by the slaves Photo 5 : A tomb of a knight inside the church
Mattia Corvino, Hungarian national hero, although Romanian, in fact was born in Cluj Napoca, is considered the most just of the various sovereigns and there are numerous legends and folk tales that see him as the protagonist. These tales speak of the king’s habit of traveling incognito in the country to talk to the people, discovering from time to time the misdeeds or deceptions of the various local powers. His more or less direct intervention succeeded in restoring order. But the relationship with Vlad Tepes, Dracula, is interesting. In fact, he was his ally in the fight against Turks and Ottomans and Vlad wrote these words to Corvino following his exploits in Bulgaria: "I killed peasants, women, old and young people who lived in Oblucitza and Novoselo, where the Danube flows into the sea, until in Rahova, which is located near Chilia, from the lower Danube to places like Samovit and Ghighen. We killed 23,884 Turks not counting those who were burned alive in their homes or those whose heads were cut off by our officers … So, Your Highness, it must be known that I have broken my peace with him (Sultan Mohammed II). " But, following a retreat in Hungary, after a defeat, Mattia Corvinus had Vlad Tepes arrested, as he did not agree with his policy and his hasty methods. He held him prisoner for 12 years and it seems that 7 years he spent in Hunedoara Castle, as a prisoner but, privileged. Note that Dracula never lived in Bran, the castle that you’ll maybe visit as Dracula’s castle in Romania, is a fake!!
Photo 6: The Corvino coat of arms with the raven
Dracula’s life deserves an in-depth study, which would go far beyond the filmographic fantasies of our days, his life has been much, much higher in terms of adventure and business !! We find Dracula also in Austria Forchtenstein Castle , but this is an other trip of me and @mariacristinafossa !
Photo 7 : Throne room Photo 8: The portrait of Giovanni Corvino on a church window Photo 9: The inner courtyard with the palaces Photo 10: Portal Photo 11: The tomb Photo 12: The keep, note the coloring!
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