Făgăraş Fortress: A Fantastic Citadel to Visit in Romania
Făgăraș Fortress/Citadel is a fantastic place to visit in Romania. Făgăraş is a small city in central Romania and is easy to reach by train from various places in the country.
Făgăraş Fortress is an interesting place with a history dating back to 1310. Other sights in town include churches, pretty buildings, a cathedral, and a synagogue.
Făgăraș Fortress/Citadel
Făgăraș Citadel is also called Cetatea Făgărașului or Făgăraș Fortress. They built the fortress in 1310. I visited in winter and had the place to myself except for the staff.
Walk Around The Moat For Free
If you are on a budget, you can walk around the moat and outside the fortifications for free. The views of the castle from outside the moat are fantastic, and it’s a lovely walk around the edge.
Two bridges cross the moat in the castle complex, so you can either walk around the fortifications or buy a ticket to enter.
Tickets
The ticket office is on the northern wall of the fortress, next to a bridge across the moat. It was a quiet day, so it was unmanned when I got there; however, a helpful security guard phoned up to get me a ticket. They accepted cash or cards for a ticket. An adult ticket cost me 30 lei. You can find out more about visiting on their website.
The Fortress Walls & Courtyard
Inside, you can climb the battlements and explore the courtyard buildings. Walkways lead to the top of the battlements, where you can get a soldier’s-eye view.
The views while walking around were special, including those of the moat and the cathedral.
In the courtyard, there is also a toilet and a coffee machine.
Prison Tower
The prison tower is a cool part of the fortress to visit, and its main section highlights historic torture methods and equipment. It is a small display and not on the scale of the torture museum at Corvin Castle.
You can also explore the rest of the castle and peruse an exhibit on the anti-communism movement and the people involved in the resistance. As it was a quiet day at the fortress, I needed to find the light switches to ascend the tower with a little help from my phone torch.
The Keep & Castle Museum
The main keep of the castle is a museum which covers lots of the castle’s history. This was rather impressive and, for me, was one of the more informative castles in Romania.
To enter the museum, you enter via a Renaissance-style courtyard and climb the stairs. Each floor has a balcony, which is great for views.
The museum is rather fascinating and tells the story of the castle and related parts of regional history. Sections that piqued my interest were the embroidery, traditional clothing, religious art and weapons. The grand dining room and the opulent furnishings were great, too.
The Throne Room
The throne room is on the floor above the museum and is cool. To enter, you need a ticket and to wear shoe coverings.
A highlight for me includes the throne and other seats with the fish symbol on. The throne room also displays suits of armour and weapons decoratively.
Map
There are some handy maps around the site to help you understand what you are seeing. They also show the castle’s development since its founding in 1310.
Other Things To Do in Fagaras
The Cathedral of John The Baptist
The Cathedral of John the Baptist in Fagaras, AKA Catedrala Sfantul Ioan Botezătorul, is a beautiful cathedral. You can see its golden dome from throughout the town. A great viewpoint is from the bridge to the fortress, and on a clear day you get to see some cool reflections.
It’s a modern cathedral, all new inside and nicely decorated. Despite its lack of history, the cathedral is still special to visit.
During my visit, Fagaras Cathedral was empty, and I enjoyed seeing all the decor and artworks inside. Inside, it was light and airy, which is unusual compared to other cathedrals I’ve visited in Romania.
An eye-catching feature was the marble floor. The floor had some decorative features, including fish. I assume this relates to the town being on a popular river for fishing, or to John the Baptist being a fisherman.
Just outside near the entrance is a chapel with a golden roof. People use it to light candles in memory of loved ones. The fascia, entrance and decorative side walls were also nice to look at when walking the perimeter of the church building.
Enjoy A Walk in the Countryside
There are also opportunities for walks near the city, including along the River Olt and hikes in the Fagaras Mountains. You can find routes nearby on the Komoot website.
Piața Republicii
Piața Republicii has some colourful buildings around the square. Many of these are cafes and restaurants.
You can also see the cathedral and other churches from the square. The square was being renovated when I visited, but it has trees, flowerbeds, and some market stalls.
The Synagogue
Another building to see when exploring the town is the synagogue in Făgăraş. It was built in 1958, but it is no longer in use.
Bars & Restaurants in Făgăraş
There are bars and restaurants in colourful buildings around the town’s main square. I had a few beers and a meal out on my day trip from Brasov.
Bistro Story
In the town’s main square is Bistro Story, a pleasant restaurant. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. It was quiet on my visit, with a few people dining out or enjoying coffee. They have an excellent selection of drinks, including local beers and coffee.
They have a diverse food menu, including breakfast, burgers, and traditional Romanian dishes like soups. I had their Story Burger with fries, which was delicious. It had many garnishes and filled me up. Overall, Bistro Story was a brilliant spot for lunch out, and the staff were friendly.
Oldintim
The closest open bar I could find near the Fagaras Citadel is Oldintim. Oldintim has indoor dining and bar stools too. During the warmer months, they also have terrace seating, which was closed during my winter visit.
They have an excellent selection of drinks, including draught and bottled beer. I drank a Romanian Ursus beer on my visit. They also have a food menu, including pizza, grilled meats and pasta.
La Coca Cola
Next to the railway station is a small bar, La Coca Cola, which is handy when waiting for trains. The drinks here are quite cheap, and I drank a Romanian beer while waiting to leave. It was quiet except for some traditional music playing.
Getting To Fagaras Citadel
Fagaras is halfway between Brasov and Sibiu. The easiest way to reach the city is by train, which runs from both cities and beyond. From the railway station, the fortress is a 25-minute walk; alternatively, you can take a taxi if you’re short on time.
Is Făgăraș Citadel Worth Visiting?
Făgăraș Fortress in Romania is a beautiful place to visit and well worth it if you enjoy history. In addition to the main fortification, the museums inside were fascinating and informative. The bars and restaurants enhanced my visit.