Changing-guard ceremony available at Făgăraș Fortress as of this weekend

Făgăraș Fortress in Brașov county will be guarded by watchers, like at Sighișoara and Alba Iulia fortresses. The manager of the Făgăraș Land Museum informed the changing-guard ceremony will be held at 12:00 every Saturday and Sunday during the cold season and three-four days per week in summer. 10 volunteers of all ages will star as guardsmen within the ceremony. “We would like to recast that moment of the 17^th century when the fortress’ gates were opened in the Princess’ presence, while the drums were beating after a prayer. We want to start on Saturday, December 12 and to proceed with the ceremony until the end of the year and during 2016,” the museum director, Elena Băjenaru told Agerpres.

The changing-guard ceremony will last about 15-20 minutes for the guardsmen will wear a very heavy costume consisting of armor, helmet, sword and lance, all weighing over 15 kilos.

Located at Făgăraș town’s heart, the fortress is considered the second most beautiful Romance-Renaissance style castle in the world, according to a ranking conducted by Hopper travel planning site presented by Huffington Post last year.

The fortress has undergone several revamping works in the past years, with the Throne Hall being opened for visitors in 2014. The local authorities also target to continue rehabilitation works with European funds comprised by the 2014-2020 financial framework.

72,000 tourists visited Făgăraș Fortress this year so far, compared to 55,000 last year.

Built in 1310 on the site of a former 12th century wooden fortress (burned by the Tartars in 1241), Făgăraș was enlarged between the 15th and 17th centuries and was considered one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania. The fortress was surrounded by a deep moat, which, in times of war or social unrest, could easily be filled with water from a nearby mountain brook. A bridge over the moat provided the only access point. The fortress boasts three floors and five towers.

Throughout the years, Făgăraș Fortress functioned mainly as a residence for various princes and their families. Transylvanian Prince Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629), strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance, brought architects and glassmakers from Italy who rebuilt the fortress. During the rule of Georg Rákóczi (1630-1649), the castle’s fortifications were doubled and the moat was enlarged. Ráckózi had the bastions bridged and covered, the moat paved with stones, the bridge and the casemates repaired and a guardhouse built.

Records show that the interior must have been luxurious in the 17th century; unfortunately, little of its former grandeur has been preserved. The castle was deprived of its decorations and fancy furniture when it was turned into a military garrison in the 18th century.

Later on, for 12 years, between 1948 and 1960 the fortress was turned into a prison for political prisoners.

The beautifully preserved fortress houses the Făgăraș County Museum, displaying Roman artifacts, a collection of medieval weapons and traditional folk crafts.