Citadel of Brasov - Romania

The Citadel is part of Brasov's outer fortification system. Is located strategically overlooking the town and the plains to north (Barsa Plain).. At first some wooden protective walls was erected here, later, in 1529, destroyed by Petru Rares. On the same spot they built a stone citadel called Cetatuia (1553), destroyed by fire in 1618 and re-built in 1625. For protective purposes the inhabitants added to the initial building four massive stone bastions in 1630. The citadel was abandoned later, after technological innovations made cannons stronger than the building. It served as a garrison for habsburgic army (18th century) and prison for a while (1940-1954). Today the citadel is turned into a restaurant called „Cetate”.