Rasnov Citadel

Situated in Rasnov city, near Brasov, it was built as a defense system for Transylvanian villages against Tartar and Turkish hordes during the 13th and 14th centuries and is considered to be one of the most well preserved Rural Citadels in Transylvania and Romania.

• Location: Strada Cetatii, 17 , Rasnov, Romania

Access to the fortress

You can easily reach Râșnov Citadel from Brașov, and you can check off your list a visit to the fortress, the nearby attractions, and the town in just one day trip. If you travel by car, there is a generous parking lot at the foot of the hill, with gift shops and small food trucks.

Warning: The first building you will come across is that of a restaurant tempting you with some of the best traditional food Romania has to offer. So, choose wisely! I know from experience how visitors get tempted by papanasi and a good cup of coffee and then the energy to go uphill versus a whole hearty meal and hitching a ride up because putting one step after the other proves to be such a challenge.

Walk, train, or elevator ride?

Since Râșnov citadel is on a steep hill, visitors can take a small cable car for easier access or hike to the great vantage point at the gate tower. There is also a small train going up and down the hill, with a stop for kids at Dino Park.

From our experience with visitors at Rasnov Citadel, the hike up is accessible to most people, regardless of their physical condition, and it is a few minutes walk uphill.

The train ride is fun but not necessary. I sometimes recommend it on the way down after hours spent running around at Dino Park and when the kids are too exhausted to coordinate their feet properly. Otherwise, don't threaten if you missed it or aren't sure whether to get on.

2024 update: The citadel has been closed for restoration works since 2022. We don’t know when it will reopen. You can still visit the courtyard and ancient walls but can’t go in. At this point, the exterior of the citadel is worth visiting to see the fortification wall and the tower. Given the wave-like construction of the Râșnov citadel, you can even see how well inhabitants and watchmen could see anyone approaching from that tower.

Planning to visit Rasnov Citadel? Check our Brasov tours and also castles and fortress tours in Romania.

What you need to know before visiting Rasnov fortress

Rasnov citadel got its name from the Germans, the Teutonic Knights, who originally built a fortification on the ruins of the abandoned Cumidava Roman fortress. Râșnov comes from Rosenau or Rose Valley, as the area is surrounded by species of wild roses.

As you will notice when visiting Transylvania, many sites are drenched in history. In the case of Rasnov, many medieval fortresses are built on the site of a former Roman castrum. Therefore, you can see how warriors of all ages considered location before they started putting up thick walls to protect the people in the nearby town.

More attention was paid to functionality rather than aesthetics in the building process. Rasnov citadel was meant to protect inhabitants from outside invasions and be difficult to conquer. Its defensive system included three moats and defense waves strategically placed to protect against invading armies.

The defense system comprised the location on the hill, the well-positioned entrance tower, and the bastions overlooking the entire area. The citadel was only conquered once, in the 17th century.

Inside the citadel

Beyond the citadel walls, Cetatea Râșnov has a chapel, old houses built around an inner courtyard, other buildings serving the local community when the citadel was inhabited, a large gate on the eastern side with a narrow entrance with thick walls, and cobblestoned narrow and wider alleys, some of which have been restored, as in the early 2000s. However, some works have been done without keeping in mind historical accuracy.

To boost the defense system, the North and West corners are the most elevated, even compared to other parts inside the citadel, like the South and the East with the main entrance point.

There is also a feudal art museum specific to this part of Transylvania, where you can learn more about local people's local history, habits, and crafts, some of which are still being practiced and demonstrated today. You might be lucky and learn how to paint on ceramics or sharpen your kitchen knife… and swords!

A great place to take refuge during a siege

Initially constructed as a wooden fortress by the Teutonic Knights, the citadel evolved into today's stone structure. Rasnov Fortress played a crucial role in defending against invading armies and providing refuge for locals during invasions.

Only one siege against it was successful, that of 1621, when the water supply was compromised and the citadel was thus conquered. The enemy troops discovered the path to a secret spring, causing a lack of water.

The story of two Turkish prisoners

An order for a deep well excavation was issued to consolidate the defenses better, and two prisoners of Turkish origin carried out the work between 1623 and 1642, with the promise of regaining their freedom once the work was done. These two were kept captive for 17 years, during which time they embroidered the well’s walls with Quran verses, which can also be seen today.

When the work is done and the place is restored, people can visit again and see the well-dug-in-the-rock with the prisoners' writing.

The fortress' last mission

Inhabitants and people living nearby sought shelter here at the last siege between 1848 and 1849 when Hungarian and Austrian forces were sweeping through this Western part of Romania.

The citadel is also recognized as a national monument, emphasizing its historical and cultural significance in Romania.

When is the best time to visit Rasnov citadel?

Nowadays, the citadel is undergoing restoration and will soon be longing for a visit from tourists looking for an enjoyable trip to the beautiful countryside of Brasov.

Otherwise, since it is an outdoor attraction, you can visit it pretty much any time the weather allows it.

Bran Castle and other nearby attractions

Visitors I accompany on tours often tell me how much they like that every corner of Transylvania seems ideally suited for a day trip, like Rasnov - the town and the citadel. After parking in the large parking lot, you can head up. If you are feeling peckish, you can first stop at a lovely traditional restaurant for a hearty meal or just a coffee and dessert.

Halfway through your hike, you will reach Dino Park, the outdoor dinosaur exhibit that takes you through all the eras dominated by dinosaurs. It is not the only one of its kind in Romania, but it is the largest and best-equipped one, so make sure you don't miss it. Oh, and wear warm clothes. Apart from some activities, you will mainly be outdoors.

You can see creatures evolve as you move along the park. Tickets cost RON 37 for minors and RON 47 for adults. If you are traveling with a larger group, you could get a combo deal. Kids and grownups alike will enjoy the visit, the walk through Dino Park, the activities, the gift shop, and the themed food corner.

Once you have seen all the dinosaurs, it's time to move on to another part of history. As you continue your climb on the cobblestone pathway, you will start to see the exterior wall of the citadel and its towers.

Do not head to your hotel at the end of your visit here. Located just a little further down the road from the parking lot, you will come across the trail leading to the Citadel Valley Cave, one of the unique places in Transylvania and Romania where the guide switches the lights mid-presentation to give you an idea of how early men lived without fire and light in a cave. It is a perspective-changing experience.

Once you've checked the cave off the list, you can visit Poiana Brasov, the fanciest mountain resort in Romania. Bran Castle is another popular option, and it is very close by. After all, what goes better after seeing a medieval fortification than a castle features in a fiction book with a back story utterly different from what anyone expects?

I usually like to pair a visit to Bran Castle with that of another castle, citadel, or fortified church to give visitors the chance to compare or better understand how things evolved in the area. Moreover, perched locations have the best stories because I can always ask people to go to the highest place and get the "lay of the land," and they always love it.

And, of course, there is always Brasov. The shiny city surrounded by mountains, filled to the brim with stories from medieval to modern times, makes for a fantastic city break that will check all the boxes.

Rasnov and its festivals

The town of Rasnov has great accommodations; it has stores and shops, old houses to admire, and good restaurants to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. Also, many local events occur in or around Rasnov Citadel, such as the Medieval Festival of Rasnov Citadel or Rockstadt Extreme Fest, local food festivals, and many sports competitions in the surrounding area.