Our next stop was the magnificent Corvin Castle (also known as Hunedoara Castle), located in the town of Hunedoara. The three-hour drive from Cluj-Napoca was well worth it, as this stunning fortress is one of Europe’s largest castles and the largest medieval building in Romania. Truly a must-see, Corvin Castle is everything you could hope for in a fairy-tale castle.
The tour
The castle, built in 1446, is steeped in history and a visual treat. When I first visited in 2015, student tickets were just 5 lei (~1 Euro). Prices have increased since then, and as of 2024, adult tickets are 45 lei, while student tickets are 11 lei. You can check the latest prices and opening hours on the official website.
We opted for a tablet with an audio guide, and I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. The content wasn’t overloaded with dry dates and facts but was engaging, concise, and genuinely interesting. With my attention span (often rivaling that of a toddler), I actually listened to the entire thing—rare for me!
A full tour of the castle takes about 1-2 hours, depending on how long you want to explore. While the interiors don’t have much furniture due to fires and periods of abandonment, the castle’s architecture and ambiance more than make up for it. It’s the real deal!
Legends and Stories
Corvin Castle isn’t just visually impressive; it’s surrounded by fascinating legends:
- The Raven and the Golden Ring:
Legend has it that Iancu of Hunedoara, who commissioned the castle, was the illegitimate son of Sigismund of Luxemburg, King of Hungary. To identify him, he was given a golden ring at birth. As a child, a raven stole the ring, but Iancu shot it down with an arrow. This tale inspired the raven to become his coat of arms.
- Vlad the Impaler:
It’s rumored that Vlad the Impaler (the inspiration for Dracula) was imprisoned in the castle for seven years, which supposedly drove him insane. However, this story remains unproven.
- The Well of Broken Promises:
In the castle yard, there’s a well said to have been dug by Turkish prisoners. They were promised freedom upon completing the well, but after 15 years of digging through solid rock to reach water, Iancu of Hunedoara died, and his wife refused to honor the promise.
A Glimpse at Gypsy Castles
On our way out of Hunedoara, we passed by a series of striking homes belonging to the local Roma community. These houses, with their castle-like designs and elaborate details, were incredible to see. While we didn’t stop to take photos out of fear, I managed to snap a few pictures from the car.
