Râșnov Citadel
| Râșnov Citadel | |
|---|---|
| Romanian: Cetatea Râșnov German: Rosenauer Burg |
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 Location within Romania
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| Former names | Cetatea Țărănească |
| General information | |
| Type | Citadel |
| Location |
 Râşnov Brașov County
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| Country |
 Romania
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| Coordinates | 45°35′26″N 25°28′8″E / 45.59056°N 25.46889°E |
| Construction started | 1211 |
| Completed | 1225 |
| Renovated | 2010 |
Râșnov Citadel (Romanian: Cetatea Râșnov, German: Rosenauer Burg) is a historic monument and landmark in Romania. It is situated in Râşnov, Brașov County, in the immediate vicinity of Brașov.
The citadel was built as part of a defence system for the Transylvanian villages exposed to outside invasions. A decisive aspect for building the citadel on the actual location was the route of the invading armies which were coming from the Bran pass and were passing through Râșnov, on their way to Burzenland. The only chance of survival for the inhabitants of the area, inclusively from Cristian and Ghimbav, was the refuge inside the citadel. Compelled to stay there for decades, the people of Râșnov and the nearby villages turned the fortification into a dwelling.
Archaeological research revealed the existence of fortification traces on the citadel hill since prehistoric and Dacian times.
The medieval citadel of today is considered to be built between 1211 and 1225, during the rule of Teutonic Knights in Burzenland, although there is no evidence in this respect.
In 1335, during a Tatar incursion that ravaged Burzenland, Râșnov and Brașovia were the only citadels remaining unconquered. This is also the first documented attestation of the fortification.
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Wikipedia