Rasnov Citadel is a hilltop defended village in Romania that we visited after a day trip to Brasov. I had never actually heard of the place but it was highly visible as we were driving past so we decided to pop in for a visit.
Visiting Rasnov Citadel
Rasnov Citadel is easily visible form the main 1E road and signposted from there. You can park a few minutes walk from the site and then walk up the hill to the entrance. According to the map there is an elevator to the citadel but I have no idea what or where it is!
My Experience
This was another of the many “I didn’t know that!” experiences on our road trip through Romania. We saw Rasnov Citadel standing proud on the hillside and then parked up for a visit.
Actually, I guess the ‘elevator’ mentioned on the map is the tractor pulled carriages that we got in to reach the summit of the citadel. Once you are inside you realise how large this structure is and how impressive, considering it was not built by the nobility or church.
The interior is like a living history museum with actors in costume and recreations of the type of shops and houses that would have existed. This is excellent both as a learning method and somewhere to get a coffee in style!
We wandered round for a while, taking in the views and then walked down the hill and came home, just in time to miss the next thunderstorm!
Rasnov Citadel Photo Gallery
Loved this bin! 
History
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 Romania.
Planning to visit Rasnov Citadel? Check our Brasov tours and also castles and fortress tours in Romania.
The edifice won its name due to the main occupation of its inhabitants, agriculture. The structure does not have the utmost architecture due to its constructors, as its main purpose was to be as difficult as possible to be conquered.
It was conquered but only once, in 1612, when Gabriel Bathory, a Transylvanian prince from a long-running Romanian ruling dynasty, was prince. The enemy troops discovered the path to a secret spring causing a lack of water. This led to the excavation of a deep well (146 meters) within the citadel between 1623 and 1642.
This well did not come of course without the associated story. Legend has it inhabitants had two Turkish prisoners dig the well in the middle of the edifice in order to regain their freedom. These two were kept captive for 17 years, period during which they embroidered the well’s walls with Quran verses which can also be seen today.
References
The colourful history above is copied from the Romania Friend site here.
The Wiki site is here.