Huniade Castle

Located in the center of Timișoara, Huniade Castle is a symbol of its historical and cultural identity, being probably one of the oldest buildings in operation in Banat.

It was built on the ruins of a medieval castle from the 14th century, built by Charles Robert of Anjou, king of Hungary. Another emblematic character for the history of the castle is John Hunyadi because he consolidated it and used it as a residence, at the time when it was under the ruler of Timiș. It remained in the family's possession until the death of King Matthias Corvinus. It was visited by the kings of Hungary, being a stopping place during their travels in the area. 

The castle was destroyed during the Ottoman siege in 1552, and what we can see today was built later. After liberation from the Ottoman occupation, an artillery barracks was built here around 1727. All the walls of the old medieval residence are today in the ground, buried under the inner courtyard of the castle and under the inner spaces. The building, in its current form, belongs to the eclectic style, decorated in the spirit of the romantic current with neo-Gothic elements.

Nowadays, the castle houses the archaeology, history and natural sciences sections of the National Museum of Banat. Currently undergoing rehabilitation, it maintains an important place in the life of the community, in the park around it there are annual events that recreate the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

The beginnings of the medieval castle are linked to the name of the king of Hungary, Charles Robert of Anjou, who lived in Timișoara for a short time, between the years 1315 and 1323. It is very likely that there was a building here before, but it was improved and enlarged to meet the needs of the king and his retinue. 

At the end of the 14th century, the castle was expanded again, when John Hunyadi became Ruler of Timiș and established his residence here. In 1552, the fortress was conquered by the Ottoman troops and suffered great destruction during the siege. The Ottoman garrison will only use the enclosure walls, and during its rule it will not focus too much on reconstruction, the building having also a natural defense element: the Timiș River, which surrounded both the construction and the settlement to the north of this, respectively the city of Timișoara today. The palisade around the castle, built of oak posts and earth, dates from this period.

It is not known exactly when an artillery barracks was built on the ruins of the old medieval fortress, but the moment came after more than a century and a half of Ottoman occupation, around 1727. The building was modestly decorated, given its utility military, the facades having baroque style elements.

A description from the diary of the traveler Antal Mindszenty reveals what the inside of the barracks looked like in 1821: "Currently, the artillery, ammunition storage and weapons production workshops are kept here. As you cross the threshold of the building, in the west wing and in the wing on the opposite side, from the back, live the people belonging to the artillery depot. To the right of the gate, on the ground floor, there are the workshops where weapons are made. About the middle of the south wing, a wide older staircase leads upstairs to a corridor from where, through a large double door, one enters the old palace of the fortress. Here are many and various types of weapons, older and newer, arranged and grouped beautifully in different shapes and aspects. Here are kept the weapons, metal armor, helmets and shields with or without coats of arms of the famous braves who lived here...".

The revolution of 1848 caused new destruction to the building, being rebuilt again in 1856, in an eclectic style. High neo-Gothic style windows and various other elements reminiscent of the old fortress are then added.

Ștefan Losonczy was Ruler of Timiş and the military commander of the Timisoara garrison during the Ottoman siege in 1552. Although he eventually lost the fortress and was captured and beheaded, he managed to hold off the invaders for a month, despite the lack of money, of a very small army and the insufficient fortifications that the fortress had in front of the Ottoman guns.

Although they had promised the commander that the inhabitants would be able to leave the city safely, the Turks did not keep their word and killed Losonczy's soldiers and some of the Christians who were trying to escape from the city. The commander, seriously wounded, was beheaded. The event marked the beginning of a new historical period, that of Ottoman rule, which lasted 164 years.