At a distance of 10 km from the town of Turia, on a cliff top with steep slopes, there are the ruins of the fortress of Bálványos. This is one of the oldest and strongest fortresses in southeastern Transylvania, which archaeologists consider having been built sometime in the 11th-12th centuries.
The story of the place
During at least three centuries the fortress stoically resisted the invaders, protecting the lives and property of those who lived inside the fortification.
However, it suffers smaller or larger destructions during the various battles that took place here. It is certain that, in 1603, the widow of Apor Miklos, Lázár Borbála, left the fortress, moving more "to the plains", in the area of the town of Turia, where the Apor mansion is still located. From that moment, abandoned, the fortress began to degrade. In 1970, the 20-meter-high keep collapsed, the cause being an earthquake.
Today, portions of the old and powerful fortification are still visible.
Architectural features
The higher part of the rock includes the keep, which is square and sturdy in shape, being built of stone slabs bound together with mortar. A first enclosure is connected to this dungeon, called enclosure 1, which was later built also of stone. Years later, this enclosure was in turn incorporated into an even larger enclosure, which forms enclosure 2.
Unique experiences
In the second half of the 20th century, there were several installations for hot baths with carbonated mineral water in tubs and basins in this area.
The resort of Bálványos, as it is recognized today, was formed by the union of three bath colonies: Turia (or Torjaifürdő in Hungarian) - the oldest part, located in the Turia pass, Csiszár (or Csiszárfürdő in Hungarian) and Transylvania (formerly known under the name Várpadfürdő in Hungarian).
Another important tourist attraction is Saint Ana Lake. It is located 10 km away from Bálványos Resort at an altitude of 950 m, which can be reached by a splendid winding road, which invites you to admire the amazing landscapes. Lake Saint Ana is the only volcanic lake in Europe, with a complete crater, being surrounded by centuries-old forests.
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