Mikó Fortress

If you are in the beautiful city at the foot of the Ciuc Mountains, the Mikó Fortress is the right choice for a perfect travel experience. Imposing, sober and elegant, the building is representative of late Renaissance architecture in Transylvania.

The initiator of the construction was Ferenc Mikó Hídvégi (1585-1635), a remarkable figure in Transylvanian political life from the beginning of the 17th century, advisor to Prince Gabriel Bethlen, an able diplomat, chronicler and scholar of the seat of Ciuc.

The fortress was originally intended as a noble residence, being called in the documents of the time Mikó-újvár - Mikó's New Fortress. It was documented for the first time in 1631.

Built in the old Italian style, the building underwent important architectural transformations in the first half of the 18th century. The reconstruction and fortification works were executed by order of the imperial general Stephan Steinville and took place between 1714-1716. The rebuilt fortress was then surrounded by a thick, rectangular mound of earth. A bastion was erected at each of the four corners. At present, only on the southern side can still be seen traces of them.

The plan of the fortress, developed in 1735 by the military engineer Johann Conrad von Weiss, is today an important source of documentation for the history of the monument.

The construction of the fortress began on April 26, 1623, ten years after the owner, Ferenc Mikó Hídvégi, became captain of the seats of Ciuc, Gheorgheni and Casin.

Completed in the 30s of the 17th century, the fortress was burned down on October 21, 1661 by the Turkish-Tatar troops of Pasha Ali from Timișoara.

After the reconstruction in the 18th century, the fortress played a significant role in the defense of the Principality of Transylvania, being the barracks of the imperial troops until 1764.

In the period 1764-1849 it was the headquarters of the 1st Szekler Infantry Regiment. After the defeat of the revolution of 1848-1849, the fortress was taken over by the military authorities.

Since 1970, the Mikó Fortress has housed the Szekler Museum of Ciuc.

The Szekler Museum of Ciuc will surprise you with its valuable collections of history, fine arts, old books, ethnography and natural sciences.

In the rooms dedicated to the "Restored Values of the Sacred Treasury" you can admire rare, even unique manuscripts, old books, but also sculptures, icons or vestments.

The exhibition "Typography and bookbinding workshop from Șumuleu Ciuc" impresses with its prints and splendid book bindings. The Kájoni manual press, restored in the 18th century, is also exhibited here.

In the exhibition "At the crossroads" you will discover fascinating moments from the history of the settlement, such as the atmosphere of the old fairs in Miercurea-Ciuc. 

From the Mikó Fortress you can take a short walk to another attraction of the city of Miercurea-Ciuc - the Millennium Church, which stands out for its special architecture, less common in the case of a place of worship. It was built at the beginning of the 21st century, according to the project of the Hungarian architect Imre Makovecz.

In the vicinity of the Millennium Church you will discover the Roman Catholic "Holy Cross" Church, built in Baroque style between 1751-1758.

Another impressive monument of ecclesiastical architecture is the Church of Saint Mary in Șumuleu Ciuc, where the only Papal Rose awarded in the Carpathian Basin can be found. It is the most important place of pilgrimage in Transylvania for Roman Catholic believers.