CETĂȚUIA CLUJ NAPOCA

Climbing the Cetățuia Clujului, you will discover not only a superb corner of nature and a delightful viewpoint, but also an important place in the history of Transylvania.

The story of the place is intertwined with that of the Vauban-type fortification, built by the Habsburgs in the period 1715-1735, based on the projects developed by the military architect Giovanni Morando Visconti. The fortification was intended to house the soldiers of the imperial army and was to ensure control over the important urban center that was Cluj in the 18th century. At the same time, its position was ideal for monitoring the communication path that followed the course of the Someș.

The fortress was star-shaped, with five bastions at the corners. On the west side there is a ravelin, a fortification element like an advanced bastion. The main access road came from the north, passing through the main gate (Viennese Gate).

Inside the fortification were: the command building, the barracks, the powder room, the arsenal, the weapons store, the grain store, the bakery and the fountain.

Today, a number of fortification elements have been preserved from the old complex, and on the plateau the buildings of the three gates, along with two others in the area.

The Cetățuia of Cluj represents the earliest example of secular baroque architecture preserved in Transylvania.

Brief historical foray

Over time, the complex retained its military destination, but gradually lost its strategic importance.

Between the years 1834-1836, a new barracks was inaugurated, intended to house about 500 soldiers, in the vicinity of the eastern side of the old medieval walls.

The fortress continued to function, also serving as a military prison.

By 1966, the buildings of the old Habsburg redoubt became the successive headquarters of several military units.

Important transformations in the configuration of the ensemble occurred at the beginning of the 70s, through the construction of the Belvedere Hotel.

Outstanding personalities

The Saxon pastor Stephan Ludwig Roth, historian, progressive humanist, leading representative of the Saxon intelligentsia, militant for the rights of the Saxons and Romanians, one of the heroes of the Forty-Eight Revolution, was imprisoned and executed in Cetățuia on May 11, 1849. A commemorative plaque located on the facade of one of the buildings of the old complex of the Fortress reminds passers-by of his martyrdom.

It is worth remembering that, during the same period, the future great Transylvanian botanist Florian Porcius was imprisoned in the same place, along with many other Romanian and Saxon revolutionaries.

Unique experiences

Located on the left bank of Someșului Mic, Cetățuia Park offers you a spectacular panorama over Cluj.

From here you can walk towards the city center, in a circuit of the Cluj museums, famous for their valuable collections of history, art, ethnography, natural sciences. We recommend you visit the National History Museum of Transylvania, the Art Museum or the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. A walk through the "Alexandru Borza" Botanical Garden will complete your travel experience.

And don't forget that you are in a city with an intense cultural and sports life, where the range of events covers all preferences.