The fortress „Iron virgin“ from Fagaras Town

Former military fortress, fortified castle, the voivodeship residence, military garrison and prison for political detainees, the Fagaras castle shelters now the country Museum of Fagaras „Valer letter“. The managing director is Prof. George Dragota, a real walking dictionary; a man who impresses anyone that is listening his overwhelming speaking, full of passion, about the history of this medieval complex, but also about the difficulties encountered in the conservation, restoration and the value thereof. He has provided us necessary documentation and the joy to relive a moment of history and culture. History and legend Before the battle of Selimbar (1599) the fortress was surrendered with good will allowed by Michael the Brave, which housed the royal treasure here, offering afterwards the fortress and the domain to his wife, Mrs. Stanca. He intended to transform the Fagaras County into the “chair fortress” preparing the campaign here in Moldova, after which he enshrined the first political union of Romanians. Here he will retire after the defeat of Miraslau and still here he will shelter his family until 1601. The citadel has also legends. One of them is the „Iron Virgin.“ It is said that there was an icon of the Virgin Mary at which the death convicts were sent to kiss and pray for the last time. Instead of forgiveness they were finding the most cruel death in the arms of the virgin, because when they got near the icon the convict’s body was cut through with some daggers and immediately a hatch was opened in floor in which they fell, being taken over by a mechanism equipped with very sharp swords which would carve out their body. At a depth of 8 meters a channel of water was leading the carved bodies in the waters of Olt washing behind any crime sign. Another legend speaks of the existence of a secret tunnel, trenched through the lake that encircled the walls, which could lead to the Olt River that flows just a few hundred meters of the retrenchment, or to the town center. The tunnel would serve as shelter in case the fortress would be conquered. The fortress, however, was never conquered by force of arms. In the castle can be seen today the medieval dungeons, with some rooms of torture. In the communist period, in the towers, the bastions of the fortress and the cellars were arranged cells for detention; between 1948 and 1960 the fortress was transformed into one of the most dreaded gulag of Romanian prisons. Going down in the cells, where detainees were, the difference of temperature is of 5 degrees and you feel how the cold fills your soul and stories related to crimes that took place there ensure you nightmares for the night that will follow.