BRASOV - STRAJA HILL FORTRESS

VIDEO DESCRIPTION
This film presents an important MEDIEVAL FORTRESS of BRASOV, the ‘STRAJA HILL FORTRESS’, (CETĂŢUIA de pe Strajă) with significant historical relevance, spanning over for more than five centuries.
STRAJA HILL FORTRESS is a very important defence construction of MEDIEVAL BRASOV.
It is located outside of the territory of BRASOV FORTIFICATION.
At the beginning of the 15th century there was only a watch tower but in 1524 it was upgraded to a bastion with four towers.
What started out as a tower in the 15h century, slowly developed into the full FORTRESS.
The FORTRESS was an important point of defence, located outside the city of Brasov.
It played a defensive role outside of the main medieval town (now the Old Town).
The FORTRESS evolved from a simple watch tower (the 15th century) to a full-fledged small fortress with defensive walls, bastions, and shooting towers in the 17th century.
A well was dug, and later were built barracks, warehouses, and the commander's residence.
In the 18th century, hexagonal-shaped outer fortifications and a defensive tower were added.
The whole complex thus consists of the bastion enclosure and the small fortress.
Initially, the FORTRESS was part of BRAȘOV'S FORTIFICATION complex.
It had a military role until after the First World War, then it was used differently.
After the WW1, it was used as a prison, warehouse, and city archives.
During communist era, the construction served as jamming station for the ROMANIAN SECURITATE.
The two international radio broadcasting, ‘FREE EUROPE’ and the ‘VOICE OF AMERICA’ were prohibited to Romanian people.
After 1990, the premises became open to visitors, with a medieval-themed restaurant.
The area was closed in 2015, because of legal issues regarding the ownership.
Only the outside alleyways were accessible to public.
Today, the FORTRESS is used as a touristic landmark with medieval significance.
As it stands perched up on ‘STRAJA HILL’, it is the perfect place for short, relaxing walks.
You can walk up either on a path through the woods or on asphalt.
From a certain point, you can admire some beautiful sunsets.
I wish you a pleasant viewing!
@ioncrisan1549