Corvin Castle

Contemporary documents mention the existence of a fortification, on the present site of castrelului, with the fourteenth century, the royal camp with an ellipsoidal shape in the north wing of a tower of refuge, barred on the south side with a stone wall. The possession of the family of Anjou, became the property of Corvin family in the early fifteenth century (1409), while Prince Voicu, which included a donation form and the city of Hunedoara. At this point chronologically Corvin family name is mentioned when King Sigismund of Luxembourg offers those mentioned as a reward for outstanding military merits.     Son of Voicu, Ioan of Hunedoara (Hunyadi Johannes of) amplify existing building in the fourteenth century, after the second stage of construction, resulting in a new enclosure, fitted with seven defensive towers (4 and 3 circular quadrilaterals) – between 1441 to 1446 and built a large chapel, the palace itself (Room Diet, Knights Hall), spiral stair tower and the south side, built in the annexes, in the second stage (1446-1453).   After a series of confrontations with Ottoman Impreriul, John Corvin, military governor of the Hungarian kingdom come, dies after battle of Belgrade (11 June). Elizabeth Szilagyi, his wife and Matthias Corvinus, son, one of the most brilliant medieval kings of Hungary, made ​​loggia of the north wing (Matthew Loggia), construction finalizeza chapel, hall of diet and beauty still works at the castle.

In the fifteenth century, the castle remains a singular example of a noble residence to Transylvanian fortified specific imbinaelemente Construction of the Gothic style late Renaissance, early stage.

Corvin family owns the castle and Hunedoara until 1508, then owners will follow 22 until the eighteenth century, when it became the property of the Habsburg Empire and the castle became the seat of administration of mines and iron storage products (1724-1854).

The destiny of the seventeenth century castle is linked to the personality of Prince Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629), the operating changes and adapts the order inside the castle defensive requirements of the moment by costruirea White Tower, the artillery platform, the outer enclosure of the palace Bethlen – that combines features mature Renaissance and late – opening new entry gate by the tower again.

After a series of minor changes and fires, the last placed in 1854, destroying the entire wooden structure of the castle, is initiated first restoration (1868-1874), after which the shingle roof was replaced with the brick, it raised some towers and neo-Gothic facade is built in right Bethlen palace, with works and arrangements intrerioare.

Turning to the museum (1974) is preceded by another stage of restoration and consolidation (1956-1968) continued this work after 1997 and until now.

Chapel

The building is considered one of the parties representative of the fifteenth century, representing a mixture of Romanesque (polygonal shape) and late Gothic fashion. Inteventiile placed at the beginning of the seventeenth century affected the original architecture of the chapel. Existence in the Middle Media painting was largely damaged, fragments of it being able to see the altar and the entrance area (the cross of consecrated).

   Matthew Loggia

It remains one of the earliest manifestations of Renaissance art in Transylvania, by overlapping open terraces and fresco paintings that decorate the interior loggia. This painting secular, singular in Transylvania, located mid-century style of XV, illustrates Corvin family legend.

   Fountain

This objective is a sheltered courtyard, is dated to the mid fifteenth century. In digging this fantanisunt about a writer and a legend, the first being embedded in the chapel buttresses, written in ancient Arabic. Incriptiei correct translation is: “I Hasan, I put this inscription in time when I was a slave to giaours in the city near the church.”

Legend tells us that after a struggle, three Turkish prisoners arrive in the city of Hunedoara. After agreement with the owner of the castle, on receipt of freedom, they had to dig a well. After 15 years of work, are not released because water dan de Hunedoara between timpIoan heir dies and do not give freedom promised. Then one of the Turks inscriprie dig a stone that can be translated, according to legend “of water but not have soul.”

 Capistrano Tower

This tower is part of the fortified enclosure suitable fifteenth century, the room was originally used by Franciscan father, John of Capistrano, John Corvin confessor until the second half of XV century.

Room Diet

Is a space dedicated to ceremonies, conducted in the mid-fifteenth century in late Gothic style. Changes in the seventeenth century have left a beautiful fresco secular, current form due to the restoration of the period 1956-1968.

 Bethlen wing

Built in the first half of XVII century old tower between the parties and drummer tower over the walls inside the old ground floor consists of bedroom and living room upstairs. In the nineteenth century was added a gallery, neo-Gothic architecture worked as canons.

 

Knights Hall

Is completed in 1452 and is built in late Gothic style, functionality being the dining room at ocaziifestive, as suggested by typological correspondences in the rural Germans.

Gallery Tower NeBoisa

These parts of the same overall doau innovative defensive, dated in the first half of the fifteenth century Transylvanian ilustreza military art, a trend initiated since the twelfth century crusader knights. NeBoisa called Ensemble (not afraid) consists of a gallery supported by high stone pilasters and a massive tower before, with four levels of defense.

  Old tower gate

The castle served as the first entry in the first half of the seventeenth century, when closed with a circular tower with three levels of defense, called the White Tower, in order to strengthen the defense system on the southeast side of the castle.

  Terrace artierie

Terrace is a purely military construction completed inside XV century, the platform was erected in the early seventeenth century in the time of Prince Gabriel Bethlen

  Administrative Palace

This sector, built on three levels of living, marks the afectta side of restorations, the current appearance is due to the eighteenth century, government officials here being installed mine. Baroque ceilings conserve decorative elements.

 

 

Bran Castle

Located 30 km from Brasov, between Bucegi and Stone Craiului Bran Castle (Vlad the Devil, Dracula, Törzburg German, Hungarian Törcsvár) is an important national monument and landmark in Romania’s tourism, due to both its beauty , the landscape, and the legend of Count Dracula, whose spirit haunts these ancient places.

Bran Castle (in glory – Bran = gate) first appeared in documents in the first reign of Laiota Basarab (1473-1476).

Bran Castle, situated beyond the pass, to Transylvania was built by German Teutonic knight Dietrich, after 1212. Made of wood at first, it is replaced by Germans with one stone, built by 1377 under the reign of King Louis. By the end of the fifteenth century – a century king Vladislav Brasov sold for 1,000 florins with all surrounding land. German name “Torzburg” probably derives from the name Tydricus, as that city was called the sheepfold was built after 1377. The Hungarian name became “Terch” or “Torcs”. Romanian form “Turciu”, first used by Mircea the Old (1413), was kept on behalf Turcu river, which flows near the city.

Built on the steep cliffs of Magura Bran, Bran Castle was originally formed from a defensive position with two rows of walls that closed the pass from the south, of which some fragments have been preserved, low building of the customs office was not kept in shape initial assumption that the old office building was much better than that followed strengthened citadel that contained the actual enclosure wall, dungeon, round tower and the tower gate. Enclosure wall is built of rough stone, limestone, brick portions were then. Wall is shooting holes in the form of rectangles arranged vertically. Only four of these holes (two downstairs and two upstairs) are arranged horizontally
and closed with thick wooden shutter. That kind of shooting holes are found in Rasnov, as well as other cities Rupea peasant in Transylvania.

Dungeon located on the northern side is higher that the rest of the building (it has 4 floors) and is supported by massive stone walls. He has only two rooms and a narrow wooden staircase up to the roof where an observation post. Both curtain dungeon and what it contains, have a line of battlements gradually rounded. Round Tower is today a nearly circular section, but this form dates only from 1593, when the old tower was destroyed by an explosion caused by lightning, will then be rebuilt. This type of towers began to be used only in sec.al fifteenth – century and later, when cities were built in the blind spot. After reconstruction, the tower had the same goal: the ground floor housed gunpowder and the first floor and two rooms were some of which is assumed as one – not to know that – it was in sec. eighteenth – century used as a prison.

Gate tower was replaced in 1622-1625 with rectangular tower. The old gate can be locked with a grill that beams down with the help of pulleys. At the entrance could be reached only with a mobile stairs descended 15 meters to the base rock. In the courtyard, very narrow, the workers dug a deep well in rock nearly 57 m. At the first floor of the tower square, responds in the backyard. So here you can reach a scale wooden furniture. The first room was used as the emergency room and have three shooting holes with wooden shutter and three openings for firearms. Ornamentation old observation tower is still influential Romanian and dates from the time of Gabriel Bethlen.

Dwellings on the northern side, however, are past that period. On the first floor are six rooms: the vestibule, “hall” with fresco ceiling room with ogival vaults, a small kitchen in the first hall gives a second vestibule leads into a vaulted hall ogival windows.

Under the tower stairs, narrow room is a prison that was Fortress. On the second floor is a vestibule, a former kitchen, a small room gives the room the new tower of the gate, a low room with painted beams in the last century Saxon motifs and four windows in deep recesses. Here one can find a small room and give to the wooden gallery courtyard. In the courtyard are two cellars, bread oven and a prison.

Peles Castle

Peles Castle was built at the initiative of the first King of Romania, Carol I, outside the perimeter of Neagului Bridge, city with an area of ​​24 km in 1874, when, at the initiative of the sovereign, the village received the name of Sinaia. A year later, in the center of the first houses are built houses, and in 1876 started construction of the railway Ploiesti – Predeal, which crosses and Sinaia. Simultaneously, between 1873 and 1875 the foundation has been built Peles Castle. Commissioning ceremony of the foundation stone of residence took place in a festive setting on 10/22 August 1875.

Age: 1873 – 1914, on an area of ​​1,000 hectares or estate called Burnt Stone Sinaia, purchased by King Carol I from Eforia Hospital in 1871.

Authors: Architects: Wilhelm von Doderer (1872-1876), professor at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna, Johannes Schultz (1873, project supervisor, Doderer’s assistant, and from 1876 to 1883, chief architect), Émile André Lecomte du Nouy (1890 – 1892), Karel Liman (1896 – 1924), Jean Ernest, contractors, builders and owners of construction materials deposits.

Legal Status: former royal residence (1883 – 1947), nationalized in 1948, the museum in 1953 in 1975 and from 1990 to today, ownership of 2007 His Majesty, King Michael I of Romania and Romanian state-run public institution under the aegis Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

The historical context of the building: Peles Castle was built at the initiative of King Charles I, to serve as a summer residence, invested with political functions, cultural and symbolic. After 1914, Peles Castle has exercised the function of representation and the museum, but not to be lived for six months a year as the founding ruler used. By 1947, space becomes Aulic for official visits to military ceremonies or houses. The most important event in Sinaia and Peles Castle hosted by King Michael’s abdication in December 1947 was linked to celebrate the semi castle in 1933 by King Charles II (1930-1940). From January to March 1948, the castle is closed by order of communist authorities and heritage assets are inventoried. Most of the collections of paintings, furniture, textiles, decorative art pieces and books were transferred to the Museum of Art in the capital. In May of that year, other parts have entered the custody of various cultural institutions in large cities of Romania, Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu, etc.. Since 1953, the castle became the National Museum, open to the public, while other property situated on the Peles, and Pelişor castles, private residence of the royal couple second, Ferdinand I, Mary and Arbour, the former hunting house first king of Romania and residence of the kings Charles II and Michael will become creative and rest houses for writers, artists musicology and approved by the communist regime. Two decades later, in 1975, more critical conservation status of the property determines the extent of its closure and evacuation of a large part of the heritage museum in deposits arranged in an old family mansion Bibescu of Posada, a town located about 20 km south of Sinaia. Between 1966 and 1982, in a former royal castle of dependency, near it, was arranged Museum of Decorative Art (Ceramics), the representative pieces of old harness royal collections. Along with massive work of restoration, the castle houses until 1989, since removal of the communist regime in Romania, a series of visits by heads of state. Since 1990, respectively 1993 and until today, the castles Peles and Pelişor are reopened to visitation. In 2007, after five years of negotiations between the Romanian and the royal house, to reach an agreement, which Peles castle, the castle Pelişor and the whole area consists of former outbuildings royal Peles, have returned the property of King Michael I (1927 -1930, 1940-1947), but continues to be administered by the Romanian state. An exception is the castle Arbour, building inaugurated in 1881. Agreement with the Royal Household, expired in 2009, when the castle in 2010 Pelişor if Peles Castle was again extended.

In 1932, the Watchtower has fallen prey to a devastating fire. It was rebuilt a year later during King Charles II (1930-1940). In the 1970s, the original building and added a new wing and interiors have undergone significant changes. After 1989, the building became the Romanian presidency of the protocol house, a status which continues to hold.

Project implementation period, manufacturers, materials: Peles Castle initial development plans have been entrusted to the architect Wilhelm von Doderer (1825-1900), professor at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna. Doderer submitted three proposals sovereign architectural architecture inspired by French Renaissance castles in the Loire Valley, and in style buildings on the Ringstrasse in Vienna. Projects are rejected by Charles I in 1876 and works management is entrusted to the German architect, Johannes Schultz, who plans elaborate castle in the first phase of construction (1879-1883). Swiss chalet-looking building, composed of two stories proposed by Schultz, was decorated on the outside German-style Fachwerk.

The 1890 is built on the site covered terrace on the south wing, Hall Moors, after the French architect assigned projects, Émile André Lecomte de Nouy, ​​disciple famous French architect, Le Duc Violet.

In 1894, at the head works is called the Czech architect Karel Liman (1860? – 1928). Under his leadership, between 1895-1897 are arranged by Elizabeth Chapel upstairs apartments principeselor of Wied and Hohenzollern on the northern side and mezzanine.

In 1884 electricity network is installed, the castle having a proper generator and the power plant was built in 1897.

Between 1903 – 1906, Liman designs marble gallery, concert hall, music room and bathroom than Queen and arranged rooms on Level II, the first correspondent Attic: Mrs. Mavrogheni room, the great lady of the Palace and the apartments guests from wing north of the castle.

Between 1906-1914, the planning work undertaken outside terraces. In 1906 the castle’s central tower is erected, where a year later was mounted clock with three dials, creation of tower clocks Factory Royal Court of Bavaria, Johann Mannhardt. Also, old music hall are arranged, Hall and Hall Florentina columns, the first place chess rooms and royal living room is extended. Upstairs, on the north wing is built apartment Prime Minister.

Between 1905 – 1906, are designed vast imperial apartment consisting of large hall, lounge, bedroom, Budoir, bathroom and living room apartment princes Jack and heirs, Ferdinand – Mary.

In 1906, there are changes on the ground floor theaters. Also now, the room is adapted to film screenings, by arranging the projection booth. Film equipment was modernized in 1939, the Concordia Society in Bucharest, at the express request of King Charles II.

Between 1908 – 1911, it completed construction of the Halls of weapons, and decorations Florentine Room, the plans of architect Karel Liman and Tiersch Ferdinand, the latter, counselor of King Louis II of Bavaria.

Between 1907 and 1911, hall of honor is arranged instead of the two courtyards, the main reception hall of the castle. The lobby is decorated in German Renaissance style with baroque accents subtle, by Bernhard Ludwig in Vienna, which works closely with the architect Liman. The inspiration of the hall is the Hall of the Palace Fredenhagen Lübeck Chamber of Commerce. In parallel, are built on the ground floor, chess room and billiard room, continuing the Moorish Hall.

Finally, between 1911-1914 is decorated with busts of Roman emperors terrace and the south-east wing is designed by architect Liman Hall Councils and decorator Viennese Bernhard Ludwig. Death of King Charles I on 27 September 1914, marks the end of the vast architectural projects coordinated by the sovereign.

Suppliers of art: Of the major suppliers for the first phase of construction, and Hamburg remember Heymann house workshop led by Bemba in Cologne, Mainz August. Among those who have worked consistently to provide decoration and decorative art pieces for the castle, from 1883 to 1914, he noted Dollitschek Joseph, architect and decorator in Vienna, Anton Pössenbacher in Munich, designer furnishings and furniture and L. Bernheimer, in the same city, a provider of home decoration, furniture, oriental carpets, habitat & Polako in Vienna, like Smyrna carpets suppliers, workshops Zettler of Munich, 1882, the creators of stained glass. These were worked by forty artists and technicians for three years after color sketches made by teachers and Julius E. Widmann Juers. X. F. Barth. The other author of the Peles Castle was stained Zwölfer A., ​​the owner of a famous Viennese shop with branches in Bucharest. Collections of decorative art were established by co-opting some famous western companies of the time: Odiot, in Paris, Eduard Wollenweber, and Paul Telge Munich, Berlin, designers and suppliers of cutlery. They were joined Josef Resch, famous jewelry store in Paris and JA Eysseric, famous manufacturer of furniture in Nuremberg.