Bologa Fortress

Bologa, Romania, Romania

---

Bologa Fortress in Bologa, Romania, is a well-preserved medieval stronghold dating to the late 13th century, strategically positioned on a hill overlooking the Crișul Repede Valley near the Cluj County border to guard the vital Oradea-Transylvania trade route. First documented in 1319 as a royal Hungarian fortress possibly built earlier, it features a distinctive circular donjon tower—one of Transylvania's few surviving examples—along with curtain walls, quadrilateral towers, two multi-level bastions with rifle ports and vaults, and a barbican for defense. Donated to Wallachian Prince Mircea the Elder by King Sigismund in 1399 for anti-Ottoman aid, it repelled Turkish advances in the 17th century before destruction by Habsburg labanc mercenaries around 1703-1711 during Rákóczi's uprising to prevent capture, leaving dramatic ruins now under rehabilitation.