Cetatea Mălăieşti

Romania, Romania

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Cetatea Mălăiești, located in the village of Mălăiești within Sălașu de Sus commune in Hunedoara County, Romania, at the foot of the Retezat Mountains, is a medieval fortress constructed in the late 14th century by the Romanian noble family Sărăcin. It began as a square donjon tower about 11-12 meters high with thick walls, narrow windows for archers, and multiple levels serving as residence, defense, prison, kitchen, and guard quarters, later enclosed by an irregular oval curtain wall raised to 8.5 meters with a sentry path, battlements, four polygonal towers added by 1588, and contraforts. Active until the 17th century when it was abandoned after the last Sărăcin heir's death and damaged in conflicts like the 18th-century Kuruc uprising, the ruins were restored around 2012-2015 with European funds into a tourist site featuring a museum with recreated medieval artifacts, observation platform, and paved access paths.