Rupea Citadel

Rupea, Romania, Romania

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Rupea Citadel in Rupea, Romania, is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the country, with human settlements dating back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods around 5500-3500 BC, later built by Transylvanian Saxons atop a Dacian fort on a 120-meter basalt hill. First documented in 1324 during a Saxon revolt against Hungarian King Charles I, it features a unique ascending spiral layout across three levels: the upper citadel from the 10th-13th centuries with Bacon’s Tower and a 59-meter-deep fountain dug in 1623; the 15th-century middle citadel enlarged in the 18th century, including the unique pentagonal Tower with Bars, a chapel restored in 1718; and the lower citadel from the 18th century with a watchman's house and warehouse. Strategically linking Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia, it served as a refuge during invasions and is now a UNESCO-recognized site celebrated for its well-preserved Gothic medieval architecture and panoramic views.