Welcome to Deva Citadel
Location:
Deva
Address:
Between the Stadium and Citadel Park, Deva City, Hunedoara County
Date of construction:
1250 – 1260
Opening hours:
Anytime
Cable way opening hours:
1st of May – 30th of September
09.00 – 21.00
1st of October – 30th of April
08.00 – 20.00
Prices:
Free
Cable way prices:
Adult ticket round trip: 10 RON
Adult ticket one way: 6 RON
Children, pupils, students, pensioners round trip: 5 RON
Children, pupils, students, pensioners one way: 3 RON
Telephone:
+40 254 220288
How to get here:
By car:
Situated on the north part of Deva City, you can get here faster by car from the European road E68/E79 or DN7. Follow the post signs towards Deva Citadel or Citadel Stadium situated on the bottom of the hill where the citadel is situated. The streets around citadel are Stadium Street where you can find also the bottom of the cable car and Octavian Iosif Street from where the trekking trail starts.
By train:
You can get in Deva train station from any point of the country because is an important railway junction of Romania. Follow the routes recommended in Deva article.
By means of transport:
The easiest and fastest way if you don’t have a car is to take a cab from the train station or wherever you are in the city. You can also walk from the train station because is only 1 km to go (around 15 minutes).
Deva Citadel (Fortress)
History of Deva Citadel:
Deva Citadel or Fortress is situated at an altitude of 371 m, on the citadel hill from the north part of Deva City. Here you can get very easy even walking if you start from the train or bus station. The citadel had always a defensive role and its construction begun in the XI century. However, the main part of the edifice was built between 1250 and 1260 during the Hungarian reign of Bela the 4th. During many centuries the citadel was a protection for citizens, even passengers, traders or soldiers against the Tatar invasions. So, crossing of Carpathians on Mureş Valley was always defended. Before XVII century here was also the feudal residence of the Transylvanian rulers.
View over Deva City seen from the citadel
However after several Tatar invasions, Deva Citadel was conquered in 1557 by Great Suliman sultan and his Tatar army. Since then it also had a prison role and since XVII century it was in the Hapsburg possession. If the Tatar invasions weren’t enough, at the end of XVIII century the citadel had to resist against serfs and miners invasions. After it was restored for many times and after it passed through many nations, Deva Citadel was conquered by Hungarians in the XIX century when was almost completely destroyed by a powerful explosion in 1849. (Find more journeys on blog.worldlifetimejourneys.com) Since then until the beginning of the XXI century, the fortress remained destroyed, but today is a very popular ruin.
A wall from Deva Fortress’s ruins, Hunedoara County
From the importance point of view, Deva Fortress is considered one of the most beautiful and important medieval citadels in Transylvania. During time through here passed or had their residence important personalities like Roland Borsa, Ladislau Kan, Ladislau V, Ioan of Hunedoara, Ferenc Geszthy, Soliman the Great, Cristofor Bathory, Gheorghe Racoczi I and many others. Most of them are hungarian which show that the citadel and also Transylvania was long time under Hungarian domination. From tourist point of view, the citadel offers you a beautiful view over Deva City.
What to do and how to get to Deva Citadel (Fortress):
For those with a good physical condition, a walk from Citadel Park to Deva Fortress can be a good occasion for adventure and fun, a good occasion to keep you fit and health. The last renovation dates back from 1950 since the actual ruins were preserved and the access to citadel was relieved. Starting in 2003 it was built a cable car to get easier from the base of the hill to citadel and in 2005 renovation works started because the town hall has a serious plan to restore the citadel. Due to the poor condition nowadays, the access in citadel is free, however please keep it clean and don’t climb its ruins. Visit Devei Citadel!
Deva Citadel, an old very important center of the city
