The Royal fortress (the 14th century)
Some researchers place this first stone fortress in the 14th century. There are others that claim this to be a 15th century fortress. This first fortress had an ellipsoidal shape, with pointed, northern and southern extremities. The walls are up to 2 m wide. They were built with dolomite limestone and pebble stone, directly on the native rock. Researches performed before the First World War show that in the northern part of the ellipse was a triangular tower with two rooms of triangular and trapezoidal shape, with analogies in the 13th to 14th centuries France and Germany.
Some researchers place this first stone fortress in the 14th century. There are others that claim this to be a 15th century fortress. This first fortress had an ellipsoidal shape, with pointed, northern and southern extremities. The walls are up to 2 m wide. They were built with dolomite limestone and pebble stone, directly on the native rock. Researches performed before the First World War show that in the northern part of the ellipse was a triangular tower with two rooms of triangular and trapezoidal shape, with analogies in the 13th to 14th centuries France and Germany.
The 15th century castle
After 1440, Ioan of Hunedoara initiated buildings of vast proportions focusing to transform the fortress in a castle, the first stage aiming to erect two curtains around the old fortress, constructed from dolomite-limestone blocks crenellated to the upper part. Circular and rectangular towers, the first ones being an innovation for the military architecture of Transylvania in the 15th century, flanked these curtains. Circular towers (Capistrano Tower, Uninhabited Tower, Drummers’ Tower) except the painted one (Mace Tower) were provided with a storey of solid brick, followed by other two storeys, the lower ones being used as rooms for gunmen and the upper ones as living and/or protection areas. There should be noticed that the Capistrano Tower includes a gothic fireplace (restored), the only one left in the monument in Hunedoara. The painted tower (Mace Tower) has a single protection storey. On the outside this tower is painted in fresco with geometrical motives on the embrasures, with typological correspondence in the German space. The rectangular towers located in the northwestern and the southeastern sides of the castle (the Old Gate Tower, the New Gate Tower) were provided with gatehouses and protection storeys for string weapons and firearms. The entrances in the castle were done over drawbridges, supported by stone pillars. A very interesting place in the castle is the well, dug between the old and the new curtain wall. It is generally admitted that the first stage of construction was finished before 1446, when Ioan of Hunedoara, now the Governor of the Hungarian Kingdom, decided to transform the fortress into a castle, a residence that would show the Governor’s new social status. One of the most interesting buildings of this stage is the Chapel, located on eastern side of the castle. The precinct is rectangular and is preceded by a narthex. Above the narthex there is a platform supported by hexagonal pillars. The constructive particularities of the altar, found again at other clerical buildings of this area are related to the local Gothic architecture. The proper palace, located on the western side, consists of the Knight’s Hall, the Council Hall and the winding staircase. This is an unique example of civil architecture and high refinement in the Transylvanian area. Both halls have a rectangular plane; they were divided in two precincts with five octagonal marble pillars, with arches and bedecked arms that belong to the late Gothic style. The functionality of these halls is suggested by the typological correspondences in Germany, respectively festive mess hall for the Knight’s Hall and solemnities’ hall for the Council Hall. A special place in the castle is the Gallery of the Huniads, an unique element of civil architecture in Transylvania, with analogies in Germany. This gallery is located on the western side of the Council Hall. An important military system is the Gallery and the Nje Boisia Tower (Don’t be afraid!). The Serbian mercenaries that protected the castle during king Matia Corvin’s time probably gave this name. The Nje Boisia tower consists of 5 defensive storeys, all of them provided with embrasures. The connection of the tower with the castle is provided by a suspended gallery, more than 33 m long supported on massive pillars of limestone.
After 1440, Ioan of Hunedoara initiated buildings of vast proportions focusing to transform the fortress in a castle, the first stage aiming to erect two curtains around the old fortress, constructed from dolomite-limestone blocks crenellated to the upper part. Circular and rectangular towers, the first ones being an innovation for the military architecture of Transylvania in the 15th century, flanked these curtains. Circular towers (Capistrano Tower, Uninhabited Tower, Drummers’ Tower) except the painted one (Mace Tower) were provided with a storey of solid brick, followed by other two storeys, the lower ones being used as rooms for gunmen and the upper ones as living and/or protection areas. There should be noticed that the Capistrano Tower includes a gothic fireplace (restored), the only one left in the monument in Hunedoara. The painted tower (Mace Tower) has a single protection storey. On the outside this tower is painted in fresco with geometrical motives on the embrasures, with typological correspondence in the German space. The rectangular towers located in the northwestern and the southeastern sides of the castle (the Old Gate Tower, the New Gate Tower) were provided with gatehouses and protection storeys for string weapons and firearms. The entrances in the castle were done over drawbridges, supported by stone pillars. A very interesting place in the castle is the well, dug between the old and the new curtain wall. It is generally admitted that the first stage of construction was finished before 1446, when Ioan of Hunedoara, now the Governor of the Hungarian Kingdom, decided to transform the fortress into a castle, a residence that would show the Governor’s new social status. One of the most interesting buildings of this stage is the Chapel, located on eastern side of the castle. The precinct is rectangular and is preceded by a narthex. Above the narthex there is a platform supported by hexagonal pillars. The constructive particularities of the altar, found again at other clerical buildings of this area are related to the local Gothic architecture. The proper palace, located on the western side, consists of the Knight’s Hall, the Council Hall and the winding staircase. This is an unique example of civil architecture and high refinement in the Transylvanian area. Both halls have a rectangular plane; they were divided in two precincts with five octagonal marble pillars, with arches and bedecked arms that belong to the late Gothic style. The functionality of these halls is suggested by the typological correspondences in Germany, respectively festive mess hall for the Knight’s Hall and solemnities’ hall for the Council Hall. A special place in the castle is the Gallery of the Huniads, an unique element of civil architecture in Transylvania, with analogies in Germany. This gallery is located on the western side of the Council Hall. An important military system is the Gallery and the Nje Boisia Tower (Don’t be afraid!). The Serbian mercenaries that protected the castle during king Matia Corvin’s time probably gave this name. The Nje Boisia tower consists of 5 defensive storeys, all of them provided with embrasures. The connection of the tower with the castle is provided by a suspended gallery, more than 33 m long supported on massive pillars of limestone.
The second stage of construction ended
ended at the same time with the death of Ioan of Hunedoara. More works were initiated after 1458, in the northern
side of the castle, the Matia Loggia. Here the visitor can still see the only laic fresco in the 15th century
Transylvania.
It is generally admitted that the completion of the castle works is around 1480, the monument being compared with castles of Western Europe as proportion and pomp.
The castle in the 16th century It is generally admitted that the completion of the castle works is around 1480, the monument being compared with castles of Western Europe as proportion and pomp.
Only a few civil constructions are related to this period of time and were identified in the area of the Old Gate Tower during the latest restoration works.
The castle in the 17th century
In the 17th century, prince Gabriel Bethlen modifies some parts of the castle according to the spirit of those times, as required the civil and military needs. On the eastern side, on old foundations was constructed a building body called the Big Palace facing the Town. This palace is built on two storeys, respectively living rooms and a dining room. The Council Hall was re-arranged by dismantling the entire Gothic stone architecture and rethinking its compartmentalization, thus resulting rooms with different functionality. At this new first storey was painted a fresco depicting noble men and an image of the castle at that time. Gabriel Bethlen has changed the interior aspect of the Chapel significantly. The Gothic arches were removed; the windows were transformed in rectangular ones by burying their upper part in rubble stone. A passage that connected the Bethlen wing and the Matia loggia was opened at the second storey of this chapel. The White Tower and the Artillery Terrace represent the military works. The latest tower mentioned herein has a semi-circular shape, and it is provided with 3 defense storeys supported by wooden beams and embrasures for firearms. The Artillery Terrace is an opened platform for heavy firearms.
The Hussars’ Yard was also built in the 17th century. It was a space that sheltered the houses of the administrator, of the clerk, greyhounds’ stable and storehouses for food and hay.
In the 17th century, prince Gabriel Bethlen modifies some parts of the castle according to the spirit of those times, as required the civil and military needs. On the eastern side, on old foundations was constructed a building body called the Big Palace facing the Town. This palace is built on two storeys, respectively living rooms and a dining room. The Council Hall was re-arranged by dismantling the entire Gothic stone architecture and rethinking its compartmentalization, thus resulting rooms with different functionality. At this new first storey was painted a fresco depicting noble men and an image of the castle at that time. Gabriel Bethlen has changed the interior aspect of the Chapel significantly. The Gothic arches were removed; the windows were transformed in rectangular ones by burying their upper part in rubble stone. A passage that connected the Bethlen wing and the Matia loggia was opened at the second storey of this chapel. The White Tower and the Artillery Terrace represent the military works. The latest tower mentioned herein has a semi-circular shape, and it is provided with 3 defense storeys supported by wooden beams and embrasures for firearms. The Artillery Terrace is an opened platform for heavy firearms.
The Hussars’ Yard was also built in the 17th century. It was a space that sheltered the houses of the administrator, of the clerk, greyhounds’ stable and storehouses for food and hay.
The castle in the 19th century
This moment coincides with the most important restoration works done in the castle. It is now that the neogothic gallery and the monumental staircase were added to the Bethlen Palace and the roofs were built much higher than the original ones and were covered with glazed tiles. A line of crenels and a supervision tower were added to the Artillery Platform, aiming to increase the monument’s attractiveness. During this first stage of restoration work a lot of decorative stone elements were removed and replaced with new ones in accordance with the specific rules of those historical times.
This moment coincides with the most important restoration works done in the castle. It is now that the neogothic gallery and the monumental staircase were added to the Bethlen Palace and the roofs were built much higher than the original ones and were covered with glazed tiles. A line of crenels and a supervision tower were added to the Artillery Platform, aiming to increase the monument’s attractiveness. During this first stage of restoration work a lot of decorative stone elements were removed and replaced with new ones in accordance with the specific rules of those historical times.