POENARI FORTRESS – 750 YEARS OF HISTORY
The historical origins of Poenari Fortress are lost in history, and it is not known with certainty who built it and in what year. It is known for sure that it was constructed in multiple stages.
The first stage probably took place in the 13th century, around 1250, when the donjon tower, located at the entrance of the fortress, was built. The builder of this tower was likely Negru Voda, the founder of Wallachia. In the second stage, in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the fortress was rebuilt and fortified, first by Vlad Dracul and then by his son Vlad the Impaler. However, the most significant association of Poenari Fortress is with Vlad the Impaler, who, after becoming the ruler of Wallachia, completely restored the fortress.
To rebuild it, Vlad the Impaler used the nobles from the Danesti faction and the townspeople from Targoviste who were planning to rebel against him. He commanded them:
“Nobles and coconuts, lords and ladies, you who have schemed my death in your courts, behold that nest of vultures. Up there, let a stone fortress rise until the Sunday of Unbelief, let the sun shine upon its forehead.”
It was in Poenari Fortress that Vlad the Impaler retreated to fight against the Turks. Besieged, bombarded by Turkish cannons from the neighboring hill and left without water, Vlad the Impaler decided to retreat to Transylvania.
Legends say that Vlad the Impaler managed to escape to Transylvania with the help of the villagers from Aref, who guided him through the mountain trails to Transylvania. To deceive the pursuing Turks, they reversed the horseshoes on the horses’ hooves.
For these deeds, in the following reign, Vlad the Impaler granted the villagers from Aref nine mountains to govern.
Throughout time, Poenari Fortress has provided shelter for several Romanian rulers. Not only Vlad the Impaler used Poenari Fortress, but also Radu from Afumati and Michael the Brave.
Here, at Poenari Fortress, the children and wife of Michael the Brave sought refuge during battles between Michael the Brave and the Turkish troops.
After the year 1600, due to earthquakes, significant parts of the fortress collapsed, and the rulers of that time decided not to reconstruct it.
