Corvin Castle

Corvin Castle

A castle from a fairy tale

In the region of Transylvania, in what is now Romania, stands one of the most spectacular castles in all of Eastern Europe: Corvin Castle, also called Hunyad Castle. With its forest of pointed towers and turrets, its steep coloured roofs, and the long wooden bridge that crosses a deep ravine on tall stone pillars to reach the gate, it looks like the very model of a fairy-tale castle — or, some say, a castle from a vampire story.

The mighty Hunyadi family

The castle's golden age came in the 1400s, when it belonged to one of the most powerful families in the kingdom of Hungary: the Hunyadis. The greatest of them was John Hunyadi, a brilliant general who spent his life defending Christian Europe against the advancing armies of the Ottoman Turks. He won famous victories, and for a time he governed all of Hungary.

John Hunyadi transformed an older fortress into the magnificent Gothic castle we see today, adding grand halls, chapels and the soaring towers that make it so dramatic. His son, Matthias Corvinus, went on to become one of Hungary's greatest kings, and the family's raven emblem — corvus means "raven" in Latin — gives the castle its name of Corvin.

Halls and towers

Inside, Corvin Castle is as impressive as it is from the outside. It has a great Knights' Hall and a Diet Hall, long rooms with rows of columns and high ceilings where ceremonies and councils were held. Spiral staircases climb the towers, and a chapel offered the lords a place to pray. Brightly painted walls and carved stone show how richly the Hunyadis lived.

One of the castle's most famous features is its deep well in the courtyard. According to legend, the well was dug by Turkish prisoners who were promised their freedom if they reached water — but when, after many years of digging, they finally succeeded, the promise was broken, and a sorrowful message was said to have been carved into the well's wall.

Legends of the castle

With its dramatic looks and dark history, Corvin Castle has gathered many legends. Some stories — though without real historical proof — claim that Vlad the Impaler, the cruel prince who helped inspire the tale of Dracula, was once held prisoner here. Such tales, true or not, add to the castle's spooky reputation and draw visitors fascinated by its mysteries.

Fire and restoration

Over the centuries the castle passed through many hands and suffered from neglect and fire, which damaged its roofs and halls. But its importance and beauty were never forgotten, and in modern times it has been extensively restored, with its towers, roofs and halls rebuilt so that it once again looks like the grand fortress of the Hunyadis.

Visiting today

Visitors cross the long bridge over the ravine and pass through the gate into a world of Gothic halls, spiral stairs, towers and the famous deep well. Displays tell the story of John Hunyadi and his family's struggle to defend Europe. Dramatic, beautiful and just a little bit spooky, Corvin Castle is one of the most unforgettable fortresses in all of Europe.