We visited the Rupea Fortress a number of years ago, before the restoration work began. Now the work is complete and it’s amazing to see the difference. We visited it recently and took another set of photos. Those are coming soon. In the meantime, here is a set of the photos taken back when it was still falling apart.

There’s a lot of history packed into that hilltop where the fortress is built. Archeological digs found evidence of settlements dating back to 5500-3500 BC. When Romania was known as Dacia, before it was conquered and colonized by the Romans, the place was known as Rumidava. Afterward, it became known as Rupes, from the basaltic rock of the hill where it’s built. When the Saxons colonized Transilvania, the fortress became known as Castrum Kuholm, the word “kuholm” refering once again to the same basaltic rock. There is more information here, should you be interested.

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

Outside the Rupea Fortress

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

The Rupea Fortress before the restoration work, Rupea, Romania

I hope you enjoyed the photos! I took them with my Canon EOS 5D and the EF 24-105mm f/4L lens.

Canon EOS 5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens