Cetatea Poenari

Poenari Fortress rises on a rocky crest of the Fagaras Mountains, above the Arges Valley near Curtea de Arges, and is regarded as one of the true strongholds of Vlad the Impaler. Originally raised in the thirteenth century and reinforced by the Wallachian ruler in the fifteenth century with the labour of prisoners, the fortress served for defence and refuge, in a strategic and hard-to-reach position. Today the fortress preserves walls, towers and fragments of walls that evoke medieval times.

Access is by climbing more than fifteen hundred steps through a dense forest, an effort rewarded by the spectacular view over the mountains and the nearby Vidraru Lake. Poenari Fortress is closely tied to the legends of Dracula and draws many visitors eager to discover the authentic history behind these stories, within an impressive mountain setting that makes the climb worthwhile.