PALACE „IULIA HASDEU”

Built between 1893-1896 by Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu in memory of her daughter Iulia. In 1888 Iulia died at early age of 19 years of tuberculosis. Legend says that Hasdeu used to come here to communicate through spiritism with him daughter. Above entrance is located the inscription "E pur si muove". Iulia’s name is etched on every seat of stone in front of the building and in the middle of the building there is a painted wood carving of Jesus Christ made by french sculptor Casciani. Behind them is situated Iulia’s bust.

TIRGOVISTE FORTRESS

The Royal Court represents an overall construction of the centuries XV-XVIII. The first royal house with precinct, with towers, of which we can see today a part of the old walls and basement, was built by Mircea the Old. The rulers that followed have added new ones, have renovated or expanded existing buildings. Thus, during the reign of Vlad the Impaler (1456-1462) was built Chindia Tower (27 meters in height, with 122 steps), with role of defense, and Peter Cercel (1583-1585) built a second royal house (a building with floors) and the Royal Church, between the years 1396-1698. For over three centuries it was the royal residence and throne for 33 voivodes, starting with Mircea the Old and ending with Constantin Brancoveanu.

PALACE BRAN

On 19 November 1377 hungarian king Louis I of Anjou granted brasovean people the privilege to build a fortress. Built on a tor and situated between Hill Fortress and Magura, its position ensured a great strategic advantage to both the valley and the hills of Moeciu as well as to Barsa country. In the first months of the year 1459, Vlad Tepes army penetrate through Bran, the wallachian prince, who attack Brasov burning suburbs and the old church of Bartholomew, action done after a commercial dispute that wallachian prince the had with merchants from Brasov.
In the year 1529 when Laudat, the commander of wallachian armies, trying to pass in Transylvania to help John Zapolya, met with the Bran fortress garnisone’s resistance, led by John Hock, the owner of the castel. Although the siege lasted several days, Bran fortress could not be conquered. The following year Bran fortress hold out against Mehmed Beg and stop the turks penetrate Transilvania. The son of Mihai the Brave, Nicolae Patrascu in 1600 intending to punish the brasovean people, which started a revolt against the wallachian lord authority, attempted to enter throu Bran in the Barsa country but unsuccessfully, being forced to retreat. The economic policy and the military strategy of habsburg authority in the XVIIIth century, led to the limitation of the castle Bran role, hindered brasovean people in their commerce with Wallachia, even preventing the lords from exercising their prerogatives on the territory of Bran. However the XIXth century brought the decline of the last military prerogatives of Castle Bran. Because of battle tactics changes and the generalization of fire arms performance, Bran Castle could be no longer an eficient security guard of the border line and in 1836 together with the removal of Transylvania borders with Wallachia up in the mountain, in Pajura, Bran Castle lost the role of customs office of the Austrian state and also the control of the transit trade in the area.
Due to the imminence of the forthcoming Russo-Romanian-Turkish war in 1877, the Austrian army occupied the fortress of Bran, replacing the roof, (easily exposed to air raids) with fag(g)ots, action that damaged it seriously.
The city of Brasov asked Austrian authorities to restore the fortress.They have accepted to support the cost of repairs made between 1883-1886, and at 22 July 1888 the austrians handed over Bran Castle to Brasov.
Shortly however, Brasov city donates the fortress to the forest Office of Brasov. Since that time it was lived by foresters from Bran and temporarily, in several official rooms, special decorated, forest inspectors from Brasov.

RISNOV FORTRESS

Built in the XIII century, the first documentary mention is dated in 1335. It is one of the greatest peasant fortresses who helped defend the inhabitants of Barsa country for several centuries. The fortress preserved the ruins of over 30 houses designed to shelter the inhabitants of the settlement or their goods. The fortresses is located at a height of 500m which resulted in the construction of a connecting well with a depth of 146m. Legend says that the well would have been digged by the turkish prisoners 17 years, who carved koran verses in the walls of the well.

PALACE PELES

Peles Castle was built in several stages 1873-1883 (first floor), and between the years 1896-1914 (floor II), by Carol I of Hohenzolleren - the first king of Romania (1866 - 1914) in German Renaissance style, after Viennese architect Wilhelm von Doderer and the german Johann Schultz of Lemberg (Lovov) plans, with the transformations and gothic addings made by the czech architect Karel Liman between the years 1896 to 1914.
160 rooms incites our look the style is evidently predominat german but combines well with the french, turkish, italian renaissance, austrian styles, the central tower has a height of 66 m. Built of wood, stone and marble on the banks of river Peles, the castle has 7 terraces designed in the style of late Italian Renaissance. Architects have used plenty of wood both inside and outside this offering an absolutely great appearance!

AIUD FORTRESS

Aiud Fortress is a major medieval site of the region. The fortress with 1.2 meters walls and towers is alleged, according to recent archeological discoveries, to be built on the site of an ancient Dacian-Roman fortress dating from III century. In building the architectural complex are known two phases of construction. In the first phase the XIV century fortress was actually a fortified church similar to transylvanian churches. The second phase of construction of the fortress took place during the centuries XVI-XVII. The current shape of the fortress was defined in the second phase of construction when the walls were extended. The defence was increased by the water groove which surrounded the fortress in the outside. The towers were put into the care of artisan’s guilds, which had military obligations, of guild’s masters were choosed the military commanders – so called "officers of guild". So there were, butchers, tailors, shoemakers and potters towers - rectangular shape, curriers - with seven sides, as well as those of furriers and locksmith - with five sides. On the western side it still can be found a small tower called "Kalendas", which was in the care of St. Spirit Association. The link between the adjacent towers was managed by the guard way behind the parapet. Inside the towers the access to higher levels was done by wooden staircases.

PALACE MOGOSOAIA

Mogoşoaia Palace was built between 1698-1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu in romanian renaissance architectural style or Brancovan style, a combination of venetian elements with ottoman elements.
The palace was named after master’s Mogos widow’s name who owned the land on which it was built. The palace was renovated during 1920 by Martha Bibescu. She received it as gift from her husband George Valentin Bibesco. For its renovation, Martha Bibescu spent a large part of the wealth she collected from the books she has written. Later, the palace became a meeting place for politicians and the good world of ’30s. Presently Mogoşoaia Palace hosts the Museum of Brancovan art and is an important point of tourist attraction. One of the characteristics is the wide, open porch, with archways. The decorations applied or carved in stone representing floral motifs are of easten inspiration.
After the execution of Brâncoveanu (together with his five sons) in Stambul, because they refused to convert to Mohammedanism, the palace becomes for a short period turkish khan and its architecture suffers a lot as a result of the Ottoman attacks during XVIII century.