CorvinCastle

Corvin Castle

Cross over the drawbridge of Corvin Castle and pass into a world full of history and legend, marvel at the high vaulted ceilings of the Knight’s Hall, take in the austere beauty of the chapel, and finally venture out into the courtyard and peer down nearly 100 feet into the castle well while pondering the meaning of its mysterious inscription.

Trips available from Cluj or Sibiu.

Private trips (up to 4 ppl) with premium sedan, price per car.
One way 180€ | Round trip 220 €

Without question, Corvin Castle, sometimes referred to as the Hunedoara Castle, is the most stunning of all of Transylvania’s castles and is a must see for visitors to the region.

Construction on this gothic structure was first begun by Hunyadi János in 1446 when he began to transform the fortified tower first erected by King Charles I of Hungary into an actual castle. As time passed, later fortifications were added by Hunyadi Mátyás and Bethlen Gábor. The structure has been beautifully preserved and features a Knight’s Hall, the Council Room and a chapel, high buttresses, inner courtyards, a breathtaking drawbridge and over 50 rooms containing medieval art and furniture.

Corvin Castle is truly a place where history meets legend. Like most castles and fortified cities and churches in Transylvania, Corvin Castle served to protect Tranyslvania and greater Europe from ongoing invasions by the Ottoman Empire.

As such, part of Corvin Castle functioned as a prison with much of the work on the castle being carried out by Turkish prisoners. Visitors to the castle courtyard will find a well which boasts a depth of nearly 100 feet. Legend has it that it was dug by three Turkish prisoners who were promised freedom if they ever reached water. Although they dug for 15 years until they finally found water, their captors failed to keep their promise. Legend says that an inscription on the wall means “You have water, but not soul.”

Some have also said that Corvin Castle was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for his timeless novel Dracula. Although most experts say that this is clearly conjecture, visitors will have to sort history from imagination and fact from fiction as they explore the chambers of this ancient castle.

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About

At Transylvania Driver, we match your trip
to your individual style and your personal needs.

We realize that travelers come in many shapes and sizes. There are those who are flexible explorers who like to make spontaneous decisions as they go and there are others who like to know just what they will do ahead of time and what to expect.

Add a Stop

There are so many beautiful places to see and explore in Transylvania, why not add one of the following stops to your trip.

The Fortress of Deva

Breathe in the fresh air and imagine those who stood on the same ground, their eyes always gazing into the distance, and their minds and bodies ready for battle.

Often called the Key to the Mureș, the Fortress of Deva is located atop an inactive volcanic hill in the Western Carpathians. As with many places in Transylvania, Deva Fortress is alive with both history and legend.

Constructed during the 13 century, it was a powerful position of defense against the invasions waged by the Ottoman Empire. A walk through and around the fortress is like stepping back in time hundreds of years. As was the case with many fortresses, Deva Fortress also served as a prison. It was here that the founder of Unitarian theology, Ference Dávid, was imprisoned until his death in 1579.

As for legends, it is even said that there are underground tunnels connecting it to Corvin Castle.

Visitors can access what remains of the fortress either by a half hour walk or by means of a cable-car. The stunning views from atop the hill make it a must see!

Alba Iulia

After a tour of the Alba Carolina Fortress, have lunch at one of Alba Iulia’s many restaurants. No matter what kind of food you are in the mood for, Alba Iulia has an abundance of amazing restaurants with everything from burgers and pizza to traditional Romanian food, all the way to fine dining. Finish off the day with a tour of the beautiful Dumbrava Monastery and gardens.

Located to the south-east of the Apuseni Mountains and to the west of the Transylvanian Basin, the land surrounding Alba Iulia has a gentle climate which is perfect for growing grapes and producing wine. Its location also marked it as a point of military interest serving as a military stronghold to the various people groups who have inhabited the area including the Dacians, Romans, Hungarians, and of course, Romanians. However, it wasn’t until the eighteenth century when the Alba Carolina Fortress was built that the city, as it appears today, began to really grow in importance.

Built by the Austro-Hungarian empire, the citadel had three fortification layers, six gates and a number of bastions. It contained everything needed to maintain a garrison of up to 10,000 soldiers including wells, warehouses for food storage, and its own sewage system. The citadel itself is decorated with many sculptures and bas-relief scenes depicting the wars fought against the Ottoman Empire. It is a must see for visitors to Alba Iulia who can take a walk around the fortress and explore the many corridors and hidden areas. A number of elevated areas inside the Citadel offer excellent photographic opportunities including panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Another lovely point of interest is the Dubrava Monastery which is located just outside of Alba Iulia. Its interior comes alive with paintings which completely cover the walls and ceilings. Afterwards, visitors can take in fresh air as they explore the monastery gardens which not only include beautiful trees and plants, but a lovely bridge made of cherry wood and a small petting zoo.

Do you remember that I said this is a region famous for its wine? For the wine lovers among us, a wine tasting stop at the Vinoteca Huga can also be arranged.

The Village of Rimetea

Explore the streets of Rimetea and take a walk back in time. Experience what an Austro-Hungarian village of the nineteenth century would have looked like including a visit to a working watermill and an ethnographic museum followed by a lunch of traditional foods at the famous Székelykő Kuria Panzió.

Tucked into the Western Carpathian Mountains, Rimetea is considered by many to be among the must see places to visit in Transylvania. The village first dates back to the thirteenth century. Rich in iron ore, it was a center of mining and blacksmithing for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village of Rimetea is characterized by its unique white stone houses adorned with green shutters. These are traditional Hungarian and Székely styles which were built in the nineteenth century and are representative of the village’s population which, even today, is largely Hungarian. It is interesting to note that many of the original buildings were burned to the ground during a large fire that occurred in 1870 and then subsequently rebuilt in the same style. On a lighter note, don’t forget to sample the delicious fried dough topped with cinnamon and sugar known as kürtös kalács.

Sample itineraries

Here are two sample itineraries for those

who prefer more of a fixed schedule:

Want to see what a day traveling with us can look like?
Here are two sample itineraries, one that includes a single destination, while the other has an additional stop en route to the destination city.

Check here a sample itinerary which includes
only a day trip to Corvin Castle:

Day trip to Corvin Castle

Day trip to Corvin Castle

Check here a sample itinerary which includes
only a day trip to Corvin Castle:

9 am Depart from Cluj.*

11 am Arrive at Corvin Castle in Hunedoara.

11 am - 1 pm

Cross the wooden drawbridge and watch history and legend come alive as you explore Corvin Castle.

1 pm - 2 pm

Enjoy lunch at nearby Werk Restaurant which features traditional Romanian and European food.

2 pm Depart for Cluj.*

4 pm Arrive in Cluj.*

See sample itinerary

Corvin Castle + 1 Added Stop

Check here a sample itinerary which includes a day trip to Corvin Castle plus an added stop to the Deva Fortress:

9 am Depart from Cluj.*

11 am Arrive at Corvin Castle in Hunedoara.

11 am - 1 pm

Cross the wooden drawbridge and watch history and legend come alive as you explore Corvin Castle.

1 pm - 2 pm

Enjoy lunch at nearby Werk Restaurant which features both traditional Romanian and European food.

2 pm Depart for Deva Fortress.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Either walk or take the cable car up to Deva Fortress and marvel at the ruins of this fortress on the hill and gaze out at the spectacular views it affords.

4 pm Depart for Cluj.*

6 pm Arrive in Cluj.*

See sample itinerary

Of course, for those who like more freedom and flexibility.
Feel free to explore the city as you like, either with us as tour guides, or on your own.

The above are only examples of possible trips.
We partner with you to create an itinerary which works for you.

*Although the sample itinerary uses Cluj as a departure point, trips can be arranged from most Transylvanian cities including Sibiu, Sighișoara, and Oradea, with both one way and round trip trips available.

Maps

For our maps lovers, we are including some helpful maps below:

Map of Hunedoara county with its many touristic attractions

Corvin Castle / Hunedoara and the Surrounding Areas on My Maps which include all of stops which you can add onto your Corvin Castle day Trip

Not seeing the perfect trip yet?

Work with us to design your dream trip.

DESIGN MY CUSTOM TRIP

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