Today we traveled a bit more than we would have preferred (see map below in yellow) but we wanted to visit one particular building that is on many “Top 10 in Europe” list of must see castles

Castelul Corvinilor – very much in the fairy tale style of things.

Construction began in 1446 when this area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.  Constructed over the site of an older fortification on a rock above the smaller Zlaști River, the castle is an imposing structure with tall towers, bastions, an inner courtyard, fancily coloured roofs, and myriad windows and balconies adorned with stone carvings. The castle also features a double wall for enhanced fortification and is flanked by both rectangular and circular towers.

There is scaffolding on the elevated passageway to the main entrance.. construction goes on in the off season to get everything pretty when the tourists return in the spring.

They also had plenty of cells and basements for jails and torture rooms.

And then after a good round of torturing, you could head up to the chapel to wash away your sins.

One of two main halls that was used for “feasting and meetings”.

For a period, this room is where Saint John of Capestrano (of the Californian San Juan de Capestranos).. known then by his Hungarian name “Kapisztrán János”. He earned himself the nickname “the Soldier Saint” when in 1456 at age 70 he led a Crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire at the siege of Belgrade with the Hungarian military commander John Hunyadi – who was the owner of this castle.

View of the city of Hunedoara from the tallest tower – overall we thought that the nearby town was pretty ugly and undeveloped.

Late lunch after a full afternoon of castle touring.  Brenda is looking through the menu with a pretty decent view over her left shoulder.  This place was large and pretty much fully accessible.  Brenda and I enjoyed being able to wander about and explore passages and stairways and rooms without guidance or crowds – it gave our visit here a feeling of “exploring” and never knowing what might be right around the corner.