Citadel

Sighişoara


Sighişoara's delightful medieval buildings are enclosed within its citadel, a Unesco-listed complex of protective walls and watchtowers. Walking in the citadel is today a tranquil, fairy-tale-like experience, but these towers were once packed with weapons and emergency supplies, guarding Sighişoara from Turkish attacks (note the upper windows from which arrows could be fired).

From the 14th to 16th centuries each of the 14 towers and five artillery bastions was managed by a different town guild, and the walls extended 903m. Surviving today are nine towers and two bastions.

Dating from the 16th century, the Bootmakers' Tower was a key point of defence from the northern end. Just south, the Tailors' Tower was built to guard over the back entrance to the citadel. As with many of the buildings here, the tower was engulfed in a massive fire in 1676 and rebuilt afterwards. On the eastern edge of the citadel is the Blacksmiths' Tower, a pointy-roofed watchtower dating from 1631. Finally, the southerly (and top-heavy) Tinsmiths' Tower is one of the most easily recognisable in the citadel, both for its height (25m) and its octagonal upper level. A siege in 1704 left scars in the building that are visible to this day.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sighişoara attractions

1. Piaţa Cetăţii

0.02 MILES

Gem-sized Piaţa Cetăţii is the heart of old Sighişoara. It was here that markets, craft fairs, public executions, impalings and witch trials were held.

2. Casa Vlad Dracul

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Vlad Ţepeş (aka Dracula) was reputedly born in this house in 1431 and lived here until the age of four. It's now a decent restaurant, but for a small…

3. Tailors' Tower

0.05 MILES

This tower was built to guard over the back entrance to the citadel. As with many of the buildings here, the tower was engulfed in a massive fire in 1676…

4. Statue of Vlad Ţepeş

0.06 MILES

Behind the Church of the Dominican Monastery is a Statue of Vlad Ţepeş (sometimes known as 'The Impaler'), showing the legend with a bewildered look and…

5. Church of the Dominican Monastery

0.07 MILES

This late-Gothic church has a spooky air, and guards a trove of baroque finery inside. First mentioned in 1298, the church was rebuilt between 1482 and…

6. Clock Tower

0.07 MILES

The multicoloured-tiled roof of Sighişoara’s Clock Tower glitters like the scales of a dragon. The tower was built in the 14th century and expanded 200…

8. Roman Catholic Church

0.09 MILES

Built in 1896, after the demolition of the Franciscan convent, St Joseph's thoroughly modern appearance owes to a fire and complete restoration carried…