Suceava fortress
Suceava fortress
Suceava Fortress is a medieval fortress located at the eastern edge of Suceava (in northeastern Romania). It is located on a terminal spur of a plateau at a height of 70 m from the Suceava meadow. From here, you can see the entire valley of Suceava. It is preferred to use the name of the Suceava Citadel and not that of the Suceava Fortress, because in Suceava there were two fortresses: The Citadel and The Western Fortress (Şcheia Fortress), both of which were built by the ruler Peter I Muşat (1375-1391).
Suceava Citadel was part of the system of fortifications built in Moldova at the end of the 14th century, when the Ottoman danger appeared. The medieval fortification system consisted of fortified settlements (royal courtyards, monasteries with high walls, and strategically important citadels) for defense purposes, reinforced with stone walls, earth waves or a thick pit.
Suceava Fortress is made up of several components. Between the fortress and the rest of the plateau there is a defense ditch, whose walls from the plateau on the eastern side were reinforced with a counter-carp. Such a construction also existed on the south side, but it collapsed. A wave of artificial defense was built on the west and southwest side. In the citadel people could enter through an access bridge with a fixed part and another mobile, supported on two tall pillars of stone. The mobile part of the bridge could be rised in case of danger, but once there was a trap in which the uninvited visitors could fall.The inner courtyard of the fortress was defended by soldiers standing in specially arranged guard rooms.
How to get to Suceava Citadel?
Citadel Alley, Suceava
Tags: Cetatea de Scaun a Sucevei, Petru I Mușat, secolul XIV, Suceava