CORVIN CASTLE

Built in the ^14th century on the site of a Roman fortress, this impressive monument to local Gothic architecture is a must-see if you're in the area. Originally a princely residence, its function was defensive. In 1390, Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, King of Hungary, donated it and the forty surrounding villages to the Romanian prince(cneaz) Voicu, in gratitude for his feats of arms. Between 1446 and 1453, Voicu's son Iancu de Hunedoara (Hungarian: János Hunyadi) transformed it into a castle for military purposes. Renaissance and Baroque elements were subsequently added to create a sumptuous residence.

Among the castle's highlights are the gallery, the Knights' Hall (west wing), the Diet Hall (west wing) with its medallions of the reigning princes painted on the walls, the White Bastion (food store), the chapel and over fifty rooms with numerous murals. The north wing is known as the Matei wing, named after Iancu de Hunedoara's son, the famous Matthias (Matei) Corvin, King of Hungary. Here you'll see a column bearing the Corvin family coat of arms, with a raven holding a ring in its beak. The Corvins take their name from the Latin corbea, meaning "raven". The towers bear evocative names such as Tour des Massues or Tour Neboisa ("don't be afraid"). The balconies, with their wood and stone ornamentation, are remarkable.

A museum displays historical and ethnographic collections.