Poenari Castle
Ruined Romanian castle and home of Vlad the Impaler.
Poienari Castle, a ruined fortress in Romania, once served as a home for Vlad the Impaler. Perched on a mountaintop, it can only be reached by climbing 1,480 concrete steps.
The castle sits on the plateau of Mount Cetatea, overlooking the western side of the Transfăgărășan road, within a canyon carved by the Argeș River valley, near the Făgăraș Mountains.
Before Vlad’s mid-15th-century construction, a different fortress called Castle Argeș stood nearby, built by the Wallachians around the start of the 13th century. By the mid-1300s, Castle Argeș had become the main stronghold of the Basarab dynasty. Over the following decades, its name and occupants shifted several times, and it was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin.
In 1459, recognizing the strategic value of a high, steep cliff, Vlad the Impaler repaired and reinforced the structure. He forced his captured Wallachian noble enemies to do the work, turning it into one of his primary fortresses. He rebuilt the former Castle Argeș on the river’s left bank using stones from the older, lower Castle Poenari on the right bank. Though the castle remained in use for years after Vlad’s death in 1476, it was abandoned again early in the 16th century and lay in ruins by the 1600s. Its size and location made it extremely difficult to capture. On January 13, 1913, an earthquake-triggered landslide sent parts of the castle crashing into the river below. Two more earthquakes, in 1940 and 1977, caused additional damage. Since then, the walls and towers have been lightly repaired and still stand. Since 2009, the Argeș County Museum has managed the site.
A smaller copy of Poenari Castle was built in 1906 in Bucharest’s Carol Park. Originally created for the Romanian General Exhibition, it is one of the few park monuments still standing. Today, the National Office for the Cult of Heroes occupies the building, which opens to the public only twice a year: on Heroes’ Day (coinciding with Ascension Day in Romania) and on Romanian Army National Day (October 25).
A modern version of Poenari Castle appeared in the 2013 BBC Worldwide/Starz series *Da Vinci’s Demons*. In the episode “The Devil,” Leonardo da Vinci travels to the castle in Wallachia to meet Vlad the Impaler. The 1970s show *The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries* featured an episode titled “The Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew Meet Dracula,” set inside “Dracula’s Castle”
- location
- Mount Cetatea plateau, facing the west side of the Transfăgărășan, on a canyon formed on the Argeș River valley, close to the Făgăraș Mountains
- type
- Ruined castle / citadel / fortress
- construction_start
- Mid-15th century (Poenari Castle); earlier Castle Argeș erected near beginning of 13th century
- notable_resident
- Vlad the Impaler
- current_administrator
- Argeș County Museum (since 2009)
- access
- 1,480 concrete stairs
Lore & Background
Before Poenari Castle was constructed in the mid-15th century, another castle around the same location was erected near the beginning of the 13th century by the Wallachians, called Castle Argeș. In the mid-14th century, Castle Argeș became the main citadel of the Basarab dynasty. In the next few decades, the name and the residents changed a few times but eventually the castle was abandoned and left in ruins. In 1459, realizing the potential for a second castle perched high on a steep precipice of rock, Vlad the Impaler repaired and consolidated the structure by arresting his enemies from the Wallachian nobility, making it one of his main fortresses. Vlad rebuilt the former Castle Argeș on the left side of the river with stones from the older Castle Poenari, which was on the right bank and somewhat lower. Although the castle was used for many years after Vlad's death in 1476, it eventually was abandoned again in the first half of the 16th century and was in ruins by the 17th century. The size and location of the castle made it difficult to conquer. On 13 January 1913, a landslide caused by an earthquake brought down parts of the castle which crashed into the river below. After two further earthquakes in 1940 and 1977 that caused further damage, it was slightly repaired and the walls and its towers still stand today.
Reader's Guide
Poenari Castle is significant as one of the main fortresses of Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century Wallachian ruler who inspired the Dracula legend. Its remote mountain location and steep access of 1,480 concrete stairs made it difficult to conquer. The castle's history includes an earlier 13th-century structure, Castle Argeș, which became the main citadel of the Basarab dynasty in the mid-14th century. After falling into ruin, Vlad the Impaler rebuilt it in 1459 using stones from an older castle on the opposite riverbank. The castle was abandoned again in the early 16th century and was in ruins by the 17th century. Earthquakes in 1913, 1940, and 1977 caused further damage, but partial repairs have preserved its walls and towers. Since 2009, the site has been administered by the Argeș County Museum. A smaller replica was built in 1906 in Bucharest's Carol Park. The castle has appeared in popular culture, including the television series Da Vinci's Demons, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, and Ghost Hunters International, as well as in Dan Simmons' novel Children of the Night and the video game Fallout 3. Numerous legends have survived, including a story from the communist era about a visitor who experienced bizarre phenomena while staying overnight.
Did You Know?
- Poenari Castle is accessed by climbing 1,480 concrete stairs.
- Vlad the Impaler rebuilt the castle in 1459 using stones from an older castle on the opposite riverbank.
- A smaller replica of Poenari Castle was built in 1906 in Bucharest's Carol Park.
- On 13 January 1913, a landslide caused by an earthquake brought down parts of the castle into the river below.
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