Citadel, Brasov Fortress - In 1524 a semi-circle tower was built here, and then the place was surrounded by a wall. In 1529 in the midst of the battle between John I and Ferdinand, the town of Brasov took king Ferdinand's side. Petru Rares the Moldavian voda who supported king John beat the emperor's army, conquered and demolished the citadel. Later the walls were reconditioned but a fire burnt them down. In 1625 the 81m deep well was rebuilt in the inside yard. The square fortress, with Italian bastions on its corners and watchtowers, has got one entrance. There used to be a drawbridge leading to it. In 1688 some of the citizens found shelter here from the Hapsburg troops. In 1690 the emperor took hold of the fortress and oppressed the town for a long time. In 1773 the Holy Roman emperor Josef II commenced its renovation. Nine years later he made a sales proposal to the town. The town did not accept the proposal, thus the fortress functioned as a prison for Turkish and later on for French prisoners. During the plague it functioned as quarantine. In 1917 the Austrian empress Caroline came here, in 1848 the fortress was occupied by general Bem's troops, while in 1894 by the czar's troops. In the forties it was renovated but remained unused for a while. Today it houses a restaurant.
