Corvin Castle (Hunyadi Castle)

Corvin Castle, also called Hunyadi Castle, stands in the town of Hunedoara in the southwest of Transylvania and is often described as the most impressive castle in Romania. Its silhouette is a jumble of pointed roofs, balconies, bastions and tall, slender towers rising from a rocky spur above a river, reached across a long wooden bridge on tall stone piers. The core of the fortress was built in the fifteenth century for John Hunyadi, the soldier and regent of Hungary who became a hero of the wars against the Ottomans, and it was expanded by his son, Matthias Corvinus, who gave the castle its Renaissance touches. Later owners added wings and decoration, and a major restoration in the twentieth century helped to give the castle the storybook look that makes it so popular with photographers and film crews.

Crossing the drawbridge is the moment most visitors remember. Beyond it, a sequence of courtyards, galleries and halls opens up. The Knights' Hall is a vast Gothic space with carved stone columns, the Diet Hall is a richly decorated reception room, and a number of smaller rooms hold arms, furniture and displays on the Hunyadi family.

Outside, the Bastion of the Capistrano, the Buzdugan Tower and the legendary deep well in the courtyard add to the atmosphere. Legends cling to the well, which is said to have been dug by captive Turkish prisoners who were promised their freedom if they struck water. As with many castle stories, take the details lightly and enjoy the drama.

Hunedoara is roughly one and a half to two hours from Sibiu by road, which makes Corvin Castle a long half-day or an easy full-day trip, and the usual tours pair it with the citadel at Alba Iulia on the way back. The paid link on this page is a private day tour from Sibiu that combines Corvin Castle, Alba Iulia and some traditional villages.

That is a good fit for travellers without a car, because public transport to Hunedoara is slow and the sights are spread out. Check the inclusions, the pick-up time and the languages before you reserve, and confirm whether the castle entrance is bundled into the price or paid separately on arrival.

Plan on about two hours inside the castle. The route involves many stairs, uneven stone and a few narrow passages, and the long bridge is exposed to wind and rain, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a jacket outside summer. Photography is best from the far side of the river or from the approach road, where the whole silhouette comes into view, and the castle is particularly beautiful in soft morning or evening light.

The castle usually closes for one day each week and may keep shorter hours in winter, so check before you travel. Families with children tend to enjoy it, as the scale is impressive and there is plenty to explore, though strollers are impractical. If you like castles at all, this is the one to see from Sibiu.