| Poenari Castle (IPA: /po.ǐe.'narʲ/) also known as
Poenari Citadel (Cetatea Poenari in Romanian), is a
ruined castle in Romania, in Argeş County (Căpăţânenii
Pământeni village of the Arefu commune) on a canyon
formed on the Argeş River valley, close to the Făgăraş
Mountains. It stands on a cliff, on the right side of
the Transfăgărăşan road which climbs high into the
mountains. Poienari Castle is said to be one of the most
haunted places in the world.
It was erected around the beginning of the 13th
century by the rulers of Wallachia. Around the 14th
century, Poenari was the main citadel of the Basarab
rulers. In the next few decades, the name and the
residents changed a few times but eventually the castle
was abandoned and left in ruins.
However, in the 15th century, realizing the potential
for a castle perched high on a steep precipice of rock,
Vlad III the Impaler repaired and consolidated the
structure, making it one of his main fortresses.
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. Due to its size and location,
control of the castle was difficult to take, even by
natural forces. However, in 1888, a landslide brought
down a portion of the castle which crashed into the
river far below. Nonetheless, the castle was slightly
repaired and the walls and its towers still stand today.
To reach the castle, visitors need to climb 1,500 steps.
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