10 Interesting Facts On The Fortress Of Suceava, Romania

Below are 10 interesting facts which you might like to know on the medieval Seat Fortress of Suceava, situated in one of the former capitals of the Principality of Moldavia, namely Suceava, the county seat of the namesake county from the historical regions of Bukovina and Moldavia in northeastern Romania and one of the most important historical towns of the country:

The Medieval Princely Seat Fortress of Suceava (2010). Image source: personal photograph (also on DeviantArt)

The medieval Princely Seat Fortress of Suceava, view towards the entrance bridge (2010). Image source: personal photograph (also on DeviantArt)

The medieval Princely Seat Fortress of Suceava as seen in winter covered in snow. Image source: Shutterstock (under paid licence)

1. With a rich history initially dating back to the late 14th century (when it was originally built during the reign of Moldavian Prince Petru II or Petru Musat), and being an important historical landmark of the region and the town during the Middle Ages, the fortress was never conquered by any foreign invading force (e.g., Poles or Ottoman Turks), thereby acquiring a certain ‘invincibility status’ from an overall historical perspective.
2. It was partially rebuilt during the Austrian-ruled period of Bukovina (namely during the late 19th century and early 20th century), based on a plan by Austrian architect Karl Adolf Romstorfer.
3. It is a well known tourist attraction in the town of Suceava.
4. It is part of a system of castles from Moldavia which were further fortified during the reign of Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare in Romanian) in the 15th century.
5. It was partially renovated through a REGIO-funded programme with funds from the European Union (EU).
6. Within the castle, there are various historical chambers each with its own historical reenactment theme.
7. According to an urban legend, the cellars of several historical houses from the town centre allegedly lead to an underground tunnel towards the fortress itself. As a native of Suceava, I cannot approve nor disapprove this urban legend, I am just enlisting it based on what I heard as I was growing up (please feel free to correct me otherwise if I am wrong).
8. In its relatively recent history, it hosted a rock music-themed festival known as ‘Bucovina Rock Castle‘ which attracted both national and international artists, most notably Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman, formerly part of the Dutch progressive rock band Focus.
9. The castle was partially rebuilt during a series of rehabilitation works carried out throughout the 1960s.
10. There are digital facilities inside the stronghold for tourists which can ascribe them real-life medieval roles based on body recognition such as that of a soldier (more specifically guardsman) or a merchant.

According to an urban legend that I heard while growing up, it is said that these old houses from the town centre have cellars leading to an underground tunnel towards the medieval princely seat fortress itself. Then again, I cannot approve nor disprove this, I am just sharing what I heard and found interesting. Image source: Wikimedia Commons (personal photograph uploaded there)

Documentation sources and external links:

• Personal knowledge
• Personal life experience
• Suceava on www.britannica.com (Encyclopædia Britannica online)

P.S. Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman (who performed at Bucovina Rock Castle back in 2015) with Focus back during their heyday in the 1970s:

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