The greatest Gothic-style castle in Romania, Corvinesti was built by the Anjou family on the site of a former Roman camp. The castle served as a fortress until the mid-14th century when it became the residence of Transylvania's ruler, Iancu de Hunedoara. Iancu upgraded the fortress transforming it into the most stunning castle in Transylvania.

The beautifully preserved structure features a sumptuous Knights’ Hall, an impressive drawbridge, high buttresses, inner courtyards, a chapel and some 50 rooms resplendent with medieval art. The courtyard features a 100 ft. well dug into stone.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, Hunedoara was one of the main iron extraction and processing centers in Transylvania. Swords and spears manufactured here during this period were renowned across Europe.

The most important monument of Gothic lay architecture in Transylvania (14th c.), is to be found at Hunedoara. Built on the place of a former Roman camp, it served as a defence stronghold, as well as a princely residence. In 1409, together with 40 villages of the same area, the Hungarian king Sigismund of Luxembourg offered it as a present to the Romanian prince Voicu (father of Transylvania's future ruling prince Iancu of Hunedoara) as a reward for his military deeds (the legend of the Raven, in Romanian "Corb", from which the name of the Corvinesti dynasty derived, hints at a love affair between the king and prince Voicu's wife). A visit to the medieval castle may take one to the Gallery, to the towers with picturesque names, i.e. the Do not fear, Capistrano, the Maces' Tower, to the Knights' Hall, an impressive reception hall, to the White Bulwark, a former food storehouse, to the Council Hall (with paintings on the walls displaying Romanian princes' coats of arms), to the Chapel. They say that the 30 m deep Fountain within the castle's walls was dug in by three Turkish prisoners who were promised to be set free when they had reached the water level. When, after 15 years of toil they did accomplish the task, their masters did not want to keep their promise. So the legend has it that the inscription they wrote on a wall nearby expresses the Turks' bitter disappointment "You may have water, but you have hardly any soul.

The Hunedoara city located into Poiana Ruscai Mountains, in Transylvania, is hosting the only gothic castle preserved in Romania. The construction of the medieval castle began in the 14-th century, under Iancu Corvin of Hunedoara's ruling. The history of the city closely interweaves with Corvin's family, Hunedoara being known as the residence city of the family. The beautiful gothic castle dominates the landscape, so, even if you won't find any indicators to guide you to it, you won't miss it on your way. The architecture is magnificent and complex in late gothic style combined with Renaissance elements, being an unique example in Romania, of fortified noble residence.

The access to the castle is ensured by a wooden bridge supported by stone pillars across the river Zlasti, which takes you to the gate tower of rectangular shape, where the opening to the inner yard is found. On the first floor of the gate tower there is the princesses's room, which was converted for the ladies of the castle during the 17 th century. To the eastern side of the yard there is a 30 meters deep fountain, dug by the Turkish prisoners. The chapel is located on the oldest side of the fortress, dated back to Iancu's son times, Matei Corvin.

The architectonic ensemble has suffered many adjustments and extensions along the time according to the requirements of the age. Most of the original furniture was lost, the few pieces that are now found being created only later. In the Capistrano tower (named after the name of a monk who lived in the castle during the 15 th century) a beautiful stone fireplace made in late gothic style was preserved. The big Palace is a construction of French inspiration hosting the military technique exhibition on its ground floor, while the Gothic Gallery is found on the first floor, in the knight's hall (the place of the committee gathering- Dieta).

During the 18-th century, the offices of the Poiana Ruscai Mountains iron mines administration functioned on the second floor of the southern Palace. Nowdays an ethnographic exhibition is hosted here, while the room called the platform of the new gate tower (17-th century) is hosting the archeology exhibition. The old gate tower from the 15-th century went out of use lately, being blocked by a defensive bastion called the White Tower. The big palace (the Bethlen wing) found on the eastern side opens on two floors, the neo-ghotic gallery and the living room of the palace (the museum hall) being situated on the first floor.

We could visit the NeBoisa (don't be afraid!) tower built on four stories. A closed gangway is found on the last floor, which was used for defense by the soldiers.

The current castle is the result of a fanciful restoration campaign undertaken after a disastrous fire and many decades of total neglect. It has been noted that modern "architects projected to it their own wistful interpretations of how a great Gothic castle should look". The gallery and the keep - the last defense tower (called "Neboisa" which means "Not afraid" in Serbian language), which remained unchanged from John Hunyadi's time, and the Capistrano Tower (named after the saint, Franciscan monk from the Battle of Belgrade in 1456) are some of the most significant parts of the construction. Other significant parts of the building are the Knights' Hall (a great reception hall), the Club Tower, the White bastion, which served as a food storage room, and the Diet Hall, on whose walls medallions are painted (among them there are the portraits of Matei Basarab, ruler from Wallachia, and Vasile Lupu, ruler of Moldavia). In the wing of the castle called the Mantle, a painting can be seen which portrays the legend of the raven from which the name of the descendants of John Hunyadi, Corvinus came.

Near a 15th-century chapel in the castle years is a well 30 meters deep. The legend says that this fountain was dug by twelve Turkish prisoners to whom liberty was promised if they reached water. After 15 years they completed the well, but their captors did not keep their promise. It is said that the inscription on a wall of the well means "you have water, but not soul". Specialists, however, have translated the inscription as "he who wrote this inscription is Hasan, who lives as slave of the giaours, in the fortress near the church".

In February 2007, Hunyad Castle played host to the British paranormal television program Most Haunted Live! for a three-night live investigation into the spirits reported to be haunting the castle. Results were inconclusive.

Romanian castles are reknown all around the world, thanks to Vlad Tepes. Corvinesti Castle is full of tourists during the summer. Man can get there after a flight to Bucharest or Cluj and after that – the castle is around 30 kilometers away from the town of Alba Iulia.