Bologa Fortress still preserves the greatness of a strategic fortress built over 700 years ago, which had the role of supervising the road that leads to Oradea along the Crisului Repede Valley
Bologa Fortress still preserves the greatness of a strategic fortress built over 700 years ago, which had the role of supervising the road that leads to Oradea along the Crisului Repede Valley. It was most likely built at the end of the 13th century, across the river from the ancient ruins of a Roman camp (Resculum Camp).
With a height of over 13 meters, the tower was arranged on four levels, separated by floors of thick wooden beams. Access to the tower was by an escalator from the outside. The second tower, located on the opposite side of the circular keep, has a quadrilateral base and appears to have been intended for a gate. In the 16th and 17th centuries, two more semicircular towers appeared, used for firearms of all calibers.
Strategic importance
In 1399 the fortress was donated by King Sigismund of Luxembourg to Mircea the Elder to the ruler of Wallachia together with the Bran Fortress, after the signing of the treaty of alliance against the Ottoman Empire.
The importance of the fortress increased in the 17th century, after the conquest of Oradea by the Turks, when the garrison of the Bologa fortress stopped the penetration of the Turkish army through the Crişul Repede gorge. At the beginning of the 18th century, during the war of liberation led by the prince of Transylvania, Francisc Rakoczi II against the Habsburg domination of Hungary, the fortress was blown up by the Lobonts, so as not to fall into the hands of the curuts, supporters of the movement. release. The tower and much of the walls still stand. In the middle of the 20th century, the tower lost its roof, probably the last wooden element of the ruins. All that is left is the stone and they were sources of inspiration for several legends, the one you know of them says that, among the ruins of the medieval fortification.
Roman camp Resculum
Near the fortress on the opposite bank of the river Henț is the Roman camp, called Resculum, which is the oldest settlement in the area. Built around 106 AD to defend the border of the Roman Empire. As the Romans tried to consolidate their borders, Greek settlers (believed to be from the Patras area) and British infantry and cavalry troops, "Cohors I Ulpia Britonum", were brought here in the 2nd century. All this is attested by the tiles and bricks discovered in the area, which bear the stamp with the abbreviations of these troops. The ruins of the camp are still visible today, in the place called "Gradiste", although a large part of the area was used as agricultural land. Near the camp there are also the ruins of some Roman baths.
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Ruins of the fortress