hu, Hunyadi-kastély , native_name_lang = , image = CastelulHuniade2.jpg , image_caption = The Huniade Castle in 2007 , coordinates = , building_type =

Castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

, architectural_style = Romantic,

neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

, location =

Timișoara ), City of Roses ( ro, Orașul florilor), City of Parks ( ro, Orașul parcurilor) , image_map = Timisoara jud Timis.svg , map_caption = Location in Timiș County , pushpin_map = Romania#Europe , pushpin_ ...

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

, start_date = 1308 , completion_date = 1315 , renovation_date = 1447, 1856 , owner = , architect = Paolo Santini de Duccio The Huniade Castle ( ro, Castelul Huniade; hu, Hunyadi-kastély) is the oldest monument in

, built between 1443 and 1447 by

John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (, , , ; 1406 – 11 August 1456) was a leading Hungarian military and political figure in Central and Southeastern Europe during the 15th century. According to most contemporary sources, he was the member of a noble family of ...

and Paolo Santini de Duccio over the old royal castle dating from the 14th century (built during the reign of Charles I Robert). The castle was rebuilt by the Turkish pashas in the 17th century and by

Prince Eugene of Savoy Prince Eugene Francis of Savoy–Carignano, (18 October 1663 – 21 April 1736) better known as Prince Eugene, was a Generalfeldmarschall, field marshal in the army of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty during the 17th a ...

in the 18th century. The structure owes its present appearance to the 1850s reconstruction campaign. It houses the History, Archeology and Natural Sciences sections of the National Museum of Banat.

History

Old castle

The construction of the current Huniade Castle began in the 14th century, after a visit by King Charles I Robert to Timișoara in 1307. He decided to establish his residence here and considered it necessary to build a castle to his liking. The construction was probably carried out by Italian builders and most likely finished in 1315, because in 1316 the king was already settled in his new castle. The building developed around a quadrangular courtyard with cylindrical corner towers. Being located on an island, it was connected to the city of Timișoara, also fortified by the same king, through a movable bridge. After almost eight years, the castle was damaged by an earthquake and, implicitly, the king had to leave it. It underwent major renovations during Count

Pippo Spano }, bg, Филип Маджарин). Annotations ). References Sources * * * External links {{Authority control 1369 births 1426 deaths Nobility from Florence 14th-century Hungarian people 15th-century Hungarian people 14th-centur ...

. After extensive research, the original foundation was found 40 cm below the pavement of the current castle.

New castle

Between 1441 and 1456, the Count of Timișoara was

. He established his residence here and ordered the construction of a new castle, on the ruins of the old royal castle. A contribution to its construction was made by the Italian architect Paolo Santini de Duccio, at that time in the service of John Hunyadi. Both the castle and its fortifications were equipped with semicircular towers adapted to artillery. It served as the noble residence for all the kings who stayed in Timișoara until 1552. During the Ottoman occupation (1552–1716), it served as the residence of the

beylerbey ''Beylerbey'' ( ota, بكلربكی, beylerbeyi, lit=bey of beys, meaning the 'commander of commanders' or 'lord of lords') was a high rank in the western Islamic world in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, from the Anatolian Seljuks ...

s of the

Eyalet of Temeşvar Eyalets ( Ottoman Turkish: ایالت, , English: State), also known as beylerbeyliks or pashaliks, were a primary administrative division of the Ottoman Empire. From 1453 to the beginning of the nineteenth century the Ottoman local governmen ...

Reconstruction

Due to the siege of the imperials, which led to the reconquest of

Banat Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of T ...

, the castle was damaged, so that after 1716 its renovation was required. But its function was changed, being transformed into an artillery barracks and a military warehouse (''Provienthaus''). In 1849, the Hungarian revolutionaries, besieging Timișoara, destroyed the castle from its foundations, to the point where a reconstruction of the edifice was needed. The reconstruction and renovation work was finished in 1856. However, the main facade of the castle was modified, this time being made in a

romantic style Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

. Between 1919 and 1947, the Banat Barracks ( ro, Cazarma Bănățeană), as it was known then, was the headquarters of the 7th Pioneers' Regiment and the 6th Heavy Artillery Regiment. Since 1947, the castle has been home to the National Museum of Banat. In front of the castle there are two lanterns reminding in several languages that Timișoara was the first city in Europe to introduce electric public lighting in 1884.

Architecture

Despite the many changes, the castle kept its organization around a quadrangular courtyard, the position of the

donjon A keep (from the Middle English ''kype'') is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word ''keep'', but usually consider it to refer to large towers in c ...

and the "Hall of the Knights", details that can also be found at the

Corvin Castle Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle ( Romanian: ''Castelul Huniazilor'' or ''Castelul Corvinilor;'' Hungarian: ''Vajdahunyadi vár''), is a Gothic-Renaissance castle in Hunedoara, Romania. It is one of the largest ...

Hunedoara Hunedoara (; german: Eisenmarkt; hu, Vajdahunyad ) is a municipiu, city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in southwestern Transylvania near the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and administers five villages: Boș (''Bós''), Groș ...

. The main facade was redone in a romantic style. The windows, finished in a full arch but with neo-Gothic decoration above, took the place of the holes for the artillery pieces, and the facade was made in apparent brick. The first floor, built on the height of two normal stories, contains two vaulted rooms in

neo-Gothic style Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

, one with three

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

s and the other with two, which are built of brick and supported by a row of massive columns. The upper part of the facade is crenellated, which gives it a fortress appearance. The two ends of the main facade are provided with '' risalti'', the corners of which are accentuated by a plaster imitation of the constructive stone system. The castle tower is rectangular in shape, low in height, with small windows and decorated with crenellations at the upper end so that the roof is not visible. The main entrance has been modified and is flanked by two massive pilasters that each have a collection of weapons specific to the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

at the top that contribute to the Gothic aspect of the castle.

Archeological research

The castle has only been systematically researched since 2007. Then a 4-meter deep fountain built between the 15th–16th centuries and an 11-meter tall medieval tower made of brick and mortar, located inside the castle, were discovered. The tower served as a home, but also as a refuge in case of a siege. Other researches were made in 1903, with the occasion of brace works needed at that time, when the ruins of the 14th century medieval castle were discovered for the first time. In 1980, archeologist Alexandru Rădulescu made surveys in the inner courtyard and in the "Marble Hall", revealing the brick walls dating from 14th–16th centuries.

References

External links

Huniade Castle
in the National Archeological Repertory {{Authority control Castles in Romania Buildings and structures in Timișoara Historic monuments in Timiș County