Salasu de Sus Fortress

The noble court was built in the late Middle Age. The story is that the noble of the Salasului region, as soon as he had established a fortress nearby, he build a more comfortable dwelling here that contained larger and brighter rooms than those of the fortification’s around an interior courtyard.

It appears that the location was not chosed at random as the new construction was integrated into an existing tower.

The old tower was built to defend the entrance in the village. That’s why it had thick walls and narrow windows, of fortification. The archers could survey the area from here, without exposing themselves.

The gate was small, meaning that one couldn’t get in the courtyard riding a horse.

The nobiliary court belonged to Mara’s family who also owned the fortress from Malaiesti.

The entrance of the tower was above the ground level. And, getting to the door required climbing a timber ladder which was removed at nightfall or in times of danger. You can still notice the cracks in the wall where the small timber platform was attached in front of the door.

The accommodation rooms had windows of hand-made glass. The upper side of the windows was decorated with brick arches, pieces of which can still be seen.

Source: Tourist information board at the site.

The access to the fortress can be done from DN 66, from Hateg to Petrosani, than at Ohaba de Sub Piatra village, take the left/right towards Nucsoara village. After 6 km you reach Salasu de Sus. This is also one of the entrances to the Retezat National Park.

There is no entrance schedule or fee.