16th century

The 16th century brought with it the most important changes in the architecture of the Făgăraş fortress, which transformed the defensive fortress into a castle with a strong external fortification. The initiator of these extensive works was Ştefan Mailat (voivode of Transylvania between 1534 -1540 and owner of the fortress between 1528-1541) who separated the castle plan (noble residence) from the fortress plan (the actual military construction). He surrounded the stone fortress with a defensive wall, a wall that would also include the barbican tower, with slits for artillery, a crenellated crown, respecting the planimetry of the old defensive walls. The interior walls were doubled with brick walls, the corridors thus created having different destinations - the voivode's houses, the captain's dining room, etc. Typologically, all this transforms the defensive fortress into a fortified lordly castle. Gaspar Békés, owner of Făgăraş between 1567 and 1573, builds the moat around the fortress, the excavated earth being used to strengthen the inner part of the walls. At the end of the 16th century, it is possible that during the time of Ştefan Báthory (voivode of Transylvania between 1571-1586) and Balthazar Báthory (master of the fortress between 1588-1594), all four sides of the old fortress were transformed into apartments and the four towers were incorporated at their level. At this time, the construction of the first bastion that will bear the family name begins, in the southeast corner of the outer enclosure, but which will be completed later. The name of Balthazar Bathory is linked to a series of important aesthetic transformations and the construction of a third level, at least above one of the sides of the fortress (the southern one), with stone frames that preserve his coat of arms.

17th century

In the 17th century, architectural transformations established the current form of the fortified complex at Făgăraş. Gabriel Bethlen (prince of Transylvania between 1613-1629), one of the most important builders of the fortress, drew up, in 1623, a plan regarding the construction and modernization works of the fortress in 36 points, a plan that provided, among other things, the construction of three more bastions equipped with casemates, the production of 600,000 bricks in one year by 1500 permanent serfs, organized in three shifts, bricks necessary for the erection of the bastions. Gabriel Bethlen will redevelop the interior rooms of the castle, will build the loggias on the south side of the castle in the Italian style, open to the inner courtyard on the arches of six massive and imposing masonry pillars. The windows of the inner courtyards have simple but elegant frames, the entrances on the loggia have carved panels or reliefs with Renaissance motifs. The aesthetic taste of this prince, influenced by the Italian Renaissance (he brought architects and glassmakers from Murano from Italy who would work for the princely court in Făgăraş), instilled elegance and beauty into a construction that was more military than utilitarian. The modernization works continued under Gheorghe Rakóczi, the prince of Transylvania between 1631-1648, when the four bastions were built, the guardhouse was built, attached to the northern side of the gate tower; the fortress moat was also paved at this time, which in case of attack could triple its volume of water, and the access bridges were repaired – the one on the eastern side and the one on the northern side. Since the second half of the 17th century, the last owners no longer undertake large-scale works, but only repair and maintenance operations.

18th century

The transfer of Făgăraş to Austrian ownership in 1696 and its transformation into a garrison marked the beginning of a period of degradation also recorded in the inventory of 1726. Serving military purposes, the castle and fortress of Făgăraş lost their former elegance and grandeur. 20th century Between 1918 and 1948, it was a garrison of the Romanian army. From 1918 to 1923, it was a camp for the White Russians, the press of the time recording the donations that Queen Maria made for them. In 1939, the Poles found refuge in the fortress. Between 1948 and 1960, the Făgăraș Fortress was transformed into a prison for political prisoners, and after 1960, the fortress was decommissioned and extensive restoration work began, aimed at restoring the appearance of a fortified castle from its heyday in the 17th century. Majestic and imposing, the Făgăraș Fortress, which Nicolae Iorga considered one of the "jewels of the country", quietly awaits "the recognition of the bold deeds of the past".