The Poenari Castle (Poenari Citadel), which stands on a cliff and is currently in a dilapidated state, is located in one of the valleys of the Argeș County, very close to the Făgăraş mountains. Because today the possession of Bran Castle is attributed to the mythical Count Dracula, it is Poenari who welcomed the Prince of Wallachia who inspired the myth of Dracula, we refer to Vlad III, also known as Tepes ( the impaler).
 |
| Poenari Castle |
Built at the beginning of the 13th century by the feudal lords of Wallachia, the castle gained great importance a century later becoming the stronghold of the Bessarabian leaders, although this condition would not last long, being abandoned by its occupants a century later. In the 15th century, Vlad III fixates on the Poenari Castle and rebuilds it, with the intention of making it his home and stronghold.
 |
| Poenari Castle |
Despite being almost impregnable, due to the place in which it is located, after the death of Vlad III it was used for a time, but finally abandoned again. The lush forests that surround it are in addition to a beautiful landscape, a hunting ground for bears, wild boars and deer and there are no villages in the vicinity of the castle.
One of the worst misfortunes that the Poenari Castle suffered was an earth tremor that occurred in 1888, which caused the collapse of a part of its structure, which fell to the river bed. Fortunately for us it was partially rebuilt and thanks to this we can visit it, that is, after climbing a whopping 1,500 steps.
 |
| Poenari Castle |
Although the castle, after its reconstruction, leaves much to be desired (at least for those who are looking for mystery and legend), it does allow us to get an idea about the daily life of the Prince of Wallachia. Without going any further, from the fortress you can see the esplanade in which Vlad used to impale his victims, or the slope from which his beloved jumped due to the deception concocted by the Turks to provoke his suicide.
Poenari Castle - For some it is the home of vampires, for others the castle of a madman, be that as it may, it is one of the most interesting castles (as far as history is concerned) of those still standing.