The Medieval Fortress of Sebeș

The Medieval Fortress of Sebeș, Alba County, is an urban defensive complex built at the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. It is the only urban fortress in Transilvania for which an official construction document exists — the act of 23 November 1387, by which King Sigismund of Luxembourg granted the town the right to enclose itself with a stone wall as a defence against Turkish invasions. The enclosure wall is 1,700 m long, with crenellations, battlements and pitch holes, many of which have survived to the present day. The fortress originally had four gate towers and several defensive towers. The towers still standing today are the Tailors' Tower, the Student's Tower, the Cobblers' Tower and the Semicircular Tower. In keeping with the tradition specific to Saxon towns, the maintenance of each tower was assigned to a guild, and the towers thus bear the names of the craftsmen responsible for them. In 1438, when the town was conquered by the Turks, the fortress was not yet complete. In the 17th century, two barbicans were added at the main gates. The remaining sections of the fortress wall and the preserved towers can be visited at various points throughout the historic centre of Sebeș, in the immediate vicinity of the Evangelical Church. It is well worth a visit as one of the best-documented and best-preserved medieval defensive systems in southern Transilvania. Components visible today: The Semicircular Tower — the best-preserved tower of the fortress, visible on the northern side and accessible to the public The Tailors' Tower — on the north-western side, named after the tailors' guild responsible for its upkeep The Cobblers' Tower — near the historic centre The Student's Tower — in the central area The Northern Wall — the longest preserved section of wall, visible along the street to the north of the historic centre All components are located in the historic centre of Sebeș, within a radius of a few hundred metres from the Evangelical Church. They can be visited on foot in a single walk through the old town centre.