Cetatea Șiria

Cetatea Șiria (in Hungarian Világosvár, meaning "The Illuminated Fortress") is a historic monument situated on Dealul Cetății, at an altitude of 496 metres, above the village of Șiria in Arad County, at the foot of the Munții Zarandului. Its construction dates from the 13th century, built following the Tatar invasion of 1241, with the first reliable documentary record coming from the early decades of the 14th century (around 1318–1331). A remarkable detail is that the masonry of the older sections incorporates Roman bricks stamped with the seal of Legio XIII Gemina, testifying to the historical continuity of the site. The fortress served an important strategic and defensive role, as well as a significant economic one, with a vast estate attached to it — under Matei Corvin it encompassed 99 localities, rising to 121 by 1525. Over time it functioned as a fortress of the Hungarian crown, associated with Comitatul Zarandului, and passed through the hands of prominent figures: it was surrendered to Iancu de Hunedoara (1444), came under the rule of Matei Corvin and subsequently the Báthory family. Romanian voivodes and knezes in the service of the fortress also played a notable role. In 1514, during the uprising led by Gheorghe Doja, the stronghold was temporarily seized by peasant forces, and between 1599 and 1600 it served as a garrison for Mihai Viteazul. Under Ottoman rule in the 17th century, the fortress gradually lost its importance, and its decline was sealed in 1784 when the Habsburg Empire ordered its destruction. Today, the imposing ruins of the fortification remain on the hilltop — sections of the enclosure walls, the towers, and the central body. The site is also steeped in local legend: it is said that the fortresses of Șiria, Șoimoș, and Dezna were built overnight by three proud sisters, who were subsequently transformed into white serpents, each bearing a crown and a golden key. From the fortress plateau, a spectacular panorama opens over the Câmpia de Vest and the surrounding Miniș vineyard area.