Location: Lăzarea, Harghita County Map
Constructed: 15th century
Lázár Castle is a medieval citadel situated in Lăzarea, Harghita County in Romania. Lázár Castle was named after Lazar or Lazarus aristocratic family in 15th century during reign of Prince Bethlen Gabor. It was significantly increased in 1532. Additions were made in 1631- 32 giving the appearance of Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. The citadel was badly damaged during Francisc Rákóczi Rebellion. Armies of the Habsburgs besieged the castle in 1706 and finally took it in 1707. They left the military fortifications in ruins so it couldn't be used by the rebels in the future. It was partially reconstructed as a private residence in 1742, but it was again burned down just six years later in 1748.
Ftefan IV Lazar, county of the Ciuc, Gheorgheni
and Cașin chairs, was the one who demolished the medieval mansion on
the property, constructing a larger building reusing some segments
of the old building. The oldest body of the present building dates
from 1532, the rest being added between 1631-1632. From the
beginning, the prince wanted a residence worthy of a prince
expressing an influence of the politico-administrative life of the
Principality and he managed to illustrate this aspect through the
details of the construction: the monumental staircase, the bastions
decorated with inscriptions and blazes and the cornice painted after
Renaissance style.
Recently, the construction was investigated by archaeologists and
two tractors and an east-west axis were discovered in the
foundations of the manor. As for the southern façade, it was
occupied by a 4.6 m long loggia with arches, and the hall walls were
painted with different zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures. The
windows of the castle on the first floor have triangular earrings,
and the walls are decorated with corner bushes and painted friezes.
After the east wall of the new enclosure was erected, the bakery and
kitchen were raised in the north-east corner. From here, the entire
north-western body called the "Knights Hall" is built, which will
house the diet room of the Szekler chairs. An interesting thing is
that in the middle of the court was placed a prison where the
prisoners stayed until their fate was decided. The role of the
construction was to build a huge and unique bastion ensemble in
Transylvania with an important role in the Principality.
The castle of the Lázár family, passed by the curts in the
revolution led by Francisc Rákóczi, was devastated and set on fire
by the Habsburgs between 1706-1707, and the most affected body was
the residential one. The walls in the center collapsed and only the
rooms attached to the eastern wall remained intact.
After regaining the trust of the imperial house, Francis IV. Lázár
was named in 1742 counties of Ciuc, Gheorgheni and Cașin chairs and
moved his residence again to Lăzarea, raising until 1742 a new
baroque style body formerly called "Casa Doamnei". Six years later
the castle was again burned down and after that there were no
significant reconstructions.
In 1773 the castle was divided between the three family members
until the middle of the 19th century, but at that time only a small
part of the fortress was inhabited. The most recent researches on
the Lázár Fortress were made between 1963-1977 and 1982, and after
them the Red Bastion, the "Hall of the Knights", the small bastion
behind it, the dungeon, the body of the gate and the southern
façade, as well as paintings, were consolidated and reconstructed.
from 1532.
Currently, the Lázár Castle is managed by the County Creation
Center, an institution under the tutelage of the Harghita County
Council, but there are also survivors of the Lázár family who claim
it.
The whole of the Lázar castle is included in the new list of
historical monuments under the LMI code: HR-II-a-A-12854.