Királykő vára
King’s Stone Castle

Summary/Abstract: The King’s Stone Castle (known by the resident population as ’Oratea’) is situated under the mountain with the same name near the exit of the road that leads from the Bran Pass to Muntenia in the outskirts of Podu Dâmboviței village (Argeș county). The castle, mentioned for the first time at the beginning of the 15th century as a royal fortification, after several decades came into the possession of Szekler comes. According to the historical documents it was used till the 16th century, fact proved by the results of archaeological researches made between 1968–1969 and 1971, too. The archaeological finds coming out from secondary position and kept today in the collection of Argeș County Museum (Pitești town) are composed of iron objects, with a significant number of arms (for instance 40 arrowheads), confirming the assaults suffered by the castle in the 14– 15th centuries. The fortification’s dimensions are very modest, having a layout of an irregular rhombus form with a semicircle tower on the eastern side and encircled by a ditch dug into the stone on the eastern side. The entrance of the castle was established on the southern side; two spaces dug into the stone were discovered inside the castle. By the analysis of the topographical position of the castle we can draw the theory that King’s Stone Castle is the only fortification outside the Carpathian Mountains known today which corresponds with the contemporary descriptions referring to the fortification built by the Teutonic Order. This theory isn’t excluded from archaeological point of view either; as certain early type arrowheads (with rhombus and barbed forms) could confirm our opinion.

• Details
• Contents