Calnic Fortress
Calnic Fortress
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
31 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
7
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2
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Terrible
2
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania18,192 contributions
Dec 2022
Built around 1270 - and it started as a keep - in witch today you can find the museum of the Saxon households with costumes, pottery and tools - by noble Chyl of Kelling (giving the German name to the village Kelling - Calnic in Romanian).
Around the central keep in the following centuries walls were erected - with more towers and got its current shape towards the end of the XVIIth early XVIIIth century.
In the 15th century the hall church was built and later expended to its current shape.
Nowadays - after its addition to the UNESCO World heritage in 1999 - is a tourist attraction - pretty well maintained that can be visited around the year - now with the visiting search the web for the opening hours and in the winter time when you get there - call the number on the main gate - that's what we did and in like 10 minutes the custodian came and opened the fortress for us. They don't keep it open in the winter all day , due to the small number of visitors ... so use the number, we called and it was answered.
Also near the entrance you shall find a small souvenir shop , should you care to by some mementoes.
So when you are in the area I recommend you pay a visit - it won't take more than an hour of your time to visit the fortress, but it is worth it.
Entrance fee is pocket friendly 15 Ron / about 3 Euros but be prepared with cash - also for the souvenir shop you need cash.
All these being said - enjoy Calnic Fortress!!
Around the central keep in the following centuries walls were erected - with more towers and got its current shape towards the end of the XVIIth early XVIIIth century.
In the 15th century the hall church was built and later expended to its current shape.
Nowadays - after its addition to the UNESCO World heritage in 1999 - is a tourist attraction - pretty well maintained that can be visited around the year - now with the visiting search the web for the opening hours and in the winter time when you get there - call the number on the main gate - that's what we did and in like 10 minutes the custodian came and opened the fortress for us. They don't keep it open in the winter all day , due to the small number of visitors ... so use the number, we called and it was answered.
Also near the entrance you shall find a small souvenir shop , should you care to by some mementoes.
So when you are in the area I recommend you pay a visit - it won't take more than an hour of your time to visit the fortress, but it is worth it.
Entrance fee is pocket friendly 15 Ron / about 3 Euros but be prepared with cash - also for the souvenir shop you need cash.
All these being said - enjoy Calnic Fortress!!
Written January 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elena Ciocan
Timisoara, Romania1,721 contributions
Jul 2020
The fortified churches of Transylvania are spectacular, The Calnic one is quite unique, they renovated few rooms and you can spend the night here
Written September 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wisniak
Ness Ziona, Israel573 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
Arrived at the fortress and found the main door closed. Found a local who spoke with the guard, who arrived 15 minutes later and opened the fortress door for us.
It's a walled fortification with 2 towers. One of them was closed (couldn't climb up) but the other was open and I climbed up the narrow passage way to the top. Sadly all the balcony was closed with a mesh, probably to prevent pigeons from entering, so I couldn't take overall it's a beautiful place.
Recommended.
It's a walled fortification with 2 towers. One of them was closed (couldn't climb up) but the other was open and I climbed up the narrow passage way to the top. Sadly all the balcony was closed with a mesh, probably to prevent pigeons from entering, so I couldn't take overall it's a beautiful place.
Recommended.
Written April 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BorderRambler
New York City, NY93 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Drive all the way from Cluj, hugely excited about this fortified church. At 4pm on a Thursday we called Codruta Davidas as per instructions during opening hours (3 hours before closing) only to be rudely told that it is closed because she is in Sebes (only 6 miles away) and can’t be bothered, hanging up on us. She then ignored our calls to plead with her to allow us entry. UNESCO should be ashamed of this woman’s attitude.
Written April 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ODEATravels
38 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
We visited this UNESCO church, driving two hours from Cluj to see it. As expected you needed to call a number on the door in order for someone to come and open the church for you (we had done this at other fortified churches in Romania). Upon calling the number the woman told us, “Not today I’m in Sebes”. This is a town 6 miles away from the church. We explained that we had driven all the way from Cluj (2 hours) to see the church and she just said shouted no at us, and then hung up. We tried to call back to see if we could perhaps drive the 6 miles to meet her, but she wouldn’t answer the phone. What a ridiculous and unbelievable way to treat visitors to the church.
Written April 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oana C
Bucharest, Romania557 contributions
Sep 2016 • Family
On the wine road you could find a romantic fortress.
In that place the time is stop in the midle of a romantic story.
There you will find many traditional artwork and the original handmade palinca.
In that place the time is stop in the midle of a romantic story.
There you will find many traditional artwork and the original handmade palinca.
Written September 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thelovelyflower
Cambridge, UK67 contributions
May 2016
We enjoyed visiting the fortress and also exploring the local village. The fortress is interesting to explore (although not that large) and well maintained.
However, when we arrived (within normal opening times) the fortress was locked. To get the key, you have to go and knock on the door of one of the buildings. We tried most of the buildings before working out which was the right one! Although the person who opens the fortress was aware we were there, she seemed unwilling to open it until a big tour arrived which was a bit irritating.
However, when we arrived (within normal opening times) the fortress was locked. To get the key, you have to go and knock on the door of one of the buildings. We tried most of the buildings before working out which was the right one! Although the person who opens the fortress was aware we were there, she seemed unwilling to open it until a big tour arrived which was a bit irritating.
Written May 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steveo_1M
London, United Kingdom65 contributions
Sep 2013 • Family
Recognised by UNESCO as a world Heritage site as one of the "Villages with Fortified Churches" Calnic is more a Fortress with a small church added, rather than a church that has been fortified like so many others in Transylvania. Located in Alba County about an hour from Sibiu. It is well worth a visit. I have been here on two separate occasions. You could consider a day trip to Sebes taking in the Fortified Churches of Cristian, Miercurea Sibiului and Calnic on your way. Calnic is a few kilometres from the main road from Sibiu to Sebes.
Written February 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ioana A
Cluj-Napoca, Romania55 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
Very easily accessible from the road connecting Sebes with Sibiu. Liked the small chapel, the bell tower (with the 'graffiti'), the huge barrels in the cellar, the bacon tower. The lady at the reception was very friendly. We also walked to the old cemetery nearby. Two small and really cute pigs were walking around the fortress, to everyone's delight (i think the pigs appeared in more photographs than the fortress itself). It felt like walking through time, the whole site gives away a comfortable vibe. Will definitely return!
Written January 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eliza_Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania542 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
Calnic is an absolute must stop for the traveler between Sibiu and Alba Iulia. You can easily reach the village after a short 8 km side road from the main road. When we parked our car near the fortress, immediately a woman appeared to show us in the fortress. All the preservation works of this place are done by Ars Transsilvanie, an association made up of four members. They are mainly counting of the visitors entrance fees and donations. Given the little financial support, they do a wonderful job, since you can feel their passion for this place and their desire to preserve the old heritage. Your visit is accompanied by old monastic music, played from inside the church (recorded music, but nonetheless it induces a magic feeling). The woman was very attentive and explained to us the history of the place. You can climb the bell tower and see how the locals keep their bacon, meats, lard hanged in the tower (it is the best place to preserve them! You will keep finding this habit in towers of old fortified churches in Transylvania). What we found extremely interesting is that they have arranged two rooms inside the fortress where the travellers can sleep over the night (they have said they even have showers in rooms). The price per person per night is 50 lei (around 12 EUR). You can plan staying a night in the fortress and enjoy the charm of the place !
Don’t miss visiting this place !
Don’t miss visiting this place !
Written April 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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