Pe 15 iunie 2008, pe o vreme destul de inchisa, am iesit la o mica excursie foto-jurnalistica in apropierea Brasovului, in urma careia am vizitat trei obiective geografice si istorice (Cetatea Rupea, Coloanele de Bazalt de la Racos si Biserica Ortodoxa din Bogata Olteana).

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Cetatea Rupea.
Cetatea Rupea se afla amplasata in mijlocul Romaniei, in judetul Brasov, la o altitudine aproximativa de 500 metri, in vecinatatea raului Olt, a drumului national DN13 de la Brasov spre Cluj-Napoca, in partea vestica a orasului Rupea. Fortareata a fost construita pe un deal stancos (alcatuit din Bazalte) numit Cohalm.
Pe vremea dacilor, pe varful dealului, exista o fortareata numita Ramidava (sau Rumidava, dupa alte surse). In timpul secolului XIV, sasii au gasit ruinele acestei asezari dacice, si au construit peste ele (in cateva etape) o cetatea taraneasca. In 1324 este atestat “Castrum Kuholm”, unde refugiatii au gasit loc sa se ascunda de furia regelui maghiar, Carol Robert de Anjou.
Numele dat cetatii este acelasi folosit de populatia locala si anume “Reps” (abia mai tarziu maghiarii au numit-o Cohalom sau Koholom, cu acelasi inteles de “deal abrupt”). Cuvantul “Reps” vine din limba latina, insemnand deal abrupt sau loc stancos (in sensul de abrupt).

Materialele folosite pentru constructie au fost bazaltele extrase din munte, rocile de calcar cumparate de la toparlanii din satul Cata si caramizile arse. Tiglele au fost folosite doar din secolul XVIII.

Sistemul de aparare era format din trei parti:
- Cetatea de Sus, construita inainte de colonizarea germana;
- Cetatea de Mijloc, construita in secolul XV;
- Cetatea de Jos, construita in secolul XVIII.

Fortareata a fost construita in timpul rebeliunii sasesti impotriva regului Ungariei (Carol Robert de Anjou, 1308-1342). Mai tarziu, populatia locala a adaugat trei turnuri de aparare si doua curti interioare, folosite ca refugii. In prima curte se afla o fantana adanca de 40 metri, a carei apa nu a secat niciodata si care inca este potabila.

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In 1790 o furtuna a distrus acoperisul cetatii si de atunci aceasta a fost abandonata. In timpul istoriei a fost un refugiu pentru populatia din imprejurimi, impotriva atacurilor turcesti si tataresti.

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English version of “Rupea Fortress”

The Rupea Fortress is located in center of Romania, in Brasov county at 500 meters altitude, in vicinity Olt River, national highway from Brasov to Cluj-Napoca and on the western side of Rupea city. The fortress was built on a basalt rocky hill.
In Dacian times, on the top of a basalt rock there was a fortress that is said to be named Ramidava (or Rumidava, in the other sources). During the XIV century, the Saxons found the fortress destroyed and they built on its ruins, on several steps, a peasant fortress (in 1324 is mentioned „Castrum Kuholm” where the refugees found a hidden place in the citadel running from the fury of the Hungarian king Robert Carol’s army).
They named it the same name the local people used: Reps (much later the Hungarians named it Cohalom or Koholom, meaning “rock heap”). In the same time „reps” in latin language meaning cliff, or rocky slope. 

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The used materials were basalt stone extracted from the rock, pariah stone, calcareous stone brought from the bounder of the village Cata and burnt brick. The tile was used starting the XVIII century.

The strengthening system consists of three parts:
- The Upper part of the Fortress, built before the German colonization;
- The Middle Fortress built in the XV century;
- The Lower part of the Fortress built in the XVIII century.

The fortress was built during the saxon rebellion against Hungary king Carol Robert of Anjou (1308-1342). Later, the local people added to the first construction three defense towers and two indoor yards, used as a refuge. In the first yard there was a 40 meters broad and its water didn’t drop out ever and is still drinkable. In 1790, a strong storm destroyed the fortress roof, and since then the edifice was abandoned. During the history, it was a refugee place for the population of the near villages, and it faced many Turkish and Tatar sieges.