Ardud Fortress

The Legend of Ardud Fortress

Dating back to 1481, the mysterious story of Ardud Fortress awaits to be unraveled by a true man. How, you don’t know what they say about the word? Well, today you will definitely learn the legend! Built by the legendary Bartolomeu Dragffy, voivode of Transylvania, it came into the possession of Prince Francis Rakoczi II over 200 years later, the main character of today’s tale.

Location and Historical Significance

Ardud Fortress is located in Satu Mare County, and if you happen to be traveling on the E81, there’s really no reason not to stop at this ineffable fortification.

• It is said that it was built for defense, given the foundation on which it stands.
• Furthermore, although not much has survived from the fortress, we might wonder and also bring into discussion the idea that Ardud Fortress was built by Bartolomeu Dragffy right on the site of an ancient Dacian fortress.

However, that is not the legend worth discussing...

The Legend of Vilma

The famous Ardud Fortress takes shape through the legend that has surrounded it since ancient times. Thus, the living soul of the fortification is maintained by the story of the legendary Bartolomeu Dragffy’s daughter, Vilma, who was said to have been seduced by none other than an officer of the Austrian army, namely an officer of the enemy army.

In complete sincerity and as proof of the pure love she bore him, Vilma revealed the secret of the fortress to him – that beneath the fortress there was a cellar with three exits, meant to be used by the defenders in case the fortress was attacked. A surprise attack from this unforeseen location would have equated to a massive advantage in the event of an assault or even war.

The Curse of Vilma

Realizing the gravity of her actions, Vilma immediately fled to her father, confessing her deed, who managed to escape before the Austrians could capture them. Unfortunately for the girl, her father’s fury was unleashed, and he cursed her on the spot, her ghost being imprisoned in the undergrounds until a brave man would come and kiss this ghost three times, without looking back.

• Otherwise, if he looked back, the man would turn to stone.

The continuation of the legend states that, in fact, over time, there have been numerous young men who tried to break the girl’s curse, but none returned from the undergrounds once they got there. True or not, the legend is still present and delights any tourist eager to learn more about the powers of the great rulers of Transylvania.