The legend of Mihai Viteazul's jewels hidden in the castle of Buia.

The Legend of Buia

In Buia, a village located halfway between Mediaș and Sibiu, an ancient legend that has lasted for several hundred years still endures today. It is said that in the castle built in the 14th century on a hill, the voivode of Wallachia, Mihai Viteazu, hid golden jewels that would enrich whoever finds them.

The History of the Castle

The history of the castle begins in 1324, when the entire region of Buia belonged to the Calvasar counts, one of the wealthiest noble families. The castle featured:

• Bedrooms
• Ballrooms
• A library
• Recreation rooms

All of these made it one of the most beautiful castles of that time. In the 15th century, a chapel was even built here, which locals say has an underground connection to the neighboring village of Mighindoala, a link that is said to have been made through a five-kilometer-long tunnel.

The Hidden Treasure of Michael the Brave

At the end of the 16th century, the castle and the entire Buia estate returned to Mihai Viteazul after Prince Sigismund Bathory granted it to him as a reward for his fight against the Turks. Historical references indicate that over time, Mihai Viteazul would have stayed several times at the Buia castle.

It is even said that after the battle of Șelimbăr, Mihai Viteazul spent ten days at the castle, during which he hid several jewels in a buffalo skin, concealing them within the castle.

The Tower of the Condemned to Death

Another legend that still circulates in the area is related to the castle's tower. It is said that this tower was where people sentenced to death were brought. There was even a trapdoor in the tower that the condemned were forced to step on, at which point it would open and they would fall into the ground where sharp stakes were fixed.

Next to the tower, there is also a linden tree that is said to have been used as a gallows.

The Current State of the Castle

Today, it seems that only legends and stories remain of the castle at Buia. This is because the entire castle is in an extremely advanced state of decay. The roof has collapsed on one side, and the walls are completely crumbling.