Update October 17, 2026: Poenari Fortress is open. Since October 1, it has been open daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with the last ascent at 15:00.
Tickets still cost 30 lei for adults and 20 lei for schoolchildren, students, and retirees, and can be bought at the fortress or online. The climb is done in groups formed at the base of the fortress, so you don't need to come with an organized group.
Between May 18 and September 30, 2026, the fortress had summer opening hours, daily from 10:00 to 18:00. On August 6, 2026, access was temporarily suspended after a bear destroyed the electric fence, and on August 11 the authorities announced that the site could be visited again, in groups only.
In spring 2026, about 30 steps were repaired under warranty, without closing the fortress.
Update May 26, 2025: Poenari Fortress will reopen to the public starting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The decision was made after the female bear and her two cubs that had been spotted near the historic monument were captured and safely relocated.
To keep visitors safe, additional measures have been put in place: the electric fence has been upgraded, other access paths have been blocked, and the fortress staff have been equipped with deterrent sprays and air horns. According to the authorities, there are no recent signs of other wild animals in the area.
Visiting hours will be strict, with access allowed only in organized groups, at the following fixed times:
09:00
11:00
13:00
15:00 (last ascent)
Ticket prices are:
30 lei for adults
20 lei for schoolchildren, students, and retirees
Tickets can be bought both in person, at the fortress ticket office, and online.
Speaking through the vice president of the Argeș County Council, the authorities stress the importance of tourist safety and express the hope that the fortress, recently restored with European funds and known for its history linked to Vlad the Impaler, will once again attract tens of thousands of visitors, as it did in previous years (over 100,000 tourists a year).
Poenari Fortress is located near Vidraru Dam, about 25 km from Curtea de Argeș.
Update April 28, 2025: Access to Poenari Fortress is suspended starting April 29, 2025. The measure was taken by the Argeș County Council for the safety of tourists, after a female bear with two cubs entered the access area on April 28, damaging the electric fence. The fortress will reopen once the area has been secured; the authorities are working to resolve the problem.
Update April 14, 2025: Poenari Fortress reopened to the public today, April 14, after a break of more than three years.
When does Poenari Fortress reopen? That's the question history and exploration enthusiasts are asking, and the answer comes with good news. Starting Monday, April 14, 2025, Poenari Fortress in Argeș County is reopening its gates to tourists, after an extensive restoration and consolidation process.
Poenari Fortress – reopened after a complex restoration project
The restoration work was carried out under the project “Conservation and Consolidation of Poenari Fortress, Argeș”, funded by European funds and with a significant contribution from the authorities.
When does Poenari Fortress reopen? Starting April 14
Its completion was marked on Friday, April 4, with a press conference attended by officials, builders, historians, and archaeologists.
The vice president of the Argeș County Council, Marius Nicolaescu, highlighted how hard the work had been, carried out in difficult conditions, at altitude, and with numerous administrative and technical obstacles:
“Poenari Fortress, the true fortress of Vlad the Impaler, will reopen on April 14. It was one of the hardest projects the Argeș County Council has ever had!”
Useful information for visitors
Updated October 17, 2026: Poenari Fortress is open, and the climb is done in groups.
Reopening date: Monday, April 14, 2025
Opening hours: from October 1, 2026, daily 09:00 – 16:00, with the last ascent at 15:00 (in summer, 10:00 – 18:00, with the last ascent at 17:00)
Prices:
Adults – 30 lei
Schoolchildren, students, retirees – 20 lei
What work was done at Poenari Fortress?
The work included:
Structural and architectural rehabilitation of the fortress;
Conservation of the walls and restoration of the paved floors;
Modernization of the access route, including the famous 1,480 steps;
Lighting, video surveillance, and Wi-Fi along the route;
Restoration of historic features, such as the cistern and the donjon (keep).
The area covered by the work is almost 1,900 m², and the total value of the project was over 25.6 million lei, of which more than 9.6 million came from non-repayable European funds.
Why is Poenari Fortress worth visiting?
Spectacularly perched on the heights of the Făgăraș Mountains, with panoramic views over the Argeș Valley, Poenari Fortress is considered by historians to be the true fortress of Vlad the Impaler, as it was his secondary residence. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, as the Romanian feudal states were consolidating and facing the Ottoman threat.
It is a Category A historic monument, of national and international importance, and is managed by the Argeș County Museum.
It can be visited on the way to the Transfăgărășan, another famous tourist attraction.
The project's impact on tourism and the community
The completion of this project gives a significant boost to:
cultural tourism in Argeș County
the local community through jobs and economic development
and all history and heritage enthusiasts looking for authentic and memorable experiences.
Poenari Fortress is reborn from history and is waiting to be rediscovered by tourists, restored, safe, and impressive. From April 14!
Alongside Sighișoara Citadel and iconic fortifications such as Râșnov Fortress, Făgăraș Fortress, or Alba Carolina Citadel, Poenari Fortress takes its well-deserved place among the most spectacular and history-laden fortresses in Romania.
