Graft Bastion in Brașov

Graft Bastion is a rectangular fortification on the northwestern side of the city with walls about four meters thick, fitted with wooden shooting openings on two levels for defensive coverage. The structure connects the White Tower to the main fortress through a strategic passage and now houses a museum displaying medieval weapons and armor.

Construction took place between 1515 and 1521, creating a strategic link between the White Tower and the main fortress. In 1822, three stone arches were added to stabilize the foundations after flood damage, and one arch survives as a visible reminder of this repair.

Guild members from the saddlery trade took on the role of guards and maintainers of this structure, showing how craft organizations directly participated in protecting the city. The rooms inside still show how these working communities organized their daily defensive duties.

Morning visits offer better lighting for viewing the interior spaces and seeing museum details clearly. Sturdy shoes are recommended since the old stone floors are uneven and can be damp in lower areas.

Visitors often miss that the visible stone arches from 1822 run underneath the structure as an engineering solution to save it from flood damage. These later repairs reveal how the city adapted to changing environmental conditions over time.