Poenari Castle, Ruined castle in Căpățânenii Pământeni, Romania

Poenari Castle is a ruined fortress on Mount Cetatea in Căpățânenii Pământeni, Romania, about 400 meters above the Argeș River valley. Its elongated plan has five towers—four round and one prismatic—with walls 2–3 meters thick. The photograph shows grey stone rubble with large patches of exposed red brick, a metal staircase leading to a concrete platform and arched entry, and a blue-yellow-red flag flying above.

A single tower was built here under Negru Vodă, and by the mid-14th century the site had become the main citadel of the Basarab dynasty. In 1459 Vlad the Impaler repaired and consolidated it using stones from the older castle on the right bank, making it one of his main fortresses against the Ottomans. Abandoned in the first half of the 16th century, it was already in ruins by the 17th century.

Poenari served as Vlad the Impaler's secondary residence and a fortress against the Ottomans. A legend says that when pursued by Turks, Vlad escaped into the castle after having his horses shod backwards to confuse his trackers. Since 2009 the Argeș County Museum has administered the site.

Sturdy shoes and enough water are necessary for the 1480 concrete steps that lead up to the entrance. The steps are uneven and steep in places, so allow at least 45 minutes for the climb.

The builders integrated natural rock as part of the foundation walls, so some rooms are set directly into the mountain face. The medieval mortar between the stones is still visible in many places despite centuries of wind and rain.