- Tourist Information
- Map
- Medieval fortifications
- The Legend of Dochia Princess and Suceava Medieval Fortress
- The Legend of Stephen the Great and Suceava Medieval Fortress
Tourist Information
| Type | Fortress |
| Year | 14th century |
| Founder | Petru I Musat |
| Location | Aleea Cetatii, Suceava, Romania |
| Getting there | The closest airport is located in Suceava (SCV) – www.aeroportsuceava.ro |
| Visiting Hours / Tickets | Visiting schedule of the fortress, schedule of internal guides, and schedule of screenings, check the official website: https://muzeulbucovinei.ro/en/visiting/visiting-programme/ Ticket price: Adults -16 RON / pers Pupils, students with valid IDs – 4 RON / pers Pensioners – 8 RON / pers For the exact program check the official website: https://muzeulbucovinei.ro/en/ |
| Getting there | Suceava Medieval Fortress has a large gravel parking lot right in front of the entrance, there are bathrooms and a restaurant located right before the entrance of the fortress. |
Map
Medieval fortifications
This restored stone fortress was originally built in the 14th century and destroyed in the 17th century.
The system of medieval fortifications included fortified settlements for defense purposes, reinforced with stone walls with deep ditches.
The system of medieval fortifications included fortified settlements for defense purposes, reinforced with stone walls with deep ditches.
The Seat Fortress of Suceava consists of Musatin Fort, Outer Precinct, Defense Ditch, and Slope Wall.
To these is added an archeological site located at “Campul Santurilor”.
In the fortress, there are two old oaks from the time of the ruler Stephen the Great.
Also here you can see a tower where there was a chapel.
The Legend of Dochia Princess and Suceava Medieval Fortress
The story of the Seat Fortress in Suceava is an emotional and delightful account of the construction of the fortification in the medieval era. According to legend, during the time of Petru I Musat (1375-1391), the illustrious ruler of Moldavia, there lived a princess of extraordinary beauty named Dochia.
Princess Dochia, renowned throughout the kingdom for her exceptional beauty, was adored by the people for her boundless compassion and generosity. However, her heart belonged only to a brave knight named Michael. Consumed by ardent love, the two cherished the dream of joining their lives in holy matrimony. Every aspect of their story seemed to be unfolding flawlessly, until the fateful day when news of an impending and terrible war reached the ears of the princess. The country was on the precipice of turmoil and devastation, Suceava itself being threatened with conquest. Driven by an overwhelming sense of duty to protect his homeland and fortress, Michael decided to enlist in the army and fight bravely for the defense of his birthplace.
Michael nevertheless left for the battlefield, assuring her that he would return triumphant. The princess remained worried at home, waiting for news. Every day, Dochia’s heart became more and more burdened with anxiety and anguish toward her lover.
The heartbreaking news finally arrived: Michael had perished in the middle of the battle, his wounds proving fatal. Dochia was shattered by this profound tragedy, overcome by a deep sense of grief. Despite the immense pain she endured, she resolved to honor the memory of her cherished knight and persevere in her vision of building a formidable fortress, protecting both the city and the nation.
The Suceava Medieval Fortress is a testimony to the venerated Michael, being a lasting symbol of his bravery, affection, and unwavering loyalty both to the nation and to Princess Dochia. According to the legend, the spirit of Dochia continues to mourn her lover, her figure, in white clothes and shedding tears of sadness, often appears on the walls of the fortress or in various places in the fortress.
The Legend of Stephen the Great and Suceava Medieval Fortress
Legend has it that Stephen the Great built, under the fortress, a tunnel that ends somewhere near the Church of St. Dumitru in Suceava where you can see the ruins of the Royal House. This was an escape tunnel in case the fortress was conquered.
It is said that Stephen the Great used this tunnel to get rid of the enemies who had invaded the fortress. The enemies followed him through the tunnel. When Stephen came out of the tunnel, he threw a curse so that no one would ever come out of that escape tunnel alive.
