Cetatea Neagră — Schwarzburg (Codlea)

The ruins of a fortress on Măgura Codlei

Cetatea Neagră (the Black Fortress), called Schwarzburg in German, stands on the Măgura Codlei hill, at an altitude of about 980 m, above the town of Codlea. Today only ruins remain. It is not a site with tickets and opening hours, but the end point of a hike.

A little history

The Brașov Tourism app of the Brașov County Council describes it as built by the Teutonic Knights and German colonists between 1211 and 1225. The fortress served as a refuge and as a lookout over the trade route linking Țara Bârsei with Sibiu. According to the same source, it was most likely burned during a Tatar invasion around 1345 and was never rebuilt. A model of the fortress is on display at the Traditions Museum in Codlea.

Trails

The shortest documented route starts from the Maial area and passes through Poiana Mărul Dulce to the Black Fortress. The trail is marked with a blue triangle, is described as accessible all year round and takes 1.5–2 hours. A longer trail starts from the Codlea lido (Ștrandul Codlea) and goes over the Măgura Codlei summit: it is about 5.4 km long, with roughly 670 m of elevation gain and 5–5.5 hours, of medium difficulty, according to Brașov Tourism.

Hours and prices (checked 12 October 2026)

No hours, prices, official website or phone number are published; check the official source (the Brașov Tourism app). As open-air ruins, the site is not suitable in the rain. Access with a pushchair or wheelchair and suitability for small children are not published.

How to get there

From Râșnov, head towards Cristian and then to Codlea, on the DN1 in the direction of Sibiu. You will find the driving time on the navigation buttons of this page. From Codlea you climb on foot along one of the marked trails above; take water and mountain footwear with you.