Heritage & History · Codlea
Cetatea Neagră — Schwarzburg (Codlea)
The ruins of a 13th-century fortress at about 980 m on Măgura Codlei, above the town of Codlea. There is no ticket or opening hours: you reach it on foot along marked trails, the shortest taking 1.5–2 hours.
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At a glance
Distance from MAX1.5–2 h (trail from Maial)Time to spend1.5–2 h (trail from Maial)TownCodleaAbout the place
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.
Frequently asked questions
Ce este Ghidul Local MAX International?Un ghid al obiectivelor, traseelor și evenimentelor din zona Râșnov–Brașov–Bran, gândit ca punct de informare pentru oaspeții MAX International. Fiecare obiectiv are distanța din MAX, hartă și detalii de acces.
Cât de departe sunt obiectivele de MAX International?Variază: de la câțiva kilometri (Cetatea Râșnov, Peștera Valea Cetății) până la ~50 km (Bușteni, Sinaia). Fiecare pagină afișează distanța aproximativă și timpul cu mașina din MAX.
Informațiile din ghid sunt verificate?Da. Fiecare obiectiv publicat are sursă oficială și hartă confirmate. Programul și tarifele se pot schimba sezonier, așa că verifică linkul oficial înainte de vizită.
Pot cere recomandări la recepția MAX International?Da. Recepția și concierge-ul MAX International te pot ajuta cu recomandări, transfer și rezervări, în funcție de sezon și de preferințe.
Cum ajung la obiective dacă nu am mașină?Recepția MAX te poate ajuta cu transfer privat sau cu informații despre transport. Pentru obiectivele apropiate (Cetatea Râșnov, centrul Râșnovului) accesul e ușor și pe jos.
Care e cea mai bună perioadă pentru a vizita zona?Zona e atractivă tot anul: vara pentru trasee și peșteri, iarna pentru pârtii și telecabine. Fiecare obiectiv indică sezonul recomandat.
Pot rezerva cazare lângă aceste obiective?Da — MAX International Râșnov e o bază centrală pentru explorarea zonei. Vezi secțiunea de cazare sau scrie-ne pe WhatsApp pentru disponibilitate.
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