Some of Romania's most important museums and cultural institutions are represented at this year's edition of the Castles Fair, held Friday and Saturday at Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, an event aimed at promoting significant historic monuments open to the public.

This year's edition is organised under the banner 'The Year of Iancu de Hunedoara: Hero. Voivode. Legend', with Corvin Castle serving as a major landmark of cultural-historical tourism in the region.

The official opening featured an interactive program by the Order of the Knights of Muhlbach (Sebes - Alba), while the castle's own knights and ladies staged a performance dedicated to Iancu de Hunedoara (John Hunyadi), along with medieval dance and combat demonstrations.

'At this year's Castles Fair we are joined by institutions similar to Corvin Castle that wish to promote themselves alongside us. We want to give a boost to cultural tourism by showcasing the chain of monuments found not only in Hunedoara County but also across Transylvania and beyond the Carpathians, as we have castles and museums from all over the country. We hope this edition will be as successful as the previous ones,' said Sorin Tincu, director of the Corvin Castle Museum.

The stands of the 15 participating institutions were set up in the Diet Hall, which quickly filled with visitors. Exhibitors prepared leaflets, brochures, printed materials and various items for guests.

The Brukenthal Museum of Sibiu is a regular presence at the fair. 'We are honored to be invited every year because both Sibiu and the museum - the emblem of the city and of Transylvania - need promotion. The museum's strong point is the Brukenthal Palace and its exhibitions, and now also the recently reopened Museum of the History of Pharmacy, where you can see the story of Sibiu's first pharmacy, founded by the Michael Brukenthal family,' said Dorel Popa, representing the Brukenthal Museum.

Other museums, such as the Fagaras County Museum, highlighted their summer events calendar.

'The Fagaras Fortress - which was never conquered - awaits visitors with activities, new exhibitions and various book launches. The Olt County community is very well represented in the museum; this is its home,' said Cristina Radulescu of the Fagaras County Museum.

Alongside major museums, the fair also promotes lesser-known fortresses and destinations, such as Malaiesti Fortress in Salasu de Sus. It is the only fortress in Hateg Land with a restored donjon and enjoys a distinctive landscape at the foot of the Retezat Mountains.

'The donjon tower is the only restored one in Hateg Land and offers visitors a journey into the 600-year-old history of a defensive tower. We are blessed to be near the Retezat Mountains, churches, hiking trails and cycling routes - all good reasons for tourists to visit us. And the local gastronomy is famous, from the well-known Salas virsli to the natural products prepared by village women using old recipes,' said Ramona Vlaiconi of Malaiesti Fortress.

Visitors can also see replicas of the Dacian gold bracelets discovered at the Sarmizegetusa Regia fortress in the Orastie Mountains, koson coins, and offers for high-quality cultural tourism across the country.

This year, alongside the Corvin Castle Museum, the fair features: Orastie Fortress, Ardud Fortress, the National Museum of History and Archaeology in Constanta, Sturdza Castle Miclauseni, the 'Dragan Muntean' Cultural Centre Deva, the 'Valer Literat' Fagaras County Museum, Malaiesti Medieval Fortress, the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation Deva, Severin Medieval Fortress, Alba Carolina Fortress, the National Brukenthal Museum, Colt Fortress, Bánffy Castle and Rasnov Fortress.

The Castles Fair concludes Saturday evening with a free concert by the tenor group Distinto in the outer courtyard of Corvin Castle, starting at 20:00. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Sorin Blada; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)