Hunedoara, city, Hunedoara judet (county), west-central Romania, in the eastern foothills of the iron-ore-bearing Poiana Ruscãi Mountains, 185 miles (300 km) northwest of Bucharest. The ore deposits at nearby Ghelari and Teliuc were known in Roman times. The first major development of the...

Hunedoara, city, Hunedoara judet (county), west-central Romania, in the eastern foothills of the iron-ore-bearing Poiana Ruscãi Mountains, 185 miles (300 km) northwest of Bucharest. The ore deposits at nearby Ghelari and Teliuc were known in Roman times. The first major development of the iron- and steelworks did not take place until 1884. After World War II, their expansion and modernization included blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces, electric ore furnaces, coking and chemical works, a sintering plant, rolling mills, and related facilities. The city has become a major metallurgical production centre.

Hunedoara Castle (Castelul Hunedoara) one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Central and Eastern Europe, was built sometimes before 1409 and later extended by John Huniady (1387-1456, Iancu de Hunedoara, Ioannus Corvinus, Huniady János), Prince (Voevode) of Transylvania and by his son, King Matthew Corvinus (Matei Corvin, Mathhias Rex, 1443-1490) in the XV century and by Count Gabriel Bethlen (Gabriel Bethlen Von Iktár, 1580-1629) in XVII century. The castle, beautifully preserved, was built in a gothic style with baroque and renaissance influences. The interior of the castle has halls with arms and artifacts and sometimes special presentations and 'son et lumière' shows are organised here.

The castle is situated in Hunedoara (Eisenmarkt, Vajdahunyad), by the Zlas,ti river, in the Cerna valley and guarded by the Poiana Ruscãi Mountains. Mentioned since XII century as a hub for leather tanning , wool processing and clothing industry, Hunedoara became one of the main iron extraction and processing centres in Transylvania. Iron ores were extracted in the area since Dacian and later, in Roman times. During the XIV and XV centuries the iron foundries and works were famous for their swords and spears. The first tall industrial furnace for iron extraction was built in Toplit,a in 1750, and a later one in Govãjdia in 1806. Narrow gauge railways and suspended transporters for coal and extracted iron ore were built in the XVIII and XIX century and the Iron Works extended further. Around Hunedoara and into the mountains there is a famous area known as Tara Pãdurenilor or the Woodlanders Country, with breathtaking scenery and beautifully preserved costumes and folklore.

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