Codlea and Tara Zanelor (The Fairies Land)
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Codlea Municipality, Brasov County, on the cultural road connecting Brasov to Sibiu, has a history revolving around the Citadel, known as the Black Citadel in the Teutonic Knights period. It still preserves the memory of a local legend talking about the "Black Empress" having her citadel on Magura Codlei Mountain (1294 m). Local history and interesting stories are rooted in Tara Zanelor (Fairies Land) from Piatra Craiului Mountains. These stories are nowadays part of a project of the Metropolitan Agency in Brasov, which compiled a tourist guide encompassing the Legends from Tara Barsei (Burzenland).
The Black Empress
It is said that the Black Empress, who had her citadel on Magura Codlei, had a son who fell madly in love with a fairy. After he wooed her, the fairy refused him because she couldn?t accept to marry a mortal. The girl?s rejection caused him great pain, and he eventually died out of grief. This infuriated the Empress terribly and, since she dealt with witchcraft, cursed the fairy and petrified her.
Magura Codlei
Magura Codlei Mountain, the place where this legend started, is seen by the locals as the most sensitive regional barometer. Inhabitants say they know how the weather will be like, only by watching the atmosphere around the mountain. When Magura crest is foggy, people know that bad weather is coming. "Magura Codlei" archaeological site, containing a fortified Dacian establishment dating from the 1st century B.C. ? 1st century A.D., was also discovered here.
The Rural Citadel
It is known about the Codlea Citadel ? the Black Citadel, that is was built by the Teutonic Knights between 1211 and 1225 on the Northern flank of Magura Codlei Mountain. It was robbed and burned by Tatars and Turkish people, it was rebuilt in 1432 and turned into a rural citadel. Nowadays the Evangelical Church can be visited inside, first built in the Romantic style, and then, in 1500, modified in the Gothic style.
