Photos

As a continuation of my previous post, here is the unveiling of the recently renovated baroque third gate of the Habsburg fortress in the city of Alba Iulia (Latin: Apulum, Alba Iulia, Alba Carolina; German: Weißenburg, Karlsburg; Hungarian: Gyulafehérvár; Slavic: Balgrad, Belograd).

The actual point of entry into the core of the fortress, the largest of the fortress gates, the third gate is lavishly adorned with baroque figures and motifs, representative of Transylvanian Baroque sculpture. The main equestrian statue, pictured here, depicts a mean looking Habsburg emperor Karl VI mounted on a mean looking horse and several terrified Ottoman captives on the pedestal.

Inside the pedestal is a small chamber in which Horea, the main leader of the uprising of the Romanian peasants from the Apuseni mountains (Western Carpathians) was imprisoned in January of 1785, before his gruesome execution.

The structure is also adorned with four statues at each corner, symbolizing the great virtues: Temperance (Temperance), Prudence (Wisdom), Justice (Justice) and Fortitude (Courage).

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