The medieval citadel of Orastie, Hunedoara County, reopened on Monday to the general public after several years of conservation and restoration that reintegrated the historical monument into a concept of re-functionalization of the old city center."We are inaugurating an important project of the local administration, which we laid the foundations for ten years ago, when we drew up the project of the protected city center, which also integrates sites from the central area - the Orastie citadel in particular. I am glad that we were able to find the necessary funding for this project that was brought to a successful conclusion so that the Orastie citadel could be revitalised," mayor Ovidiu Balan declared on this occasion.Vice-president of the Hunedoara County Council Alin Samba noted that the project of the Orastie medieval citadel belongs to a set of local and regional sightseeing attractions along the Mures Valley."The municipality of Orastie, through its central, historical area, the medieval citadel, the Museum of Dacian Civilization, are illustrative of the traditions and history of these places. (...) This is an important project for the culture of Hunedoara County because along the Mures Valley there are now the Deva Citadel, the Corvin Castle and the freshly restored and highlighted Orastie Citadel, all worthwhile destinations," Alin Samba said.The project received RON 25.4 million in funding, of which RON 19.5 million in EU financing.The opening of the citadel was marked by an Open Day, with historical reenactments, weapon skill displays and medieval theater.Access to the citadel will be free for all visitors until August 24.The citadel was built around 1300 and was mentioned in chronicles in 1544 by cartographer and cosmographer Sebastian Munster, and in 1560 by Italian mercenary captain Giovanandrea Gromo. The robustly built and solid citadel was the refuge where the locals sought shelter during the Tatar, and later the Ottoman invasions.