The locality was identified as Vila Cuculensis Castri mentioned in 1197. In the 12th century, the village of Târnavei fortress is mentioned, hosting a fortress built in the middle of a village inhabited by poor Romanians. In 1241, the fortress was destroyed by the Tatars, being rebuilt in the 14th century between 1352 and 1371, with documents from that period attesting to the existence of castellans who administered both the fortress and the surrounding area. These, together with eight other Transylvanian domains, were donated to ruler Ștefan cel Mare by Matei Corvin, after the defeat suffered at Baia in 1467.
The Cetatea de Baltă Citadel was under the rule of the rulers of Moldavia for 100 years, starting from 1555, when great Moldavian boyars ceded it to the sultan in exchange for the removal of Alexandru Lăpușneanu from the reign.
After the occupation by the Turks, the fortress was completely destroyed, leaving only ruins that, over time, disappeared. Today, only three small mounds with traces of stone and brick can be seen near the station.
In the 16th century, Hungarian feudal nobles took control of the settlement between 1570 and 1580, building a castle on the outskirts of the village. The building was rebuilt in the French Gothic style in 1757, inspired by the models of castles in France.
In 1764, the castle became the property of the Bethlen family, and then of the Haller family, who made specific changes to it in the Baroque style. It belongs to the category of residence castles, having a compact plan and a prismatic volume under a single high roof, specific to the period in which it was built. The structure has a rectangular plan, and a circular bastion rises at its corners. The three floors, together with the cellar, are semi-cylindrical vaulted.
Although it appears to be a fortress, the castle had no special defense devices. The towers, which included bedrooms, lounges and other common rooms, were provided with large windows from the beginning, as were the rest of the facades.
An internal spiral staircase is found on the south side of the castle, and the entrance to the castle courtyard is marked by a richly decorated gate, made in 1769 in the Baroque style.
The castle was famous for its very beautiful gardens and the dendrological park that surrounded it.
Between 1773 and 1777, a trial initiated by Kadar Mozeș, the administrator of the noble domains of the county, took place in the Cetatea de Baltă, against the rebellious serfs. As a result of this, although the serfs suffered losses, the abuses and illegalities committed by the feudal nobility were highlighted.
During the Peasant Uprising of 1784, led by Horia Cloșca and Crișan, the inhabitants of Cetatea de Baltă supported the uprisings. This state of mind also persisted during the revolution of 1848-1849, when the administration of Târnava county, with its residence at Cetatea de Baltă until 1866 (when it was moved to Târnăveni), was replaced by young people from the Blaj school. Thus, on November 23, 1848, Vasile Moldovan was appointed commissar of the Romanians, and Ștefan Ludwig Roth, commissar of the Saxon population, by the National Committee in addition to the prefecture.
On January 15, 1849, Cetatea de Baltă was occupied by General Bem's troops, who arrested Stefan Ludwig Roth, while Vasile Moldovan managed to flee to Wallachia.
Source: The Peasant Citadels of Transylvania (Ministry of Tourism, 1982)
