# Șcheia Fortress [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Bukovina](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/bucovina) › [Suceava County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/suceava) › [Suceava](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/suceava) > The ruins of a late 14th-century Moldavian fortress on Șeptilici Hill in Suceava. The stone walls are reached on foot through woodland. **At a glance:** Fortresses and fortifications in Suceava, Suceava County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 10 November 2026. ## Key facts - **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours - **Ticket:** Free - **Visit duration:** 30 min — including the walk - **With kids:** Yes — older children, supervised - **Best season:** April – October — in dry weather - **Address:** Dealul Șeptilici, acces din Strada Mihail Sadoveanu, Suceava, Suceava County - **Coordinates:** 47.66139, 26.2412 - **Website:** https://visitsuceava.ro/obiectiv-turistic/cetatea-scheia/ - **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetatea_%C8%98cheia - **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12723881 - **Categories:** [Fortresses and fortifications](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/fortresses-and-fortifications) ## About Șcheia Fortress Șcheia Fortress, also known as the Western Fortress of Suceava, stands on Șeptilici Hill on the north-western edge of the city. The stone fortification was probably built under Petru Mușat in the late 14th century and dismantled in the early 15th century during the reign of Alexander the Good. Archaeological excavations revealed the fortress plan. The walls formed a rhombus measuring about 36 metres along each inner side, with a tower at each corner. The entrance was on the south side, and a ditch and earth bank defended the approach along the hill ridge. ### What you can see Low stretches of masonry and traces of foundations are visible in the clearing at the edge of the woods. The rough stone used to build the fortress is visible where sections of wall emerge from the ground. From the hill you can look out over the Suceava valley. ### Good to know The final stretch is on foot over uneven ground. Visit in daylight and wear shoes with good grip. ## Don't miss - Masonry fragments and foundations of the medieval fortress. - The clearing on Șeptilici Hill at the end of the walk through the woods. - The view over the Suceava valley. ## Good to know before you go ### Getting there From the end of Strada Mihail Sadoveanu in Suceava, continue on foot along the forest track towards the ridge of Șeptilici Hill. It is around 550 metres and a 7–10-minute walk to the ruins. ### Rules Keep to the path and view the walls from ground level without climbing on them. ## Details - **Construction period:** late 14th century - **Founder:** probably Petru Mușat - **State of preservation:** ruins ## Frequently asked questions about Șcheia Fortress **How much is a ticket to Șcheia Fortress?** Admission to Șcheia Fortress is free. **What are the opening hours of Șcheia Fortress?** Opening hours at Șcheia Fortress: daily open 24 hours. **How long does a visit to Șcheia Fortress take?** A visit to Șcheia Fortress takes about 30 min (including the walk). **Can you visit Șcheia Fortress with kids?** Yes, Șcheia Fortress is suitable for children (older children, supervised). **How do I get to Șcheia Fortress?** Șcheia Fortress is located at Dealul Șeptilici, acces din Strada Mihail Sadoveanu, Suceava, Suceava County. More under “Getting there”. **When is the best time to visit Șcheia Fortress?** The best season for Șcheia Fortress: April – October (in dry weather). ## Nearby attractions - [Zamca Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/zamca-monastery) — Monasteries · Suceava, SV · 30 min · 1 km A fortified Armenian complex of the 17th century on the western edge of Suceava: stone walls, the church of St Auxentius, a 26-metre bell tower and a chapel above the gate. - [St John the New Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/st-john-the-new-monastery) — Monasteries · Suceava, SV · UNESCO World Heritage · 4 km The former metropolitan cathedral of Moldavia, built in 1514–1522 in the centre of Suceava and home to the relics of St John the New; its church of St George is a UNESCO site. - [Suceava Princely Fortress](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/suceava-princely-fortress) — Fortresses and fortifications · Suceava, SV · 20 lei · 1½ – 2 hours · Top 100 · 4 km The stone stronghold of the princes of Moldavia in Suceava, built by Peter Mușat and strengthened by Stephen the Great, with a bridge over the moat, walls over 10 m high and a display of medieval arms and treasure. - [Bukovina Village Museum](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bukovina-village-museum) — Museums and memorial houses · Suceava, SV · 16 lei · 1 – 1½ hours · 4 km An open-air ethnographic museum on the plateau next to the Suceava Princely Fortress: farmsteads, workshops and installations from Bukovina villages, a wooden church from 1783, an inn and a school, all gathered into one village. - [Teodoreni Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/teodoreni-monastery) — Monasteries · Suceava, SV · 45 min · 5 km A convent in Suceava's Burdujeni district, founded in 1597 by the postelnic Teodor Movilă: a trefoil church with blind arcading, a gatehouse bell tower and an enclosure wall. - [Pătrăuți Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/patrauti-monastery) — Monasteries · Pătrăuți, SV · UNESCO World Heritage · 11 km The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, built by Stephen the Great in 1487: his oldest surviving foundation, with the "Cavalcade of the Holy Cross" fresco; a UNESCO site near Suceava. --- Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/scheia-fortress Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/cetatea-scheia.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/festung-scheia.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/fortezza-di-scheia.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/forteresse-de-scheia.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/fortaleza-de-scheia.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/scheiai-var.md Last updated: 10 November 2026 Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania