Barbakan, Pecs

The Barbakan in Pecs is a 15th-century Gothic-style barbican, a forward gate fortress that once played a key role in the city's medieval defense system. Standing at the northwestern corner of the old castle walls, this circular bastion was part of the fortifications of the bishop’s castle. Historians suggest its construction may be linked to Pal Kinizsi, a general who stayed in Pecs during the period of its fortification.

The Barbakan was strategically designed to repel direct assaults, forcing attackers to move parallel to the defensive walls, exposing them to gunfire for a longer period. Built from Jurassic marl limestone, it featured a draw gate, a rear bridge, and a surrounding moat-a formidable barrier against invaders. However, despite its defenses, the castle of Pecs fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1543, not through siege but due to the bishopric's voluntary surrender.

By the 18th century, the fortress lost its military significance and deteriorated. In 1787, during the construction of Esze Tamas Street, the moat was filled, and the walls were breached, integrating the area into the city’s expanding suburbs. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Barbakan’s role transformed entirely-first as a tennis court built by the Zsolnay family, then a basketball court, and even an ice skating rink in winter.

In 1968, the Barbakan and old castle walls were restored, reclaiming their historical role. Nearby, the Barbakan Garden features Miklos Borsos' statue of Janus Pannonius, a Hungarian humanist poet and former bishop of Pecs. The statue, emphasizing a book over his likeness, symbolizes humanist culture and poetry.

Today, the Barbakan remains an iconic landmark of Pecs, offering visitors a glimpse into the city’s medieval past and panoramic views from its top.