Fort 13 Jilava, built in the 19th century as part of the Brialmont fortification system surrounding Bucharest, was converted after 1907 into a military and political prison. Located in Jilava, Ilfov County (just outside Bucharest), it became a detention center for political prisoners, members of the Iron Guard, and later, for opponents of the communist regime. One of its darkest moments was the Jilava Massacre in November 1940, when 64 prisoners were executed by the Iron Guard.

During the communist era, the fort functioned as a site of torture and ideological "reeducation", known for its overcrowded cells and inhumane conditions, as documented by survivors. After 1990, the site fell into disrepair, but in recent years some of its cells have been restored for commemorative exhibitions, and there are official plans to turn it into a Museum of Political Repression.

Visits are possible by appointment only, coordinated through the Jilava Penitentiary. Guided tours reveal the fort’s role in state violence, secret police interventions, and testimonies of survivors. For those interested in history, social psychology, or dark tourism, Fort 13 offers a harsh but essential space of memory, with a historical weight that lingers.

Photo: Mihai Petre