Suceava Fortress Traditional Cache
garu: archiving - down for too long. write me if you plan to replace this one
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the first cache of Suceava. It's on the way to the Suceava fortress, a 15 min walk from the city center.
After you find the cache, go straight, pass the big statue and then take a left just before the barrier. From there the road goes down and then up for around 200m or so. The fortress it's just after the parking lot at the end of the walking path.
Suceava fortress was built by Petru I Musat who moved here his residence from Siret and it had a rectangular shape, with a 36-meter long southern side and 40-meter long eastern side and defensive square towers at each end and in the middle of each side as well.
It was first mentioned in 1388, but it was later transformed into a residence castle by Alexander the Good (1400-1432) and Stephen the Great (1457-1504) when Suceava became the capital of Moldavia.
At the initial walls (10 m high and 2 m width) there were added new ones and a deeper water ditch was dig to surround the castle. The inside rooms belonged to soldiers, the prince and his family; there was also a chapel and a warehouse for food and ammunition.
After 1476 Stephen doubled the exterior walls by adding new layers which were fixed to the existing walls, so that they varied in thickness from 2m to 4m. The walls were also made circular so that they stood more chance of surviving bombardment.
This is the explanation why Suceava fortress couldn't be conquered despite the fact it was under siege several times by Turks and Polish armies - in 1467, 1485, 1497 and 1509. Only treason was the key for making possible its occupation by enemies (September 18th, 1538).
The cache is situated on the walking path from the city center to the fortress. Unfortunately, there are no clear signs towards the fortress from the city center.
The walking path is paved and starts just next to McDonalds.
You can also go by car directly to the fortress and take a 5 minute walk towards the city to find the cache. A few meters after the end of the metal stairway, as you go upwards, you'll see a path going right. Follow it around 100 meters till you'll see an iron fence.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
ybbx sbe gur pbeare, frnepu haqre gur ebpx