The name Castrum Tymes (Thymes, Temes, Castrum Temesiensis, Castrum Temesvariensis) is found for the first time in documents in the 13th century.
After his first visit to Timișoara, in the fall of 1307, Charles I of Hungary built the first stone fortress (Hungarian: Temesvári vár) between 1308 and 1315, on the site of an existing clay fortress, using Italian craftsmen.
The reason for choosing this site was that the Mureș and Tisza rivers, the Danube and the mountain passes of western Romanian Carpathians prevented surprise attacks.

Paul Niedermaier and Mihai Opriș have speculated that the fortress was composed of two rectangular parts of about 170 x 110 m, having a total area of about 2 hectares.

The fort was situated within the perimeter of the current Alba Iulia – Dimitrie Cantemir – Carol Telbisz Streets and Huniade Square.
Paul Niedermaier believes that the street network of the fortress was rectangular and that there were two main streets, one from north to south and the other from east to west.
The north–south street was a commercial road which joined the two gates and it was situated between the current Alba Iulia and Lucian Blaga Streets.
The east–west street was situated near the current János Bolyai Street.
A castle was built in the southern part, in a similar perimeter, on the site of the previous Hunyadi castle.
The castle was Charles I's royal court and residence between 1315 and 1323.
During this period Timișoara was the capital city of the Kingdom of Hungary.
The Water Tour (Water Tower) was built to defend the bridge between these two fortified areas.
Later the tower became one of the symbols on the coat of arms of Timișoara.
There was an inhabited rural area with irregular plots north of the fortress.

On 19 June 1404 Filippo Scolari became the Ispán (count) of Temes County.
He found the Angevin fortress in poor condition and in need of major restoration.
During his reign the areas exposed to attack were restored and strengthened with palisades.
The castle was also restored and Scolari used it as his residence until his death in 1426.
At the same time various public edifices in the city were erected or rebuilt, which led to the revival of the city's economic life.
The name Castrum Tymes (Thymes, Temes, Castrum Temesiensis, Castrum Temesvariensis) is found for the first time in documents in the 13th century. After his first visit to Timișoara, in the fall of 1307, Charles I of Hungary built the first stone fortress (Hungarian: Temesvári vár) between 1308 and 1315, on the site of an existing clay fortress, using Italian craftsmen. The reason for choosing this site was that the Mureș and Tisza rivers, the Danube and the mountain passes of western Romanian Carpathians prevented surprise attacks.
Paul Niedermaier and Mihai Opriș have speculated that the fortress was composed of two rectangular parts of about 170 x 110 m, having a total area of about 2 hectares.
The fort was situated within the perimeter of the current Alba Iulia – Dimitrie Cantemir – Carol Telbisz Streets and Huniade Square. Paul Niedermaier believes that the street network of the fortress was rectangular and that there were two main streets, one from north to south and the other from east to west. The north–south street was a commercial road which joined the two gates and it was situated between the current Alba Iulia and Lucian Blaga Streets. The east–west street was situated near the current János Bolyai Street. A castle was built in the southern part, in a similar perimeter, on the site of the previous Hunyadi castle. The castle was Charles I's royal court and residence between 1315 and 1323. During this period Timișoara was the capital city of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Water Tour (Water Tower) was built to defend the bridge between these two fortified areas. Later the tower became one of the symbols on the coat of arms of Timișoara. There was an inhabited rural area with irregular plots north of the fortress.
On 19 June 1404 Filippo Scolari became the Ispán (count) of Temes County. He found the Angevin fortress in poor condition and in need of major restoration. During his reign the areas exposed to attack were restored and strengthened with palisades. The castle was also restored and Scolari used it as his residence until his death in 1426. At the same time various public edifices in the city were erected or rebuilt, which led to the revival of the city's economic life.
Timișoara Fortress