Hunedoara Tour, the Cradle of Romanianness

The roots of Romanian spirit and history find their beginnings in the ancient mixture of Dacian locals with the Roman conquerors in the 2nd century AD, which can still be seen in the ruins of Sarmizegetusa Traiana, the capital of the Roman province Dacia, not far from the old church from Densus, a weird combination of heathen traditions and early Christianity. The stupendous Hunedoara Castle guards the valleys not far away, a witness from medieval times long gone. The Alba-Carolina Fortress from Alba-Iulia can be a welcome addition to this excursion into ancient and medieval remnants, leaving tourists with charming memories to stay with them long after their return.

We set off from Brasov and drive westwards, taking a first stop to admire the attractions of Alba-Iulia, an old Transylvanian capital built around a fortress with a majestic entrance and with the Romanian Orthodox and the Hungarian Roman-Catholic Cathedrals. We continue our way into the Hunedoara County, an area soaked with history and impressive monuments. First, we visit the ruins of the old capital of the Roman province Dacia, including a small-scale replica of the Colosseum in Rome, then the eerie little church from Densus, a village in the Hateg Area. We end our tour of the region with the fairy-tale Castle of Hunedoara, built by the Hungarian counts and kings in times long gone. Lunch can be served in a cosy location on the shore of the Cincis Lake, in an inspiring landscape. If time allows, we could consider visiting the Deva Fortress, dominating the town of Deva like an eagle's nest. We then continue our way back to Brasov, filled with the picturesque of the places seen.