Dacian Fortresses

Dacian Fortresses
The Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains are Iron Age defense works built as protection against Roman conquest. They were built between the 1st centuries B.C. and A.D. by the Dacians, who lived in what is now Romania (between the Carpathians and the Danube).

Six locations are part of this site:
- Sarmizegetusa Regia
- Costesti-Cetatuie
- Costesti-Blidaru
- Luncani-Piatra Rosie
- Bănita
- Căpâlna

Sarmizegetusa Regia was the Dacian capital and the center of its political and religious power. It was built on a fortified mountain. The other sites formed a system of defense works to defend the capital. After their destruction by the Romans in 106, the sites were never reoccupied.

Year Decision Comments
1999 Inscribed Reasons for inscription



Visit September 2010

One should get bonus points having visited this remote and obscure site. Only 6 registered WHS enthusiasts did so before me - this puts the Dacian Fortresses on the same difficulty level as Nisa (Turkmenistan) or Sana'a (Yemen). Information about the site, practical or historic, is hard to get. The more interesting ones that I found on the web I've added to the Links section at the left of this webpage.

I planned to visit Costesti (2 locations) and mainly Sarmizegetusa Regia. Finding it is easy nowadays: the Dacian sites of Costesti are signposted from the main road in Orastie. All went very smoothly, until I had to start the unpaved road to Sarmizegetusa Regia. It's 18km long and full of potholes. Unfortunately it rained too, so that made driving there in a non-4WD even more adventurous. My effort ended about 2km from the site, where the road is full of loose stones and starts to go uphill. I didn't want to get stuck here, I doubt there will be more than a handful of visitors daily. So I parked the car at the side of the road and hiked the remaining part. It was still raining but I felt very determined in getting there!

After many turns I finally arrived at a signboard "Sarmizegetusa Regia". From there it's still a short walk through the forest. There I already saw part of the Dacian road (impressively flat) and defense towers. The main complex is at an open field. I had seen pictures of it beforehand, but I still was impressed by its scale and variety of the remains. Especially the huge solar disc draw my attention.

Rain was still pouring so I didn't stay for long (I was also afraid that all the rain would make the road even worse). But I arrived safely back in Costesti. I had a look around how to get to the two fortresses here, but they are only accessible on foot (40-60 minutes). I decided against that as I already had enough of walking in the rain. On a summer day however this will be a wonderful trip, the scenery along the road is lovely (a river, a couple of farms and a mixed forest).

More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews

():
I have visited almost all Dacian fortresses in 2007. Almost all the places are located in the remote, mountaineous area (you should have a good local map to get there or at least have enough luck to find a person that show you the right direction, 4 wd car is also recommended). The places itself are extremely worth visiting as they are the only surviving examples of once powerful culture of pre-Roman Dacian state. The most important monument is Sarmisegetuza Regia, remnants of Dacian capital with its sanctuaries, walls and other buildings. It is one of Romanian touristic "must".
 


Have you been to Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains? Share your experiences!

Add your own review