Dacian Limes

August 2024 - Another Limes WHS! Good that it got inscribed before our trip, so we knew what to look for. At the end, we ended up just activly visiting 2 components. Alba Iulia and Jidova.

Alba Iulia is amazing though. We spent two hours here, and admired the old roman remains. Jidova (picture) was rather a spontaneous stop. The remains there are also by far more interesting than all these Limes components in Germany.

I am curious how many more WHS will evolve from the Roman Empire era.

The Dacian Frontiers of the Roman Empire comprises over 300 separate locations, so which site to visit for a representative experience? At first, I zoomed in on Potaissa, nicely located halfway between Cluj and Alba Iulia in Turda. But this site is still closed after extensive restorations; it may open up later this year. Alba Iulia itself is a sure bet but also a bit ‘boring’ as it is also a TWHS on its own and already covered by reviews. The prime Dacian-Roman archaeological site however seems to be Porolissum. It meant a 1.5-hour detour north on my itinerary, but it was worth it.

Porolissum is advertised by roadside signs already from 60km away. There isn’t much else of touristic interest in the wider area, although the Wooden Churches of the Muramures are not far away and you see fine wooden churches by the road here too. Like the Maramures, which I visited in 2010, this is a poor area where horse-and-carriages still can be seen on the road and Roma communities live in squalor.

The signposting to the site is excellent until about 100m before the entrance: I lost track and asked for the way at a souvenir shop – the site entrance turned out to be just beyond that shop, turn to the right and there is a small bump in the road which prevents you from seeing the parking and guard station. The entrance costs 11 lei and can be paid (in cash) to …

The Roman Empire had it's largest extend under Trajan. He defeated the eternal enemy of Rom, Parthia, and incorporated Mesopotamia as a province into the empire. However, the conquest was short lived. His immediate successor, Hadrian of Hadrian's Wall fame, cut Mesopotamia lose again. It was too far away from the heartland of the empire and consequently too hard to defend.

The second conquest of Trajan, though, remained a Roman province for about 150 years: Dacia, present day Romania. The reason were the Dacian gold mines in and around Rosia Montana (already inscribed). To get a glimpse, you can visit the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest where several gold pieces pre and post Roman are on exhibition.

In comparison to other Limes sites, the Dacian Limes has a very odd form. It does not follow natural features and it does not create a short border. Instead it creates a bulge extending away from the Danube that includes the gold mines.

During my visit to Romania, I managed to visit a few sites. In Cluj, I walked up a local hill in search of a watchtower. I think I made it to the location, but there was nothing to see. Near Rosia Montana in Abrud, I searched for remnants of a castle, but again, there was nothing to see. Best site was in Iulia Alba, a tentative site on it's own, where a ruins of a Roman castle can be visited.

OUV

If …