Tourist Guide - Sarmizegetusa Regia
Returning to our origins, we discover hidden in the Orăștie Mountains the capital of the Dacian state before the wars with the Roman Empire: Sarmizegetusa Regia.
Situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the fortress includes a complex of sanctuaries made of massive stone blocks built on five terraces.
The starting point for visiting Sarmizegetusa Regia is the village of Costești, in Hunedoara County. There are two main routes to reach Costești:
From Orăștie, follow the route Beriu – Orăștioara – Costești, approximately 20 km.
From Călan, follow Orasul Nou – Ohaba Streiului – Chitid – Ocolisul Mic – Costești, approximately 22 km.
From Costești, continue towards Grădiștea de Munte – Sarmizegetusa Regia, a distance of 20 km.
Sarmizegetusa Regia, or "the Royal," is a fortress in the shape of a quadrilateral, built on five terraces over an area of approximately 30,000 m².
The fortress includes a vast complex of sanctuaries located on an artificially terraced plateau. These sanctuaries seem designed to decipher astral mechanisms and the great cosmic cycles. Two of the most important are the Large Round Sanctuary and the Andesite Sun. Among the most significant Dacian circular sanctuaries is also the Circular Calendar.
To better understand the history of these sanctuaries and all the ruins at Sarmizegetusa Regia, it is recommended to be accompanied by a guide. A guide can best explain the significance of this place. You will certainly leave feeling energized and inspired.
Besides Sarmizegetusa Regia, the area also offers other sites to visit, such as Costești Fortress (18 km from Orăștie), the Stone Walls of Blidaru Fortress (4 km from Orăștie), or Măgureni Monastery.
If you wish to stay within the ancient area, 40 km from Sarmizegetusa, in the southwest of the Hațeg Depression, lie the ruins of the Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa fortress.
The entire Hațeg region is scattered with mysterious ruins.
In 2012, a team from BBC and Discovery suggested that Sarmizegetusa Regia was not just a fortress, but a true metropolis, due to its location on a mountain peak according to all urban planning norms of the time.
95% of the ancient Roman city still awaits discovery, according to Romanian archaeologists working at the Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa site.
In 2011, a residence belonging to a Roman dignitary from the 2nd century was discovered beneath the Temple of Jupiter and the Triad of the Capitol.
If you want to explore your history more deeply, MERIDIAN RENT A CAR offers well-equipped cars for this route in the heart of the mountains and will take you to places deeply rooted in Romania’s rich heritage.
For details and reservations, visit www.meridianrentacar.ro/en.
