Costești – Cetățuie Citadel

Costești-Cetățuie Citadel, considered the oldest fortress in the Orăștie Mountains, offers you the opportunity for a fascinating journey into the ancient past of Dacia.

In the 1st century BC, this was likely the first capital of the Dacian kingdom founded by Burebista. Subsequently, Costești-Cetățuie Citadel represented an important strategic point of defense for the main access route to Sarmizegetusa Regia. Today, its ruins speak to visitors about the greatness and resilience of the Dacian people against Roman incursions.

The Cetățuia Hill, wisely chosen, offered perfect visibility towards the Mureș Valley. In addition, the location benefited from very good natural defense through the steep slopes on the upper part of the hill.

The ruins of the old towers, the walls made of massive limestone blocks, and the fighting platforms reveal the ingenuity of the builders of those times. The four quadrilateral temples located within or near the fortress outline the image of a superior civilization and the complexity of Dacian spirituality.

Once here, you will be convinced that you have not only reached an interesting tourist destination but also a representative piece from the treasure of the Dacian ancestors. Dare to know more by following the thread of history!

Architectural peculiarities

The construction works of the Costești-Cetățuie fortress took place between the end of the 2nd century BC and the beginning of the 2nd century AD.

The construction technique of the walls is Hellenistic. The walls were made of limestone blocks arranged in successive horizontal rows. The two faces were connected with wooden beams, which were fixed at the ends in slots called "babes". Between them was a fill of beaten earth and stone. Greek craftsmen probably participated in the construction of the walls.

Invaluable treasures

Among the artifacts discovered at Costești-Cetățuie, we mention just a few: ceramic objects, weights for weaving looms, spindles, iron tools used in agricultural work, but also in carpentry and blacksmith workshops, weapons, and harness parts. There are no shortages of ornaments made of silver or bronze and local imitations of Roman or Greek coins.

In addition to locally manufactured items, imported products have also been discovered, such as bronze containers or furniture pieces, mostly from the Mediterranean region.

If you want to see some of the artifacts discovered at Costești-Cetățuie, visit the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilization in Deva.

Unique experiences

Located at an altitude of 705 meters, the fortress at Costești-Blidaru is more difficult to access but not impossible to "conquer". The ascent takes about an hour, but once you reach the citadel, you will not regret the effort. You will discover extremely rigorous military architecture and an original wall construction technique known as "murus dacicus".

About 20 km from Costești is Sarmizegetusa Regia, the capital of the Dacian kingdom, where you will be surprised by the monumental religious architecture in the sacred area.

If you have already visited the settlement at Grădiștea de Munte, head towards Orăștie and make a stop in the historic center of the city.