| Alba County ? General Information
The surroundings of Alba County epitomize in customs and traditions the influences from the Apuseni mountains and Mures and Sebes areas. |
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| Abrud ? The Town
The small town of Abrud lies on the banks of the river with the same name, at the foot of the Stiurt hill and on the foundations of a former Daco-Roman establishment, Abruttus. Right near this establishment there was a small fortification which defended the large gold mine in the area - Arbunus Maior (actual Rosia Montana). |
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| Aiud ? The Medieval Fortress
The town of Aiud lies on the Mures river (at the junction with the Aiud river), 30 km far from Alba-Iulia. The first signs of a human presence may be traced back in the years 800-500 BC. The medieval fortress is situated in the centre of the town and it is representative for the medieval architecture. |
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| Alba ? Iulia ? The ?Reunion? Cathedral
The Orthodox Cathedral in Alba-Iulia is also called the ?Coronation? Cathedral was built between 1921 and 1923, tracing back the existence of the former establishment of Mihai Viteazu. This cathedral became the place where all later Romanian kings were crowned. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? ?Batthyaneum? Library
The library was built in the last decades of the 18th century on the foundations of a former Trinitarian Monastery. It shelters valuable collections of old books and art collections of the ?Batthyaneum? Institute. The founder of the library and of the Institute was Bishop Ignatio Batthyani. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The ?Union? Hall
This hall is an important part of the ?Union? Museum, which is situated inside the Fortress. It is the place where the union of all Romanians into one single country ? Romania ? was officialized on the 1st of December 1918. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The ?Union? Museum
The ?Union? Museum is one of the most representative ones in Romania due to its prestige and national heritage. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The Academic College
The buildings which form the Academic College are situated inside the Fortress as well. Inside the buildings in two interior courtyards was the headquarters of ?Academicum Collegium?, the first university in Transylvania. The actual building consists of only several parts of the former college built in the 17th century. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The Agor Palace
It was the residence of a very influential feudal family that had representatives in the superior hierarchy of the Principality of Transylvania.
The Palace was built in the 17th century and modified in the second half of the 18th century and it displays decorations in the Baroque style on the south fa?ade, on the frontons of the portals and on the banisters. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The Fortress
Situated right in the centre of the town, the fortress was built between 1714 and 1738, being one of the most outstanding fortresses of a Vauban type in Romania. Its fame rests upon the Union of the three Romanian principalities on the 1st of December 1918 which took place here. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The Gates of the Fortress
These gates are part and parcel of the strong system of fortifications of the Fortress. The entrance in the Fortress was made through six gates, out of which four were decorated with statues and bas-reliefs sculpted by Johann Konic. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The Princely Palace
It replaces the former Episcopal Palace. This palace was built in several stages, beginning with the 14th century. In the 15th century the Palace was enlarged: some wings were built around the three interior courtyards. |
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| Alba-Iulia ? The Roman-Catholic Cathedral
This cathedral is perhaps the most representative for the early medieval architecture in Transylvania, its architecture exquisitely combining Romanic and gothic styles. This edifice is to be found inside the walls of the Fortress |
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| Arieseni ? The Resort
The resort is situated at the border between Alba and Bihor Counties, at the foot of the Apuseni Mountains 950 metres above the sea level. It is an important tourist attraction as it represents the starting point for mountain walking and climbing in the Apuseni. There are also certain facilities for doing winter sports: a ski slope which lies over 3.8 square km and which is practicable at night as well. The resort is also a well-known agro-tourist area. |
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| Blaj ? The Bethlen Castle
It is the oldest building in the town of Blaj and it was the Bethlen aristocratic family`s residence until 1737. After that it became the headquarters of the Episcopate of Transylvania. The building has two storeys, walls over 1 metre thick, arched corridors and narrow wooden stairs, standing for a very valuable historical and architectural monument. |
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| Blaj ? The Greek-Catholic Cathedral
It was built between 1738 and 1765 according to the plans made by the Austrian architect Anton Eckhardt Martinelli. In 1837 the cathedral was enlarged: a terrace, two towers, the choirs and the lateral sacristies were added. The paintings are in the Byzantine style and the large iconostasis is among the most valuable things. |
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| Calnic ? The Fortress
The Fortress of Calnic (Kelling) is one of the oldest and most valuable architectural monuments on the list of UNESCO`s world heritage. Its foundation as an aristocratic residence was laid in the 13th century by Count Chyl of Kelling. |
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| Cricau ? Piatra Craivii (The Craivii Stone)
A Dacian fortress and establishment were discovered here. The area where the Roman Emperor Traian established his headquarters during the war with the Dacians is supposed to have been here. One can also visit the ruins of a former medieval fortress from the 13th century. |
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| Cugir ? The Ruins of the Fortress
A Dacian fortification from the 2nd century BC is supposed to have been situated on a hill in this area. Some ceramic fragments and a thesaurus of coins hidden in a bowl discovered at the bottom of the hill prove it. |
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| Rameti - The Monastery
The monastery is situated 36 km north-west far from the town of Alba-Iulia and dates from the 13th century, being considered one of the oldest Orthodox shelters. It is supposed to have been built by some monks. |
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| Rosia Montana - The Goldmines
The galleries in the mines were built 2000 years ago and they are presently set for visits. Right near there is a small museum with traditional tools for mining. |
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| Sascisori ? The Ruins of the Dacian fortress of Capalna
The ruins of the Dacian fortress are in the village of Sascisori 18 km far from the town of Sebes. The fortress was situated on a hill 610 metres high and it is supposed to have been built under the guidance of the Dacian king Burebista and lasted until the Roman conquest. A square-shaped tower and three-terraced plateau were discovered inside the church. |
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| Tartaria ? The ABC book of Tartaria
In 1961 a Romanian historian, Nicolae Vlasa discovered three clay plates displaying a writing similar to the Sumerian one. But these inscriptions are supposed to be 1000 years older than the first Sumerian writings. The plates are differently dated according to the chosen chronological pattern: either between 4600 and 4400 BC or between 4200 and 3900 BC. The message in the inscriptions seems to have been addressed either to a celestial or a subterranean deity. |
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