Hunedoara & Corvin Castle
Famous for Gothic Corvin Castle, and a base for the UNESCO-listed Dacian fortresses, the ruins of Ulpia Traiana and the Retezat Mountains.
Hunedoara lies on the southern edge of Transylvania in western Romania, in Hunedoara County. A small town built on the steel industry, it is home to Romania's most photogenic Gothic castle — Corvin Castle. Using Hunedoara (or the county seat Deva, or Hațeg to the south) as a base, you can link three main routes within about 60 km: the castle route, with Corvin Castle, Deva Fortress and the Magna Curia Palace museum at the foot of the hill; the Dacian and Roman route, with the UNESCO-listed Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains (the royal capital Sarmizegetusa Regia, Costești and Blidaru) and Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, capital of Roman Dacia; and the Hațeg Country, with medieval stone churches at Densuș, Strei and Santa Maria-Orlea, the Dinosaur Geopark, a European bison reserve, and alpine lake hikes in Retezat National Park.
The climate is temperate continental. May–October is the best time to visit; the mountain fortresses and Retezat trails are often inaccessible in winter due to snow, and Jul–Aug is peak season for high-mountain hiking. Getting there: Deva is on the main Bucharest–Timișoara railway line, with a branch line and buses on to Hunedoara; the nearest airports are Timișoara, Sibiu and Cluj (about 2–3 hours by car). Public transport between rural sights is scarce, so self-driving or hiring a car with driver is recommended.
Allow 2–3 days: one for the castles and Deva, one for the Dacian fortresses, and one for the Hațeg Country or hiking in Retezat. Many village churches require you to contact the caretaker to open up; on mountain roads, watch out for bears and road conditions.
Top sights
- Corvin Castle – Romania’s most magnificent Gothic castle, with a wooden bridge spanning a deep gorge and a forest of spires. It is widely regarded as one o…
- Sarmizegetusa Regia – The capital and religious centre of the Dacian kingdom. This World Heritage Site preserves mysterious stone-pillared round and square templ…
- Deva Fortress – A medieval fortress ruin on the summit of Deva's castle hill. Take the inclined funicular up for views over the Mureș River valley.
- Magna Curia (Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation) – A Renaissance palace at the foot of Deva Fortress, housing artifacts from Dacian fortresses and Roman sites.
- Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress – One of the UNESCO World Heritage Dacian fortresses. Earthen walls, stone steps and sanctuary foundations remain on the hilltop, and it is r…
- Costești-Blidaru Dacian Fortress – One of the UNESCO World Heritage Dacian fortresses. It has well-preserved square stone towers and double walls, and wide views from the hil…
- Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa – The ruins of the capital of the Roman province of Dacia, with an amphitheatre, forum and temples. An archaeological museum is on site.
- Densuș Church – One of Romania's oldest stone churches still in use, built with stone from Roman ruins. Its form is distinctive.
- Prislop Monastery – A 16th-century Orthodox monastery in a quiet valley. It has become a popular pilgrimage site in Romania because of the grave of Father Arse…
- Retezat National Park – Romania's oldest national park, with granite peaks and more than 80 glacial lakes. The hike to Bucura Lake is the classic route.
- Colț Fortress – A 14th-century hilltop castle ruin at the foot of Retezat. It is said to have inspired Jules Verne's novel The Castle of the Carpathians.
- Sântămăria-Orlea Church – A 13th-century stone church in a transitional Romanesque-Gothic style, with 14th-century Byzantine-style frescoes preserved inside.
- Strei Church – A small 13th-century stone church on the banks of the Strei River, with 14th-century frescoes. It is one of Romania's oldest churches.
- Hațeg UNESCO Global Geopark – A UNESCO Global Geopark famous for its Cretaceous 'dwarf dinosaur' fossils, with several small exhibition sites scattered across the area.
- Hațeg-Slivuț Bison Reserve – A European bison conservation forest established in 1958. Endangered bison and deer can be seen in the fenced enclosures.
- Cinciș Lake – A mountain reservoir southwest of Hunedoara, surrounded by lakeside resorts and woodland. It is a summer getaway for locals.
- Bolii Cave – A through-cave near Petroșani, with a stream flowing along its floor. Concerts are sometimes held inside.
Where to eat
- Urban by Werk Factory Restaurant – A restaurant in a converted old ironworks right beside Corvin Castle, with a large terrace. It ranks first among the ca…
- Rustic Restaurant – A traditional Romanian restaurant in the old town near Corvin Castle, known for its wide range of soups. Sarmale and sm…
Itineraries
- Western Romania Loop from Budapest – Enter Romania from Budapest, looping through Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Corvin Castle, and Timișoara.